• Meet Jana
    • Press
    • Cookie Policy
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Sample Policy
  • Contact
  • Giveaways
    • Enter Our Current Giveaways
    • Winner’s Page
    • Winner’s Form
  • Social Media
    • Geek Girl DIgital
  • Shop our Faves
  • Gift Guides
    • 2022 Holiday Gift Guide
    • Father’s Day Gift Guide
    • Mother’s Day Gift Guide
    • Pride Month – Merch That Gives Back
    • National Pet Day
    • Bourbons for National Bourbon Day
    • National Merlot Month Wines
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Snapchat
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Whisky + Sunshine

Northeastern Travel Blogger, Entertainment Writer & Lifestyle Blogger

  • Entertainment
    • Film Reviews
    • TV Reviews
    • Celebrity Interviews
    • Disney
      • Disney Channel/Disney XD
      • Marvel
      • Star Wars
    • LGBTQ
  • Travel
    • Disney World
    • Disneyland
    • Cruises
    • United States
      • Alaska
      • California
      • Florida
      • New York
        • New York City
      • Oregon
        • Portland
      • Vermont
      • Washington
    • International
      • Belize
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Colombia
      • France
      • Honduras
      • Kenya
      • Mexico
    • Hotels/Accommodations
  • Food/Drink
    • cocktails & mixology
    • food
    • recipes
    • wine
      • wine pairings
  • At Home
    • Autos
    • Beauty/Fashion
    • DIY
      • crafts
      • home
      • printables
  • Tech

August 22, 2016 By Bridget 1 Comment

KUBO and the Two Strings Movie Review

Sharing is caring!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Yummly
  • Flipboard
  • Reddit
  • Mix
  • LinkedIn
  • Buffer
  • Email

Last month I traveled to Los Angeles for LAIKA's new animated film KUBO and the Two Strings' press junket. I was doubly excited to see this film as LAIKA is located right down the street in my own town outside of Portland, Oregon! I have adored their previous films like ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, and Coraline.

Kubo and the Two Strings Interview with Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, and Art Parkinson

LAIKA itself is an amazing animation studio that creates, edits, slices, dices, synthesizes, and vaporizes (this is from Oregon, right?) all its stuff through its own amazing visual effects (VFX) department. (Read about our LAIKA studio visit here.) Its films are to date all original stories. I so loved spending a fun time wondering what was going to happen next while not already laying around with the corresponding blanket and stuffed toy watching my kid rip around in themed Kubo underoos—not yet, anyway. Kudos (or should it be Kubos?) to an original and amazing story.

Kubo does not disappoint. It's a story about a young boy, Kubo (Art Parkinson), with magical and awesomely enough musical powers who is sent on a quest by his mother to solve the mystery of his fallen father and his own mysterious past. He is joined by Monkey (Charlize Theron) and Beetle (Matthew McConaughey) who march forward with Kubo as they face their own challenges, all the while having a grand time in the gorgeous movie world LAIKA paints.

KuboPoster

The movie is a lush and beautiful feast for the senses. The colors and music are stunning; the background art distinct and fresh compared to some of the animation offerings of others in recent memory. LAIKA reminds me of a young artist with something to prove who has not sold its soul to the toy companies and marketing tie-ins just yet. And without giving away the newness of it, this movie might spawn a generation of guitar players the likes of which have not been seen since Guitar Hero came out. Did I mention the music was great?

Kubo and the Two Strings Press Junket in LA July 7-8

The main characters and sets are all stop-motion animation. So many times I really wanted to just pause or rewind the movie to admire the way it would make Kubo's robes flow so seamlessly or to revisit how Monkey's fur ruffled so purrfectly. The plot, while sophisticated for both children and adults, was done in a way to bring me into the story rather than repel me away. And although my 6-year-old covered his eyes a couple of times when the action was intense, by the next day, he was Kubo'ing away all of his perceived enemies (such as his dog and both of the cats and Daddy) with the ease of a mighty warrior. The past few days have been full of him asking to learn origami, and I am pretty sure I heard him mention something about a Sword Unbreakable and some other notable quotables from the movie. Even my husband, a great guitar warrior of times past in his own right, admired the concept of the two strings.

READ NEXT  Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and the Music of Pixar's SOUL

I loved it and you will too, so go now and support this studio! It's truly about the story and the art in this one. LAIKA is doing great things. Keep it up.

Kubo and the Two Strings is now playing in theaters everywhere.

Thank you to Focus Features for bringing us to LA for an all-expenses-paid trip to attend the press junket.

 kubo-button
  • About
  • Latest Posts
Bridget
Bridget is a rocker mom to a 10-year-old son. She lives in Portland.
Latest posts by Bridget (see all)
  • Portland Monster Jam Review - March 8, 2019
  • What's it Like to be a Rally Race Team Driver for a Day? - June 12, 2017
  • KUBO and the Two Strings Movie Review - August 22, 2016

Sharing is caring!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Yummly
  • Flipboard
  • Reddit
  • Mix
  • LinkedIn
  • Buffer
  • Email

Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron, Kubo and the Two Strings, LAIKA, Matthew McConaughey, Ralph Fiennes, stop-motion animation

« Best of the Blogosphere No. 85
Tips for Fuel-Packed Snacks on the Go »

Trackbacks

  1. Kubo and the Two Strings Giveaway - Merlot Mommy says:
    August 26, 2016 at 3:56 am

    […] Have  you seen the film yet? It’s incredible. Check out our review. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Meet Jana

Jana Seitzer is a writer, traveler, podcaster, and geek. Although well-versed in many fictional universes, Star Wars & Marvel have always been her favorites. Read More…

Get Essential Oils to Keep You Going

Amazon Services LLC Associates Program

Whisky + Sunshine is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at Amazon.com.

You Might Also Like

eli lacrosse no 11

All the Easter Eggs in TEEN WOLF: THE MOVIE

derek hale teen wolf movie

Best Quotes TEEN WOLF The Movie

teen wolf the movie still

TEEN WOLF The Movie Review

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Cassie Lang Comics To Read Before Quantumania

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Cassie Lang Comics To Read Before Quantumania

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Scarlet Bond

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Scarlet Bond

Copyright © 2023 · Jana Seitzer | Whisky + Sunshine

PRIVACY POLICY