Though back-to-school season is officially here, the summer movie season hasn’t quite come to an end just yet. And how wonderful that is! Why you ask? Well, Kubo and the Two Strings is the reason why.
Opening in theaters on Friday, August 19 is Kubo and the Two Strings, an animated movie set in Japan. The movie’s namesake is a likable boy who by day entertains the local villagers with magical paper animations and by night watches over his ailing mother. His mother relays stories of his slain Samurai father that in turn inspire Kubo’s rich storytelling during the day. Due to his mother’s declining health, it is difficult to distinguish between what is fantasy and reality. Hungry for the full story behind his lineage, Kubo’s quest for answers eventually transitions from innocent questions for his mother to an adventure of self-discovery.
The first thing that will strike you upon watching Kubo are the stunning visuals. You can take just about any still from this movie and you would have a stunning work of art. Amazingly, the film is the product of 3D stop motion. It feels like a deceptive descriptor for this movie because it is hard to believe that 3D stop motion could create something so fluid and lifelike. It is quite literally art in motion. To that end, you will want to strongly consider viewing this movie in 3D format so that the visuals will truly pop off the screen.
The technical achievement here can’t be overstated but every movie needs a good story to reel in its audience and strong characters to evoke the right emotion. Kubo delivers in that regard with a number of its characters including the frightful Twin Sisters and of course Kubo himself. Kids will likely relate quite well to Kubo with his innocence and eagerness to learn more. Kubo and the Two Strings also delivers the occasional laugh via the interaction between the witty Beetle and the always-serious Monkey.
The story has some twists and turns (perhaps one too many), but overall Kubo is a delightful story that is recommended for the entire family.
An IT professional by day and a theme park addict all day, Ricardo Escobar is proud to call Orlando his home, one of the world’s top vacation destinations. Ricardo applies his passion for attractions by sharing the latest and greatest in family entertainment for modernmami™ readers. Follow Ricardo on his adventures and connect with him via Twitter and Instagram.Disclosure: We were provided a complimentary advance screening of the film to facilitate this post. All thoughts and opinions are our own.
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