I wasn't that kind to the only other non-anime animated feature I reviewed so far, but I do like the medium a lot. So let's do another one of those! This time with animal companions, that'll help(?)!
I wasn't that kind to the only other non-anime animated feature I reviewed so far, but I do like the medium a lot. So let's do another one of those! This time with animal companions, that'll help(?)!
My History / I propose to stop that motion
Stop motion is a fun little corner of the animated film spectrum. My exposure to it probably started with The Nightmare Before Christmas or one of the Wallace & Grommit shorts or episodes of the Czech children's show Pat & Mat... it was a long time ago. I did like the distinct style it gave media though, and would say I have a soft spot for them.
Kubo and the Two Strings looked good but I guess I just wasn't in a movie-going mood that month (the upcoming Rogue One kind of held my cinema-focus I guess?), but I was quite eagerly awaiting its home release. Stop motion films aren't really unheard of these days, but they are a big investment of time and resources that isn't often attempted (successfully) by the inexperienced.
Plot summary / Stringent plotting
Kubo lives on the outskirts of a feudal Japanese village where he supplies for his bedridden mother by playing his shamisen (traditional three-stringed Japanese guitar-like thing) for the villagers, which enables him to animate paper and put on little plays.
Most of the plays are about his presumed-dead father, a samurai of great skill. One day Kubo defies his mother's explicit instructions to always be home before dark in an attempt to contact the spirit of his father in the afterlife by means of a festival (Obon) and is immediately punished for it when two crow-like witches attempt to kidnap him.
His mother shows up at the last second and magically spirits Kubo away with the final advice to him to find his father's armour.
What follows is a journey to the various armour pieces, but also back home and towards the acceptance of loss.
Don't worry, it has animal companions and songs! (Actually, one of those is a lie)
Corner 1: Adventure 9/10 / "This was where my father prepared for his quest."
- 🚀 The journey is such a traditional hero's tale. It's an absolute delight.
- 🚀 Wondrous sights, challenges, monsters, companions, revelations, personal growth.
- 📋 I guess sticking so close to the classic structure can make for a more predictable story though.
- 🚀 The journey is such a traditional hero's tale. It's an absolute delight.
- 🚀 Wondrous sights, challenges, monsters, companions, revelations, personal growth.
- 📋 I guess sticking so close to the classic structure can make for a more predictable story though.
Corner 2: Smart 3/10 / "Is this a good dream or a bad one?"
- 💡 I really liked how the titular two strings played into this. It was clever, fitting, well done and not foreshadowed too much.
- 💤 On the other hand, there are a number of dramatic identity reveals that are telegraphed so heavily that I can't really understand why they bothered. Did they really think younger viewers wouldn't understand?
- 💤 Also, the villains don't really make much sense...
- 💡 I really liked how the titular two strings played into this. It was clever, fitting, well done and not foreshadowed too much.
- 💤 On the other hand, there are a number of dramatic identity reveals that are telegraphed so heavily that I can't really understand why they bothered. Did they really think younger viewers wouldn't understand?
- 💤 Also, the villains don't really make much sense...
Corner 3: Heart 7/10 / " The end of one story is merely the beginning of another..."
- 💖 Non-violent resolution to the final showdown.
- 💔 Weirdly offset by the deaths that do precede it.
- 💖 The execution of and courage to go with a more melancholic ending.
- 💔 Established criticism of whitewashing isn't without cause.
- 💖 Should an Asia-fied cover of a Beatles song have worked? Nope, but it sure did.
And the triangle...
Wow, that's probably the lowest Smart score we've had on an otherwise high scoring film.
Let's look at the surface score...
- 💖 Non-violent resolution to the final showdown.
- 💔 Weirdly offset by the deaths that do precede it.
- 💖 The execution of and courage to go with a more melancholic ending.
- 💔 Established criticism of whitewashing isn't without cause.
- 💖 Should an Asia-fied cover of a Beatles song have worked? Nope, but it sure did.
And the triangle...
Let's look at the surface score...
48.06
Yeah, that about puts it on par with Iron Man, which it isn't similar to at all. Interesting.
Hmmm, what to do next... nothing immediately springs to mind, let's try another videogame?
Hmmm, what to do next... nothing immediately springs to mind, let's try another videogame?
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