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On What Raya and the Last Dragon Lacks…

Without the proper cultural milieu made front and center, Raya and the Last Dragon feels like another atypical Disney Princess origin story.

Disney‘s Raya and the Last Dragon is a very paint-by-numbers animated film which lacks originality. We are introduced to another princess with her pet, and we get to visit a distinct part of Asia! If I had to say which movie knows its mythology, Moana wins hands down!

The world of Laos, Malaysia and Indonesia is the spotlight and sadly, the missed opportunities I noticed are plentiful. The distinguishing features of each region aren’t really played up. The details don’t show how the people are unique. Each nation has lost their focus ever since a magical crystal that can keep the Druun–rejected shadowy entities from Studio Ghibli’s Mononoke Hime–shattered.

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Who’s on Second? Lupin the III or The First? And Landing on Home Video

This modern update is certainly filled with classic moments which range from this thief somehow losing his clothes, making grandiose escapes, and winning some innocent girl’s heart.

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Limited Screenings
Japanese Language with Subtitles
October 21

Please local listings for showtimes

Coming to Digital
December 15, 2020

Steelbook, Blu-ray and DVD
January 12, 2021

Lupin the Third joins the long line of anime heroes given the CGI upgrade, and honestly, he looks terrific! This master thief’s legacy will continue for as long as Monkey Punch wants. Whether or not it’s on hold since he passed away last year, I’m sure other directors have ideas on how to continue this gentleman thief’s adventures for years to come. But for anyone new to this popular character, I recommend checking out The Castle of Cagliostro (Netflix link) before seeing this movie.

Simply titled Lupin III: The First, this outing shows how this family line continues on their quest for the Bresson Diary. It was thought to be lost, but it has since been found. The actual book is tucked in a very elaborate clock-like tableau that, if opened, reveals notes to some ancient treasure even Alexander the Great would want. Well, maybe, but to say too much will ruin the reveal.

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[Fantasia 2019] When White Snake is Looking for Endless Love

Despite a very Hollywood style story and only one musical moment, the CGI and technicolour visuals in White Snake are gorgeous to behold. I will never tire of watching these films because of the exotic locales used.

White Snake Movie Poster — Available to purchase on Amazon USA

Distributed by GKIDS
Light Chaser Animation Studio

The latest animated film from China about the Legend of the White Snake is making its rounds at film festivals, like Fantasia 2019. As a prequel, the setup is simplified. White Snake (白蛇) defines Xiao Bai as the main character. Her story is familiar, and is no different in scope when compared to William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

This computer animated work is very Disney-esque–complete with the prerequisite sidekick comic relief. When a medicine-man (not wanting to be a snake catcher) Xian (Tianxiang Yang) rescues Bai (Zhang Zhe), her amnesia results in her having to figure out who she is. The story begins with us knowing that she is a spirit from the mountains–a white snake–attempting to attain that higher level of harmony (immortality, according to the subtitles–which makes little sense when spirits are technically very long-lived). However, a memory is holding her back and what she learns which makes up the film is one of sorrow and sacrifice.

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New Frozen 2 Trailer Goes North!

Frozen 2 Movie Poster By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

The new teaser trailer for Frozen 2 is exciting for the majesty invoked, and in what it’s telling, Elsa (Idina Menzel) magical powers may have come from other supernatural sources. Or, as the Northern setting suggests, could she be of the faerie folk? I’m only guessing here, but this new offering released today gives fans a lot of reasons to be excited about this film when it plays in theatres in November.

She’s backed by her sister, Anna (Kristen Bell), Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), Olaf the snowman (Josh Gad) and Sven the reindeer in a quest to save the kingdom. This time, it’s not from human invaders, but rather supernatural ones. Together, they have to go north perhaps to discover her true nature and find out what granted her these powers. Or was she born with it?

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It’s Alive! Fullmetal Alchemist is Alive on Netflix

To see this live action version of Fullmetal Alchemist on Netflix is a must but the performances are a mixed bag.

Fullmetal Alchemist Poster

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Watching a retread of a favourite anime as live action can be hit or miss. The earliest I have seen is Lone Wolf and Cub (1972) which introduced me to the genre. This series of films were awesome. The Guyver (1991) was cheesy and Space Battleship Yamato (2010) was one that barely worked. That piece was difficult to compress an epic story arc into one movie. Netflix’s version of Death Note (2017) can not compare to the Japanese productions decades prior. It did not have enough meat. To see this live action version of Fullmetal Alchemist on Netflix is a must.

I have read the first few books, and the tightened narrative and visual design had me captivated. With thanks to current CGI rendering technologies, Al simply looks fantastic. Not every bit of the digital action is top-notch. In later parts, when audiences are staring at armies of the undead, the realism takes a dive and I could swear I’m watching The Mummy Returns all over again.

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One Little, Two Brave or Three ‘Stewart’ Minions, A Review

The world of Earth is still without heroes in Minions.

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

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The world of Earth is still without heroes in Minions. Just where they are to defeat the bad guys does not need to be asked, and nor are they required when these funny yellow critters (all of them voiced by Pierre Coffin) finally get their own movie. After tiny appearances of their hijinks in the Despicable Me movies, the producers from Illumination Entertainment thankfully took five years to get a product out to feature them as bumbling heroes whereas DreamWork’s The Penguins of Madagascar, their rivals, took ten.

These cute little yellow, capsule shaped, creatures are on a quest to serve the most vile villain they can find. The only problem they have is their ineptitude to help them rise to power. Just what happens to these ruthless tyrants under their Igor like care is hilarious and the voice-over narrative Geoffrey Rush provides is touching. Sadly, the best moments are given away in the trailers.

In the history lesson that’s provided, it’s merely a sampling of the rulers they met over the millennia. To see how these Minions served other past dictators like Caligula, Genghis Kahn, Blackbeard or Stalin would have added more flavour instead of reiterating what the teasers have shown. At least one ruler is missed: in the Middle Ages, perhaps King Edward I of England got the brutal end of a blade and that was not included in the film. This exclusive moment in the trailer suggests a longer cut was animated but in what’s pared down for the film, nothing new is added.

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