Review of Pete's Dragon (2016) by Junelkean — 12 Jan 2018

While Disney continues to make family-oriented movies by remaking classics such as "The Jungle Book" and "The BFG", the studio has come out to the idea in reimagining the 1977 musical, "Pete's Dragon". It tells the story of Pete (Fegley) and his quest to conquer the odds against him and his best friend Elliot. And thankfully, it is a genuine surprise.

From the concept, it looks reminiscent to films like "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" and "The Iron Giant", but who doesn’t love that idea? And just like those movies, Pete's Dragon also features breakout child actors, Fegley and Laurence to shine in their own characters.

The movie is further elevated by the ethereal cinematography of Bojan Bazelli and its heavenly yet breathtaking visuals. But the enchantment does not stop there, it is also supported with an intoxicating musical score from Daniel Hart, which perfectly captures the folktale vibe of the film.

The narrative is also not afraid touching on bleaker and more meaningful emotions, thus maintaining the atmosphere of melancholy all throughout.

VERDICT: Pete's Dragon superbly controls the balance of its tone both as heartwarming and heart-wrenching, captivating its audiences, whether young or old.