Heyyyyy it's been a while, hasn't it? I got kind of caught up in school and work and suddenly I have three jobs and nobody told me adulting would be so hard. The trade off is that I am done-done university (for now) so all the blood, sweat, and tears I poured into my degree have finally paid off. Right? There are jobs waiting for me when I get out, right? Right? Guys?
BUT enough about me, let's talk movies (Lord knows I don't have the time to read). Today, since my kid movie reviews tend to be quite short, I thought I'd combine two movies that have absolutely no business being lumped together; The Lego Movie and Song of the Sea! But this is a good thing, and in no way shape, or form a move motivated by laziness. So let's get started.
The Lego Movie
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| EVERYTHING IS AWESOMEEEEEEEEE |
Okay, even if you're one of the three people who hasn't seen The Lego Movie (Phil Lord & Chris Miller), you can guess what it's about. And I'm willing to bet anything you've heard that damn song. You know the one. Here's a re-cap anyway, since this movie came out in 2014 (right? Feel old).
Emmet is your run-of-the-mill boring little Lego figure who has zero personality independent of his brand and follows instructions exactly. He is swept up in a whirlwind adventure when he discovers the Piece of Resistance; a magical item with the power to stop Lord Business from taking over the world. He is aided by Master Builders; Lego characters capable of building anything they can imagine, without instructions. Together, they help Emmet discover just why he is so special. It's a kids movie, cut it some slack.
What is fun about The Lego Movie is that it's a kids movie, narrated by a child. This isn't immediately apparent, however subtle inconsistencies in the narrative do give it away; especially if you've ever listened to a child try and tell you a story. The Lego Movie is cute and mindless, with a very generic message about believing in yourself. Does that make it bad? No, but it certainly won't be a timeless children's classic watched for decades to come. Definitely the live-action style of animation makes it clever and refreshing, and it is entertaining for anyone under 50 (too far past that and the jokes go over their head. You know, the way they do for old people).
Small point of frustration: it does fall prey to the badass female character playing second fiddle to the inept male lead trope, a trope that drives me absolutely crazy. I get it, it's a kids movie, and the narrator is a little boy, but honestly, this kind of garbage "that's just the way it is" mentality kills me. ANYWAY enough of that feminist rant. It's not a bad movie, it just fails feminism in a way that so many other movies do. And I mean obviously it was created to sell Lego. But like, if you can put aside your cynicism, you won't walk away hating the film. Case closed.
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| I don't know if any of you have ever taught children, but this is exactly what they're like. |
Song of the Sea
I kind of happened on this movie by accident. Well, I mean, as accidental as selecting to watch it on Netflix can be. As I recall I was having a bad night, and I live in this perpetual delusion that children's films are inherently happy. Never mind spending my childhood crying over Mufasa, or Toy Story, or Finding Nemo, or Monster's Inc. Those don't count. Obviously. Moving on.
Combining gorgeous artwork with rich Irish folklore, Song of the Sea (Tom Moore, 2015) is a touching look into family, love, and grief. It actually comes from the same director who did Secret of the Kells; a movie I am desperate to see, even more so now. The story begins with the idylic life of Ben and his dog Cu; they live on a small island with a lighthouse, and his childhood is filled with wonderful tales from Irish legend and loving parents. Fast forward five years; Ben's mother is nowhere to be found; instead there is his little sister Saoirse and the broken shell of his father. Ben very deeply resents his sister, presumably for causing the death of his mother, but must rescue her from the Owl Witch Macha when he discovers that she is a selkie (more on that in a moment) with the power to save the fae folk.
Now, for those of you un-schooled in non-Disney folklore, Selkies come from Scottish, Irish, and Faorese mythology. They're kind of like mermaids, except instead of being half human half fish, they can turn into seals by donning their special seal-skin coats, and must shed that coat to walk on land. It's pretty cool. Just like this movie. Ireland is a place rich in history, legends, and folklore, and drawing on that was a huge strength of this movie. It felt timeless; It could have happened 100 years ago or two weeks ago. Rooting it in mythology gave it a solid grounding, and inspired a fantastical awe.
The animation, like I said, is stunning, and the story is heart wrenching. It explores grief from a child's perspective, as well as a taste of adulthood. It combines themes of love and family with self-discovery and learning to love people for who they are. Honestly I can't rave about this movie enough. I won't give away the ending, but I cried. Hard. I scared my cat. It was ugly. Not the ending, my face. The ending was beautiful.
Now, I know what you're thinking; "Saoirse can't talk, she literally has no voice, and her brother has to rescue her. How is that not sending up red feminist flags for you?" Okay, maybe you weren't thinking that, but since I went into feminism with The Lego Movie, it seems only fair to delve into it here. Yes, Saoisre can't speak, but she isn't voiceless. She is as strong of a driving force in this as her brother. Yes, Ben rescues her, but the movie is Ben's journey. Saoirse is a character able to come to terms with who she is without much help, Ben is a character in flux who needs a journey, and a choice to rescue someone he hates, to develop. Her being rescued doesn't take away from her agency; Saoirse is the most powerful character in the film, her actions help heal the Owl Witch and her fate is decided by her. If you enjoy Studio Ghibli films, particularly Spirited Away or My Neighbor Totoro, you'll enjoy Song of the Sea. It's heavy stuff for a kids movie, but it's executed excellently.
Both The Lego Movie and Song of the Sea have their strengths, and this isn't about comparing them. They represent two opposite ends of the vast spectrum of children's films; light-hearted entertainment to deep, soul searching drama. Certainly Song of the Sea will age better than The Lego movie, but both have their merit and value.
And, for something completely different, next entry will be on Deadpool
~Sassa
