DUMBO
Year of Release: 2019
JR's Rating:
(7.1 out of 10, Slightly Good)
JR's Rating:
(7.1 out of 10, Slightly Good)"I Feel Like A Kid Again"
(Note: I would avoid comparison with the original animated film. I treated the film as if I haven’t watched the animated classic.)
There’s nothing more vivid and ecstatic than the experience of being a kid again. That seems impossible with growth and aging but the idea of going to carnivals and amusement parks riding those roller coasters, seeing funny clowns and amazing magicians and playing games are contributory to the fun experience of what it was like being a child. “Dumbo” just amazes me with how it made me feel that same excitement, that ignorance of reality without forgetting that it sets up morals and values that are much needed in a more diverse and progressive world. It made me realize that our fantasies can be designed and devised without interfering the course and beauty of nature.
Surfacing from the old animated “Dumbo” classic, we get a live action version of the same on the large screen this 2019. Tim Burton does well on helming this version not without inputting his own weird and eclectic style in the process. Dumbo, the elephant, is astoundingly done making it feel like he’s real and existent with the actors. While the film does good on the many lessons for kids and adults alike such as animal protection and conservation, modern gender roles acceptance, and corporatism, the story feels rushed and sloppy due to how fast-paced every sequence goes. Dumbo’s story stands out but the empathy and necessity to attribute myself with the other main leads doesn’t really ascend due to how secondary they all feel. This movie could have polished itself more but it’s tearjerking scenes and significant (sometimes subliminal) messages are enough to be recommended for kids and adults who want to feel like a kid again.
🚩🚩🚩SPOILERS AHEAD 🚩🚩🚩
Here are some important points I had on watching "Dumbo":
✅ Dumbo, the Elephant
- If there’s one thing this film done masterfully right is how realistic and authentic Dumbo, the large-eared elephant, was crafted. His eyes are mesmerizing but his flight towards the sky made my jaw dropped in awe. I felt I was one of those seated in Medici’s carnival who was amazed at such eccentric talent.
✅ Tim Burton
- With “Sleepy Hollow”, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Dark Shadows”, Tim Burton’s bizarre yet imaginative style has amazed me throughout the years. I always waited in anticipation what next project he has on hand because you know it’s an experience unlike no other. “Dumbo” is no different, it has that Tim Burton magic each of his film has.
✅ Tearjerking Scenes
- The spectacle of seeing Dumbo for the first time rushed emotions of amazement and beauty. I would have to admit, though, that scene when Dumbo gets separated from his mom takes the cake for making tears flow from my eyes. That scene I emphatized so much to Dumbo that I can’t help but root for him all the way.
✅ Fish Eye Vision
- The fish eye technique was used to visualize what’s being perceived by Dumbo in this film. It adds that authentic feeling of anxiety for Dumbo that fuels the empathy we have for him.
✅ Medici’s Carnival
- There’s too many talent and eccentricity in "Dumbo" that makes me feel like a kid going to the carnival. The “Strongest Man”, “Mermaid” and “Snake Handlers” are some of the common elements to look for in a carnival if you're in for the weird. The change of the name of Medici’s Carnival from “Medici’s Brothers” to “Medici’s Family” is too symbolic to what is needed in today’s society.
✅ Animal Protection and Conservation
- Animals aren’t meant for man’s entertainment. That, my dear, is heavily imparted by the film to its viewers. Much as Dumbo made me feel like a kid again, he made me realize that our own happiness shouldn’t secede the life and freedom of other living beings who are just but surviving like us. They too have emotions of their own that deserve human understanding. The message of animal protection and conservation is much needed in a fast moving world. This film does that with finesse and class.
✅ Contemporary Gender Roles
- It may not have a long screen time that it deserves but the switch in gender roles at one particular scene in this film opens eyes for kids and adults about its acceptance in the future, hence the “A Bright Future” message. The messaging is subliminal and doesn’t even relate to the context of the film but I applaud its inclusion as it’s a necessary move in such a contemporary society.
✅ Corporatism
- Ironic that Disney didn’t harm this movie because it seems to poke fun at how they acquired notable franchises for their own profitable gain removing liberty to how each property should be handled. When Vandevere offers stocks to Medici for his own amusement park, you know that there’s a catch to the life of luxury he offers. He would eventually furlough Medici’s employees and even remove Dumbo’s mom from the park to serve his greedy desires over Dumbo. Corporatism makes people lose their rights over the corporate interest of the rich. This film does not shy from showing the harm behind that ideology.
⛔️ Rushed and Sloppy Story
- Much of the emotions I felt on this film are at the beginning. Else, there was nothing much to root for. I could have wanted for some scenes to have added detail or context while some fillers to be removed. There’s too much polishing the story could have asked. I guess the movie relied more on the CGI and morals to appeal to its audience.
⛔️ Every Main Feels Secondary
- Back story is important but how the characters are developed seems so lacking and apathetic that much of the interest is all on the CGI Dumbo. There are too many characters which could have been handled with more attention and the mains could have been attributed a portion of time and story as well so as not to feel secondary or irrelevant. The names Michael Keaton and Danny DeVito didn’t even save this film.
⛔️ Overly Magical
- There are some details in this film I felt that are too inconsistent and are far from logical reasoning. Imagine an elephant that can understand what the humans are saying at some times then at other times can’t. Then when we move to Dreamland, the characters make it seem that distances between rides are just a few seconds away when aerial view would tell you time would take before you reach another ride. Yes, the movie is fantasy but it could use more realism on its most subtle details.
With 8 amazing reasons to watch and 3 reasons not to watch,
"Dumbo" is a safe 7.1/10 for me.
#Dumbo #Disney #Animation
#2019Movies #MovieReviews #JRMovieReviews
Watched on 06 April 2019 at SM Baguio
Image Reference: Imp Awards
Time Published: 06 April 2019 (08:00 PM)
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