Kubo and the Two Strings

[canofhumdingers]

This preview was attached to The Force Awakens on my fourth (yes, I really liked TFA...) viewing.

I'd never heard of it before then but it looks quite interesting and I thought it might appeal to members here...

[Dai]

That looks great. There were a few moments where I couldn't tell if it was stop-motion enhanced with CG or full CG.

[Rody]

I've heard of Laika's films before (Paranorman & The Boxtrolls), but despite the neat-looking animation the films didn't catch my interest.
This one has. I may have to get to the theater for it!

[lhb412]

This film looks fantastic! I wish Laika was doing an Usagi Yojimbo movie!

[mr.negativity]

Matthew McConaughey and Charlize Theron lead the voice cast of LAIKA's latest stop-motion film.

[lhb412]

This movie just looks cooler and cooler!

[lhb412]

I'm gonna try to see this soon: it looks absolutely astounding!

[Rody]

[lhb412]

I wanna see it for the 'largest stop motion puppet ever built' alone.

[Psycho Soldier]

The marketing completely passed me by, though I've seen the movie's name bandied about earlier here and elsewhere. I think I'd better see it before it leaves theaters, if I can. It looks strange and interesting. And I agree with lhb about the puppet.

[Dr Kain]

Yeah, they did a poor job marketing this movie. It was amazing and one of the best movies of the year. It's right up there with The Nice Guys and Civil War for being the best movie of the year. It is even better than Zootopia. And yes, the Gashadokuro puppet is down right amazing and they show them working on that scene during the end credits.

[jellydonut25]

I'd hope it's a LOT better than Civil War

[Dr Kain]

[canofhumdingers]

Wow, I didn't even realize this was stop motion. I just assumed it was cg like every cartoon these days and was just waiting to Netflix it. Now I kinda do want to see it in a theater, to support the art of practical film making if nothing else.

[Psycho Soldier]

Saw it today and was extremely impressed. I don't usually go to or watch stop-motion family movies, but I'm glad I made an exception for this one. It looks great, it's well acted, and it succeeds on the strength of its script and the emotions bound up in it. It's quite a bit sadder than you might expect, but that gives the film its power. I got more out of it than I did out of Zootopia and The Jungle Book, even though those films are also great.

[Gwangi]

As a stop-motion fan, I will usually say that I'm am looking very forward to seeing this. I've heard it described as a Kurosawa film in stop-motion animation! However, more importantly, I am hearing that it has a great story line. A very good narrative, combined with some great animation, is what is making this film a winner. Certainly, I can't wait to see it.

[lhb412]

Just saw it: absolutely spectacular! On a visual level it was sumptuous, with some of the best stop-motion I've ever seen. The character designs were fantastic and clever (Beetle's pincers becoming the horns of a samurai helmet, the various swords sticking out the skeleton's head being like a spiky haircut, etc.), and even the music was great - ending with a very pretty George Harrison cover!

And past the film's aesthetic appeal, it was simply a good story with likable characters. You see a lot of celebs phoning it in with animated films, but that's not the case with Theron and McConaughey here. They do seller work. I can't not rate a film that makes me cry highly, and this one had me tearing up at several places. In that capacity they may have out-Pixared Pixar!

- and if you're not one to usually go for kids animated films: this is far more of a fantasy adventure movie than a talking animal picture. More Journey to the West and less Finding Nemo.

[klen7]

Saw this today. From a technical perspective there is a lot to appreciate. From a technical aspect it's a great film.

But I didn't think it was "enjoyable" and not really for kids. It probably didn't help that my kid was bored out of her mind for most of the film. It felt like the movie was 70% second act, the plot (especially the ending) was a little convoluted for how simple it was, and the PG rating only confused things because major characters die off screen, never to be seen again. This is fine for adult audiences, but doesn't work for the age group typically targeted by PG films. This is most apparent at the end of the second act when the strings break and then magic hand waves the plot forward.

Overall I am torn between technical (9/10) and the "heart" of the film (5/10). The skeleton sequence was cool, the origami sequences were fun, but I didn't get the emotional connection that it seems most got from this film.

[lhb412]

^It may be an exaggeration to say this film had me balling like a baby, but I was certainly a good way there.

I also liked the mythical structure of the story. I really appreciated the film's decision to not try to reinvent the wheel and stick to a tried-and-true classical format.

[Dr Kain]

[klen7]

With one exception every single character dies off screen.



I think I have been posting on this forum long enough that you should know I adore movies that make children think, but I felt this movie would have been better served not magicking away it's conflicts. Maybe I didn't understand the grandfather's motivation, or what he represented, so part of what I thought was a weak ending is on me.

I came out if this movie with such a wildly differing opinion from people I normally agree with that I plan to revisit it and try and figure out what I missed.

[lhb412]

^

[Rody]

I went to see it with family last night.
Kubo and the Two Strings is a technically magnificent movie with a heartfelt story - albeit one that's rough around the edges. The first act of the film is touching and charming, while the second act is stocked with action pieces, and the third act brings the (mostly) appropriate emotional climax. More of that in a bit.
The first act does a great job setting up the characters of Kubo and his mother; their relationship is utterly loving, but also tinged with sadness. That sense of melancholy remains throughout the film, and it's one of the highlights, in my opinion. Loss seems to be one of the themes; but so is moving past loss. When Kubo is forced to flee and go on a quest with the arrival of the Moon sisters (and their introduction is chilling), Kubo has no time to grieve for his mother; he can only press on in the spirit of a warrior. With the addition of Monkey and Beetle to his little adventurers' party in the second act, we get more comic relief to the story (Beetle in particular is something of a lovable buffoon), but in a few moments in-between battles, we see Kubo has also gained something he never really had: a family unit. Family is the other big theme of the film. Without blatantly spoiling anything, let me say that, ultimately, Kubo's battle is a family feud, with two opposing ideals striving to gain/retain Kubo himself. The motives of the Moon King and his daughters (the sisters) may not be as clearly defined as they could be, but their promises of immortality and perfection come across as...idealistic, perhaps - especially when their malicious and even emotional behavior may belie an all-too human interior. Such an intimate conflict is ripe potential for emotional payoff, and the big twist(s), plus the tragedy that follows, hits pretty hard - maybe not as hard as it could have, had it been a bit less sudden in presentation, but Kubo's grief in the aftermath is still very tangible. Yet Kubo pushes on still, to end this story - his mother's, his father's, and now his own. The third act's climactic showdown is emotionally charged on both sides, and the ensuing battle is exciting and slightly unpredictable.
If I had one major reservation, however...

In all that, I haven't even mentioned the art and animation themselves! This movie looks gorgeous. Besides a few obvious things like magical smoke or fire, it's very hard to tell what is stop-motion and what might be CGI. The scenery is fantastic, and character designs are distinct and creative. And then there are the monsters! The skeleton demon is slow-moving but imposingly huge; the lake eyes are creepy and otherworldly, and the moon beast is one very cool giant monster. Top all of that off with delightful origami magic and strongly choreographed fights, and this film is a visual feast - one that is a satisfying departure from typical Disney/Dreamworks-styled fare.

All in all, Kubo and the Two Strings is a very good film that captures a sense of classic adventure. It's not quite a masterpiece, but its heart is in a good place, and its just bold enough to combine with its beautiful visual design to be a very memorable movie. I'm inclined to give it a B+ - strongly recommended.

[lhb412]

^

[jellydonut25]

I saw this and LOVED it. I thought it was fun, funny, adventurous, and heartfelt...and all of that felt genuine and earned. I've been very VERY disappointed with Pixar lately, as I've found their recent efforts (especially Inside Out) to be emotionally exploitative with no agenda other than making adults feel nostalgic and weepy. This felt like a Pixar film of old, or just in general a kids film of old...one that isn't afraid to have dark themes and moments when necessary but also isn't just a constant barrage of melodramatic wankery designed to elicit tears. This movie knows how to be fun.

I'm surprised to see above that klen's kid didn't like it. I'd think with dancing magical paper and witches and beetle men and moon kings and MONKEY (Monkey RULES) a kid would be very entertained.

Definitely one of my favorite movies of the year in general.

4.5/5, up there with Nice Guys, Arrival, The VVitch, Green Room, and Swiss Army Man for my favorites this year.