veronicadebroussail Reviews

The Magician's Elephant (2023)

Pretty fun watch

[7/10 · 7 August 2023]

Another animation film gone straight to streaming, which is such a shame.

The film is very beautiful visually, showing us different and unique places, and in a style that is very pleasing.

The story is interesting, although perhaps not as daring as other recent animated films and at times felt a little too simple. Some themes needed more depth, but the plot is entertaining. As much as it was not as creatively original as say the Spider-man Spider-Verse films, it was a pleasant experience and left an extremely positive balance.

I did enjoy that the moral lesson is very well crafted, always reminding us how we must never lose hope, regardless of the challenge.

The Swallows of Kabul (2019)

A beautiful film filled with tragedy

[9/10 · 22 March 2023]

The is a gorgeously realised film drawn in simple, yet captivating style. A story about war, love, the human condition, art, forgiveness, sacrifice set in the dictatorial regime of the Taliban, so not for those who want just to escape the world for 90 mixtures.

This is the type of animation which pierces the heart so much more than anything that Hollywood Studios can produce. And while at times the story is somewhat predictable never once did I not want to see it unfold, its style of drawing was so beautiful.

The ending was sad and realistic and not exactly what I was expecting, which was pleasing if such a word can be used for this film.

Rent this film from Apple TV if you can't find it on any of your streaming services, it is well worth the watch.

Mia and Me: The Hero of Centopia (2022)

Enjoyable and funny

[8/10 · 13 February 2023]

This was a fantastic family film that both my 5 year-old and 7 year old daughters and I thoroughly enjoyed. The story is engaging and teaches valuable lessons about friendship, courage, and standing up for what is right. The animation is bright and colorful, and the characters are lovable and relatable. The unicorns are especially adorable and my girls couldn't stop talking about them after the movie, especially the funny one, Stormy. I also appreciate that it has a strong female lead, which is a positive role model for my daughters. While there are battles and fighting, it is all done in a non-violent way, with bursts of colorful gas clouds and water splats.

I highly recommend this movie to other families with young children.

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (2022)

Enjoyable and charming

[7/10 · 29 January 2023]

I recently watched "Lyle Lyle Crocodile" with my two daughters, ages 6 and 8, and we all enjoyed it. The story is about a young crocodile named Lyle who is adopted by a human family and learns to live in the city. The girls found Lyle to be a lovable and relatable character and they loved all of his adventures. The animation is charming and the way it works with the live action is completely believable. The film also has a great message about acceptance and belonging. My daughters laughed throughout the film and they were delighted by the ending. It is a heartwarming and a fun movie for the whole family to enjoy together.