Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

Genre

Adventure | Animation | Fantasy

Director

Travis Knight

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, Ralph Fiennes, Rooney Mara, George Takei, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Brenda Vaccaro, Meyrick Murphy, Minae Noji, Alpha Takahashi, Laura Miro, Ken Takemoto

Storyline

In order to defeat a vengeful spirit (Ralph Fiennes) from the past, Kubo (Art Parkinson) mush locate a magical suit of armor once worn by his late father, a legendary Samurai warrior.

Opinion

Over the past few months, I've become a pretty big fan of Laika Studios work, so I caught the chance to watch this as soon as I could. And those people did it again. In fact, "Kubo and the Two Strings" is an absolutely beautiful stop-motion film for kids and adults alike.

Just like in their previous films, once again Laike went for a different route, and instead of going with a complex story filled with dramas, they choose another simple yet quite profound story whose biggest strength is the storytelling. Actually I could say it is a brilliant tribute to storytelling.

Through the art of storytelling, the film explores a darker kind of themes - from death to remorse, what's the value of memories and how we can never forget people that are gone - is such a unique, breathtaking and quite sensitive way.

Another thing I absolutely loved about the film is the characters. They are not the typical animation flick likable character. Well, they are still likable and you can't help but root for the young Kubo, but they also are very charming and the characterization is so on point. Also, each character has their own backstory. And they fit it all in 100 minutes. Unbelievable, right?

The great writing is supported by great performances from all the cast. Game of Thrones Art Parkinson is impressive and so aborabe as Kubo; Charlize Theron really gives her best as a stern Monkey and Kubo's mother; Ralph Fiennes is simply terrifying as the villain Moon King; and Rooney Mara does a great job as the Sinister Twins.

Then of course there's the animation. A blend of stop-motion animation and CGI, once again it is stunningly breathtaking, each character and their movements look great, and it all looks very realistic.

Frankenweenie (2012)

Genre

Animation | Comedy | Fantasy | Horror

Director

Tim Burton

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Charlie Tahan, Martin Short, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Landau, Winona Ryder, Frank Welker, Dee Bradley Baker, Atticus Shaffer, Robert Capron, Conchata Ferrell, James Hiroyuki, Tom Kenny, Christopher Lee

Storyline

Young Victor (Charlie Tahan) conducts a science experiment to bring his beloved dog Sparky back to life, only to face unintended, sometimes monstrous, consequences.

Opinion

I am a Tim Burton fan, I really am, but I fail to see why others claim this to be one of his best - if not the best - works. Actually I don't really see anything special about it. Why is that? Because "Frankenweenie" essentially is just an average Tim Burton movie that doesn't have that something to stand out from the others.

Even if you haven't seen Burton's 1984 short on which the film is based on, I'm positive the story will sound familiar to anyone because it is an adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic "Frankenstein", only having a boy resurrecting his dog instead of a scientist resurrecting a dead body. And it's a great way to go if you want to introduce a classic to kids. But then Disney stepped in, and ruined everything.

I am not saying Disney can't make good films, but I just don't think Disney and horror make a great pair. They are more family comedy oriented that horror oriented, and the story - especially the ending - suffered from that. Who is to be blamed? Tim Burton, of course. He should have never signed with Disney in the first place.

The film also suffers from the lack of character development, not to mention that it is supposed to be a comedy but there is little to laugh at as the humour is quite mild.

However, despite everything, I have to admit that the story is quite well paced and has some genuine suspense that keeps you watching the film. Some other positive notes are the use of black and white instead of colours, the stop-motion animation, obviously, and the voice cast who overall does a good job.

ParaNorman (2012)

Genre

Animation | Comedy | Horror

Directors

Chris Butler | Sam Fell

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jodelle Ferland, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann, Jeff Garlin, Elaine Stritch, Bernard Hill, John Goodman, Tempestt Bledsoe, Alex Borstein

Storyline

In the town of Blithe Hollow, Norman (Kodi Smit-McPhee), a young boy who can speak to the dead, takes on ghosts, zombies and adults to save his town from a curse.

Opinion

After watching the great "Coraline" and "The Boxtrolls" I wasn't expecting anything less from this, and, even though I have to admit the trailers didn't capture my interest, Laika Studio did not disappoint. Second feature of the studios, "ParaNorman" is in fact another witty, beautifully animated and enjoyable zombie flick for kids. And adults too.

Written by co-director Chris Butler, the story isn't really that original, but it is the way it is developed and the funny characters that make the difference and how the Butler decided to handle it. The idea of mixing together comedy and horror is brilliant and results into a fun, deep story that goes beyond zombies and ghosts, but that still is a great way for kids to enjoy a zombie flick.

Also making a difference is the core message of the film. Even though it's not very original, and it's pretty much the same Laika have delivered in their other two pictures, between a funny moment and a little, appropriate scare, the film says that there is nothing wrong in being different and that we should embrace those who are different from us, not fear them.

Just like the other two films, the stop-motion animation of this film is simply amazing and its weird-looking characters and set design only adds originality to the film. Worth of a mention is also the incredible job the voice cast does in here as each of the actors provided their personalities to the characters and really brought them to life.

Coraline (2009)

Genre

Animation | Fantasy | Horror

Director

Henry Selick

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, John Hodgman, John Linnell, Ian McShane, Keith David, Robert Bailey Jr., Caroline Crawford

Storyline

Coraline (Dakota Fanning), a young, adventurous girl, finds another world, a much better alternate version of her life, but nothing is really like it seems. 

Opinion

A few weeks ago I watched "The Boxtrolls" and it was so good I decided to give the other films from Laika a try, starting of course from their first film. And let me say it, they started off pretty well with "Coraline", a creepy yet delightful fantasy with stunning animation.

Based on Neil Gaiman's novel of the same name, the story is a dark fairy tale suitable for all ages. It has some genuinely scary moments and a sense of creepiness that can be perceived since the very beginning, but that's what makes the film so enjoyable and hauntingly beautiful.

Henry Selick, director of "The Nightmare Before Christmas", once again takes us to a wonderful world, and arguably did the right thing when he decided to go for stop-motion animation in a computer-generated world. This indeed is what provides the film with even more magic as it is incredibly fascinating to look at all the minute details.

Other than being a visual masterpiece, "Coraline" also delivers a message for children and adults alike through the passage of the protagonist through that door. Often we believe what's on the other side it's better, that's the reality we wants to live in, but as soon as we find ourselves living that reality we actually realise that it's not all roses, that this better version is not better at all. The message being, we should appreciate what we have and make the best out of it.

The film can also claim a great work from its voice cast. First up Dakota Fanning, who proves she is a great voice actress in the leading role of Coraline. Teri Hatcher is simply flawless in the role of the Mother, both of them. And of course let's not forget about Keith David's excellent performance as the cast.

The Boxtrolls (2014)

Genre

Adventure | Animation | Comedy

Directors

Graham Annable | Anthony Stacchi

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Elle Fanning, Ben Kingsley, Toni Collette, Jared Harris, Nick Frost, Richard Ayoade, Tracy Morgan, Simon Pegg, Dee Bradley Baker, Steve Blum

Storyline

A young orphaned boy (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) raised by underground cave-dwelling trash collectors tries to save his friends from an evil exterminator (Ben Kingsley).

Opinion

In a world where animation basically means Pixar, Disney or DreamWorks, this film, Laika's third film, captured my attention with its being different. Having not seen neither "Coraline" nor "Paranorman", I didn't know exactly what to expect, other than the film to be good because of the nominations it got, but I really liked what I saw. "The Boxtrolls" indeed is maybe dark, but very fun, charming and entertaining animation flick.

Based on the children's book "Here Be Monsters" of which I've never heard of, the story is simple yet quirky, smart and original. Sure, it does have some plot holes and some things don't make a lot of sense, but it's still above-average, and the storytelling is beautiful.

Along with the original story go original characters, the Boxtrolls. They were developed in a different, unique way because of their limited form of communication but they are just adorable, and even though they are just a bunch of indistinguible characters, it comes natural to pick their side.

However, the over-the-top villains are the most interesting and fun, maybe because they are lead by Ben Kingsley's Snatcher, a hideous, diabolic man who wants to exterminate the Boxtrolls.

Maybe "The Boxtrolls" is a little too dark for kids, but it deals with some themes quite well. It teaches not to be afraid of what we don't know or understand, but, more important, not to judge someone or something based on what other people say. The film in fact shows how easily people are manipulated, and how they choose not to think for themselves. That's our society in other words.

Having not seen the previous films from Laika, it took me a while to get used to it, but eventually I've fallen in love with this film's stop-motion animation which is simply amazing. 

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Genre

Animation | Fantasy | Musical

Director

Henry Selick

Country

USA

Voice Cast

Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix, Ken Page, Ed Ivory, Paul Reubens, Kerry Katz, June Foray, Randy Crenshaw, Debi Durst, Rob Paulsen, Sherwood Ball, Greg Proops, Patrick Stewart

Storyline

Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon) is in a dark Halloweentown all of the time and wants something a little more cheery to balance his life experience. He stumbles upon Christmas town and this is just what the doctor ordered. He is so elated with his new feelings that he tries to share them with his Halloweentown citizens. But the atmosphere is not conducive to Jack's newfound sensibility.

Opinion

Like I said yesterday I'm no big fan of Christmas. Same goes with Christmas movies that tend to be too sugary or filled with slapstick comedy: they usually go to one side or the other. But this is Tim Burton's, needles to say it is not your typical Christmas flick.

Visually spectacular, The Nightmare Before Christmas is a delightful musical that tells a children's tale in a Gothic style.

Twenty-two years later, the film, created by creative genius Tim Burton and directed to perfection by Henry Sellick, still has that charm that has assured it a special place among the Christmas classics.

Seemingly quite simple, the story turns out to be very complex and deals with themes such as identity crisis, and, most important, the value of your background. It makes us realize that the things we have are far better than we think, and that sometimes we think something is better than what we have just because it's different.

The characters are extraordinary rich in characteristics - after all Tim Burton created them - and, despite the look, there are no evil monsters in the film - maybe Oogie Boogie man is an exception -, but only "people" with feelings, capable of helping other and loving.

The stop-motion animation is both captivating and sinister: the background landscape seems one of a fairy tale, and the character are horrifically stunning; the original soundtrack is spectacular: animated films can rarely claim such beautiful and captivating songs; and the vocal cast is excellent.

Definitely worth watching. If you have kids, just make sure they are not too young or they may be disturbed by some scenes like Santa Claus being tortured by the Oogie Boogie Man. Or children having a frightening experience with Christmas presents.