cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/1109255

One of the wittiest movies I’ve ever watched! It’s hilarious!!

The animation is gorgeous, and the soundtrack is also incredible. The voice acting by Chloë Grace Moretz and Riz Ahmed is also spectacular, and even Eugene Lee Yang (of The Try Guys fame) does a very decent job.

The story doesn’t leave much to be desired either. It tackles themes of isolation, not finding your place in the world, and discrimination, both on an individual and systemic level.

Though it doesn’t actually address the problem of systemic oppression, preferring instead to scapegoat a single character.

Actually, that single element of the story really stung. It’s clear that they went to great lengths to have a very diverse cast of characters, and it’s obvious they’re trying to be progressive, and this is meant to be a progressive story. However, I can’t help but think that it’s all posturing, if in the end all the systems that allowed such horrible mentalities to fester still remain intact, with only the “top dog” being taken down. You can’t fix a system by removing an individual.

There’s so much more I’d like to say about this, but I feel this isn’t the place. Plus, this is clearly a kid’s movie, a very good one with a deep message and complex characters, but still. I suppose the message is still a net positive despite such a massive blunder.

Additionally, there’s a dance sequence in the middle that feels so painfully out of place I almost cringed myself to death. Thankfully it was very short.

Overall, I think this movie was good. It’s not really gonna blow anyone’s socks off, but it might make some people think, and it’s very easy on the eyes and ears.

What do you think?

Rating: 4/5

Watch on Netflix!
Arr 🏴‍☠️!!!

  • @Aggregate
    3•1 year ago

    I think you’re wrong about how the movie deals with the overall system.

    First of all, in the world of the film Nimona (the character) directly addresses this idea, pointing out that believing that systems and institutions are good but individual bad actors misuse them is flawed thinking and condemning it as naiveté. She basically looks directly at the camera and says “neoliberalism is wrong, Ballister.”

    Second of all, the ending doesn’t feel like the “status quo” you make it out to be. The ending as it is A) doesn’t really explore things that in depth, as it’s pretty brief, and B) to the extent that it shows us anything, shows us some pretty major changes. The wall which represents the fascistic control over the people has a giant hole in it that clearly isn’t being fixed (remember the directors speech about how wrong even a single crack in the wall would be?), the cannons on it that represent the weaponization of their social structure are being dismantled, two of the major characters who were knights are shown just being happy together, and a third knight (one of the films biggest assholes) even demonstrates that he’s changed his perspective on Nimona and monsters (along with many others in their society). If the ending had been longer and explored more I’m fairly certain we’d see a clearer system change happening.

    Seriously though, what movie would have a character explicitly say “Changing who’s in charge of a bad system won’t make things better” and then just do that?

    • gonOP
      2•1 year ago

      Seriously though, what movie would have a character explicitly say “Changing who’s in charge of a bad system won’t make things better” and then just do that?

      A movie that’s afraid to actually take a stand. It’s easy to say the things, it’s hard to do them. I really don’t think it’d be that odd for a movie to do that, considering that Hollywood is pretty liberal, though I can’t give you any examples as I don’t actually watch that many movies, sorry… But it’s a very liberal thing to do. Say the right thing, but when push comes to shove be too scared to actually tear things down (aka “break stuff”, as Nimona might put it).

      More thoughts on the ending:

      Still, I see what you mean. But here’s the thing: the knights are still there, and the wall is still there.

      2 ex-Knights being happy together doesn’t mean the Knights/The Institute in general changed it’s ways. Todd accepting Nimona for her sacrifice doesn’t mean he accepts “monsters”, just Nimona.

      But I think I didn’t get my initial point across.

      What I’m saying is that the sacrifice of one individual (Nimona, in this case) and the dethroning of a villain (the Director) is not enough to do actual change. Even if the movie were to show that change happening, and things getting better, it would still be liberal propaganda! Because that’s just not how it works. And even if Nimona SCREAMS that it’s not enough, in the end, that’s all we see.

      My problem isn’t really that the status quo is/isn’t preserved, as much as that what happened in the movie (the Director being taken down with Nimona’s sacrifice) isn’t enough to shake the status quo. The film might show the current systems being dismantled (like the guns being taken out of the wall, as you mentioned), but IMO it still misses the point.

      Maybe if the ending was explored more in-depth we’d see more, and better understand what actually happened though. The fact is that we didn’t get a longer ending, so that’s that.

      That being said, I’m glad there’s some conversation about this. I got recommended this movie on TikTok and didn’t see anyone talk about this at all.

  • Aaron
    2•1 year ago

    I didn’t watch it, but my 11 and 12 year old watched it. Twice. My 11 year old doesn’t watch things twice, but he thought it was that good. So knowing nothing about the movie, I think it’s worth your kids’ time.

    Thanks for the details about the story, if they watch it again I may join them and discuss it after with them and see what they think about the commentary on systemic oppression and how it’s dealt with.

    • gonOP
      1•1 year ago

      There’s some pretty nice references in there, I think you’d enjoy it as an adult. And yes, even if it’s not perfect in the way it tackles the issues it brings up, IMO, it’s great to spark those conversations regardless! I do wonder what kids might take away from it.

  • Jon-H558
    2•1 year ago

    I loved this movie, watched it with a friend, almost tempted to get netflix back to support it.

    • gonOP
      1•1 year ago

      LOL don’t… Just share it online and promote it that way! Talk to your friends about it.