Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas

Critics Consensus

Competent, but not magical.

45%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 128

56%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 56,404
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Movie Info

The legendary rogue of the seven seas confronts a new assortment of dangers and thrills in this animated action-adventure tale. Sinbad (voice of Brad Pitt) and his crews of pirate adventurers are hoping to retire to Fiji, and they discover a treasure that could make that possible -- the Book of Peace, which has kept the Twelve Cities in harmony for centuries. But Sinbad's plan to snatch the magic book is complicated when he learns it's on board a ship captained by his longtime friend Proteus (voice of Joseph Fiennes). While Sinbad still has his eye on the book, so does the mischievous goddess Eris (voice of Michelle Pfeifer), who sends a deadly sea monster into Sinbad's path to scuttle his plans. With the help of Proteus, Sinbad prevails over the beast, and determined Eris responds by snatching the book and framing Sinbad for the crime. Noble Proteus offers to step in for Sinbad and take his punishment, so now the adventurer has ten days to rescue the book from Eris or Proteus will pay with his life. While Sinbad is at first uncertain if he should take on such a dangerous assignment or simply high-tail it to Fiji, someone is on hand to persuade him -- Marina (voice of Catherine Zeta-Jones), Proteus' lovely but hard-headed fiancée, who has stowed away on Sinbad's ship. Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas was the first animated feature written by John Logan, who received an Oscar nomination for his script for Gladiator.

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Cast

Brad Pitt
as Sinbad
Catherine Zeta-Jones
as Marina
Michelle Pfeiffer
as Eris
Joseph Fiennes
as Proteus
Dennis Haysbert
as Kale
Timothy West
as Dymas
Adriano Giannini
as Rat
Raman Hui
as Jin
Chung Chan
as Li
Jim Cummings
as Luca
Conrad Vernon
as Jed
Andrew Birch
as Grum
Chris Miller
as Tower Guard
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Critic Reviews for Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas

All Critics (128) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (57) | Rotten (71)

  • If the animation under the direction of Tim Johnson and Patrick Gilmore wasn't so compelling, you could just close your eyes and listen.

    Nov 8, 2018 | Full Review…

    Sheila Norman-Culp

    Associated Press
    Top Critic

  • Despite the cool monsters, the cute slobbering dog and Catherine Zeta-Jones's swashbuckling Marina, "Sinbad" comes off as surprisingly unmagical, with characters you only half care about.

    Mar 12, 2018 | Full Review…

    David Ansen

    Newsweek
    Top Critic

  • Dreamworks animation has a lot to live up to after Shrek, but this wacky and high-spirited version of the Sinbad legend really isn't too bad.

    Aug 5, 2003 | Rating: 3/5

    Peter Bradshaw

    Guardian
    Top Critic

  • There's much to like here -- a gag-filled script, impressive visuals and Michelle Pfeiffer's classy villainess.

    Jul 22, 2003 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Neil Smith

    BBC.com
    Top Critic

  • Bland music, marquee-friendly casting and crassly contemporary dialogue give this film the mechanical feel of a marketing exercise, not a movie.

    Jul 8, 2003 | Rating: 2/4

    Jonathan Foreman

    New York Post
    Top Critic

  • Ray Harryhausen's original stop-motion Sinbad classics are a hard act to follow, but Tim Johnson and Patrick Gilmore's update, couched in a gorgeous palette of indigo and dark rose, is a big, beautiful thrill all its own.

    Jul 8, 2003

    Ella Taylor

    L.A. Weekly
    Top Critic
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Audience Reviews for Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas

  • Jun 22, 2013
    The film is beautiful to watch, but it really has a non existent storyline, or should I say dull. The issue isn't the characters, it's the storyline and the villain, they just don't click together. You know the film is in trouble when the only true comic relief is the dog. This could have been one of the better animated stories, Sinbad has a history that is longer than my arms length. The filmmakers attempt too much and it all fails to ignite the storyline, a common issue with the Dreamworks animation films. Good for a night in, but not a classic. 31/12/2018.
    Brendan N Super Reviewer
  • Sep 10, 2011
    Plot: The story follows Sinbad, one of the greatest thieves the world has ever known. His latest temptation is the Book of Peace, which is being guarded by his close friend, Proteus (Joseph Fiennes). The Goddess of Chaos, Eris, gets bored with the normal peaceful world, so she decides to shake things up in a big way. Eris, disguised as Sinbad, steals the Book of Peace. Proteus sticks up for his friend but the high officials have sentenced him to death and now Sinbad must sail across the seas in 10 days to get the Book of Peace back from Eris or his friend Proteus will be executed in his place. Proteus' beautiful fiancée, Marina, decides to tag along to make sure the job gets done. Now the crew is on the ride of their life as they battle the elements, along with a few monsters, to retrieve the Book of Peace (a magical book that keeps the Twelve Cities safe from harm) and save the life of Proteus before it is too late. A great adventure filled with fast paced action sequences, witty dialogue, handsome leading man, beautiful but intelligent damsel, funny dog and quirky sidekicks. In my opinion it works really well and took me along for a pleasant ride. My favourite scene would be the one with the Sirens ("Who's bad?... Sinbad...") Brad Pitt is believable as the fun-loving Sinbad. Catherine Zeta-Jones is also good as the vulnerable, but tough Marina and the villain Goddess of Chaos (played by Michelle Pfeiffer) is perfectly sexy and seductive as Eris. She is so evil you just got to love her.
    Deb S Super Reviewer
  • Jun 18, 2011
    A bland portrayal of a cartoon Jack Sparrow with a promising voice cast gone to waste
    Jackson W Super Reviewer
  • May 30, 2011
    Haha RT, really? 46%? I love it when critics just get things wrong. Sinbad is one of the few animated movies out there to approach the genre with a morally open story/protagonist and a sophisticated, convincing romance. The film's obviously targeted at young adults, teens unwilling to put up with the patronization of Disney films but still yearn for a beautifully animated and competent fantasy journey. The biggest folly is the completely one dimensional storytelling, I wish Proteus's point of view played a larger role in the grand scheme of things as Sinbad's journey just seems redundant after the first couple of action sequences. Also, just watch Eris move, she's meant to be animated.
    Drake T Super Reviewer
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