Really Surprised!

Purely Joyful Movie!

Absolutely the worst movie.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Review: Although this movie is pretty old now, I decided to watch it again recently, and I still think that it is a great film. The animation is top class, and the storyline is entertaining and enjoyable throughout. It didn't really smash the box office, after not getting a huge release but it's one of those films that is definitely worth a watch. It follows a young boy, Kubo (Art Parkinson), who looks after his mum in a cave after she suffers brain damage when she hits her head on a rock whilst travelling across the ocean. He lives a normal life in a quiet village, until a spirit returns from the past, which turns his life upside down. Having to escape from the village, to save his life, his mother recruits a little Snow Monkey, voiced by Charlize Theron, and a Beetle, voiced by Matthew McConaughey to look after him while he searches for a special magical suit of armour once worn by his father, who was a legendary Samurai Warrior. While Kubo is on his quest, he is attacked by his mother's evil sister sand his grandfather who stole his left eye. With the odds stacked up against him, the 12-year-old Kubo manages to get to the suit before his evil grandfather, the Moon King (Ralph Fiennes) comes face to face with him but the traumatic journey leaves Kubo all alone to fight against the magical warrior. There are some touching moments throughout the movie, and it quite funny in parts, so there really is something for everyone. It's a bit difficult for the kiddies to follow but the monkey and the beetle will keep them entertained. Although there are some big names in the cast, it seems like it got the low budget treatment, which is a shame because it is much better than the bigger movies that weren't that great. Anyway, I really enjoyed this film and I highly recommend it for the whole family.Round-Up: This movie was directed by Travis Knight, who also produced ParaNorman and The Boxtrolls. Although his previous movies were primarily for a young audience, this movie really does tug at the heartstrings, and the various cast members, all contributed something fresh to this original movie. The profit margin wasn't that great, which basically means that there won't be a sequel anytime soon but I hope that it's one of those movies that people will give a chance in the future.Budget: $60million Worldwide Gross: $70millionGenre: Family, Adventure and Animation Cast: Charlize Theron, Ralph Fiennes, Brenda Vaccaro, Cary-Hiroyuki, George Takei, Rooney Mara, Matthew McConaughey and Art Parkinson as Kubo. 8/10

Kubo, gifted with magical abilities and greatly taken with storytelling, discovers that his past (in which his grandfather and his mother's two wicked sisters stole one of his eyes) is catching up with his present. And so he embarks on a journey to find his salvation, accompanied by a monkey and an amnesiac samurai beetle.There is quite a lot of story here and, although it purports to be a film for youngsters, there is actually much here for adults. I enjoyed the story, which ventured into some unexpected places and was possibly a little dark and scary for the very young (the sisters are creepy, and some unhappy things happen to various characters). I particularly liked the ending, which wrapped up the emotional side of things well - this film does have some very emotional moments in it, so be prepared for some surreptitious eye-wiping - while not going for the full Disneyfied happy ending.Visually, while I would criticise it for being quite dark a lot of the time, making 3D viewing especially troublesome (and the 3D is quite good), the design is gorgeous and the animation - stop-frame, though it is difficult to believe that the water work is not CGI - is superb.The voice work is outstanding. Art Parkinson as Kubo effortlessly holds centre stage throughout, but Charlize Theron as Monkey and Matthew McConaughey as Beetle are superb. You appreciate that there is a reason why they are Oscar winners when they can perform like this with just their voices.This film is exciting, involving, emotional, and hugely effectively visually and soundwise. Go and see it.

From the storytelling to the animation to the musical scoring, it is amazing. Many animated movies are deemed "kid' movies" due to them being simplistic and always being wrapped up in a neat bow with everyone happy and smiling, but this does not do that. It accepts the reality of his final predicament and shows contentment with it. It is a great movie for a whole family, not just kids.

In recent years Laika has been developing a flawless reputation, similar to what Pixar use to have and their latest film is easily their best (or at least able to rival Coraline).In a small village in a world similar to Medieval Japan Kubo (Art Parkinson) is a young boy who tells stories for money during the day and cares for his mother at night. However, it turns out the stories that Kubo that were true and he is being hunted by The Moon King and his mother's sisters (Rooney Mara).Compared to other Western animation studios Laika are darker with its storytelling and imaginary and Kubo and the Two Strings continues that trend. The sisters are a wonderfully creepy creation because of the masks they wear and Mara's manipulated voice.As well having the best features of other Laika films Kubo and the Two Strings also works within the Disney and Pixar templates. Kubo is a fantasy story in the vein of recent Disney efforts like Tangled and Moana and gives audiences some great action set-pieces. Whilst like Pixar Kubo has the heart and some of the themes would have fitted in a Pixar film - Kubo's first scene was him caring for his mother who was in a vegetative state. It's the type of scene that could have fitted in the opening of a Pixar film - Wall-E and Up even did that.Throughout the film there is a thematic throughline of what makes a family with Kubo having to find out what makes a family as well as care for his mother. There is also a theme the importance of memory and stories and how they are connected. It gives Kubo a lot of substance.Although Kubo does stray into dark material for a kids film it's not without moments of fun. Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey make for a great double act as Monkey and Beatle, having some great banter and there are some of big action scenes include a fight with a giant skeleton and Monkey fighting one of the sisters who uses a Kusarigama.Kubo and the Two Strings is a great film, working both as a fantasy adventure and as something deeper. It's a great offering from 2016 which itself offered some great animated films.