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    Kubo and the Two Strings

    Reviewed by
    adamwatchesmovies@

    I seek out stop-motion animated films they come to the theater. They consistently deliver a unique look and more often than not, I’ve found that they utilize the 3D technology very well. “Kubo and the Two Strings” is no exception. While I still feel that Laika, the producers of “Kubo” (and the people who brought us “Coraline”, “Paranorman” and “The Boxtrolls”) need to work on punching up the humor and dialogue, this is a brave, mature story that is a treat for both children and the adults who bring them to the cinema.

    In ancient Japan, Kubo (voiced by Art Parkinson), lives with his mother, telling stories to the nearby villagers to earn money for food. Kubo brings his tales to life by playing his shamisen, a three-stringed guitar. Songs magically bring Kubo’s origami creations to life and this skill will prove instrumental in his greatest adventure yet. When the Moon King (Ralph Fines) spots Kubo wandering alone at night, he sends his twin daughters (voiced by Rooney Mara) to finish what he started years ago and steal Kubo’s remaining eye. Aided by the samurai-like Beetle (Matthew McConaughey) and his guardian Monkey (Charlize Theron, who also voices Kubo’s Mother) Kubo must assemble an arsenal of legendary weapons to defeat the Moon King.

    When I sit down to watch one of Laika’s films, I know spectacular visuals are just around the corner. It’s a given, but it’s such a visually striking picture that it’s worth mentioning anyway. You can look at “Kubo” in two ways. Technically, it's kind of a live-action picture. Physical sets and props are being filmed. Characters stand in front of real backgrounds. The textures, fabrics, and liquids are not artificial like they would be in an environment that’s created solely on a computer. You feel like you could reach out and touch the story and its inhabitants but not because the film is in 3D. At the same time, the film also has all of the advantages of something that was created whole cloth. Look at the character of Monkey. In most other films, she would just have realistic hair all over her body. That wasn’t an option here so she’s been stylized, what you see on-screen is a work of art, one that is unmistakable for any other. Most of this could be said about any stop-motion picture but in "Kubo", it's taken a step beyond. The animation is some of the smoothest I've ever seen, the way the camera moves, the way it's seamlessly placed in this world, it's something else.

    What impressed me most about “Kubo” wasn’t the stunning cinematography, the inventive character designs or the eyeball-blasting way that Japanese paintings seem to have been brought to life; it’s the story. This is a tale that perfectly recalls Japanese folklore, with Moon spirits, endless quests, magic, brave samurai, monsters and a melancholic tone. There are times where the story is too frightening, too intense for very little children but for those that can handle it, the film’s a treat. Kubo is not simply a youngster that gets swept away in an adventure that’s too big for him. He’s an active boy that takes his life into his own hands, a 3-dimensional hero capable of rising to the occasion and of making mistakes, mistakes for which he will have to pay dearly. I was surprised multiple times when this picture (the impressive directorial debut of Travis Knight) decides not to sugar coat things and instead choose the more intense, dramatic route. It's exciting, but it also dares to be sad and frightening. I focused on Kubo in my review, but the other protagonists, Beetle and Monkey both have a lot more going on than what’s on the surface and they’re so visually unique that when you see them in action you don’t know what you should focus on; the fight choreography, the emotional weight of the actions of how good it all looks.

    The film has a more serious tone (no fast-talking animal sidekicks here for instance) and my one criticism is that when the film is/tries to be funny it’s never quite as gut-busting as it wants to be. Oh well. On the upside, I think audiences will get a lot of mileage from this story. I strongly endorse this tale. Children, in particular, could use a taste of a story that does not center around a culture or a time they’re familiar with. I think the boundless imagination of this world will ignite new interests in their heads.

    Stick around for the end credits, as they feature visually pleasing bits of traditional hand-rendered animation as well as a short segment that gives a glimpse of some of the efforts that happen behind-the-scenes. It's not just neat. The scene they give insight on is one of the most impressive bits of stop-motion I’ve seen in a long time. I can’t praise the visuals of “Kubo and the Two Strings” enough but it’s the story, the inventiveness of it all and the chances that the film takes that really makes it something special. (3D Theatrical version on the big screen, August 20, 2016)

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    adamwatchesmovies@  22.8.2016 age: 26-35 2,866 reviews

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