Directed by:
Jorge R. GutiérrezComposer:
Gustavo SantaolallaCast:
Channing Tatum, Danny Trejo, Zoe Saldana, Ron Perlman, Christina Applegate, Ice Cube, Ana de la Reguera, Diego Luna, Hector Elizondo, Cheech Marin (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
From producer Guillermo del Toro and director Jorge R. Gutierrez comes a breathtaking animated comedy with a dazzling visual style unlike anything you’ve seen before. Torn between the expectations of his family and the desires of his heart, a young man named Manolo sets off on an epic quest, that spans three spectacular worlds, in order to reunite with his one true love and defend his village. Not your ordinary fairy tale, The Book of Life is a wondrous fantasy-adventure filled with magic, music and fun! (20th Century Fox AU)
(more)Reviews (3)
I have a clear subjective aesthetic problem with this film. Even though The Book of Life is generally praised for its beautiful and quality animation (which probably is objectively true), for me it was a painful experience. It’s just an awful mess. And I also don’t understand who it was made for. The story isn’t interesting, let alone cute or funny. I can imagine someone taking their kids to cinema… poor little things, after a couple of minutes they will fall asleep in boredom. Probably it’s targeted at the Hispanic community in the US, but I don’t know… The Book of Life does have some strong Mexican vibes, but that’s the only thing I could find.
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The Book of Life is a really fresh, original, and lively animated movie. It has a nice narrative, pleasant soundtrack, interesting animation, and charming characters. I was entertained, and I know now that Mexico is the center of the universe. 7.5/10.
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I expected it to be rather dull, and the story, at its core, is just about two men fighting over one woman. However, the fact that it is set against Mexican backdrops and Mexican mythology adds something extra. The chosen animation style also contributes to its uniqueness. The animation isn't necessarily pandering, but it certainly has its charm.
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