Kubo and the Two Strings Review - A Mystical and Immersive Adventure

Kubo and the Two Strings marks a shift in American stop motion animation studio Laika's style. Their previous films, such as Paranorman and The Boxtrolls, were known for their macabre themes and aesthetic, but the world of Kubo is thoroughly entrenched in the mystical and mythical.

I know very little about Japanese mythology, but even I can see the influence it has on this film. Every element feels like it has a rich backstory; whether it's Ralph Fiennes' Moon King or the eerily atmospheric 'Sisters', everything emanates an enigmatic depth. Kubo most reminds me of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda; the epic journey of a young hero fulfilling his destiny through exploration and monster battling is particularly evocative of the series.

All of this is brought to life by Laika's spectacular animation. Much has been said about the film's opening scene, and rightfully so; it is stunning. Aardman's stop motion work is undeniably charming, but they have never reached a level of spectacle this impressive. The design, from costumes to environments to creatures, reflects the film's mystical themes with intricate detail. Plus, the use of stop motion over CGI gives the film a tangible grittiness that is impossible to emulate otherwise.

The weakest element of Kubo is probably its story. Whilst it is often compelling, and the voice cast do a tremendous job with their characters, the plotting is occasionally clumsy. Like previous Laika films, the pacing isn't as tight as other animations from companies like Pixar. It's not as easily distracted as 2014's The Boxtrolls, but dialogue isn't always as smooth as it could be. Unnecessary jokes are awkwardly crammed in, disrupting the flow and failing to justify themselves by provoking only mild chuckles. There's also a predictable 'twist' in third act which doesn't add anything worthwhile to an otherwise perfectly decent plot.

Despite some occasional hiccups in the story department, Kubo and the Two Strings is brimming with fascinating mythology and enlivened by gorgeous animation and strong voice work, making it a worthwhile and engrossing experience. Animated films are in a fantastic position at the moment, and Laika's latest feature is a worthy addition to the genre.

8.2/10

Comments

Is Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey?! Any Good?

Dude, Where's My Funny?! Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey?! - Film Review by Nathan Brooks Nativity's lack of critical success completely baffles me. I thought Nativity was a great movie. It was funny, it had more depth to it than most comedies and was overall just a fun movie. Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger's lack of critical success, I understand a lot better. I still remember it being fairly entertaining, but I was about 11 then, and I didn't have a brilliant judgement of what makes a good movie. Of what I can remember, however, it was nowhere near as good as Nativity in terms of story and character and basically everything important needed to make a good film. I also remember that they spent most of the movie in a bus. Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey is proof that the film makers have given up on trying to please the critics. This is an awful film. Nativity 2 was not a brilliant movie, but it at least kept me entertained for however long it...

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Review

Jurassic Park never needed to be a franchise. As a thriller, Jurassic Park inherently works better the more compact it is, so stretching it into multiple sequels seems rather counterproductive. Of course, I wouldn't mind if these sequels were good. Unfortunately, they are not. The Lost World , the first follow-up, does nothing new for virtually the entire film - only hinting at a distinctive identity in the final act. Jurassic Park 3 was even worse. The characters are so unengaging and the action so toothless you end it feeling like you've stared at an empty void for ninety minutes. Colin Trevorrow's 2015 sequel/reboot Jurassic World slightly reinvigorated the franchise with flashy new visuals, but it also suffered from bland characters and a muddled script. However, against all the odds, I still foolishly had my hopes up for that film’s follow-up Fallen Kingdom . I did have my reasons, to be fair. J.A. Bayona was taking over directorial duties and he's an exce...

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review - A Dazzling Celebration of All Things Star Wars

The Force Awakens was supposed to be bad. It's the seventh film in a franchise, following on from three films that were not well received and is (technically) a Disney sequel. I have now gone to see it four times. Technical Brilliance As far as fundamental filmmaking is concerned, The Force Awakens surpasses any of the previous Star Wars films. It's by far the best written Star Wars film, not that the bar was set particularly high. Still, it's a surprisingly witty film. Aside from the odd line of obligatory exposition, dialogue is very snappy, fast paced and unexpectedly funny. I've probably laughed more in this film than I have in many so-called comedies. While it's not exactly Aaron Sorkin level, J.J. Abrams’ fantastic directing and the actors brilliant delivery, as well as the tight, fast paced editing do help to elevate it. Speaking of the editing, The Force Awakens is also much better paced than any of the other Star Wars films. It's constantly ...

Search This Blog