'Abominable' perfectly blends reality and fantasy for the whole family |
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I wrote this movie review for a class in February 2020.
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While DreamWorks Animation is known for its movies featuring talking animals and other fantastical creatures, its 2019 film “Abominable” portrayed the perfect blend of reality and fantasy through a heartwarming story about a teenager and her friends who help a young Yeti get away from villains and return to his family on Mount Everest.
The movie starts in a modern Chinese city where viewers meet Yi (Chloe Bennett), her mom (Michelle Wong) and Nai Nai (Tsai Chin). The scenes with these three characters are only a small part at the beginning, but they set the authentic, sentimental tone for the rest of the movie. The interactions between Yi and her family accurately showed the dynamic relationships in an Asian household. Nai Nai’s concerns about Yi’s actions closely resembled conversations I’ve had with my Vietnamese grandmother. Yi’s relatability strengthened my engagement to the story. Viewers who can’t personally relate to the culture can still appreciate the legitimacy of the setting and cultural references. Director Jill Culton said DreamWorks partnered with Pearl Studios to ensure the films authenticity. “This is the first modern film that showcases a Chinese family like this,” Culton said in an interview with Fox 4 News Kansas City. “We worked back and forth, just to make sure every small detail was covered, so that we were being truly, 100% authentic to the culture and to China itself.” From the Yeti’s fur to the mountains and the steam rising from Nai Nai’s pork buns, the level of detail in the animation amazed me. The scenes were as beautiful and intricate as the ones in the “How to Train Your Dragon” movies. When the trailer said “Abominable” was created by the same studio as “How to Train Your Dragon,” my expectations were automatically set high. This movie well surpassed them by transferring the meticulous design elements from the hidden dragon world to real landmarks in China. I loved the movie’s score. It perfectly enhanced the suspense and tone of each scene. The music was all orchestral, building off the melody Yi played on her violin. When she played her instrument, I appreciated seeing the animation match the notes I was hearing. Her hand placement on the violin is a minute detail most viewers wouldn’t pay attention to, but the accuracy of her performances caught my eye since I’ve played the violin for more than 10 years. The movie synopsis on ResLife Cinema called “Abominable” an animated comedy, and all the expectations for it were met. The silly shenanigans from Yi’s friends Peng (Albert Tsai) and Jin (Tenzing Norgay Trainor) provide a comedic relief that balances out the more solemn moments. Even though I watched the movie using headphones, my roommate had to move to another room to do homework because I laughed loudly and frequently. The plot of the movie was exquisitely carried out through strong conflicts and memorable character developments. It presents a good message about perseverance and the importance of family, especially with people other than blood relatives. The story full of adventure, teamwork and humor makes this movie enjoyable for all ages. “Abominable” is a must-see for everyone. |
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