Atlantis: The Lost Empire 2001

In a cataclysmic event that would forever reshape the fabric of the ancient world, a titanic explosion in 6,800 BC unleashed a behemoth wave, hurtling toward the fabled city of Atlantis. As the Queen of Atlantis merged with a radiant crystal, a protective shield encased the innermost district of the city, safeguarding its inhabitants from the impending deluge that would submerge the continent beneath the waves.

Fast-forward to 1914, and archaeologist Milo Thatch (punctilious in his convictions) remains resolute in his pursuit of proving the existence of Atlantis. His meeting with enigmatic millionaire Preston B. Whitmore, an old friend of Milo’s late grandfather, Thaddeus, serves as a turning point. Whitmore reveals that he had made a wager with Thaddeus to fund an expedition to Atlantis, and he persuades Milo to join the venture, presenting him with the Shepherd’s Journal - a tome detailing the history and path to the lost city.

Under the command of the cunning Commander Lyle Tiberius Rourke, the expedition’s crew comprises Lieutenant Helga Sinclair, Vinny Santorini (a demolition expert), Mole Molière (a geologist), Dr. Joshua Sweet (a medical officer), Audrey Ramirez (a mechanic), Mrs. Wilhelmina Packard (a radio operator), Cookie Farnsworth (a mess cook), and dozens of soldiers and sailors. Their submarine, the Ulysses, is ambushed by a mechanical behemoth guarding the entrance to Atlantis, leaving them with no choice but to navigate through a dormant volcano to reach their destination.

Upon arrival in Atlantis, they are met by Kida, an enigmatic young adult who appears to defy her father’s wishes. She entrusts Milo with the task of helping her people recover their lost history, as their culture and knowledge have been languishing for centuries. As Milo delves deeper into the mysteries of the city, he discovers that a massive crystal, the Heart of Atlantis, is responsible for granting its inhabitants an extraordinary longevity. This crystal, once the source of power for smaller crystals worn by the Atlanteans, has allowed them to thrive for millennia.

However, Rourke and his crew have sinister intentions. They capture Milo and Kida, seeking to claim the Heart for themselves, with plans to sell it to the highest bidder - a move that would also condemn the inhabitants of Atlantis to extinction, as they rely on the Heart’s power to sustain their way of life.

As the king’s defiance meets its limit, Rourke unleashes his wrath, leaving the monarch severely wounded and struggling to breathe (King). With the Heart’s location finally within their grasp, Rourke’s crew finds themselves under the crystal’s mesmerizing influence. Kida, now a mere puppet of the crystal’s power, merges with its essence. As the mercenary leader prepares to depart, locking the crystal in a crate and abandoning any notion of compassion, his loyal cohorts begin to question their allegiances. Vinny, Audrey, Molière, Packard, Sweet, and Cookie, driven by a sense of responsibility for the impending extinction of the Atlanteans, turn against Rourke, refusing to be complicit in the annihilation of an entire civilization.

Meanwhile, the king’s final breaths reveal a shocking truth: the Heart selects a royal host when the city is imperiled, and its immense power was meant to be wielded as a defense mechanism. The monarch’s desperate plea to Milo is met with solemn determination as he implores his friend to save Atlantis and Kida, whose fate is inextricably tied to the crystal’s hold on her. With the king’s passing, the weight of responsibility settles squarely on Milo’s shoulders.

As the Atlanteans rally behind their determined leader, they reactivate their ancient flying machines and set out to reclaim their city from Rourke’s mercenary forces. In a stunning turn of events, the defenders emerge victorious against the mercenaries, and Rourke’s own treachery ultimately proves his downfall. Helga, once loyal to Rourke, is brutally betrayed as he discards her from his airship, which contains the coveted crystal. In a fit of rage, she exacts her revenge by striking down the airship, sending it hurtling towards the fiery depths.

As Rourke’s world begins to crumble, Milo seizes the opportunity to strike back with a shard of glass infused with the crystal’s energy. The resulting transformation turns Rourke into a monstrous, crystalline creature driven by primal fury. In a desperate bid for dominance, Rourke lunges at Milo, only to inadvertently shift the balance on their precarious platform, sending himself crashing headfirst into the airship’s deadly propellers. With his life slipping away, the mercenary leader meets his demise as the airship plummets towards destruction, reawakening the slumbering volcano and signaling the end of an era for Atlantis.

As the treacherous lava flow closes in, Milo and his companions make a daring escape to the mystical realm of Atlantis, where they are met with an extraordinary sight: Kida, infused with the ancient power of the Heart, ascends into the air, her spirit merging with that of the land. The awakened Stone Guardians, vigilant sentinels of the city’s secrets, rise from their slumber to encircle Atlantis in a shimmering dome, safeguarding it from the impending destruction. With the danger neutralized, the Heart gently releases Kida back to Milo, who finds himself smitten with the enigmatic princess. As they gaze out upon the restored city, Milo chooses to remain by Kida’s side, while his companions return to the surface world, each bearing a small, glowing Atlantean crystal and a share of the treasure that lies hidden beneath the waves.

As Whitmore pored over the photographs taken by Mrs. Packard, he reluctantly agrees to join the crew in their solemn oath of silence, recognizing the gravity of preserving Atlantis’ secrets. A personal note from Milo, enclosed with his own Atlantean crystal, serves as a reminder of the bonds forged during their perilous quest. Meanwhile, in the heart of the city, Milo and Kida (who has ascended to the throne) gather around a reverently crafted effigy of her late father, surrounded by those of past kings, as the Heart of Atlantis once again hovers majestically above the newly revitalized metropolis, its secrets and mysteries waiting to be unraveled.