Received wisdom has it that classics such as Stevenson's Treasure Island are best left untampered with...unless you're desperate for a hit.

But DreamWorks (Shrek) and Fox (Ice Age) have thrown down the gauntlet to Disney in what was traditionally regarded their exclusive preserve - the cartoon feature.

So the Hollywood giant hits back with this rumbustious take on the traditional tale of Long John Silver and Jim Hawkins...but caterpaults them into the cosmos.

Fifteen-year-old Jack (Gordon-Levitt) has chanced upon a mechanical map that divulges the whereabouts of a two-ringed green planet awash with pieces of eight.

Joined by family friend and astro-physicist Delbert Doppler (Hyde Pierce), he works his passage on board the good ship RLS Legacy, commanded by the feline Captain Amelia (Thompson).

However, little do they know that the crew hired by Doppler is cut-throat cyborg John Silver (Murray) and his nefarious band of pirates.

This is Disney back on form with a vengeance. The writing is sharp, the plot loyal to the book and the swashbuckling special effects out of this world. Literally.

Half man, half Swiss Army Knife, Silver is a splendid creation - Terminator meets Captain Hook - whose complex father-figure relationship with Jack emphasises the human side of the film.

Thompson has the cream of the crop with a snappy supply of catty one-liners, while Hyde Pierce basically reprises Frasier's Niles Crane (but with a frock coat).

Adults won't be disappointed - there's a cheeky reference to Alien when Jim confronts the deliciously evil Mr Scroop below deck.

The decision to combine traditional hand-drawn characters with a background of CGI effects pays off handsomely.

Disney's traditional strengths, such as characterisation, are never overwhelmed by the 3D illusion, while the boffins get free rein to create a world more wondrous than even the Seven Seas.

Out of this world, Treasure Planet is pure gold.

Tim Evans