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Comments on Coco
Dec. 16th, 2017 04:43 pmNow that I've had a chance to spend the requisite time to see the new Pixar movie Coco, and to have bawled all three times, I thought I'd express some thoughts about it.
Firstly, I wanted to address the issue of Mr. Lassiter. I'm happy that the lastest mess with the head of Pixar doesn't seem to be deterring much from the movie. I was a bit worried given the specialness of this movie and knowing how things go that the asshole-ness of the head would impact it. Thankfully, it appears so far that it isn't. Kills me though. There is something about a man who otherwise followed his dreams and built something as awesome as Pixar and took it back to his roots at Disney who then also had been making a large history of making women near him uncomfortable. Reading stories about how new women would get indoctrinated by other women about how to avoid him and situations with him. Such a prime example of a man in a high position using that position to completely disregard the rights and well-being of women working for his company, and really most likely women all over. I'm happy that most of his role these days is as executive and not as a creator of the latest rounds of content. I feel particularly grateful of this with Coco. I also feel like taking him out back and re-arranging his physical anatomy.
Coco is an epic movie. I can't emphasize that enough. It feels to me to be the best movie they've done to date. The attention and respect to the cultural detail and the nods to the culture that are most likely reserved for people who are well steeped is fantastic. The animation is their best so far. The textures and the motion and the incidental details are so perfect. There are lots of times it is breath-taking to realize that what you are watching on the screen at any given moment is entirely created art in a machine and not in any way real. And I'm so pleased that they got their water detail right!! Long been a struggle, and it is amazing to not be taken out of the story by it. Watch for it! And the music... OMG... Pulled together from sources across Mexican origin and culture, the styles all seem represented and well integrated with a beautiful score from Michael Giacchino.
The story is sweet and very respectful of the concept and history of Dia De Los Muertos. And it really does tug on the strings. And it also makes fun of itself in the right ways.
One of the things that got me deep besides the story arc unto itself (which will totally get you too if you let it) was a particular song that was in the movie. A well-known and established ballad, this piece centers around the character of the Matriarch of the family, and when they first tease at it, I recognized it immediately because it is a piece I know well. One that I grew up listening to because my father played and sang it often. Given the struggles of this character and my own personal struggles which are not too dissimilar, just that teaser hit me like a baseball bat to the face. When that song reprises later, and with the ensuing plot, I was deep on the emotional rollercoaster. Add to that the fact that most of the cultural references and ties to Dia De Los Muertos came to me second hand because our family being staunch Catholics had long since abandoned the pagan-y Mexican practices. And while I know that other families managed to integrate things better, I felt at a loss for all that cultural existence for which I'm once again reminded that is not a part of who I've grown up to be. Obviously it doesn't stop me from picking it up now if I so choose. But to see how much we lost and how the culture of having a strong family unit was totally lost on my nuclear family is really sad and frustrating. Coco truly paints a picture of the sentiment of family and how even when there are struggles to build one's own identity within an established unit, family bolstered by love always comes first.
I love collecting media and this movie will be no different. Even after having seen it three times, I know there are things I've missed that I will enjoy when I see it again and again. I'm not always usually one for the pre-order on things, but this one will be without a doubt.
If it isn't obvious, I'm saying I'd highly recommend you see it. Multiple times. :-)
Firstly, I wanted to address the issue of Mr. Lassiter. I'm happy that the lastest mess with the head of Pixar doesn't seem to be deterring much from the movie. I was a bit worried given the specialness of this movie and knowing how things go that the asshole-ness of the head would impact it. Thankfully, it appears so far that it isn't. Kills me though. There is something about a man who otherwise followed his dreams and built something as awesome as Pixar and took it back to his roots at Disney who then also had been making a large history of making women near him uncomfortable. Reading stories about how new women would get indoctrinated by other women about how to avoid him and situations with him. Such a prime example of a man in a high position using that position to completely disregard the rights and well-being of women working for his company, and really most likely women all over. I'm happy that most of his role these days is as executive and not as a creator of the latest rounds of content. I feel particularly grateful of this with Coco. I also feel like taking him out back and re-arranging his physical anatomy.
Coco is an epic movie. I can't emphasize that enough. It feels to me to be the best movie they've done to date. The attention and respect to the cultural detail and the nods to the culture that are most likely reserved for people who are well steeped is fantastic. The animation is their best so far. The textures and the motion and the incidental details are so perfect. There are lots of times it is breath-taking to realize that what you are watching on the screen at any given moment is entirely created art in a machine and not in any way real. And I'm so pleased that they got their water detail right!! Long been a struggle, and it is amazing to not be taken out of the story by it. Watch for it! And the music... OMG... Pulled together from sources across Mexican origin and culture, the styles all seem represented and well integrated with a beautiful score from Michael Giacchino.
The story is sweet and very respectful of the concept and history of Dia De Los Muertos. And it really does tug on the strings. And it also makes fun of itself in the right ways.
One of the things that got me deep besides the story arc unto itself (which will totally get you too if you let it) was a particular song that was in the movie. A well-known and established ballad, this piece centers around the character of the Matriarch of the family, and when they first tease at it, I recognized it immediately because it is a piece I know well. One that I grew up listening to because my father played and sang it often. Given the struggles of this character and my own personal struggles which are not too dissimilar, just that teaser hit me like a baseball bat to the face. When that song reprises later, and with the ensuing plot, I was deep on the emotional rollercoaster. Add to that the fact that most of the cultural references and ties to Dia De Los Muertos came to me second hand because our family being staunch Catholics had long since abandoned the pagan-y Mexican practices. And while I know that other families managed to integrate things better, I felt at a loss for all that cultural existence for which I'm once again reminded that is not a part of who I've grown up to be. Obviously it doesn't stop me from picking it up now if I so choose. But to see how much we lost and how the culture of having a strong family unit was totally lost on my nuclear family is really sad and frustrating. Coco truly paints a picture of the sentiment of family and how even when there are struggles to build one's own identity within an established unit, family bolstered by love always comes first.
I love collecting media and this movie will be no different. Even after having seen it three times, I know there are things I've missed that I will enjoy when I see it again and again. I'm not always usually one for the pre-order on things, but this one will be without a doubt.
If it isn't obvious, I'm saying I'd highly recommend you see it. Multiple times. :-)
