Review of Pete's Dragon (2016) by Ciconut — 28 Nov 2016

Simply put, Pete’s Dragon is wonderful. It has a great cast, a beautifully animated dragon and great direction and storytelling. It completely justifies Disney’s schedule of live-action remakes of beloved classics.

Robert Redford and Bryce Dallas Howard are excellent in their respective roles, and Oaks Fegley does a good job as Pete, too. The dragon, as I mentioned above, is spectacularly animated and believable. And it’s not just a big, fire-breathing monster, but has a whole personality and acts almost like a dog. In other words, it is made real and given just as much character as the human cast in the movie.

Considering the original 70s movie was poorly received and quickly forgotten, director David Lowery and screenwriter Toby Halbrooks were able to change pretty much every plot detail, from Pete’s origins to where he ends up in the end. And, thankfully, they do a much better job second time around, adding much more emotional depth to the story and really making the audience care about the characters.

Pete’s Dragon was a pleasant surprise and one of this year’s best movies. It boasts a stunning cast, top-notch animation and is Disney’s best remake in recent memory.