Yes, yes, there may be spoilers. There may also not be. Go in warned. Yadda yadda yadda.
Unbelievable though it may be, we're only just getting 'Big Hero 6' here in the United Kingdom, and yes it's a fascinating movie. It was definitely better than the infinitely over-hyped 'Lego Movie', and even manages to overcome the horrid fast cuts that currently plague movies. Ah, one day they'll go away, or I'll go mad. For goodness sake, let the jokes land! And all the other emotional beats too! To be fair, 'Big Hero 6' does land the beats, but they could breathe better.
'Big Hero 6' is loosely adapted from the Marvel comic book and turned into one of the classiest Disney animations in recent years. Yes, it's simple, but it does land all the emotional beats pretty well and succeeds in being one of the most beautiful films in recent memory. Not just beautiful in stylisation but also in sheer visual splendour. Not since the glory days of 'The incredibles' has a movie been so gloriously beautiful to watch. 'Big Hero 6' isn't as smartly funny as 'The Incredibles' though, as so few things are, and that is its principle failing. It's not a terrible failing but it does sink it further towards a children movie than a broad spectrum family one.
At some point in the last few years a law must have been passed, dictating massive fight sequences in every film that can possibly carry them. Deplorable though that is, it is somewhat subverted by this film, perhaps under the happy Disney protocols that we so often mock but do provide a happy island of 'something different' in the ever shrinking pile of watchable movies that make it to our theatres. In this case, the great example is that the movie is climaxed by a rescue and not the prerequisite boring super-brawl you might find in a live-action superhero film. In fact, it's fascinating how quickly it snaps into a 'Fantastic Four' mode in places, the other false superhero franchise that has been under-served by the world of cinema. You see, the Fantastic Four aren't superheroes but really adventurers. There's a major difference. Don't tell anyone I leaked the secret.
The fascinating thing about this movie, reverting to the point of the blog laboriously, is not only the sheer bravery in building a film around a pacifistic robotic nurse and his 'patient', the young and brilliant Hiro. That's an entirely new dynamic, to my knowledge, and one that brings back the ancient 'protector' mode once so accepted in our hero role models. On the other hand, there is an awful lot of fighting so it is hard to depict this is a peace-loving film. Maybe that will ramp up in a sequel? There is a huge 'Fantastic Four' futuristic adventure shaped hole in the cinematic comic book based universe, and maybe this could fill it? There are also shades of 'Real Steel' haunting part of this film, especially in the robot-fighting prelude, and some wonderfully gleeful flight sequences reminiscent of how we would Superman to be depicted. Yes, Superman is also haunting this film, as is Iron Man.
Overall, 'Big Hero 5' is a good and well-made family animated feature film, and one with a heart of gold. There's quite a lot of action, and terrible fast cuts, but also some invention in the narrative dynamics used amidst some fairly common tropes. It is beautiful and heartfelt, but not as funny as it thinks it is. If that sounds like underselling, it's because the movie is a real grower during its runtime. You will love it by the end, and it will be because of an inflateable robot nurse in the wonderfully stylised San Fransokyo. Welcome to 'Big Hero 6', and lets hope there's more to come. I don't often hope that, by the way.
O.
Subsequent note: One more incredibly obvious influence is 'The Iron Giant', making a double Brad Bird legacy. There's not a better person to inspire anything.
No comments:
Post a Comment