The Atlantis: The Lost Empire Book Tag

June 15th, 2026, marks the 25th anniversary of Atlantis: The Lost Empire’s release. Since Atlantis: The Lost Empire is one of my favorite animated movies, I wanted to do something to celebrate this special milestone! One of the squares on 18 Cinema Lane’s Year-Long Bingo Card is “Complete at least one book tag”. This gave me the idea to participate in a book tag based on Atlantis: The Lost Empire! But when I searched Booktube (the book community on Youtube), I couldn’t find an Atlantis: The Lost Empire themed book tag in existence. So, I chose to create my own! In this book tag, I came up with questions based on the movie’s key characters. Each question relates to something that either happens to the character in the movie, something the character possesses, or one of the character’s quotes. If you’re interested in participating in the Atlantis: The Lost Empire book tag, you are welcome!

The Atlantis: The Lost Empire Book Tag banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Character images and title card originally created by Walt Disney Pictures, Eastman Film, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Feature Animation, and Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. Book covers images found on Goodreads. Universal globe picture found in the Youtube video,
‘A Deep Dive Into Classic Universal Studios Florida’ (from the Youtube channel, Poseidon Entertainment). Picture of Mary from The Children’s Hour found on IMDB.

Milo

Throughout Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Milo never gives up on finding Atlantis, even when he originally faced scrutiny from the Smithsonian Institute’s board of directors. What book series do you see yourself not giving up on?

I’ve brought up in the past how much I’ve enjoyed the Figure Skating Mystery series. While I thought the second and third book was fine, I still believe the best book is the first one. With Figure Skating Mystery containing only five books, this means there’s only two books I have yet to read. It’s been interesting to read about Rebecca “Bex” Levy’s balance between being a figure-skating researcher and an amateur detective. Plus, the longer I read the Figure Skating Mystery books, the more I learn about sports researching and broadcasting. So, I’d like to see how Bex’s story continues and learn more from her world!

Kida

While recounting the state of Atlantis, Kida says, “We [Atlanteans] are like a stone the ocean beats against. With each passing year a little more of us is worn away”. Which book would you save from becoming lost to time?

When it comes to lost media, I rarely hear books being brought up in the conversation. Though I wouldn’t consider the Palm Beach Prep series lost media yet, I fear it could become that. This is because a) I barely hear anybody talking about it and b) the books are out of print. If this series were lost to time, middle-grade readers would miss out on a story that teaches them how to work with their peers to solve problems and maintain friendships. Explaining why the series’ bully, Cara, is the way she is seems like a storytelling concept that was ahead of its time, especially from the middle-grade genre from the ‘80s and ‘90s. You’d think with ‘80s and ‘90s nostalgia being capitalized on in pop culture, there’d be a push to either get the Palm Beach Prep series reprinted or give the series a little more recognition. As far as I know, none of these things have happened.

Audrey

As a gifted mechanic, Audrey is tasked with making sure the Ulysses submarine and the team’s vehicles run smoothly throughout the expedition. What book had a pace you thought ran smoothly?

One of the best books I read last year was Scarlet Witch, Vol. 3: The Final Hex! A reason why I liked this graphic novel was how steady the pace was. Throughout the book, no parts of the story were either drawn-out or felt like padding. The steadier pace of Scarlet Witch, Vol. 3: The Final Hex helped maintain the story’s intrigue and engagement! This pace also allowed the story to adopt heart-warming moments, which I found a pleasant surprise.

Vinny

One of Vinny’s most memorable lines is “Hey look, I made a bridge” after creating a pathway using dynamite. What literary worlds would you like to see bridged together?

I already mentioned in this book tag how I’ve enjoyed the Figure Skating Mystery series. Another series I’ve enjoyed, so far, is the Murder, She Wrote series. One of the books in that series is Skating on Thin Ice, where Jessica tries to solve the murder of someone connected to the world of figure skating. With Bex being a figure-skating researcher, a figure skating event and a mystery surrounding it would be a perfect opportunity to bridge Bex’s and Jessica’s world! It would be fascinating to see them working together to solve a case, especially since, more often than not, they solve mysteries on their own.

Joshua “Doctor Sweet” Sweet

According to Disney Wiki, Doctor Sweet was the first character to show Milo kindness during the Atlantis expedition. Which book character would you give kindness to?

I’m familiar with the saying, “Be kinder than necessary, for everyone is facing some kind of battle”. With that said, I’d give kindness to Doris from The Red Address Book. Without spoiling the book, all I’ll say is Doris experienced several major hardships in her life. In fact, as I read The Red Address Book, it felt like I spent more time reading about her misfortunes which kind of made the book feel too “doom and gloom”. I honestly wish the story contained more joyous moments, as well as moments where Doris received kindness. This way, a balanced view of the world would be presented in The Red Address Book, reminding readers how the world can be both cruel and beautiful.

Mole

When Milo meets Mole, he discovers Mole’s dirt collection, with each particle of dirt coming from different parts of the world. If you could collect dirt from a book’s world, where would you go?

I don’t remember if the world of Piranesi contains any dirt. If it does, that’s exactly where I’m going! Because the world of Piranesi is so different and fantastical from the “real world”, I’d love to know how different the dirt there is. So, I would want to collect a sample, test it, and learn more about it.

Cookie

On Cookie’s chest is a tattoo of “all 38 states”. Which book would you choose out of the states represented in Cookie’s tattoo?

Based on what is shown of Cookie’s tattoo in the movie, one of the states appears to be Tennessee. Because of that, I’ll select Before and After: The Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. The quality of the book’s writing allowed the book to be thought-provoking, as well as gave adoptees’ and their families’ stories reverence. The use of descriptive imagery also added memorability to the overall story. This is not only one of the most important books I’ve ever read, it’s the best book I’ve read this year, so far! I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the Tennessee Children’s Home Society from adoptees’ perspective.

Wilhelmina “Mrs. Packard” Packard

According to Disney Wiki, “Packard is hardly involved during the journey to Atlantis”. Yet as the Officer of Communications, Mrs. Packard plays a vital role in the Atlantis expedition. Which underrated book character do you wish received more recognition?

I brought up earlier in this book tag how I barely hear anybody talking aboutthe Palm Beach Prep series. That means characters like Alicia aren’t getting the recognition they deserve. I would love to see Alicia get her “standing ovation” because, in my opinion, she’s the most interesting character in this series! Not only have the writers done a good job balancing her flaws and likable qualities, she also has the heart of a saint. In fact, Alicia was the first character who showed the series’ protagonist, Quinn, kindness, similar to how Doctor Sweet showed Milo kindness. I kind of wish the Palm Beach Prep series was primarily about Alicia and her story.

Preston B. Whitmore

Because of his funding, Mr. Whitmore is the reason why the Atlantis expedition happens in the first place. If you possessed a large sum of money, what book related purpose would you use the money for?

Since Jessica Fletcher is an author on the Murder, She Wrote television show and since there is a book series associated with the tv show, I believe this answer will count for this question. Two years ago, I wrote an editorial advocating for the creation of Murder, She Wrote Weekend. Through a basic concept of the event’s schedule, I proposed how the fan event could benefit both the fans of Murder, She Wrote and Universal Orlando Resort. But if there’s one thing I know about hosting any kind of fan-related event, it’s that money (and how much is invested) plays an important factor in how smoothly the event is run. So, if I possessed a large sum of money, I’d use it to not only make Murder, She Wrote Weekend a reality, but to also build it into an event people want to continue attending.

Kashekim Nedakh and the Queen of Atlantis

Kashekim and the Queen of Atlantis play important roles in Kida’s story, despite spending most of the movie apart. Which book couple do you wish had gotten to spend more time together?

Like I said earlier in this book tag, Bex solves mysteries on her own in the Figure Skating Mystery series. But that changed in the third book, Axel of Evil, when Bex was paired with a man named Sasha. I liked this part of the book because it provided a unique dynamic to the series. It also lay the foundation for a potential romance. I would be interested to see where Sasha and Bex’s relationship goes after Axel of Evil. But based on the synopsis for Figure Skating Mystery’s fourth and fifth book, I’m not sure if their relationship will get acknowledged. Therefore, I’m selecting Bex and Sasha as my answer for this question!

Helga

As one of the villains of Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Helga is not intended to be a likable character. In your opinion, what book possesses an unlikable female character?

As of mid June, 2026, the worst book I’ve ever read is Veronika Decides to Die.While both of the book’s female characters, Veronica and Zedka, are unlikable, Veronica (the protagonist) is worse. Not only is Veronica self-centered and entitled, she has the audacity to believe she’s better than the other patients at the hospital she resides at. She also treats her love interest, Eduard, so disrespectfully, I wish Veronica faced accountability for her behavior. While I had other issues with Veronika Decides to Die, Veronica’s consistent unlikability was one of the book’s biggest flaws.

Commander Lyle Tiberius Rourke

In Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Rourke desired to locate a book called the Shepherd’s Journal. Once found, he removes one of the pages from the Shepherd’s Journal in an effort to use that page for bad intentions. Which book would you not want to see fall into a fictional villain’s hands?

In my recent review of The Children’s Hour, I talked about the movie’s antagonist named Mary. She’s a very manipulative and controlling girl who created a rumor that ruined her teachers’ lives and careers. Mary did this simply because she hated her teachers for disciplining her. With that said, I wouldn’t want Mary to get her hands on any book from the murder-mystery genre. Those kinds of stories are not appropriate for children to read. Plus, I’d be concerned how Mary would interpret the text, especially considering she had no qualms destroying the lives and careers of her teachers. Because Mary’s accountability for creating the rumor is never addressed in The Children’s Hour, there’s a chance she could continue her horrible behavior.

Have fun in Atlantis!

Sally Silverscreen

Movie Blogger Answers Movie Related Reddit Questions

When I published my review of To Catch a Spy back in June, it became my 250th movie review! I also published my 550th post in July, with that month’s Word on the Street article helping me reach that number. With these two milestones, I knew I was due to write something special! Sometimes, I listen to Youtube videos where a chosen question from Reddit is answered by various people. Since I’m a movie blogger, I find Reddit’s movie related questions to be interesting. This served as the inspiration for this list post, where I’ve chosen ten questions and will provide my answers to them. If you’re interested in seeing other answers to these questions, you can type these questions into Youtube’s searchbar and find the videos that way. Now, let’s read what I, as a movie blogger, have to say about some of Reddit’s movie related questions!

Movie time image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/food”>Food photo created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.
  1. What Movie Was Basically Just an Ad?

As soon as I read this question, I immediately thought of When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing. Even though the movie is objectively good, it is basically a two-hour commercial for When Hope Calls. For those who are not aware, When Hope Calls is the spin-off series of When Calls the Heart. The film’s main plot serves as the premise for When Hope Calls, giving that show’s protagonists more attention than When Calls the Heart’s series regulars. When I reviewed When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing three years ago, I said this part of the story should have been a subplot, as it contained little connection to When Calls the Heart’s stories. While one of the spin-off’s protagonists did appear in two of When Calls the Heart’s sixth season episodes, When Hope Calls survived for only one season.

2. What Movie Franchise Should’ve Stopped at 2?

For this question, I’ll say the All of My Heart series and the Christmas at Graceland series. With the All of My Heart series, the third movie should have been the sequel, as the second movie is just that forgettable. If you’ve never seen the All of My Heart movies, skip the second one altogether. Meanwhile, the Christmas at Graceland series should have never received a third film. The third installment, Christmas at Graceland: Home for the Holidays had nothing to do with the previous two stories. While I have never reviewed any of the All of My Heart movies on my blog, I have shared why I don’t like the third Christmas at Graceland movie. You can read my thoughts in my list of the worst movies of 2019.

The Top 10 Worst Movies I saw in 2019

3. What Fact From a Movie Will Change The Way You Look at it?

On several occasions, I’ve talked about the “studio intervention” that affected the production of The Crow: City of Angels. Had I not known that vital piece of information prior to watching the movie, my opinion on the project would have been very different. I also would have never cared whether or not the film’s Tim Pope cut ever got released. But I’m thankful I learned about the “studio intervention” before I saw The Crow: City of Angels, as it gave me an idea of why certain creative decisions were made. If you’d like to learn more about this “studio invention” I’m referring to, you can read my editorial on why the Tim Pope of The Crow: City of Angels should be released.

Why Now is the Perfect Time to Release the Tim Pope Cut of ‘The Crow: City of Angels’

4. What Movies Would Be Great From Another Perspective?

I actually have three answers for this question! From what I remember, Chel was very secretive about her past in The Road to El Dorado. If the movie had been from her perspective, we’d get to learn more about Chel’s backstory as well as the culture within El Dorado. While I love Atlantis: The Lost Empire, I think it would be interesting if it had been from Kida’s perspective. Parts of the story that take place in Atlantis, such as when Kida single-handedly creates Atlantis’ shield barrier, would have had a greater impact. In my review of The Crow, I talked about how the story was presented as a mystery. This made me think about how Vladimir and Dimitri are trying to solve a mystery throughout 1997’s Anastasia. If this movie had been a mystery where the audience has to discover Anya’s true identity alongside Vladimir and Dimitri, that would have been such an interesting and engaging experience!

5. What’s a Sign That a Movie is Going to be Bad?

I’ve heard that if a movie has red font in their title, then the movie is destined to fail. However, I’m not sure how accurate this information is.

Since I mentioned The Road to El Dorado and Atlantis: The Lost Empire in this list, I thought including this picture would be appropriate. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

6. What Movies Released Together are Basically the Same?

I said in my review of 1931’s Dracula that if you’ve seen Nosferatu, you’ve already seen Dracula. Therefore, these are the films I’m choosing for this question. If you’d like to hear my thoughts on both films, I’ll provide the links to them in this list.

Take 3: Nosferatu Review (A Month Without the Code — #1)

Take 3: Dracula (1931) Review + 180 Follower Thank You

7. What Franchise Was Milked/Is Being Milked Too Much?

I have three answers for this question. They are the following:

From 2008 to 2019, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has, for the most part, been a well-executed concept. Each character, story, and film was delivered at a specific time for a specific reason. After the release of Avengers: Endgame, it seems like Disney and Marvel are just desperate to keep their ship afloat. Instead of relying on a pre-created game plan, it feels like they are throwing anything and everything at a wall, in an attempt to find something that sticks. I haven’t seen any of Marvel’s projects post Avengers: Endgame. But based on what I’ve heard, the overall quality is much lower than the studio’s earlier entries.

If you’ve been following my blog, you would know that I stopped watching Hallmark’s Good Witch series after the premiere of Good Witch: Spellbound. Based on what I’ve heard from people who continued to watch the show until its end, the franchise was milked for so long and for so many times, that it strayed far away from its roots. In the first Good Witch movie, Jake’s children, Brandon and Lori, believed Cassie was a witch because strange things happened whenever she was near. But the possibility of Cassie actually being a witch was never alluded to, as the magic in the series had been figurative/intuitive. In the show’s last season, Cassie and her relatives admit they are witches and practice actual magic. What happened to the Good Witch series presents one of the dangers of keeping a particular story around longer than it was welcome.

Hallmark’s Christmas line-ups are the textbook definition of being “too much of a good thing”. While this is a collection of movies, not a franchise, the line-ups have become bigger than they should be. In the early years of ‘Countdown to Christmas’ and ‘Miracles of Christmas’, both of Hallmark’s networks released a limited number of movies. Because there were fewer offerings, it gave the movies an opportunity to possibly become classics. When an actor or actress was announced to star in a Christmas movie from Hallmark, it felt like they were joining an exclusive club. With Hallmark creating so many Christmas movies and showing them year-round, their event is now bloated. I, honestly, have my doubts that Hallmark can continue making these line-ups as highly anticipated as they once were.

8. What Movie are You Surprised That Hasn’t Had a Sequel Yet?

I’m actually surprised 1989’s Steel Magnolias has never received a sequel. It is one of those stories where if you were to revisit these characters and their world now, it would probably work. So much has changed since the theatrical release of Steel Magnolias, so I’d be interested in seeing how the characters live their lives in the 21st century. The sequel could also serve as a reunion with the return of the original movie’s cast.

9. What Plot Twist Made You Shout ‘Bullcrap’?

When I reviewed Yes, I Do three years ago, I said that Charlotte’s chocolate allergy was poorly written to the point of appearing very unrealistic. However, I never got into the specifics of how poorly written this part of the story was. Throughout the movie, Charlotte said she was allergic to chocolate, despite working in a chocolate factory. She claims that when she smells chocolate, she knows whether or not it will taste good. Toward the end of the movie, Charlotte eats a piece of chocolate, discovering her allergy has magically disappeared. Meanwhile, Nicole (Jessica Lowndes’ character), has a strawberry allergy that is written more realistically. She even has a serious reaction after she accidently eats a strawberry flavored piece of chocolate.

10. What Plot Twist Would You Add To a Movie to Mess with the Audience?

It took me a while to figure out what my answer would be for this question. But I’ve chosen Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar. Toward the end of that movie, Oliver proposes to Shane at Norman and Rita’s wedding reception. What would have made the fans of the series upset is if Oliver had thought about proposing to Shane at the reception, but then changed his mind at the last second, deciding to propose on another date instead. Since it’s been three years since Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar premiered, fans would have had to wait for any developments in Oliver and Shane’s relationship.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Image found at https://www.crownmediapress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=143&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=series&ShowTitle=Signed%2c+Sealed%2c+Delivered+To+the+Altar

What are your thoughts on my list? How would you answer these questions? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

My Top 5 Dream Double Features at the Cinema

Two months ago, Talk Film Society asked the following question on Twitter:

 

“If you could program your own double feature at a movie theater, what would it be”?

 

For weeks, I’ve been wanting to answer this question. However, I was waiting for the right opportunity to do so. This month, I reached the milestone of publishing 25 movie reviews (my review of The Dark Knight was the 25th)! To celebrate, I figured this would be the right time to finally answer Talk Film Society’s question. In the days and weeks leading up to this post, I put a good amount of thought into the potential double features I would choose to organize. I didn’t want any of the pairings to be painfully obvious (for example, having two movies be grouped together just because they have one obvious idea or concept in common). The double features that I would host would not only entertain the audience, but also engage and encourage them to think about what they’re watching. Five double feature pairings will be discussed in this post because I want to go into depth about why I would make a particular pairing. Now that explanations are finished, let the list finally begin!

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The Road to El Dorado Atlantis: The Lost Empire: Different, but quite similar. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

1. The Road to El Dorado & Atlantis: The Lost Empire

For years, these films have been two of my favorite animated movies of all time! Also, in that time frame, Kida (from Atlantis: The Lost Empire) and Chel (from The Road to El Dorado) have become two of my favorite animated characters of all time! As time has gone on, I’ve noticed that Kida and Chel share some similarities between each other. I always wondered why these characters seemed so alike, especially since they were created by two different animators from two different animation companies. When I was thinking about what these characters have in common, I started to realize that their respective movies share similarities as well. These two movies being more alike than different is what this double feature would explore, whether these similarities were intentional or pure coincidence.

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Matthew Rogers (a.k.a. The Wild Boy): The tragic literary character before there was Bucky Barnes. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

2. The Wild Boy: Episode 1 and 2 & Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Ok, so I know this double feature contains a tv show episode, but trust me, this pairing makes sense. I saw Captain America: The Winter Soldier for the first time two years ago. At the scene where it is explained how Bucky became the Winter Soldier, my exact thought was “this is “The Wild Boy” all over again”. What I meant by that statement was Bucky’s backstory shared several similarities with Matthew Rogers’ backstory. Matthew Rogers is not only my favorite character from Little House on the Prairie, but he’s also the titular character in both parts of the episode “The Wild Boy”. The similarities between Bucky’s and Matthew’s backstories and journeys would be discussed in this double feature. Another point of discussion would be how providing an explanation for some characters’ behavior and actions can be beneficial in cinematic story-telling.

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The Dog of Flanders: Not well remembered, but definitely not forgotten. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

3. The Dog of Flanders (1997) & Tales from Earthsea

Last year, I was introduced to Tales from Earthsea and it was one of the best movies I saw in 2017! When I saw the film, the animation style reminded me of the 1997 animated movie The Dog of Flanders. Since the late ‘90s, The Dog of Flanders has held a special place in the heart. What’s interesting is I have heard almost no one talk about the film. The Dog of Flanders seems to be so underrated, that it has never been placed on a list of underrated animated films. Tales from Earthsea also seems to be underrated, as few people have talked about this film. This double feature would take a look at the similarities between each film’s animation style, as well as celebrate both movies and help them receive the recognition they deserve.

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Anastasia (1997): Familiar story, but creative execution. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

4. Candleshoe & Anastasia (1997)

Anastasia, from 1997, is not only one of my favorite animated films, it is my favorite 20th Century Fox film! While thinking about Talk Film Society’s question, I tried to figure out what would be the perfect movie to pair with this masterpiece. After some thoughtful consideration, I ultimately decided I would pair Anastasia with the Disney movie, Candleshoe. Both of these films share a similar plot, where a female protagonist teams up with a con-artist to pose as a wealthy individual’s long-lost relative. However, this is not the reason why I would pair Anastasia with Candleshoe for a double feature. Yes, the basic premise for both films sound similar to each other, but Anastasia and Candleshoe feel so different from one another because of the creative choices that were made. It’s inevitable that stories are bound to get repeated over time. The way that story is told, however, can determine if there is a new perspective that can be brought to the table. This concept is what the Anastasia and Candleshoe double feature would discuss.

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Happy vampire image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/several-vampires-ready-for-halloween_1317599.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/party”>Party vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

5. The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire & Queen of the Damned

Ok, so I’ve never seen these movies, but I’m considering doing a double feature movie review of each film around Halloween-time. While The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire and Queen of the Damned discuss the topic of vampires to a certain extent, I paired these movies together not just because of that singular reason. Both films were released in 2002 and they are non-canonical representations of their respective literary source material. This particular double feature would attempt to answer the following question: Despite being unfaithful to their source material, can The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire and Queen of the Damned contain any amount of enjoyment and merit as a film, not an adaptation?

 

What are your thoughts on my list? What would your dream cinematic double feature be? Please tell me in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

If you want to check out Talk Film Society’s website or find Talk Film Society on social media, here’s the link:  http://www.talkfilmsociety.com/