As a boy, from the earliest of memory we had a friend named Walter S Falk, who referred to himself as a samurai artist. He believed in telling stories in watercolor with the fewest brush strokes. He had a PHD from the University of Texas and we saw all Japanese cinema with him. The latest Kurosawa, but also Lone Wolf & Cub flicks, Ozu films. He would combine samurai themes with concepts from advance physics and fantasy. He was truly one of the dearest souls I’ve ever known and I missed the shit out of him all through KUBO & THE TWO STRINGS.
This is a tale that takes place in ancient Japan – we’re dealing with a story of demigods, accursed spirit creations, gods and the humanity that shudders in awe. But this isn’t any Japan you’ve ever seen before. This is… hand crafted stylized Japan by the artists of Laika. This is exquisite joy.
Kubo is a responsible boy with a great weight and strange abilities foisted upon him.
Wait. Before that.
The film begins in Blackness as a voice tells us to blink now or not at all. Telling us that every detail, every bit that is upon this screen is there for a reason. Not randomly, but purposefully. We’re looking at paint and light and the functional insanity that is Stop-Motion animation. My greatest fetish. The other greatest longest feature film fetish is Martial Arts cinema – and you put those two dear genres together – and let my eyes dive in through the wonder of 3D… well… BLISS.
So, I was telling you about this Kubo kid. His mom is slipping in and out of disconnected states that worry the boy. She’s paranoid about the night, when people he meets talk fondly of the night. Sure, she teaches him special abilities, tells him amazing stories – and he earns a living bringing to life mythic tales through animated origami magically brought to life… all for the delight of his village… long before movie theaters, televisions or the internet. This kid could have packed stadiums in a bigger city.
But while amazing, he’s nothing new, simply the best show in town. When you see a mother character warn a boy with a magic guitar telling stories of epic battles of Gods and Heroes… and she frightens the boy with warnings about going out at night, you just know… stupid fucking kid… absolutely he’s gonna do it some night. Children are disrespectful little pricks. We tell them stories like this where not listening to your parents will result in the character’s fucking death! RIGHT ON!
Laika guts the kid from the get go but gives him a magic talking monkey and a Beetle Samurai to go on his quest for magic armor and an indestructible sword to kill the Moon King Voldemort. Yes, Ralph Fiennes. So – there are Harry Potter undertones here. Chosen boy having to take on Voldemort and go on a magical quest for magical objects, but that’ll make the boy strong enough to take out his GRANDFATHER!
At this point in the tale I was like – Damn – we’re dealing with Harry Potter / Star Wars twists of the knife – but you know what. This is only upon reflection. While watching the film… I was so absolutely blown away by the visuals on screen. The animated magical origami – the frigging ship of autumn leaves – the spectacular giant skeleton with a sharp haircut…
All the voice work is spectacular, the score by Dario Marianelli – and the use of the Two String Erhu, and later of course the 3 String Shamisen… so evocative. I decided to look up it’s musical realm on YouTube and have been writing to it throughout. Pretty great stuff.
KUBO & THE TWO STRINGS is a great fantasy, but also a great stop-motion animated film. The real light and shadows and man… during the end credits you’ll see how they brought the giant skeleton to life and the kids in the audience were in AWE! It was great. Before hand, I heard a certain little boy ask his mom how things so small get so big on the big screen. You have to love the curious minds.
I loved SAUSAGE PARTY – and I’m so happy at its public reception, but KUBO & THE TWO STRINGS is one of those precious films. Where you come out just thanking the powers that be that a film like this gets made. Sure, it has themes we’ve seen before, but it’s the way it is told, the way it springs to life physically. I find it amazing to watch. Every second – the work that goes into it. Amazing.
I love Monkey & Beetle. They’re marvelous on screen. The little origami Hanzo – I WANT – just alive in my life to guide me. I’ve long wanted Bubo. But yeah, Hanzo riding Bubo in my life would just be spiffy.
If you love fantasy tales of Gods and Gods falling for mortals and protecting the spawn of that union against all comers… you know, like PREACHER, but for kids… check this out. This is amongst Laika’s bests!
Keep it cool,
Harry
