Review of Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) by Lugubrious — 20 Aug 2016

In the very beginning of the movie, the line 'If you must blink, do it now. Pay careful attention to everything you see no matter how unusual it may seem. If you look away, even for an instant, then our hero will surely perish', delivered by the titular Kubo, accomplishes two things: it creates the movie's all-important emphasis on the idea of stories, and it sets in forth a principle that helps to make Kubo and the Two Strings one of the most interesting and thoughtful movies I've ever seen. He's not lying; throughout the movie, small details regularly reappear in dramatic fashion, allowing the casual viewer moments of revelation and the experienced cinemagoer the chance to piece things together for themselves. This masterful planning isn't the only great thing about Kubo, though.

From the movie's start, it is rich in feeling and characterization, allowing you to understand and quickly grow attached to the various characters. There is humor, but not so much that it gets irritating or stale, and there is drama, but nothing so dark that kids can't thoroughly enjoy it. The heroes are all likable, competent, and useful in different ways, and they interact seamlessly together. The villains manage to be very frightening and threatening. All of them have personality and their own sort of coolness. To top it all off, the effort put into the visuals is simply amazing. This stop-motion marvel is full of incredible shots and moving images, and while there are occasional moments that seem more 'stop-motiony' than usual, I have no complaints. Some elements of the plot may seem like contrivances, but in the end it makes for a very well-paced movie. What may seem like a standard quest for three macguffins takes on a completely different tone with story elements of family, humanity, and even mortality, and the ending is very impactful.

Kubo and the Two Strings, because of its excellent characterization, storytelling, visuals, and emotional experience, achieved a top spot on my list of favorite movies of all time. I would heartily recommend it.