Pete's Dragon (2016)
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Pete's Dragon (2016)PG | 1h 42min |
Adventure, Family, Fantasy Release Date: 12 August 2016 (UK) Director: David Lowery Writers: David Lowery (screenplay), Toby Halbrooks (screenplay) Stars: Karl Urban, Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Redford |
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My youngest son, Ethan and I had the privilege of attending a press screening of Pete’s Dragon recently in London. When we were invited I wasn’t actually sure whether or not I wanted to attend. London is quite a trek for us, especially for a film we were not sure about. It seems we are living in a world of remakes. A world where we no longer have any imagination for ourselves and just rehash the same film over and over. Films, games, tv, books you name it. We jump on the bandwagon of what once was great and probably still is and produce a sequel, remake, remaster or supposed new story that just retells the same one in a slightly different way.
Examples: Independance Day: Resurgence, Ghostbusters, BFG, The Magnificent Seven and Ben Hur. For crying out loud, Ben Hur!
So to say I was skeptical was an understatement. This was yet another one of my beloved childhood films getting a remake. Ok, so you go and watch the 1977 you’ll notice that is has aged and in some parts not well. It still, however, holds fond memories of my childhood dreaming and imagining having a pet Dragon named Elliot.
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As the film rolled, the first thing I noticed a few minutes in was that my eleven year old son was totally hooked. The opening sees Pete in a perfect family until a car crash. I remember asking myself is this really a PG as they didn’t really pull any punches in the crash. Instead the film firmly establishes the realism about Pete’s current predicament. A little boy who has just lost his parents, lost in the woods surrounded by dangers untold. Que Pete, the dragon. Now one of my pet hates is bad CG and special effects. I stand firm in the understanding that if you are going to use CG and effects do it well. If you think about it I bet you can recall those moments where bad CG has taken you right out of the moment. Cause quite frankly you if don’t believe what you are seeing on screen, how can you lose yourself in the adventure of the story.
Thankfully due mostly to the expertise of Weta digital the Dragon, ‘Elliot’ quickly becomes just that, a dragon. As you watch the film you will be transported into where the imagination can flourish. For those that haven't seen the original, the whole story centre’s around a boy and his best friend, the dragon and the lack of belief in others. Even though this film is essentially Free Willy, exchange Dragon for Whale. The effects will have you believing that you are seeing an every day animal that absolutely exists in the real world. Not since the Neverending Story have I been so transfixed by a Dragon or for that matter wanted one. What the neverending story did for me as a child was nothing less than pull me into its fantasy world, I didn’t blink the first time I watched as a child. Pete’s Dragon did that for me again as an adult. Many times during the course of the film I had take a sip of water in order to squash the feels that the film kept producing. After all I was sitting in room of Press and my eleven year old boy. I endeavoured to be a manly man. This film is a beautifully told, well crafted dream machine. This will be one of those film that you put on at Christmas for years to come. You and your family sitting by the tree flicking through the channels to see what’s on. Indy, Back to the Future, a Christmas Carol and Pete’s Dragon (2016) . "Stop, your family will shout. Pete’s Dragon, put that on.”
Pete’s Dragon is an imaginative remake, superbly made. There is nothing wrong with it, I looked. Pacing, cinematography and score all complement the character driven film which pays great respect to the original.
Go and see this film. 5/5 Ruben Lee Shaw Subscribe - for more reviews, news and up and coming blogs. |