BrendanW 
Animated films have been on a major roll this year. Even lesser films like The Angry Birds Movie (where I was expecting nothing) were fun little offerings while we’ve also gotten near-classics like Finding Dory and the excellent Zootopia. I had heard nothing but great things about this particular movie before going and thus my hopes and expectations were quite high. Not only were those expectations met but what I got here was one of the most beautiful and brilliantly-done films of all-time. I don’t care if it sounds like I am exaggerating here but in a year that has brought us so many wonderful films this one steps to the front of the line. This is my favourite film of 2016 and I will tell you exactly why that is the case.
First of all, the story is a major part of the film’s success and not only is it nuanced and well-written but it also isn’t too hard to follow for children and the story is so rooted in mythology and fantasy that it allows for more imaginative occurrences that the whole family will enjoy. Young Kubo (Art Parkinson) spends most of his childhood with one eye after the other is plucked out by his grandfather. He cares for his ailing mother (Charlize Theron) but soon must leave on a quest when her evil sisters (Rooney Mara) stop by and attempt to pluck out Kubo’s other eye so that he may be robbed of his magical powers and memories. Kubo soon meets up with a helpful Monkey (Theron) who has been brought to life by the last of his mother’s magic as well as a samurai named Beetle (Matthew McConaughey) who has been cursed with bug-like attributes. They set out to find Kubo’s late father’s armour and weapons so that he may stop Grandfather and the sisters from taking him away.
That plot may sound convoluted or difficult to follow but trust me: it makes a whole lot more sense when you watch it unfold. This is the type of film that is not only beautiful to watch and not only written with expert care but it is also a family film that never talks down to or demeans its audience. That being said, if you are going to this film with very young children there will probably be a few instances where they might be frightened, especially during a few of the grandiose action set pieces. There is one involving a giant skeleton guarding a special sword and an even better one later on aboard a ship made entirely of dry leaves. Kubo has a power that allows him to play his guitar and bring origami objects to life and it also allows him to construct things, which he sometimes does in a humourous way.
The vocal talents are top-notch. I don’t really know much about Art Parkinson but he is very believable as Kubo. His childlike wonder is captured in his voice and even though this is just a vocal performance, you can really feel the emotion come through the character. Charlize Theron is great as his mother and later on as Monkey. Instead of making Monkey a cute, cuddly animated character like most companies like Disney or Pixar would end up doing, we see Monkey as a fierce warrior with a no-nonsense attitude that she uses to guide Kubo through the rough waters and protect him from evil. It took me a while to recognize Matthew McConaughey but that is because his voice is perfect for the loveable Beetle character. Beetle is a little dense but he means well and is always good for a few laughs. I would say he is the comic relief but he also has a nice combination of funny and somber, of which the film knows exactly when to play those respective moments. Rooney Mara plays the evil sisters and is quite chilling and there are a couple of other performances worth mentioning but I don’t want to give away too much about the plot.
That is another detail about this film: the story is wonderful and extremely well-written. We get a few plot twists but they are perfectly logical and they completely make sense within the context of the film. Nothing ever comes across as cheap or needing to happen for the necessity of moving the plot forward to the next scene. The pacing is also very good as it is slow-building at first and then really starts to pick up as we hit the moment when Kubo first sees Monkey. Every character is so well-written that we even laugh along at the little moments and chuckle at the occasional silly joke. Make no mistake about it though. This film can be widely enjoyed by adults just as much as it can be by children. I have never been this moved by a film’s capacity for storytelling nor the methods in which it tells said story.
I have not even mentioned the animation itself yet. It is a beautiful mix of CGI and stop-motion animation and is seamlessly integrated. I have never seen so much painstakingly difficult work go into a production like this. We get some incredibly detailed stuff from the lush landscapes and backgrounds from even seemingly small things like the fur on Monkey. Everything is gorgeous when it needs to look good, chilling and dark when it needs to be macabre and beautifully lit when it needs to be somber and thoughtful. The animators that worked on this film ought to win an Oscar for their technical accomplishments alone. If this film does not win an Oscar for ANYTHING this year, it will truly be a crime against humanity.
Stay tuned for the beautiful rendition of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by Regina Spektor that plays during the end credits. The film couldn’t have ended any better.
Yes, folks, this is the best film of 2016. Your move, Next Four Months.
*****
Rating System:
* (Brutal; the worst rating)
** (Some elements keep it from being awful but still not very good)
*** (Completely watchable; a rental as old-timers might say)
**** (Great film with a few things here and there keeping it from being perfect)
***** (Flawless; a true achievement)
