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Let's talk about Bruno.
3 years ago
---SUPER SPOILERY TALK ABOUT ENCANTO----
--MORE ALERTS BELOW--
So, I watched Encanto by myself tonight and I can say ... wow. How formulaic. Like, this is a movie that has been distilled from an essence that was refined to a T that was extracted from only the most condensed layer of check boxes to tick. And I don't say that in a good way. And I didn't say that was 'all I could say' because I'm about to say a lot more.
I wanna start by saying I don't have a problem with the message of "be your wacky wonderful self" or "Family means Ohana" or anything about diversity or any other messages represented by the outcome of the movie. What I do have is the layer of corperate slimeball that just drips of lipservice dolling out the "need-to-have"s of the movie. Like corporations during Pride Month changing everything to Rainbow Flags and then as soon as soon as Nov. rolls around they throw it all in the bin in favor of a turkey and donations to conversion therapy centers. I like it when there's honest support on the books, not just for looks. When your message is your message organically because it is what you believe in, not because it's the flavor of the month. And I think that's where a lot of people will tune me out, think I'm anti- this or that-phobic because I see shills trying to make a quick buck off a movement and point them out for that. I'm not against the movement - I'm against co-opting. Do I think there are people at Disney who honestly believe in these messages? Yes. Of course. Maybe even some of the lead designers of the movie themselves can get up on stage and do the whole song and dance because they *are* the whole song and dance. Do I think the talking heads could care less if it means they get their paycheck? No, I don't think they could.
--LAST CHANCE TO TURN AWAY BEFORE SPOILERS START--
So I've done enough "I'm not x-ist, but-" so I might as well lay my issues bear. My first and biggest recoil was the Grandmother. Hooooo-boy. Let me start by saying I watched the hell out of Moana and Coco. Two so much better movies that this movie feels like it was the kid outside the building cribbing notes from those two movie's slide shows before his own powerpoint was suppose to be presented in like 30 minutes. Both of them had the super stern parental figure who was no-nonsense, all for getting along *in the traditional way.* In so much that they are the tradition you better get in step. But they were both rich, warm and loving... they just had their own way of showing it. Abuela? HE-h. All of her lines could've been read as (muttering disgust/disappointment of Mirable) and/or (Glammering praise of anyone who ISN'T Mirable) and it wouldn't have came across any different. (up and until the out-of-the-ass finale, more on that later) She is literally seething hate for her own grandchild. And WHY? bECaUSe sHe iSn't mAgiCaL aNd-- sorry. I can't keep up that sarcastic typing for long -- and that's what MAKES her magical. She's *so super special* because she *isn't* special, and *of course* all Grandma can see is that she isn't special and that's worth cutting off all ties with the fruit of her fruit and totally ha-RUMPH worthy. Grandparents! They're just *so* out of touch with everything, aren't they, my fellow youth? ... I swear this is the modern revival of the "parent(s) dead" trope from old Disney. You got an older relative? Well, they don't get you. That's the end of it. And that literally is the end of it with Abuela. She is downright *cruel* to an extent I had to make sure she wasn't voiced by Eleanor Audley! ... ... you know, the voice of Lady Tremaine? ... the wicked Stepmother from Cinderella? ... well, yeah. G-ma is that level of petty, I feel. But Lady Tremaine was the villian! She was suppose to be unlikable! I really don't know how you can look at that kind of maternal relationship and go "yep. dat's a good family there."
And maybe, to a point, Aubela is the antagonist of Enacnto ... in so much there isn't a real conflict for 90% of the movie. That's my second major gripe. This was so clearly one of those "character is so anxious about their negative destiny that they *become* their negative destiny" stories. Like, even more so than the story of Oedipus. Like, as soon as I heard Mirable start sining about her desire to "shine" while the family photo was going off (which, btw - WHO THE FUCK DOES THAT. THAT IS SUCH A HARD SLIGHT TO MIRABLE. WHAT THE FUCK. ... it was such an obvious way to generate outrage!! ... and I was outraged!! Gah!) - right when she started singing I closed my ears around my head and paused the movie. I knew what was coming. She was going to "see" something and then she would run to tell the whole family and by the time they got back it wouldn't be any there any more and they would all think she was just trying to steal her little cousin's thunder when she obviously connects to him better than even his own siblings. I knew it was coming! But MAN did they lean so hard in to it! But the worst part about it is that Grandma knew! She *knew* about the cracks and she STILL had the audacity to go off on M-bel! Like, I get that there were a lot of people watching but you did NOT need to drag her thought the dirt like that. That just made your family seem all the worse to me! I suppose to the people in the film it was a mystery aliment of the house so there was some thing to fix ... but come on. ... it is so obviously "There's a wedge in the family and that's what's tearing the house apart."
... but why? Third(+2) paragraph in, third problem: for as much as the conflict is literally self generated by the idea that there is already conflict... the inciting incident and the conclusion just make no bleeping sense to me! Like, why did the house reject Mirable initially? ... guess we'll have to wait for a sequel to find that out! Was the the rejection because of the rift growing in the family? Because it sure seems like the rift growing in the family was because of the rejection! Why go to Bruno when everyone believes all he has are bad omens? Jumping ahead - the whole thing was wrapped up in a whole lotta nothing. There was no determinable reason for Alma to suddenly change her mind from shouting at Mirable to braking down in tears with her. She even knew that Mirable was safe after the house collapsed. It would've made sense if they hadn't seen her escape or w/e but they knew she was just running away. So what was going through A-A's mind during that time? "Oop, I saw how you really go after that candle there and despite me literally encouraging you to just slip in to the shadows with your uncle and ignoring your every attempt to just be seen and loved by me... I love you now. It's me, your grandma!" Was it literally just seeing the river again? Cause you know what, it feels about that hand-wavey. Story was like "okay, we got these kid's attention for another 10 minutes, tops, let's move it along." And what was with Mirable's "I see you now" line? Like, was the story of the miracle not told over and over again in their family? I feel like everyone knew the story. Was I missing something? tf.
So... other gripes. Mirable. I feel like she is just checkmark in the "nerdy girl makes a breakthrough" checkbox. Like, her mother has healing powers. Can't heal her eyesight bEcAuSe tHaT wOuLd TaKe AwAy HeR gOoFy relatability! (I had a friend who said "No, she can't heal her eyesight because that's what makes her so special!" and I kid you not I was waiting for something very similar to those words to be said throughout the whole movie. I really thought they would literally play that card just as directly as that. No joke. That's how sell out this movie is.) And like, all the kids younger than her really and honestly feel pity for how awkward she is. They lay that on thick in the opening song. So thick that they literally just come out and say it. No joke. Well, they're talking about her lack of a 'gift' but you can tell that this character is going to forever be "the cool *Aunt*." It's like they looked at a Moana cut out and said "... we can just re-do this, right? No one cares if we copy off our own homework, right? ... just don't make her as strong or independent this time. That's not what the demographic is any more." and stripped her of all her adventure and determination and just made her as mousy as can be like this was some 80s revenge of the nerds skit. The more I think about the other checkboxes that they look like they're trying to hit ... I'll refrain. It just seems like there was such a consorted effort made not because it was story driven but just because it would be another feather in their cap when they parade the movie around.
Overall... I sat and I watched the whole thing. I predicted something like about 25/40 scenes correctly. (I was expecting Isabella to confess she didn't want to marry Mariano because she was in love with his sister) ... but overall, I didn't hate it. If you really want to plop your kids down and do a little bit of international flair you should... probably go out and buy Coco, Moana and hell, throw in Book of Life in there. You'll probably get them for cheaper and you'll have more hours of movie for the little ones to watch. I cannot "meh" this movie enough. There has been so many better told so much more honestly. Just ... don't talk about it.
--MORE ALERTS BELOW--
So, I watched Encanto by myself tonight and I can say ... wow. How formulaic. Like, this is a movie that has been distilled from an essence that was refined to a T that was extracted from only the most condensed layer of check boxes to tick. And I don't say that in a good way. And I didn't say that was 'all I could say' because I'm about to say a lot more.
I wanna start by saying I don't have a problem with the message of "be your wacky wonderful self" or "Family means Ohana" or anything about diversity or any other messages represented by the outcome of the movie. What I do have is the layer of corperate slimeball that just drips of lipservice dolling out the "need-to-have"s of the movie. Like corporations during Pride Month changing everything to Rainbow Flags and then as soon as soon as Nov. rolls around they throw it all in the bin in favor of a turkey and donations to conversion therapy centers. I like it when there's honest support on the books, not just for looks. When your message is your message organically because it is what you believe in, not because it's the flavor of the month. And I think that's where a lot of people will tune me out, think I'm anti- this or that-phobic because I see shills trying to make a quick buck off a movement and point them out for that. I'm not against the movement - I'm against co-opting. Do I think there are people at Disney who honestly believe in these messages? Yes. Of course. Maybe even some of the lead designers of the movie themselves can get up on stage and do the whole song and dance because they *are* the whole song and dance. Do I think the talking heads could care less if it means they get their paycheck? No, I don't think they could.
--LAST CHANCE TO TURN AWAY BEFORE SPOILERS START--
So I've done enough "I'm not x-ist, but-" so I might as well lay my issues bear. My first and biggest recoil was the Grandmother. Hooooo-boy. Let me start by saying I watched the hell out of Moana and Coco. Two so much better movies that this movie feels like it was the kid outside the building cribbing notes from those two movie's slide shows before his own powerpoint was suppose to be presented in like 30 minutes. Both of them had the super stern parental figure who was no-nonsense, all for getting along *in the traditional way.* In so much that they are the tradition you better get in step. But they were both rich, warm and loving... they just had their own way of showing it. Abuela? HE-h. All of her lines could've been read as (muttering disgust/disappointment of Mirable) and/or (Glammering praise of anyone who ISN'T Mirable) and it wouldn't have came across any different. (up and until the out-of-the-ass finale, more on that later) She is literally seething hate for her own grandchild. And WHY? bECaUSe sHe iSn't mAgiCaL aNd-- sorry. I can't keep up that sarcastic typing for long -- and that's what MAKES her magical. She's *so super special* because she *isn't* special, and *of course* all Grandma can see is that she isn't special and that's worth cutting off all ties with the fruit of her fruit and totally ha-RUMPH worthy. Grandparents! They're just *so* out of touch with everything, aren't they, my fellow youth? ... I swear this is the modern revival of the "parent(s) dead" trope from old Disney. You got an older relative? Well, they don't get you. That's the end of it. And that literally is the end of it with Abuela. She is downright *cruel* to an extent I had to make sure she wasn't voiced by Eleanor Audley! ... ... you know, the voice of Lady Tremaine? ... the wicked Stepmother from Cinderella? ... well, yeah. G-ma is that level of petty, I feel. But Lady Tremaine was the villian! She was suppose to be unlikable! I really don't know how you can look at that kind of maternal relationship and go "yep. dat's a good family there."
And maybe, to a point, Aubela is the antagonist of Enacnto ... in so much there isn't a real conflict for 90% of the movie. That's my second major gripe. This was so clearly one of those "character is so anxious about their negative destiny that they *become* their negative destiny" stories. Like, even more so than the story of Oedipus. Like, as soon as I heard Mirable start sining about her desire to "shine" while the family photo was going off (which, btw - WHO THE FUCK DOES THAT. THAT IS SUCH A HARD SLIGHT TO MIRABLE. WHAT THE FUCK. ... it was such an obvious way to generate outrage!! ... and I was outraged!! Gah!) - right when she started singing I closed my ears around my head and paused the movie. I knew what was coming. She was going to "see" something and then she would run to tell the whole family and by the time they got back it wouldn't be any there any more and they would all think she was just trying to steal her little cousin's thunder when she obviously connects to him better than even his own siblings. I knew it was coming! But MAN did they lean so hard in to it! But the worst part about it is that Grandma knew! She *knew* about the cracks and she STILL had the audacity to go off on M-bel! Like, I get that there were a lot of people watching but you did NOT need to drag her thought the dirt like that. That just made your family seem all the worse to me! I suppose to the people in the film it was a mystery aliment of the house so there was some thing to fix ... but come on. ... it is so obviously "There's a wedge in the family and that's what's tearing the house apart."
... but why? Third(+2) paragraph in, third problem: for as much as the conflict is literally self generated by the idea that there is already conflict... the inciting incident and the conclusion just make no bleeping sense to me! Like, why did the house reject Mirable initially? ... guess we'll have to wait for a sequel to find that out! Was the the rejection because of the rift growing in the family? Because it sure seems like the rift growing in the family was because of the rejection! Why go to Bruno when everyone believes all he has are bad omens? Jumping ahead - the whole thing was wrapped up in a whole lotta nothing. There was no determinable reason for Alma to suddenly change her mind from shouting at Mirable to braking down in tears with her. She even knew that Mirable was safe after the house collapsed. It would've made sense if they hadn't seen her escape or w/e but they knew she was just running away. So what was going through A-A's mind during that time? "Oop, I saw how you really go after that candle there and despite me literally encouraging you to just slip in to the shadows with your uncle and ignoring your every attempt to just be seen and loved by me... I love you now. It's me, your grandma!" Was it literally just seeing the river again? Cause you know what, it feels about that hand-wavey. Story was like "okay, we got these kid's attention for another 10 minutes, tops, let's move it along." And what was with Mirable's "I see you now" line? Like, was the story of the miracle not told over and over again in their family? I feel like everyone knew the story. Was I missing something? tf.
So... other gripes. Mirable. I feel like she is just checkmark in the "nerdy girl makes a breakthrough" checkbox. Like, her mother has healing powers. Can't heal her eyesight bEcAuSe tHaT wOuLd TaKe AwAy HeR gOoFy relatability! (I had a friend who said "No, she can't heal her eyesight because that's what makes her so special!" and I kid you not I was waiting for something very similar to those words to be said throughout the whole movie. I really thought they would literally play that card just as directly as that. No joke. That's how sell out this movie is.) And like, all the kids younger than her really and honestly feel pity for how awkward she is. They lay that on thick in the opening song. So thick that they literally just come out and say it. No joke. Well, they're talking about her lack of a 'gift' but you can tell that this character is going to forever be "the cool *Aunt*." It's like they looked at a Moana cut out and said "... we can just re-do this, right? No one cares if we copy off our own homework, right? ... just don't make her as strong or independent this time. That's not what the demographic is any more." and stripped her of all her adventure and determination and just made her as mousy as can be like this was some 80s revenge of the nerds skit. The more I think about the other checkboxes that they look like they're trying to hit ... I'll refrain. It just seems like there was such a consorted effort made not because it was story driven but just because it would be another feather in their cap when they parade the movie around.
Overall... I sat and I watched the whole thing. I predicted something like about 25/40 scenes correctly. (I was expecting Isabella to confess she didn't want to marry Mariano because she was in love with his sister) ... but overall, I didn't hate it. If you really want to plop your kids down and do a little bit of international flair you should... probably go out and buy Coco, Moana and hell, throw in Book of Life in there. You'll probably get them for cheaper and you'll have more hours of movie for the little ones to watch. I cannot "meh" this movie enough. There has been so many better told so much more honestly. Just ... don't talk about it.
Once again a bare minimum movie by disney that has skyrocketed in popularity that almost feels like it just exists as a vehicle for songs that almost sound straight out of a pop-music album where key plotpoints are shown and then resolved in a single musical number
I know more then once that vibe slaped me. I still liked the movie, but I'll never say it was ground breaking.
Im sure everyone can relate to luisa and being under pressure, but to characterize her losing her grip by losing 'magic powers' feels like a layer of seperation that makes it a lot harder to see myself in.
but for me the only part that really stood out to me in a positive way was luisa.
not to say its "terrible ew dont watch it" but in its still in the category of 'id rather watch anything else'
not bad, but boring. and id almost say a boring movie is worse than a bad movie.
I took her flip out more like say, child that is doted on and loved for physical prowless, then gets injured and can't anymore.
But like I said, many will take different things from the movie. I didn't find it boring as I never tuned out. Predictable yes. But not boring. But then I was pricking it apart without the magic subplot for the more family issues displayed.
I will agree a boring movie is worse then a bad one.
Bad movies you can laugh at the badness.
I don't think there's a fandom out there that hasn't been ran into the ground by those same 'formulaic, check box required, safe' creatively bankrupt hacks.