Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

Every once in a while there is family-friendly entertainment that lives up to its wonderment in imaginative storytelling and stunning visual scope. Certainly this is the case with the stimulating yet meditative Japanese animated fantasy-adventure **Kubo and the Two Strings**. Undeniably vibrant and philosophical in committed heart and soul, **Kubo and the Two Strings** is a majestic masterpiece in its colorfully realized presentation that ambitiously binds together opulent elements of ancient Far East folklore, eye-opening anime and origami (the finesse art of paper-folding). The competition for jaw-dropping animation within recent years (or even this year) has been remarkably stellar thus far but Kubo confirms its superiority above the ranks. No one can doubt the masterful film-making tec...

**A boy, a monkey and a giant beetle team up for a quest.**

This is not an old fashioned stop-motion animation. This is a very modern, a hybrid of multiple techniques that includes 3D printing and digital special effects. The directional debut for the producer of 'ParaNorman' and 'The Boxtrolls'. The tale is about a one eyed boy named Kubo, who has been hiding in a seaside mountain cave near a small village from his grandfather, the moon king, ever since his birth, protected by his mother. He grew up listening the stories of a legendary samurai warrior Hanzo. But one day after he himself exposed to the moonlight, the troubles follow. Now his only chance to survive is to find his father's armours and so the quest begins where he teams up with other two.

This is a Japanese story, takes...

Great, creative story.

<em>'Kubo and the Two Strings'</em> is a fun film, I enjoyed it all. I love the animation style that Laika use, they also tend to get the vibe of their stories pretty bang on. This is my favourite work of the studio's so far, at least before I watch <em>'Missing Link'</em>.

The casting could've been more appropriate, though I'm a believer of anyone playing anyone when it comes to voice roles. Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey make for an undeniably strong trio. Parkinson and Theron do particularly good jobs, though McConaughey is my standout. Elsewhere, Ralph Fiennes and George Takei are, minorly, involved.

The lovely story and top animation are the biggest takeaways from this. Recommended....

Every now and again there is an unexpected advantage in having a cinema membership. This was billed yesterday at our local Cineworld and so, to avoid the biblical torrents outside, I thought - why not? Well I am really glad I did. This is a really enjoyable story about a young, one-eyed, lad "Kubo" who lives with his mother in a cave high above their village where he regularly regales the townsfolk's with his magical stories, augmented by some wizardry with origami characters. His only rule is that he must return to his mother by sundown. She is a curiously detached character, whose dreams provide the substance for the young man's engaging and characterful stories. It is festival time and his elderly friend suggests that he stay a while later and light a lantern so that he may try to chat ...