Elemental: A Joyous Celebration of Family, Love, and Adventure

Rating: ★★★★☆

We recently watched “Elemental” a few days ago, and I must say it left quite an impression on me. Despite the lukewarm response from critics, I found it to be one of the best Pixar films in recent memory. The movie stands out with its originality, unlike other recent Pixar releases such as “Onward” or “Luca.” It delves into underlying themes and presents a heartfelt story, with Ember’s desire for a relationship with her opposite element and her struggle to gain her father’s approval while breaking away from the family business. These significant themes were portrayed well and added depth to the overall narrative.

One character worth mentioning is Wade Ripple, or as I like to call him, the water guy. He served as a great secondary character, providing humor and moments that genuinely made me laugh. While there were a few cringy moments here and there, the majority of the comedic elements landed successfully. The performances by the voice actors were commendable, although I don’t recall the names of the actors.

Visually, “Elemental” excelled with its distinctive animation styles for each element. The fire people had a hand-drawn look, while the background showcased the high-detail animation we’ve come to expect from Pixar. Each element had its own unique visual representation, and the attention to detail, such as the grace and markings on the Earth people’s faces, was impressive. The interactions between the different elements were seamless, and the creative portrayal of steam when the water people consumed something hot was a nice touch.

Although I can’t recall the score at the moment, I found it to be quite good, elevating certain scenes and enhancing the emotions or intensity. It wasn’t at the level of Pixar’s best scores, but it definitely added to the overall experience.

“Elemental” may not be in the top tier of Pixar movies, but it certainly deserves more recognition than it has received. The movie tackles important themes, delivers a compelling love story between Wade Ripple and Ember, and showcases Pixar’s mastery of animation and attention to detail. The world-building could have been explored further, particularly in regard to the city setting, but I understand the limitations of time in storytelling.

Overall, “Elemental” is a highly enjoyable film and a pleasant surprise. I would advocate for a higher rating than what critics have given, as it deserves more recognition. If you have the opportunity, I recommend watching it, especially considering the current selection of films in theaters. “Elemental” is a good choice for those seeking a well-crafted family movie with genuine storytelling. I rate it 8 out of 10. Don’t miss out on supporting this gem!

Review by: James & Nayan

Disclaimer: This film review has been summarized with the assistance of an AI language model.

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