Encanto had a quiet release in movie theaters on November 24, 2021 but it exploded since the film landed on Disney+ in December 2021. It seems at every turn, someone somewhere is talking about this film. It is a film that my daughters and I lov. We have watched the movie many times and listened to the soundtrack almost daily. My oldest daughter and I have had deep discussions about the themes and motivations of each character. Whether it is the story or the music, Encanto has been on the minds and hearts of its audience. However, it is not without its critics. I will briefly discuss the synopsis of the story for those who have not yet seen Encanto, what I liked about the film and my response to the critics of this beautiful film.
Encanto is about the magical family Madrigal. Abuela Alma loses her husband Pedro while escaping the violence that erupted in their village. At the Cano Cristales River, nicknamed the Liquid Rainbow (Zapata, 2022), her candle becomes magical, keeping her and her infant children safe. Fifty years later, safely hidden in the mountains of Colombia, they live in a charmed village called the Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift. Every child except Mirabel. No one knows why she hadn’t received a gift and Mirabel grows up essentially on the outside looking in with her magical family. However, the night of her cousin Antonio’s gift ceremony, she sees cracks in their casita and the magical candles flame flickers out. She may be the only hope the family has as she sets out to discover why the magic surrounding the Encanto is in danger.
From my first viewing, I fell in love with Encanto just as I fell in love with Coco (2017). First, Encanto is a beautiful story about family pressures and being true to yourself. Luisa, the sister with super strength, feels she must be stronger and stronger to handle all the family burdens. If she fails, the family fails. Isabela has to be perfect despite feeling she wants moments of imperfection. Mirabel helps her sisters see that they can be more than their gifts. Second, the music is outstanding. From lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton and In the Heights) and composer Germaine Franco (Coco), the music carries the emotional impact of the family and their struggles. My favorite song is Dos Oruguitas. Sung by Colombian star Sebastian Yatra, the song has a folk song vibe as it tells the story of two caterpillars who are holding on tightly to each other, afraid of the change that is coming. But as they turn into butterflies (mariposas), they learn to fly apart, reunite and look to the future. It’s a beautiful image and reminder that we all change and grew into the people we are meant to be but still be a family. Third, the symbolism seen throughout the film. The butterfly theme is seen throughout the film in obvious and subtle ways. Butterflies are symbolic with change. The yellow butterflies are specifically important to Colombia. It is a nod to magical realism and a nod to A Hundred Years of Solitude (1967) by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Colombian Nobel laureate (Zapata. 2022). Most reviews have been very positive. Mark Kennedy of the Associated Press said, "It's only appropriate that Encanto—fueled by eight original songs by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda—turns into that most special thing of all: A triumph in every category: art, songs and heart." However, some have not been so positive. One complaint I have read in different reviews has been that the valley represented, Valle del Cocora, and the Cano Cristales River are more than 850 km away from each other. One reviewer states that the fictional village “that combines locations and elements so distant cheapens what the places are and what they represent” (Garzon, 2022). I understand this criticism because as someone who has lived in Southern California all her life, I have encountered many people who think I live near Los Angeles. While my homes have not been as far away as these two Colombian locations, they are far enough to say I am not from Los Angeles and have only visited a few times in my life. However, I understand that the studio probably wanted to highlight these two popular land features as representing the beauty of Colombia. Despite reviews that point out the simplified Disney version of Colombia, many have embraced the chance to see their culture and their families represented. Especially Afro-Latino, “a group that is even more underrepresented in media than non-Black Latinos” (Medina, 2022).
Overall, Encanto introduces the wider world to the beautiful country of Colombia and it’s diversity. Despite the criticisms of simplifying the dark history of the country, if one person is motivated to learn more about Colombia, it’s people and the troubles they face and are moved to help, then I say the movie has done a great deal for Colombia. The movie has motivated me to read Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s works. I have heard his name many times but have not read his books. However, now I will and I look forward to it. If you have not seen Encanto, I highly recommend it. It is a moving experience that highlights the beauty and tragedy of Colombia while speaking to the universal language of family bonds and being true to yourself.
When the Walt Disney Company announced the sequel to the
classic film Mary Poppins (1964), I thought there is no way a new film
could compare. Even though there are multiple Mary Poppins books, why bother
with a sequel film? Emily Blunt was casted as Mary Poppins and Lin-Manuel
Miranda as Jack, the lamplighter who was an apprentice to Bert. Mary Poppins
Returns (2018) opened on December 19, 2018 to positive reviews. I didn’t
have the desire to watch it until recently when I saw it available on Netflix.
So, I decided to give it a chance. Unfortunately, the film tried to be it’s own
film while trying to pay homage to the original film.
The film opens in London during the Great Depression.
Michael Banks (played by Ben Whishaw) lives in his childhood home on Cherry
Tree Lane with his three children, Annabel, John and Georgie. The previous
year, his wife died, leading his sister, Jane (played by Emily Mortimer) to
move in. Michael had taken a loan from his employer, the Fidelity Fiduciary
Bank, and is three months behind on the payments. William “Weatherall” Wilkins
(played by Colin Firth) is the new corrupt chairman of the bank and Michael’s
boss, sent lawyers to warm him that his house will be repossessed if the loan
is not repaid in full by the end of the week. Michael and Jane frantically
searched the house for the share certificates that their father left them that
should be able to cover the loan. During the search, Michael finds the kite
that was flown at the end of the original movie. In his frustration, he throws
it out the window. Later the children visit a local park and George finds the
kite and flies it when a strong wind rips it from the sky. Mary Poppins
descends from the sky with the kite in her hand. She takes the children home,
becomes their new nanny and their adventures begin.
What I first liked about the film are the nods to the
original film. Some were obvious like the kite that brings Mary Poppins back
but also the Easter Eggs featured in the background. For example, the blocks
that spell out Poppins can be seen in the attic. Also, if you listen closely,
you can hear the melodies from “Let’s Go Fly A Kite,” “Spoonful of Sugar”, and
other songs from the original film in the background. There are a couple of
cameos made by original cast members. Blink and you might miss it. Second, Emily
Blunt did a wonderful job as Mary Poppins. I think she captured Mary Poppins’
personality as the firm but magical nanny. She didn’t try to duplicate Julie
Andrews but made the role her own. Third, Lin-Manuel Miranda as the lamplighter
Jack. Most people are familiar with Miranda as the songwriter of the hit
musical Hamilton (2015) and well as the music and lyrics from Moana
(2016). Miranda takes his cues from Dick Van Dyke’s Bert from the original
film; however, like Ms. Blunt, takes his role and makes it his own. The big song
and dance number in the film, “Trip a Little Light Fantastic," is
impressive and highlights Miranda’s talents.
The main disappointment about this film is that the songs
aren’t as memorable as one would expect from a Disney film. And it is difficult
not to compare the songs to the original movie. Despite my best efforts, I
found myself doing comparisons. For instance, “Trip a Little Light Fantastic”
(which is a song I loved the most in the movie) to “Step in Time” which is an
amazing feat of dancing and my favorite song from the original film. The former
pales in comparison. One particular song, “A Cover Is Not The Book,” was creepy
and, as one article describes it, “ode to literature and non-judgementalism
with a slyly naughty list of did-they-say-that double entendres” (Cava, 2018).
For example, in the song, they refer to the story of Lady Hyacinth Macaw, the
last part of the lyrics say “So no one tried to rob her/'Cause she barely wore
a stitch/For when you're in your birthday suit/There ain't much there to show
you're rich!” By the end of this song, I felt creeped out. I’m sure the children
in the audience would not have picked up on it but as a parent watching this, I
was thinking, “Wait? Come again?” Did they really say that? What does even
mean?
In conclusion, Mary Poppins Returns is a disjointed,
nod to the original while trying hard to be its own film. While I enjoyed the
performances from Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the songs were not as
enjoyable. Even with the nods and Easter Eggs to the original films, some were
bluntly obvious and even eyerolling, “Okay we get it!” If the original 1964 Mary
Poppins film is a beloved favorite of yours, I recommend you skip Mary
Poppins Returns. However, if you can separate the two films, without comparisons,
you may find yourself enjoying Mary Poppins Returns.
This weekend is the anniversary of the famous duel between
Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. At dawn on July 11, 1804, Aaron Burr and
Alexander Hamilton met at Weehawken, New Jersey. Hamilton would later die the
following afternoon on July 12, 1804, 216 years ago. With the help of the
brilliance of Lin-Manuel Miranda, he is back in the forefront of American
minds. With the release of Hamilton (2015) on Disney+, the story of this
founding father is reaching a wider audience than ever before. While I was in
school, I knew his name and his basic contributions as a founding father. I
first learned of the famous duel, and this might be true for many people, in
the 1993 Got Milk? commercial. However, it would not be until I was in college
when I took a US History course that I was exposed to more detail about this
man. I remember my professor being a great admirer of Hamilton and used him as
an example of someone who pulled himself up from nothing and made his mark on
history.
Alexander Hamilton was born on January 11, 1755 or 1757 in
Nevis, British West Indies. He would come to New York, orphaned, with no money
to his name, at a time when change was brewing. He would become General George
Washington’s right-hand man and eventually lead his own battalion at the Battle
of Yorktown to help end the war. By the end of his life, he would accomplish so
much. He was an influential interpreter and promoter of the US Constitution as
well as the first Secretary of the Treasury. He was the founder of the US
financial system. He was the founder of the Federalist Party. He was the
founder of the US Coast Guard and founder of the New York Evening Post
newspaper. He was a prolific writer, writing 51 of the 85 Federalist Papers. He
is generally regarded as an astute and intellectually brilliant politician and
financier. He was also known to be impulsive which led to the end of his
political career as well as personal issues. He was an abolitionist as he had
written “Who talks most about freedom and equality? Is it not those who hold
the bill of rights in one hand and a whip for affrighted slaves in the other?”
However, his close friendships and other relationships, including his
father-in-law, Philip Schuyler, indicated “he somewhat partook in the system
himself” (Vincenty, 2020).
In today’s social climate, many are looking back at our
founding fathers in a new light. Many have called for their statutes to be
removed. We, as Americans, have been taught to revere and hold the founding
fathers and even our leaders, to hero/icon statues, that we often ignore or
push aside their mistakes and faults. Because they were human too. As Shannon
Lallier, co-author of Jefferson’s Children: The Story of One American Family,
said “He [Thomas Jefferson] was a brilliant man who preached equality, but he
didn’t practice it. He owned people” (Halliday, 2020). We need celebrate these
men and women’s accomplishments as well as acknowledge and learn from their
mistakes and faults. Hamilton’s 5th great-grandson, Douglas Hamilton
agrees, “None of us are perfect. None of them were perfect” (Somerville, 2020).
As Aaron Burr sings in Hamilton, “Life doesn't discriminate/Between the
sinners and the saints/It takes and it takes and it takes/And we keep living
anyway/We rise and we fall and we break/And we make our mistakes,” we need to
examine the whole person in the situations in which they faced. They didn’t
have the benefit of hindsight like we do. We can look back on their successes
and their mistakes. To learn from their example. To be better. “I think we do
need to keep the past. You need to understand it. You do need to learn from it.
But, at the same time, you need to look forward and say, ‘How can we get
better?” (Sommerville, 2020).
In conclusion, on this anniversary of the famous duel and
his death, we look back on Alexander Hamilton. He was a man of flaws and
amazing intellect. He wasn’t saintly, he made mistakes, but he left a legacy
that we cannot ignore. Hamilton is a brilliant show about one man and
the creation of our country. American is the land of opportunity and Alexander
Hamilton is one of many examples of men and women rising from nothing to make a
better life for him or herself as well as make a huge impact on America. There
are many examples that follow him who came to this country with nothing and
become something. We have the benefit to learn from history. To learn about the
men and women, good and bad, to follow their path and avoid their mistakes. We
cannot undo their mistakes, but we can learn from them. Erasing the statutes
for the individuals’ mistakes doesn’t erase their successes and impact on our
country. I highly recommend watching Hamilton, the brilliance of the
music, the talents of the cast are worth the time spent.
Moana is the story
about an Ancient Polynesian girl who must save her island from a curse. Moana
(voiced by Auli’I Cravalho) is the daughter of the chief and has felt the call
of the ocean. But her father, Chief Tui (voiced by Temuera Morrison) has
forbidden anyone to sail past the reef. Her grandmother, Gramma Tala (voiced by
Rachel House) tells her the story of Te Fiti, the mother island who created the
islands and life. One day, a demigod, Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson) took the heart
of Te Fiti. With the heart gone, a demon of fire and earth, Te Ká, seeks the
heart and spreads death to island after island. Gramma Tala tells Moana that
one day someone will journey across the sea, find Maui and restore the heart of
Te Fiti. That day comes when Moana’s island suffers as the food supply dies.
Moana finds a boat and defies her father and sails past the reef. She finds
Maui who tries to trick her out of her boat but Moana is resourceful and finds
a way to compel Maui to help her. The two journey together and battle pirates
and mythical monsters. They finally reach Te Fiti, they must battle Te Ká to
restore the heart.
I enjoyed the movie. It was uplifting and adventurous as any
Disney film would be. I enjoyed seeing a tale which featured a people other
than the more commonly told stories. The music was good. The song “How Far I’ll
Go,” (written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, performed by Auli’i Cravalho) is a great
uplifting song. I loved the songs which featured the native language of the
Polynesian people. The only song I didn’t care for was “You’re Welcome” (written
by Lin-Manuel Miranda, performed by Dwayne Johnson) was a little awkward at
first but then develops into a fun song. Second, I enjoyed how nature and the
ocean is a character in the movie. The ocean helps Moana, guides her on each
step of her journey. It reminds me of Grandmother Willow in Pocahontas,
although the ocean doesn’t speak in Moana.
Third, I loved how the movie gives the message that its ok to have second
thoughts and doubts. When the journey proves too difficult and there seems no
nope to continue, Moana actually gives up and is ready to return home. She is
visited by a person who helps her overcome those doubts. She’s very relatable
this way. We’ve all had second thoughts and doubts and through Moana, audiences
can be encouraged to keep trying.
There are a few things I didn’t like. First, some of the
humor falls flat for me. There is a scene where Moana thinks the ocean has not
helped her find Maui and she’s on a desert island, she yells insults at the
ocean including a line about fish pee. Then another scene where Maui is
teaching Moana how to sail and he tells her to feel the current, if it’s warm
you are going in the right direction. She feels the water and it’s cold, then
suddenly warm. You see Moana react and you realize that Maui has peed in the
water. I know the main audience is children but why does the humor how to
usually center on bathroom jokes and gross humor. Second, Moana’s animal
sidesick, a chicken named Heihei, seems to be outplace. I know he’s supposed to
be the comedic relief during many scenes but sometimes the humor didn’t add to
the scene. It was just awkward.
There were a lot of criticisms surrounding Moana and its story. First, a group of
Polynesian people criticized Disney for making Maui overweight as an insult to
the people and to Maui who is revered as a hero in oral traditions. Osnat
Shurer, producer on the film, said they worked closely with different
Polynesian groups in the South Pacific and found that each group had a
different interpretation and image of Maui. So which one to depict in the film?
Overall, I do not see overweight or even obese. He is bigger than life,
muscular. There are many images of Polynesian people as fit and muscular. Second,
many have called Moana as “cultural
theft” which “inaccurately depicts Polynesian culture.” The problem is
Polynesia isn’t a singular group but has hundreds of different languages with
millions of people with different versions of these stories. So Disney took
different aspects of the stories and created a fantasy world. I understand
their concern and want the culture and stories accurately depicted.
Unfortunately, many stories which Disney has told in the past were changed for
the audience. For instance, Hercules (1997)
depicts the hero as the son of Zeus and Hera. According to Greek mythology,
he’s not the son of Hera. In fact, Hera tries to kill him as an infant. Many
Disney stories do not resemble the original story: Pinocchio (1940), Sleeping
Beauty (1959), and Cinderella (1950),
Mulan (1998), to name a few. Does
that mean these movies aren’t enjoyable? No, it doesn’t. If Moana encourages children to read about,
explore and experience the Polynesian culture through their stories, to be
introduced to the Polynesian people in the world today, what is the harm in
that?
Moana is a fun
adventure about a people that many do not much about. I enjoyed the music and
the look into Ancient Polynesian life and the people who bravely sailed across
the ocean and populated the South Pacific. A people who did it long before many
thought it was possible. Moana is a great character filled with a desire to
help her people that she will brave the open ocean. I loved the message of
continuing on your journey despite your second thoughts and doubts. I
understand the cultural concerns of a group in the Polynesian community;
however, with such a broad area that is Polynesia that even within the area
there is a diversity that no movie could accurately depict. Overall, I enjoyed Moana. It is a great addition to the
vast Disney movie library. If you haven’t already seen the film, I highly
recommend it. It’s available now on Blu-ray and DVD. Check it out.
