The voice actors (in spite of the casting controversy) must be given their due as well, especially Tran and Chan, who voice the protagonist/antagonist duo and share the burden of giving the film some semblance of emotional weight. It’s obvious the filmmakers had hoped for Sisu to enter the Disney sidekick hall of fame alongside greats like Mushu, Hades and Genie – but the character falls woefully short. Rinse and repeat. But at the end of the day, it’s still just exposition – exposition that directors Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada spend a notable amount of the movie’s runtime on. "Raya and the Last Dragon" offers another bold female lead from an underrepresented group and cute sidekicks, embarking on a stirring quest. The world's defining voice in music and pop culture since 1952. Her strong characterization in Raya and the Last Dragon is a large part of why my review is so positive. Raya (voiced by Kelly Marie Tran) is a young sword-wielding warrior from a long-ago realm called Lumandra.When Lumandra is threatened by invading monsters bent on destruction, Raya goes on a quest to find Sisu, the last living dragon (Awkwafina), who's believed to be their only hope. Raya and the Last Dragon movie review: Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina put their own twist on the Mulan-Mushu dynamic in Disney's latest animated adventure. Disney. Updated 1439 GMT (2239 HKT) March 5, 2021. As always, there's some gorgeous imagery along the way, and a strong payoff after what amounts to the episodic nature of Raya's journey. Reading too much political subtext into this movie -- which hits theaters in addition to Disney+, like "Mulan," at a premium fee -- won't be a problem for the kids watching it. ‘Raya And The Last Dragon’ review: a middling TV show masquerading as a full-length film. The pieces are all there, but the true measure of success boils down to how well you put them together. When Raya And The Last Dragon takes the time to ruminate on grief and recovery from trauma, it meaningfully distinguishes itself from the rest of the princess oeuvre.Just as unique as the film’s world-building is its sense of hope burnished by loss, not undermined by it. Photo by handout / Disney Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through our links on this page. In this action mold, Raya and the Last Dragon is an immensely fun and entertaining film even if its theme about trust falls a little flat. 1 / 11. Raya and the Last Dragon Voice Cast: Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim, Sandra Oh, Benedict Wong. Raya and the Last Dragon is a beautifully animated, action-packed hero's journey, and a great next evolution of Disney's modern-day princess films. Parents need to know that Raya and the Last Dragon is an animated adventure from Disney. Source:Supplied For all of its boundary-busting, Raya and the Last Dragon is a … All that is explored in detail during the film’s very lengthy prologue, which is told beautifully with animation that draws from wayang kulit puppet theatre. An attempted subversion of Disney’s traditional princess story that forgets the fundamentals. Raya and the Last Dragon - Review. Raya's father (Daniel Dae Kim) remained in possession of a gem that held the last vestiges of the dragons' magic, and dreamed of reuniting the kingdom. Her father (voiced by Daniel Dae Kim) is the Chief who hopes to unite all the territories. Raya And The Last Dragon wants to be a serious story about how terrible and selfish humans can be when we don’t trust one another, but that gets lost buried under the disproportionate levels of comic relief. Directed by Don Hall and Carlos Lopez Estrada and written by Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim, the film is … The dragon promotes the idea of trusting others, but Raya has a bit of history with the princess of the Fang lands, Namaari ("Crazy Rich Asians'" Gemma Chan), who is every bit her equal in battle. There’s also a problem with the movie’s tone. At worst, the structure feels akin to cherry-picking and mashing together key episodes from a long-running television series – which Raya could have been, given the sheer amount of worldbuilding that has gone into it. Walt Disney's latest animated adventure, starring Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina, is a visual delight but formulaic to a fault. Film Review - Raya and the Last Dragon Animated character Raya, voiced by Kelly Marie Tran, center, appears with Tuk Tuk, voiced by Alan Tudyk, in a scene from "Raya and the Last Dragon… Raya also thankfully steps away from the overly child-like character design of more recent Disney films – unlike Anna or Elsa, Raya and Namaari actually look like young adults. Their characters also receive the most memorable moments in the film: three thrilling hand-to-hand combat fight scenes that earmark their intertwining internal journeys. ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ is set to be split into six chapters, Alec Baldwin deletes Twitter account following Gillian Anderson backlash, Nick Frost turned down a ‘Star Wars’ role because the pay was “rubbish”, Janet Jackson’s life story to be explored in new two-part documentary, Lena Dunham secretly directs first film in a decade, Will Smith says he’s never met a smart racist. Raya and the Last Dragon begins like many classic Disney films before it: with a recap of the events leading to our current situation. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. The film uses comedy as a way to familiarise the audience with the increasingly farcical number of supporting characters, but due to the sheer number of them, Raya comes across more like an extended joke with plot points sprinkled between. Along the way, she unwittingly gathers a ragtag team of supporting characters, including goofy water dragon Sisu (Awkwafina), all the while hunted by a nemesis princess named Namaari (Gemma Chan). The film feels like a mini-series that you binge once and forget about (and its premiere on Disney+ won’t help matters). The worst offender is Awkwafina’s corny and awkward character, the water dragon Sisu. … The deeper message, however, involves the toll that division and distrust inflicts on a mythical kingdom, which gives the otherwise pretty-good movie a rather timely hook. Raya and the Last Dragon doesn’t waste any time in revealing exactly where it gets its inspiration. It doesn’t go as planned, he’s turned to stone, and Raya is set on a dangerous quest to track down the dragon who she believes is their last … Summary: Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. The clumsy, constant resets that Raya’s story is forced to undergo kill any momentum that has been built and undermine the film’s climax. Review: 'Raya and the Last Dragon’ is a dazzling adventure. In many ways, Raya is a freedom fighter or activist fighting to save the world at the expense of her own safety. There’s also something about Sisu’s dragon siblings, another thing about soul-stealing purple monsters called the Drunn, and, oh, about 500 years of history between the various clans. The standouts are the mouth-watering shots of different foods, from tom yum-inspired stew to shrimp congee. The titular Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) now seeks out Sisu, the last dragon, to rebuild the gem, destroy the Druun for good, and be reunited with her father Benja after the Druun turned him to stone. It's also a film that reminds you to not give up when everything else seems to be pushing you that way. Disney's latest animated film has action, heart, and introduces an exciting new hero. Raya (voiced by Kelly Marie Tran, who rose to fame as Rose Tico in Star Wars: The Last Jedi) is a warrior princess who sets off across the post-apocalyptic fantasy world of Kumandra, which is allegedly inspired by Southeast Asian culture. RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON REVIEW SCORE: 7/10. It's a win for representation, and the filmmakers took the responsibility of animating this region seriously, traveling to several of its countries and assembling a team of consultants. She’s on a quest to collect shards of a magical dragon gem from the five feuding clans in order to restore Kumandra to its former glory. Ultimately, it feels like inconsequential set dressing: very pretty, but not to be confused for representation or diversity. There are cultural touchstones here and there, like when Raya’s tribe welcomes other clans by playing the gamelan, or when our heroine wields a keris and Arnis sticks instead of a sword. The dragon, alas, should be the centerpiece of the action, and the design is a little too cartoony and plush-toy friendly -- less majestic and magical, at least most of the time, than simply kind of goofy. Raya (voiced by “Star Wars’” Kelly Marie Tran) is the young Princess of Heart. The film falls into a rhythm: viewers are introduced to a new clan, Raya faces a small obstacle but gains a new ally, Sisu messes up somehow, the group face a big obstacle, but eventually get the gem shard and scarper for the next land. Yet the adults who join them might find something deeper in the themes, in a film that's otherwise colorful, action-packed, and more than a little convoluted in setting up its premise. This Raya and the Last Dragon review is kind of harping on the subversion of tropes, but it is truly unlike many Disney or animated movies. But that’s the thing: the references only scratch the surface. + by Nicole Clark Posted March 2, 2021, 3 a.m. Raya and the Last Dragon will be available on Disney+ with Premier Access in most Disney+ markets, at the same time as it is released in theaters on March 5, 2021. And speaking of prettiness – Raya’s saving grace is its undeniably gorgeous animation. Raya and the Last Dragon Directors: Don Hall, Carlos Lopez Estrada Release Date: March 5, 2021 (Theatrical, Disney+ Premium), June 4, 2021 (Disney+ Free) Rating: PG. Raya is lost without her father and believes if she retrieves the Dragon Gem pieces, particularly from her formidable rival, Namaari, she can stave off the Druun and use the gem’s magic to bring her father back. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land Long ago, in the fantasy world of … From the photorealistic water effects and breathtaking landscapes to the intricate outfits and captivating colour palette, every frame is a feast for the eyes. © 2021 NME is a member of the media division of BandLab Technologies. Raya and the Last Dragon, directed by Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada, Paul Briggs, and John Ripa, and written by Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim, takes place in the fantastical world of Kumandra which has been divided due to its people’s lust for the sacred Dragon Gem.
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