![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
the book of life and the day of the dead
Saw The Book of Life yesterday and it is absolutely charming. The visuals are absolutely stunning: so lively and colorful, and the crazy amount of detail put into each character and background is truly impressive. The animation to make characters look like lovingly hand-painted puppets with real wear and tear is remarkable, seriously. That's a lot of work. It's just so full of joy, all these explosions of color.
The story is simple but sweet: a tried and true theme of "true love conquers all", the selflessness of true courage and heroism, struggling to step out on your own from your family's expectations. But still it's an old story with old themes told in a very charming way, particularly with the art and music. Oh the music! Very fun and always fitting. Plus, there are lovely updates: I promise you, no one has to save the girl. She is no damsel in distress. And the romantic rival? Not a villain with no redemption! True friendship remains throughout.
I will note that I couldn't unhear Channing Tatum's voice, though, and that made Joaquin both weird and hilarious to me. The framing device is not my favorite; I felt that it could've been done better (Christina Applegate's narration just did not work for me for some reason). But overall the movie is a light, charming story with breathtaking visuals and details that's really the treat of the film. It's not a deep, weighty movie, but it is definitely beautiful and sweetly entertaining.
(There's already spates of great fanart on Tumblr!)
no subject
no subject