"Kubo and the Two Strings" Review

Title: Kubo and the Two Strings

Directed by: Travis Knight

Written by: Marc Haimes and Chris Butler

Year: 2016


I have been highly anticipating Kubo and the Two Strings ever since I saw the first trailer. One look at this movie and I was completely on board. The animation looked great, the story was original, and it looked like it could be a strong contender for this year's best film. Is Kubo and the Two Strings a fantastical experience, or does it pale in comparison to other animated features of this year?

Kubo and his mother have lived peacefully in the village for the past few years. However, the Moon King has caught sight of Kubo once again and is after him. Kubo, with the assistance of Beetle and Monkey, must find the three pieces of armor that can defeat the Moon King.

Art Parkinson voices Kubo and he does a fabulous job, able to play off the tenacity, curiosity, and strength of the character. Charlize Theron is marvelous as Monkey. Her deadpan line delivery is perfect for the character, and she is also able to evoke the necessary emotions for the heavier moments. Matthew McConaughey is thoroughly enjoyable as Beetle. He is having an absolute ball with role and provides a majority of the light hearted moments. Rooney Mara is appropriately creepy as the sisters. Her sneaking inflections and hiss-like delivery make the sisters memorable villains. Ralph Fiennes plays the Moon King. He does not get much to do until near the end of the film, but Fiennes brings his A-game. His portrayal of the character is very unique and helps flesh out the villain despite his limited screen time.

Something Kubo and the Two Strings excels at is exploring its characters. Every character is three dimensional, with a backstory granted to each one. The mother and Kubo have an interesting history with the villains; Beetle used to know Kubo's father; the old woman who accompanies Kubo in the village is intriguing; the villains have a mysterious origin. This world is brought to life with magnificent personalities, which is especially true for the main trio. Monkey, Beetle, and Kubo make for a dynamic and lovable group that play off each other incredibly well.

Kubo and the Two Strings is sporting a wholly original and well-crafted story. The story is terrifically engaging once the adventure begins. The Moon King wants Kubo's other eye so that he can fulfill his plan to gain control. In order to stop him, Kubo must gather three magical pieces of armor that are in different locations. This is a simple plot, allowing the world surrounding it to breathe and become fully realized. This basic story makes it easy for both children and adults to get on board with it. Where the film finds its depth is in the legend and mythos frequently on display, as well as the emotional heft the movie carries.

One of the most admirable aspects of this picture is its defiance to shy away from darker tones and material. This is a bold movie when its PG rating is taken into account. There are definitely some scary images for younger children, and several themes will either go over their heads or stay with them forever. As great as Zootopia and Finding Dory are, these are the types of films that should be made for children. This is a movie that is not afraid to take chances and seeks to convey messages that will surely stick with audiences.

As I hinted at earlier, Kubo and the Two Strings is an emotionally potent picture. From beginning to end, this film plays on a variety of emotional notes, striking each one with precision and grace. The first act alone has several moments that tug at the heartstrings. However, later on in the film is a fantastically crushing and heartbreaking scene that is perfectly executed. The use of silence and still images really hits home, making it the standout scene of the picture. And if that was not enough, the movie ends with an appropriately tearjerking scene that could even make grown adults cry. This feature is ripe with attitude and identity, being unlike any other film you can think of.

The stop-motion animation is staggeringly beautiful. The character models are very detailed and have brilliantly inspired designs. The characters' movements are smooth, yet distinctly stop-motion at the same time. CGI is also implemented many times, and it serves the film well. The blending of the two techniques generates a wonderful result and an unforgettable visual experience. The music by Dario Marianelli is more than suitable for the world it underscores. The compositions bring out the right emotions and are simply a joy to listen to.

I do however have two complaints about this movie. The first 15 minutes are a bit too slow. This time slot is dedicated to establishing the world, mainly by showing us Kubo's daily routine. It is very well done and the farthest thing from boring, but you really just want to dive into the adventure sooner. The set up is completely necessary and might hold up better on a second viewing, but the actual journey that the characters go through vastly outshines it.

My other issue concerns the villains. I love the design of all of the antagonists. The voice talent behind them is also on point and I relish every second they are on screen. But they do not have a lot of screen time, which has a drastic effect on their presence. We hear a lot of talk about the Moon King, but we barely see him. This would not be an issue if the sisters were featured more in the movie. However, since they too are used sparingly, the villains fail to be completely effective. If the sisters were given one or two more scenes to cause direct trouble for the trio, then this little issue could have been resolved.

Kubo and the Two Strings is a movie that everyone should see, not just kids. In fact, I would argue that it is geared more towards adults than children. This film features great characters, a solid story, wonderful pacing, powerful emotions, gorgeous visuals, and ear-melting music. Despite a few niggles in its structure, Kubo and the Two Strings is a near perfect film. The journey is emphatically engaging, mixing amazing action, humor, suspense, and emotion. This film can be compared with the Avatar: The Last Airbender television series in both its creativity and quality. This has easily overtaken the other animated features of the year and is actually one of the best films of 2016 so far. I urge you to watch this movie, because you will be rewarded with an experience you will not soon forget.

Grade: A