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Disney’s ‘Strange World’ Review | An Ecological Sci-Fi Family Adventure

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Adventure is Out There! And “Strange World” is an Epic One indeed! Showcasing breathtaking animation, colourful visuals, heart, and a beautiful story about three generations living up to a family legacy whilst directors Don Hall and Qui Nguyen (who also wrote the screenplay) weave in an impactful eco-environmental message.

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ original action-adventure “Strange World” journeys deep into an uncharted and treacherous land where fantastical creatures await the legendary Clades, a family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest—and by far— most crucial mission.

© 2022 Disney. All Rights Reserved

Review

They’re The Clades!

“Strange World” introduces us to the multigenerational Clade family. There’s larger-than-life explorer grandfather Jaeger Clade (Dennis Quaid), his family-orientated farmer son Searcher Clade (Jake Gyllenhaal), Searcher’s wife and pilot Meridian Clade (Gabrielle Union), and their teenaged 16-year old son Ethan Clade (Jaboukie Young-White) who longs for adventure beyond his father’s farm and together with the help of their crew aboard the Venture, the Clade family alongside their adorable dog Legend, a mischievous blue blobby creature named Splat and the president of Avalonia Callisto Mal (Lucy Liu) navigate through this Strange unique world in a race against time to save their home.

This nostalgic homage to sci-fi adventures has a moving intergenerational storyline, positive diverse representation, and two adorable sidekicks throughout the film we focus on the family dynamic and relationships between Ethan, his parents, and his grandfather. Ethan is a typical teenager who rolls his eyes when his parents smooch, lights up when his friends visit and get completely tongue-tied when his crush, Diazo, is around. Ethan is the first openly gay character in a Disney Animated feature and the way it’s handled throughout is beautifully done. His queerness doesn’t define him it’s part of who he is, it’s refreshing to see how his family embrace him exactly who he is without question.

© 2022 Disney. All Rights Reserved

“Strange World” also challenges the father and son dynamic as Jager represents the old-school explorer wanting to venture beyond the mountains and ultimately leave a lasting legacy, whilst Searcher is caught between that legacy, and Ethan longs for the kind of adventure that echos that of the grandfather he’s never met. Ultimately this brings to the surface deep parental anxieties and regrets as the Clades’ family dynamic becomes clear. An adventurer expects his farmer son to be more like him, and that farmer transfers his unique expectations onto his own son. At its heart “Strange World” is a story about saving your home and repairing generational relationships.

The voice cast is phenomenal throughout as the movie’s heart and soul are its characters. Everyone from Jake Gyllenhaal to Lucy Liu was fantastic, but the standouts for me were Dennis Quaid as Jaeger Clade whose dreams become an obsession, he’s a man too focused on leaving a lasting legacy and Quaid’s vocals provide warmth, charisma which makes this grandfather a very relatable character. Jaboukie Young-White as Ethan Clade provides such a vulnerable and relatable vocal performance as a young boy searching for his purpose and Adventure in life.

© 2022 Disney. All Rights Reserved

The Descent

Strange World’s” visuals are vibrant and cotton candy-coloured as the new world comes to life around the curious Avalonians. The world-building includes peril at every turn. Avalonia is part agrarian, and part retro-futuristic and the technological society uses a newly discovered bioluminescent plat called “Pando”. These round green saplings give off electricity providing Avalonia with a new energy source. Avalonia itself is a Community woven together from a mix of ethnic cultures, the world is both a peaceful and quiet utopia. 

However, to save their home from dying they must descend into an enormous hole in the ground. the group all end up in a vast, hidden subterranean world where bizarre creatures, looming danger, and point unknown await the legendary family of explorers. The look of this “Strange World” harkens back to pulp-fiction magazines that were published from 1896 to the late 1950s. This world is weird, fun, and extraordinary, the artists and animators have truly outdone themselves and have created something truly unexpected as everything looks unique and everything is not as it seems throughout this “Strange World” trees may not be trees and mass landscapes may not be real, plants may suddenly take flight it’s a junglelike landscape composed of every single colour except for green, this place is otherworldly yet grounded. One of its inhabitants was the adorable and mischievous blue blob named Splat and credit to the animators who were responsible for bringing personality and movement to such a character.  

Voyage To The Heart

The environment is something that we think about everyday as we ultimately want our descendants to have a future, but in order to do that we have to realise the choices we make today will and can affect the future. Avalonia’s energy crisis is at the forefront with the bioluminescent Pando becoming the substitute for fossil fuels.
Family is central and each play part in this environmental story. Quaid’s character Jaeger wants to conquer nature whereas Gyllenhaal’s Searcher is the controller as farmers interact with nature. As for Ethan, he’s the conservationist and the character that ultimately drives the message of the story. If we take a small step forward, we can change so much and treat the Earth a different way.

© 2022 Disney. All Rights Reserved

Final Thoughts

The Fate of Strange World

“Strange World” overall is a must watch for the family this festive season, its an epic Adventure that’s fun, showcases breathtaking animation, colourful visuals, heart, and a beautiful story about legacy, and the relationship between a father and son as told through three generations that are surrounded in a relatable world with many issues that we are facing right now shown at the forefront.  The environmentalist-friendly story truly offers plenty of laughs and feels courtesy of Legend — the family’s big, lovable, three-legged dog, who befriends everyone — and Splat, the blob-like, being that Ethan discovers in the seemingly magical world. Both will absolutely delight of younger viewers and certainly sell merchandise. The score by Henry Jackman is thrilling and adventurous harkening back to John Willam’s Indiana Jones soundtrack. There have been noticeably little to none promotion and advertising but this being Disney’s 61st animated feature film truly makes for a theatrical experience.

Helmed by Oscar-winning director Don Hall (Big Hero 6, Raya and the Last Dragon) and co-directed/writer Qui Nguyen(co-writer, Raya and the Last Dragon). Disney’s “Strange World” is now in cinemas.

Click HERE for an explorers activity pack full of “Strange World” goodies!

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Animation

The Garfield Movie | Official Trailer — Starring: Chris Pratt

Animated feature film based on the popular comic strip about a sarcastic, lasagna-loving cat.

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Genre:

Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Release Date:

May 24, 2024

Director:

Mark Dindal

Cast:

Samuel L. Jackson, Nicholas Hoult, Chris Pratt

Plot Summary:

Animated feature film based on the popular comic strip about a sarcastic, lasagna-loving cat.

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Animation

‘Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie’ Review | A Pawsome Super-Powered Sequel!

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Power Up… “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie” is a Super delightful family adventure that is sure to please the young & young at heart! The animation from Mikros Animation is absolutely adorable and the story is impactful, highlighting the importance of even the smallest members of the team can make the biggest difference!

Synopsis

When a magical meteor crash lands in Adventure City, it gives the PAW Patrol pups superpowers, transforming them into The MIGHTY PUPS! For Skye, the smallest member of the team, her new powers are a dream come true. But things take a turn for the worse when the pups’ archrival Humdinger breaks out of jail and teams up with a mad scientist to steal the superpowers for the two villains. With the fate of Adventure City hanging in the balance, the Mighty Pups have to stop the supervillains before it’s too late, and Skye will need to learn that even the smallest pup can make the biggest difference.

Review

The Paw Patrol franchise is now 10 years old which in dog years can be up to 70 years old depending on your dog and with each instalment, children and their parents have been treated to exciting adventures, wholesome characters and cool new merchandise. What began as a preschool TV series back in 2013 created by Keith Chapman finally got the Hollywood silver-screen treatment in 2021 with “PAW Patrol: The Movie” directed by Cal Brunker who returns for this mighty follow-up. The films have broadened their scale and reach alongside their lesson-learning story-driven narrative.

Much like Chase in the first film battling confidence issues against a traumatic situation, here it’s Skye’s spotlight moment. Her merit and worth are assessed when fighting her insecurities as the smallest of the group, the smallest in her litter growing up. A challenge for her resolve, seeking and affirming her niche under these rearranged dynamics. The movie explores her heart-tugging backstory as the unwanted “runt” of her litter, whom Ryder eventually rescues. As the story unfolds, Skye realises that her self-worth isn’t tied to her size but to her inner strength and resilience. Returning writer-director Cal Brunker and co-screenwriter Bob Barlen add different facets to her arc to distinguish it from Chase’s anxiety issues. Her tiny pink bandana acts as a literal and figurative tie to her past. They include a beautifully poignant and emotional tear-jerking ballad called “Learning to Fly” from Christina Aguiler with breathtaking animation.

Courtesy of Paramount

This time, their mission holds greater challenge and peril — raising the bar creatively and delivering a smart sequel that features bolder action, bigger stakes, and deeper resonance for all ages. Like the show on which it’s based, the Mighty Movie focuses on teamwork, courage, believing in yourself, learning from your mistakes, encouraging your friends, and being a community helper. The pups each bring different talents to the crew, and they all work together during every emergency. They all discover they have a purpose, with or without powers.

PAW Patrol to the Rescue

Adventure City is safe and secure on land, at sea and in the air thanks to the elite PAW Patrol and their efforts to quell crime and avert disasters. Team leader Ryder is so confident in their ability to keep the peace that he’s decided to take on three young, clumsy and over-eager trainees: Nano (Alan Kim), Mini (Brice Gonzalez) and Tot (North West). Though the newest member of the pack, headstrong dachshund Liberty (Marsai Martin), Liberty’s character development delves into her apparent lack of a superpower as she’s looking for a purpose, is initially opposed to the idea, she stays behind to train the trio when the others are called out to fight danger. Little do they know a lurking evil is about to upend their lives.

From her lair in an abandoned observatory, scientific mastermind Victoria Vance (Taraji P. Henson) plots to magnetically harness a meteor and mine it for its powers. However, her plan goes awry, putting citizens at risk and the pups in its path. While Vance is sent to jail for her misdeeds — where she connects with the pups’ longtime foe Mayor Humdinger and his Kitten Catastrophe Crew — the patrol learns the massive rock contains special crystals that give them amazing abilities: Starting with teeny pilot Skye, who gains super strength and the ability to fly. The others soon touch their own crystals and find their powers: Rubble turns into a wrecking ball, Zuma controls water, Chase has super speed, Marshall can manipulate fire, and Rocky becomes magnetic. But just as The Mighty Pups are honing their newfound skill sets, a trap is set that threatens their livelihood.

Courtesy of Paramount

Taraji P. Henson is a delight as this film’s villain, Victoria Vance, with a delicious evil laugh. Victoria keeps insisting she is not a mad scientist. And fans of frequent Paw Patrol nemesis, former mayor and cat-lover Humdinger, will be glad to see him turn up as Victoria’s cell-mate, who helps her escape from jail. As I am in the UK our version of “Paw Patrol The Mighty Movie” is dubbed by the original UK voice actors from the show which I believe are Lewis LaHei (Ryder), Matthew Campbell (Chase), Jacob Baker (Marshall), Archie Flint (Rocky), Kit Gibbon (Rubble), Holly Thomas (Skye), Ollie Evans (Zuma), Michael Cross (Mayor Humdinger), and Mayor Goodway (Niki Felstead) 

The Mighty Movie also boasts impressive guest stars voicing minor characters, including Kristen Bell, James Marsden, and Kim Kardashian returning as pampered poodle social media star Delores and her children. In the UK Dub Two of Britain’s best-loved celebrities have managed to score themselves cameos in the film. The British radio and television personality Roman Kemp will appear in the film as Tony. Whilst Veteran newscaster and journalist Sir Trevor McDonald will voice the character of Sam Stringer, a news reporter. Roman Kemp will replace Neil Crone as the voice of Tony, Sir Trevor McDonald will replace Lil Rel Howery as Sam Stringer.

Action sequences and their aesthetics have evolved. Scenes that show the team functioning as a well-oiled machine are exhilarating, but pull double duty narratively, propelling the characters and their conflicts further. Mikros Animation once again has done a super job in providing the pups animation, especially when they receive their powers. The quality of animation is outstanding as they have improved the quality of animation from the first film by completely reworking their facial system. working very closely with animation and rigging, to produce a more efficient, good-looking and flexible facial expression system. The new costumes of the PAW patrol team are also incredible showing how the whole paw patrol has improved. They are cooler, more complex, but also practical!

Final Thoughts

“Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie” is a Super delightful family adventure that gives young audience members the fun of a group of characters from which they can choose their favourite, a reminder about confidence and believing in themselves, and a lesson in teamwork. If there are any families looking for a new movie to take their kids to, “PAW Patrol The Mighty Movie” is a great choice. The film is preceded by a short featuring Dora the Explorer about saving the egg of an alebrijes.

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Animation

Scott Pilgrim | Official Teaser – Anime Coming Nov. 17th [Netflix]

The titular slacker and in a garage band named Sex Bob-omb with his friends. His life is turned upside down when he meets Ramona Flowers, an American girl who is recently single. But before their love can blossom, Pilgrim finds himself challenged by his love’s seven previous relationships, and must defeat them in over-the-top fashion.

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Genre:

Animation, Action, Adventure

Release Date:

November 17, 2023

Streaming:

Netflix

Cast:

Michael Cera, Chris Evans, Brandon Routh, Brie Larson, Aubry Plaza, Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Plot Summary:

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