I happened to catch Big Hero 6 on an advanced preview back in January. But attendance on the reviewers accreditation course taught me the importance of timing. Posting a review too far in advance of the film's release will do about as much good as no review, as people will likely forget what that film was that such-a-body liked/didn't like. So I held off. By the time the film was released in February I'd still not written my review and then I was too busy to get it out there.
So I decided to wait until the film was due it's DVD release before unleashing my review on the world.
Those who know me already know that I love the film. And a select few of them would probably be confident to say how much I love it. But the rest of you are about to find out.
Big Hero 6 is the story of 14 year old Hiro Hamada and his big brother Tadashi. They are orphans who live with their Aunt Cass in the future mish-mash city of San Fransokyo. Hiro and Tadashi are both intelligent and talented boys, while Hiro uses his smarts to take part in illegal Bot Fights (I know - the fights aren't illegal, betting on them is!), Tadashi puts his to use in creating a healthcare robot that will revolutionise the healthcare system the world over. Baymax, the healthcare companion, can scan you, and is programmed with over 10,000 medical procedures. However, when Hiro finds he's faced with a more emotional type of hurt, Baymax steps up to the plate to find any way that he can to help him. And so begins the most adorable and heartfelt companionship since Wall•e and Eve.
Not only is the film one of the most beautiful Disney have ever produced, it's also simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking. The first time I watched it I had to dab my eyes a couple of times, but in one of the final scenes of the movie the little boy who was sitting with the family in front of me started openly sobbing, and I could hold it together no longer.
Whilst recalling this moment I remembered when Up! came out a few years ago and my brother told me that he was planning to take my nephew to see it. I forewarned him that he would cry at the opening sequence but he asked how his son would feel. I said, he'll be fine, but YOU will cry. Because some things just don't effect kids the way they effect adults. But some things even kids know are sad. And Big Hero 6 definitely evokes the sad in all of us. Much like the first Disney movie I saw, Bambi. I remember crying a lot when I saw that and I must have only been around 5 years old.
When I wasn't bawling my eyes out I was able to appreciate all of the sumptuous cityscapes, the truly gorgeous inside of the teleportation portal, and all of the little nuances that Disney do so well. The things that make a Disney movie stand out. The main example would be when Baymax and Hiro are sitting on top of a balloon overlooking the city, and seeing that Hiro is swinging his feet from side to side, Baymax starts doing it too. Don't even get me started on the fist bump, I might cry again.
I will stick my neck out and say this is the best Disney movie (true Disney not Pixar Disney) in years. I just watched the special features on the Blu Ray and was surprised to hear one of the directors say that the first Disney movie he saw was Bambi (mine too - in fact I think it might have been the first film I ever saw at the cinema) and he actually started tearing up when he talked about the effect that had on him. If Disney keep employing guys like this, we might finally be getting back to a golden age of Disney. And that, well that is something I am very excited about.
See it. Buy it. Tell everyone you know to see it. And if you don't fall head over heels in love with Baymax I might have to deny all knowledge of knowing you. 10 out of 10.
Viewing Date - 4th January 2015
UK Release Date - 30th January 2015
Cast Overview
(Don't look if you don't like knowing who the voice actors are!)
Scott Adsit ~ Baymax
Ryan Potter ~ Hiro
Daniel Henney ~ Tadashi
T J Miller ~ Fred
Jamie Chung ~ Go Go
Damon Wayans Jr ~ Wasabi
Genesis Rodriguez ~ Honey Lemon
James Cromwell ~ Robert Callaghan
Alan Tudyk ~ Alistair Krei
Maya Rudolph ~ Cass
Directors ~ Don Hall and Chris Williams
Writers ~ Jordan Roberts (Screenplay), Daniel Gerson (Screenplay), Robert L Baird (Screenplay), Duncan Rouleau (Big Hero 6 Team and Characters Created by - as Man of Action), Steven T Seagle (Big Hero 6 Team and Characters Created by - as Man of Action), Paul Briggs (Head of Story) and Joseph Mateo (Head of story).
No comments:
Post a Comment