Review of The Book of Life (2014) by Lourdes C — 18 Dec 2017

Analysis of the film: "The Book of Life" (2014).

"The Book of Life" is an animated movie for all audience more teenage and adults than children because of the story and message that it gives. Is a movie based on three beloved friends growing up together Joaquin, Maria, and Manolo. On the day of the death the whole town were having a party at the cemetery with their defeated families and "La muerte" and Xibalba made a deal, which of the young man was going to married Maria. "La muerte" picked Manolo and Xibalba picked Joaquin. Both presented to the boys as old man and women to know they personalities, and Xibalba gave Joaquin the stamp of endless death. Manolo and Joaquin fell in love with Maria, but her father took her away to educate her. Manolo is the artist, he played the guitar, but his family ride bulls and he had to continue with the tradition (no music allowed), Joaquin is the town saver, the hero. Both grow up separated and became adults, after one-day Maria came back and they start fighting for Maria's heart. Suddenly, Xibalba know that Joaquin had no chance with Maria and cheated again but this time commit a huge mistake. One of the three characters dies and goes to the kingdom of the death and got reunited with all the family, now the action start. The character started fighting to see "La muerte" and tell her that Xibalba cheated. In this path, they made another deal, but this time was, to live again it must conquer a biggest fear. If the character wins it can go back and save the town from the "chakal".

This film was on theater in 2014, is an animated film that captures essentially the Mexican folklore, ancient mythology and pop culture. Is a movie that by listening to the characters will never imagine whom is interpreting the character; as Joaquin is Channing Tatum, Diego Luna as Manolo, and Kate Del Castillo as "La muerte". This movie is filled with surprises. This film is compared to Beetlejuice, All dogs go to Heaven and recently with Coco, now on theaters.

This movie is a peculiar one because it has animation, special effects, creativity, and songs are incorporate on the movie, and is inspiring. The animation is brilliant, so accurate to the audience and the way the characters moves, talk and express are so natural. The way they are designed is funny and different because for little kids it might be a little scary how they exaggerate different parts of the body. The special effects either way is factitial; don't make it look exaggerated or impossible. This movie had a lot of good aspects but, how they think the story of the movie, and the way they transport it to the public was beautiful and innocent; is amazing. It also incorporates songs on the movie, so you can associate and get into the movie.

The Book of Life is a movie with a lot of hidden messages for adults like how Manolo and Joaquin fight for what they want in a peaceful way, how Manolo manage things through the music without killing the bulls his father wanted him to kill, also how valuable the honesty and being selfless is to a person. Through the movie it shows how they over step all their difference. Manolo get his strength to fight for Maria with his music and accepting who he really was, an artist not a bull rider.

"La muerte" and Xibalba shows that people in life function making deals, and not accepting what they really want in life because it doesn't matter they were the death and the king of the forgotten, what matter was they loved each other and instead of loving each other they spend their time in an endless rivalry. Also, their role was to teach that everything you done in life have to be with honesty and must do the right thing because if you start cheating like Xibalba at the end everything will come out and most of your valuable things can be gone forever.

I will recommend this film because how is made is so funny and you don't get bored, also is so inspirational. This movie can make you become a better person and reflect how you are doing things, and if you are fighting for what you wanted in life, also in love; it makes you reconsider the way you are living if it at it fullest or just you are conforming yourself knowing you can have more. As individuals we have to live with honesty, be selfless and have a pure heart because like Manolo got his reward, we can get ours by doing the right thing.

Is a movie that present all this themes in an innocent way and that is what I love of this film. All is present on it simplest and with pure intentions. Their enmity was not spiteful, both were fighting for what they wanted a long time. I will re-watch this movie repeatedly because of how is made, the historical background it had, about the Mexican tradition "Cinco de mayo" day of the death, how they celebrate and the importance, the way they talk is so cultural and I loved how they explained the different themes in an innocent and simplest way.