As a child I loved those old school Sinbad flicks. Those cool adventures with classic stop-motion effects courtesy of Ray Harryhausen? The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad. The Golden Voyage of Sinbad. Even the comparitively lackluster Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger. I couldn't get enough of those movies.

So it was with great trepidation that I entered this animated feature from Dreamworks. While the trailers didn't make it look too bad, I had a fear that this picture would never measure up to the films I cherished in my youth.

Sadly, my fears were well-founded. Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas isn't a bad movie, there are a few inspiring moments, but, overall it's a pretty waterlogged affair.

In this animated fantasy, the legendary Sinbad must retrieve a stolen magical book within ten days or his good friend Proteus will be put to death for it's disappearance. Along with the aid of Proteus' fiancee Marina, this adventurer and his crew of thrill-seeking sailors embark upon a journey fraught with danger. Yes, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas offers up adventure, romance, humor and even a little drama, but it never manages to capture that magical feeling it aspires to.

Traditional animated films have slipped a bit with films like Treasure Planet and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimmeron meeting with box office disappointment. I still believe there is a market for them as long as the stories are strong. Look at Spirited Away for instance. That film is absolutely breathtaking.

There does seem to be this fear that Computer Generated Animation is taking over after the release of huge hits like Shrek and this summer's beautiful Finding Nemo. Let me just say that Finding Nemo does look amazing but it really works because of sharp storytelling.

Sinbad isn't consistent enough to be put in the same league as Finding Nemo or Spirited Away, although it does have some beautifully crafted moments, none better than a sequence in which Sinbad and his faithful crew are bewitched by a school of seductive Sirens.

Sinbad is also brimming with excellent vocal talent including a lively Brad Pitt, a fiery Catherine Zeta-Jones, a villainous Michelle Pfeiffer and a theatric Joseph Fiennes.

Sadly, this Sinbad tale suffers from a sluggish pace and frankly it's a tad dull. It does offer up adventure but none as truly grand as featured in it's live action counterparts from long ago.

Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas will probably have a rough time at the box office because it's got bigger and better competition in the form of Finding Nemo and Whale Rider. And while I wouldn't call it a waste of time, I did hope for more.