Movie Review: Pete's Dragon

There has been an absence of good family adventure movies of late but Disney's "Pete's Dragon" surely fills in that gap. Based on the 1977 Disney live animation musical of the same name, 2016 gives it's own spin with impressive (as always) CGI from Weta, oh you know, the guys behind "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit". It was interesting how they brought the eponymous "Elliot" (Pete's Dragon) on the big screen. Considering he is unlike lost dragons, you see, Elliot is a 28 foot green furry-yup, you read that right, -furry dragon.

At first, I wasn't so sure about the whole "furry dragon" bit, but then I was reminded of "Falcor" the lucky dragon from the 1984 fantasy adventure "The Neverending Story", Falcor actually looked more like a dog that a dragon, so okay I can dig the "furry dragon". The things about Elliot is that he grows on you, he's so damn cute, you'd have a heart of stone not to have a soft spot for him. As I was watching the movie, he also reminded me a green "Sully" (from "Monster's Inc."). 

I can't help but think that Weta worked on the greedy, ruthless Smaug, (a dragon of a different kind) on the "The Hobbit" and then had to go 360 with Elliot. I remember seeing a feature on creating Smaug, that each scale was unique and different. I'm sure they gave the same attention to detail, because Elliot was really, really furry. 

Sorry, I think I got carried away there, let's go back to the story shall we?

Robert Redford is grandfather goals in "Pete's Dragon". 

(Ahem). In the forests of the Pacific Northwest, there are stories of a big green dragon, with eyes as red as hell-fire, as told by an old wood carver Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) -who looks really old in the film by the way but has that sweet grandfather vibe so still heartwarming. For years he has delighted the local children with his stories. My guess is that the movie was also set in the 1970's, which is why children still gathered around for tales about dragons and didn't have their faces in front of hand held devices, which was refreshing. 

While the kids were entertained, Grace (the beautiful Bryce Dallas Howard) Mr. Meacham's daughter isn't so keen about these stories, she should know since she works as a park ranger in the woods. That is of course, until she meets Pete, (impressive acting from Oakes Fegley) a mysterious ten year old, who reminds you of "The. Jungle Book's" Mowgli, he is dirty, has overgrown hair, is dressed in scraps of cloth and can sure run fast and climb trees.

Grace takes Pete to town supposedly to turn him over to Social Services but she is surprised at Pete's claims of living in the woods with a giant, green dragon named Elliot and based on the description, Elliot seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr. Meacham's stories. 

Rounding up the cast of humans is. Natalie (Oola Laurence) the eleven year old daughter of Jack (Wes Bentley) who owns the local lumber mill. Personally, it's nice to see Bentley in a role, where he's not a psychotic killer (American Horror Story: Hotel), Jack shares mill duties with his shoot-now-think-later brother. Gavin, (Karl Urban). We love Karl Urban as "Bones" in the new "Star Trek" movies, so to see him play the comedic antagonist was rather refreshing.

Karl Urban is not your likeable "Bones" in "Pete's Dragon". 

Speaking of comedic, I love the subtle humor in the film - such as police standard operating procedures when it comes to pursuing dragons and even a golden moment when a patient falls of a gurney. I know, I know, that was mean but super hilarious, without trying too hard which makes it effective. 

I would have loved to see more badass in Grace, her character seemed like a perfect godmother in the story, it was hard for me to ground her, yeah the throwing of keys was nice but I would have wanted more of that. I would have also preferred for the last shot of the movie, to just be Pete looking up and just having that implication that Elliot was there, and then end with a big blackout with Pete's face happy, amazed and maybe just a hint of a dragon's shadow in the end, but then again, that's just me.

7 out of 10. The heart of the film, isn't about the existence of dragons but the love of family, even if you don't have the same blood flowing in your veins or even if you're covered in green fur. It's more than just the story of "a boy and his dragon" but a beautiful story about finding our families and keeping them and in these trying times, we need more of these. 

Pete's Dragon is in cinemas September 07. Photos courtesy of "Walt Disney Pictures" 

All Is Lost Movie Review

All is definitely not lost when it comes to the nominations, awards and praise for this movie which is another award winning movie in the American Survivor genre along with Castaway and 72 Hours. 

All Is Lost showcases man's perseverance for survival amidst the impossible forces of both nature and circumstance. The movie begins with Robert Redford's nameless character loosing hope and apologizing, saying goodbye to an unknown loved one. Then we are brought back eight days ago, to where it all began. 

Robert Redford (we never know the name of his character throughout the film) wakes up with a start as a floating shipment container hits his ship the Virginia Jean and water starts coming in his boat (think of Titanic beginning when they hit the ice burg) and this of course is the beginning of his insurmountable ordeals. 

The movie has no dialogue which gives more power to Redford's acting and why he deserved all those Best Actor Nominations and his win (in that category) from the New York Critics Circle. 
   
Most movies even get awards for the script and the screen play but All Is Lost had no dialogue but Redford was still able to deliver a powerful performance which really resonates throughout the film, even without words you know what he's going through and all this just through his great acting!  

Right after the movie. Two thumbs up - just holding a cup of soda from the Director's Club Cinema at the New SM Fashion Hall in SM Megamall. 

Redford gets through one challenge after the next displaying a seaman and a survivor's strength and resiliance. I thought that he was a different kind of "action star" on a league of his own (a different kind  of action star) from his contemporary Liam Neeson's gun wielding, bone breaking, threatening-over-the-phone Taken character. 

Redford's sea-savy character definitely walked the walk as he knew the different sailor knots and even knew how to navigate the seas using a sextant (and I actually had to Google that since I had no idea what it was!) and he seemed to know all the equipment inside his boat. I guess if you would be sailing in the middle of the ocean you would know a thing or two (preferably a lot) about sailing. 

One thing that I really don't get about American Survivor films is - why would you do -anything potentially dangerous and life threatening?! (sailing, rock climbing, biking etc) alone?! 

I really can't comprehend taking up anything that could be remotely dangerous (if not life threatening) as a hobby. Can you tell with all the movies/tv series that I watch, the books that I read and the music that I listen to that I am a home buddy?). Although I have friends who have taken up mountain climbing as a hobby I would not be joining them any time soon. 

The whole sail around the world alone or travelling in an RV or on a boat as an idea of a good time or even retirement is a concept that is very foreign to us Filipinos (so let's just keep our limbs and leave it to the foreign films). 

Our grand parents or retired parents are mostly home buddies who are happy taking care of their grand children.  

Okay enough with the personal thoughts on the dangerous side of things and on with the movie review. Well can I just interject that I'm so glad that I was in the comfort of the La-Z-y boy I was sitting on in the new Director's Club Cinema at the new Fashion Hall (blog post here) because I would surely not want to be where Robert Redford was. I would not last a minute there! 

Aside from the great acting, the musical score of the movie was also amazing and I couldn't blame the producers for wanting to focus on the musical score of the movie which was done so well it really does move you and tugs at your heart which is probably by the movie won for Best Musical Score in a Motion Picture during the Golden Globes and it's also up for the same nomination for the Oscars.