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6

TVJerryAug 20, 2016

The folks at Laika Studio (ParaNorman, Box Trolls, Coraline) excel in creating atypical animations: Atypical because they use labor-intensive stop-motion and diverge from traditional subject matter. This film tells the story of a youngThe folks at Laika Studio (ParaNorman, Box Trolls, Coraline) excel in creating atypical animations: Atypical because they use labor-intensive stop-motion and diverge from traditional subject matter. This film tells the story of a young Japanese boy with storytelling gifts and magical origami skills. He sets out with his friends Monkey & Beetle to discover his family's secrets. While the animation is lovely, the story moves with a humble pace and dramatic nuance that is often slowed by long scenes of gentle dialogue. There are a few modern-style quips tossed about, but this is not a comedy. There's a sweet appeal and a quiet charm, but it ultimately lacks much emotional punch and visual splendor. Do children enjoy art films? NOTE: Stay thru the credits to see how one of the creatures is animated.… Expand

16 of 23 users found this helpful167

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5

dannytran555Aug 20, 2016

Here what my Review about Kubo

Art : 10/10 Plot: 4/10 Twist: 0/10 Fight scene: 6/10 Visual effect: 8/10 Ending 3/10 (Extremely anti climax) Music 9/10 Climax :Here what my Review about Kubo

Art : 10/10
Plot: 4/10
Twist: 0/10
Fight scene: 6/10
Visual effect: 8/10
Ending 3/10 (Extremely anti climax)
Music 9/10
Climax : Don't count on it
Total Point C+ ( i almost sleep in middle of movie, my sister already sleep )… Expand

15 of 27 users found this helpful1512

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10

VictorCruzAug 19, 2016

After a summer of disappointing sequels and blockbusters, we finally got an outstanding original story. Kubo and The Two Strings is the best animated film of the year and one of the best films of 2016. It has a compelling story, stunningAfter a summer of disappointing sequels and blockbusters, we finally got an outstanding original story. Kubo and The Two Strings is the best animated film of the year and one of the best films of 2016. It has a compelling story, stunning visuals, remarkable animation, and great voice acting, especially by Charlize Theron.… Expand

19 of 37 users found this helpful1918

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3

Lennon-SAug 22, 2016

While Kubo is lovely to look at and I can't help but credit the time that was painstakingly put forth in making this film. Reminds me a lot of Fantastic Mr Fox, however unlike Mr Fox that I did find very enjoyable and funny! Kubo is aWhile Kubo is lovely to look at and I can't help but credit the time that was painstakingly put forth in making this film. Reminds me a lot of Fantastic Mr Fox, however unlike Mr Fox that I did find very enjoyable and funny! Kubo is a masterful dull movie! I've honestly yet to understand all the praise put forth. Are we at a point when visuals alone are "art" and take a backseat to good story telling?… Expand

16 of 33 users found this helpful1617

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0

Moviefan1970Aug 25, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. While studio Laika's latest offering contains brilliant detail and painstaking craftsmanship, someone forgot to polish the script and storyline; specifically, there were so many things left unexplained or never fully explained I was left feeling more aggravated than awed. Every time that monkey said "no more questions," I felt like tying her up with unbreakable rope and yelling: "No, PLEASE ask more questions so I could understand what these filmmakers are trying to say!" Some specific queries:
Why was Beetle cursed as a bug in the first place? Bugs were never a part of the story, so why not just leave him a cursed samurai? Or, better idea: MAKE HIM A TINY ORIGAMI MAN (Just imagine how cool it would have been if a giant origami soldier could have bailed Kubo out of trouble with his paper-folding abilities? Doing so would have rendered Little Hanzo obsolete.) Kubo's mother sacrificed herself by saving Kubo by... I dunno... Blasting him to a far-off region of the snow and transforming herself into a monkey? How exactly does one do that??? Why didn't she come back as a wooden talking monkey as opposed to a real one? Why exactly did Kubo's grandfather want his other eye? (The grandfather gave his reasons, Kubo offered a logical rebuttal, but I'm still not sure who was right and who was wrong...) Most frustrating is the fact that grandfather, hyped up as the main baddie, didn't even show up till the end, so instead we were left with two boring witches who looked like they came from Jack Skellington's Halloween Town. The Grandfather, (aka, The Moon King Raiden,) had confusing intentions, and I'm still not sure why he didn't appear more often if he was supposedly after Kubo's eye. Why do some people use magic and others do not? Why was there a magical shamisen? If the shamisen was so powerful, why weren't all the bad guys after it instead of Kubo? Why was the armor split up and hidden into three video-game-like traps in the first place? (Coraline's hide-and-seek plot could get away with this stuff because it took place in an alternate slightly-Lewis-Carroll world, but it made no sense here.) The biggest question of them all that really annoyed me: if this story's theme centered around the importance of family and people remembering ancestral history.... why in the hell weren't the mom's two sisters ever mentioned again or seen as spirits during the lantern ceremony? The old grandfather who was set up as a cruel heartless individual was later humanized, as the townspeople called him "a good man." Ummmm, didn't this guy commit crimes? Why weren't the two sisters humanized? Did they not have souls too? I'm not sure whether this was a plot hole or misogyny.

The visuals were impressive, this much I will admit. With its slightly-exaggerated Japanese inspiration and slightly-jerky character movement, there is great charm to stop motion animation. Laika once again delivers masterful detail and believability with their meticulously-posed dolls and sets. I wish filmmakers would have beefed up the Asian flair, because many backgrounds looked too similar to the far-superior "Coraline." Yet, this complaint is a minor one, as most scenes conveyed a feeling of simultaneous ancient and contemporary, such as the opening ocean wave sequence, (which looked like a devil to animate,) as well as every single dream and story-telling sequence. Occasionally, however, things fall flat: what was Kubo fighting at the end of the film? It looked like a giant leech, or those annoying levitating things destroying New York City at the end of "Avengers." Kubo was, I will admit, the most carefully-planned and likable character in the film, and his actions and mannerisms made him very strong without going overboard in know-it-all attitudes (like Coraline in her film or Norman in "Paranorman.")

The end credits was the final nail in the coffin; a nice original melody would have been much appreciated but noooooo, they settle for a George Harrison oldie. And seeing all that traditional 2D animation made me sick that the entire movie wasn't made in this medium. In the future, Laika should make it their goal to focus their attention, not on building detailed puppets and backgrounds, but script-writing. The studio has been on a downward creative spiral since their first feature "Coraline." (Their last effort, "Boxtrolls," was so story-lite I have a hard time remembering what it was about.) Wherever they locked up Henry Sellick, please let him go so he can go back to directing movies again.… Expand

15 of 46 users found this helpful1531

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10

WhereismymindSep 2, 2016

I'm the kind of guy who leaves the cinema and starts bombarding the people I went with with questions. Still I left this movie without talking to anybody, because I had no words. This film was mind blowing.

It would be very obvious toI'm the kind of guy who leaves the cinema and starts bombarding the people I went with with questions. Still I left this movie without talking to anybody, because I had no words. This film was mind blowing.

It would be very obvious to praise the gorgeous animation, being this one of the most incredible stop motion efforts I've ever seen. Still, it's the story that made this movie the masterpiece it is. I'm shocked at the amount of people who couldn't appreciate the depth of the plot and the symbols spread around the movie. I guess that's what happens when you try to criticise such a transcendent and original piece of fantasy from the point of view of cold dry logic, which happens to be the main antagonist of the film.… Expand

7 of 7 users found this helpful70

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10

GinaKSep 11, 2016

What a wonderful film! The animation was astonishing, and the voice acting was simply fantastic, especially Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, Rooney Mara, and Ralph Fiennes. Too bad all these wonderful actors can’t get together in anWhat a wonderful film! The animation was astonishing, and the voice acting was simply fantastic, especially Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, Rooney Mara, and Ralph Fiennes. Too bad all these wonderful actors can’t get together in an adult film of similar quality. You had to pay attention (or maybe only adults had to since the audience was very quiet, and we had plenty of very small children among us). Well, maybe the script was occasionally a bit muddled, but the characters were so vivid and the animation was so delightful that I have to forgive any faults and give this film a 10, something I don’t do very often.… Expand

5 of 5 users found this helpful50

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9

RAAH1971Sep 4, 2016

amazing movie, with all the right ingredients for a great recipe. perfect for the family too. inspiring messages, and the animation is superb. hope people reward it with massive attendance!!

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

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9

NerdConsultantSep 10, 2016

Kubo and the Two Strings is fantastic. It's animated beautifully, the music score is fantastic, the characters are great, the narrative is really good and the script works well and manages to treat its audience with maturity and respect andKubo and the Two Strings is fantastic. It's animated beautifully, the music score is fantastic, the characters are great, the narrative is really good and the script works well and manages to treat its audience with maturity and respect and gives us a very memorable plot. It does suffer from a couple of plot conveniences and the villain’s motivations could have been explained a bit better but it wasn’t enough to diminish the film for me. This one was such a joy to watch and I highly recommend you go out and see it.
I saw the film in 3D and I think it’s a bit of a mixed bag in that format and I wouldn’t assume it is essential, apart from a couple of scenes that are clearly shot with the 3D in mind, but honestly you can take it or leave it. If you have kids, take them to see it, it is an excellent film and judging by the trailers for the upcoming family films, this is the best one you will see for a while. This honestly has the potential to go down as one of the best stop motion films ever, right up there with ParaNorman and The Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline.… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

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9

Jess_HillAug 31, 2016

This is a stunning, sumptuous, sublime film that is a joy to watch. The storyline interweaves Shinto and Bhuddist ideals delicately throughout the film, with particular attention given to the philosophical underpinnings of the notions ofThis is a stunning, sumptuous, sublime film that is a joy to watch. The storyline interweaves Shinto and Bhuddist ideals delicately throughout the film, with particular attention given to the philosophical underpinnings of the notions of death and perfection in an imperfect world. The cinematography and visual design is superb, and the villains are brilliantly terrifying (the best I've seen in some time) so I'd suggest that an older audience (ten and up?) might be more appropriate. This was a delight to watch, and a unique, exquisitely crafted film unlike any children's film in recent memory. 8.94/10… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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9

PipeCSep 10, 2016

Laika Dethrones Pixar with "Kubo and The Two Strings"

Impeccable and majestic beauty; Laika is already a strengthened production studio of distinguished films that combine traditional animation with a reserved use of digital technology,Laika Dethrones Pixar with "Kubo and The Two Strings"

Impeccable and majestic beauty; Laika is already a strengthened production studio of distinguished films that combine traditional animation with a reserved use of digital technology, obtaining an air more craft and realistic, technique present in feature films such as the gloomy "Coraline" or the terrifying "ParaNorman", Laika has established a great fortitude and prestige in a world in where Pixar prevails year after year; "Kubo and The Two Strings" consolidates the essence of prior all films of the studio while adding something extra courtesy of a timeless visual and narrative magnificence, an eloquent feat of 2016 and openly a direct nominated to The Academy Awards.

It has been a dilated and tortuous summer full of sequels and reboots that are going nowhere, but generate money at the box office; Alright! there were some surprises which astonished and excited to the general public, however, they did it on a template already employed, with characters, settings and even already existing soundtracks; nevertheless, thanks to Focus Features lands with Japanese moves the salvation of animated movies of this year, an original and nutritious film that will entertain to adults and instruct in children solid and beneficial teachings, even if I fear that will not receive what merits, this should not go unnoticed because it does not deserve it.

Visibly, based and influenced by Eastern traditions, Kubo is a Japanese boy who lives with his disturbed mother on a crag close to a small village, the threads of the film are constitute in a magical and chimerical atmosphere, for this reason, Kubo attends to his village in order to bring to life realistic characters made of origami papers, which build an amazing story, story with a significant particularity, it never ends. Kubo knows that his father was an acclaimed warrior, who died by saving the eye right of his beloved son of the clutches of his grandfather and therefore, freeze the threat that revolved around his family, nonetheless, the danger is omnipresent as soon as the sun descends. Kubo, Monkey, and Beetle will move on a wild journey in looking for the different parts of the armor of his warrior father to eliminate the ghosts that invade his life of sorrow and bitterness and finally, give a real end to his grim own story.

If Kubo would like to make use of the charms of the silent film - there is certain initial part in the movie that takes advantage of the muteness - to capture the attention of the spectators would be equally ostentatious, since, it only gives narrative strength - and what solidity! -, it also conceives meticulousness and scrupulousness in each frame, the arduous challenge of photograph and recreate settings, which are recognizable from our idea of reality, makes that the visual inventiveness and the proposal to appreciate the intricate effort provided by each member of the crew intensify. The melancholic individual scenes assimilated the same prestige than an intense action sequence. When you attend to the movie theater, you will be willing to realize of the most intricate details of its production, in case you discover any inaccuracy, however, from the first minutes dazzles us into its blinding landscapes and we forget our purpose radically, because if you must blink, do it now.

Travis Knight, CEO of Laika, marks his directorial debut (Travis paid attention to every simplicity in the making of the films in order to develop his own movie with the strengths of each production) with a work brought to life with the greatest possible devotion, standing out among other adaptations of Hayao Miyazaki, because it is the only one that has reached to equalize his genuine imagination; This does not make human beings, magicians do it. The hair of monkey, the difficulty to create water ripple, the fascinating origami figures and the invention of the giant skeleton - the largest construction ever made in stop-motion - (all, all is absolutely of flesh and blood!) are reflection of the experience of Knight and he must prepare for the storm of proposals coming for him considering that a talent of this magnitude will not go unnoticed.

Wabi-sabi is the author of the fluidity in textures of time and movement within the film, the art of seeing the beauty of the imperfect, and I don't mean that aesthetics is imperfect, on the contrary, it is fabulous, but Kubo does not become obsessed in capture detail to detail of Japanese culture, it strives to conceive a tremendously humane story coordinated with the physical reality of the characters and atmospheres ( better appreciated in 3D) captured by the meticulous stop-motion, serving of perfect vehicle for progress in the fleeting story.

Sincerity, the overcome of death, the value of parents, the acceptance of the maturity and, above all, naive love prevail in every eloquent teaching that the movie wishes to instill. "Kubo and The Two Strings" is the animated film of summer, of the year and of the studio; with so many strengths and so few errors, the debut of Knight ensures its place in something more valuable than a golden statuette, "Kubo" ensures one place in the mind of each child and in the heart of each adult, simply excellent.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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9

ChildishFroakieSep 7, 2016

Oh my god. Its all I can honestly say. Kubo is an absolute thrill to watch from start to finish. Beautiful and so jaw dropping in its visual sense, that at some points you just have to stop and thank Laika for all the hard work they put intoOh my god. Its all I can honestly say. Kubo is an absolute thrill to watch from start to finish. Beautiful and so jaw dropping in its visual sense, that at some points you just have to stop and thank Laika for all the hard work they put into this film. Not to mention all the vocal performances are extremely on point and all the characters feel nuanced and real. A simple yet well told story with an original twist, Kubo and the Two Strings is a take on an old story reinvigorated for the new generation. With a real feeling of genuine awe and wonder to it, it'd be a shame if you missed this movie.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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7

LeZeeDec 4, 2016

A boy, a monkey and a giant beetle team up for a quest.

This is not an old fashioned stop-motion animation. This is a very modern, a hybrid of multiple techniques that includes 3D printing and digital special effects. The directional debutA boy, a monkey and a giant beetle team up for a quest.

This is not an old fashioned stop-motion animation. This is a very modern, a hybrid of multiple techniques that includes 3D printing and digital special effects. The directional debut for the producer of 'ParaNorman' and 'The Boxtrolls'. The tale is about a one eyed boy named Kubo, who has been hiding in a seaside mountain cave near a small village from his grandfather, the moon king, ever since his birth, protected by his mother. He grew up listening the stories of a legendary samurai warrior Hanzo. But one day after he himself exposed to the moonlight, the troubles follow. Now his only chance to survive is to find his father's armours and so the quest begins where he teams up with other two.

This is a Japanese story, takes place somewhere in a fictional ancient Japan. Technically, this film was so good, very pleasant for viewing, especially the framerate was higher than normal stop-motion animation. The character models, music, the length of the film, the pace of the narration, all were so brilliant, but not the story. It was average, I mean very, very simple and familiar. Still, it is a very likable film, particularly the children would love it. I'm going to repeat again like I always say while reviewing stop-motion animation films that this kind of films are rare, so when they make one, that automatically goes to a must see list. Whether you're going to like it or not, I hope you won't miss it.

7/10… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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8

GoombaJMRAug 31, 2016

Really good animated movie here! The start is pretty slow and repetitive but once (like others have said) the talking monkey comes in, the flow of the plot smoothens and the plot itself thickens some more. The 'boss battles' seen in the movieReally good animated movie here! The start is pretty slow and repetitive but once (like others have said) the talking monkey comes in, the flow of the plot smoothens and the plot itself thickens some more. The 'boss battles' seen in the movie are pretty intense and are great to watch.

There are a number of good scenes where we see character development for all main characters and it's really refreshing and enjoyable. There are a few plot twists that happen towards the middle to the end of the movie, and while some are kind of predictable, others will throw you nearly off your seat (I bet!). Check out this movie if you like animated movies, beautiful pieces of art, JRPGs (my main initial reason), or samurai and cool things related to Japanese culture.

One thing I noticed was that while the animation was beautiful, I kept noticing a twitching glitch of sorts that made the face of all animated/speaking characters jump a tiny bit (but insistently). It was extremely weird and maybe even a little irritating as it was there for a good majority of the beginning of the movie (felt like stop motion in a way though), but I got used to the twitching by the midpoint so it was alright.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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10

ozymandias79Jun 4, 2018

Wasn't expecting to to be blown away by Kubo and the two strings. This is a perfect film. The animation, humour, and voice acting are outstanding. Everything A+++++++++++++

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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9

badgerryan19May 19, 2017

Absolutely fantastic movie. The movie looks stunning and top notch cgi. All the main leads did a great job too. The movie is also extremely charming, funny, and has a fantastic never boring story. Can't say enough about this movie. This noAbsolutely fantastic movie. The movie looks stunning and top notch cgi. All the main leads did a great job too. The movie is also extremely charming, funny, and has a fantastic never boring story. Can't say enough about this movie. This no doubt will be one of the best films of the year.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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8

stsieteSep 10, 2016

Un CUENTO con mayúsculas, pero uno de esos cuentos que ganan en la pantalla, aún con su agridulce final y un par de diálogos tópicos y previsibles es una de esas películas en las que no deberías comprar refresco, puede que luego tengas que irUn CUENTO con mayúsculas, pero uno de esos cuentos que ganan en la pantalla, aún con su agridulce final y un par de diálogos tópicos y previsibles es una de esas películas en las que no deberías comprar refresco, puede que luego tengas que ir al baño y arriesgarte a perderte una escena.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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7

JonZsuSep 1, 2016

Movies like Kubo demonstrated the value of diversity in different forms of cinematic art, more importantly, Kubo and the Two Strings is such a pleasure to watch.The fantasies with an oriental charm and the stop-motion technique that goes soMovies like Kubo demonstrated the value of diversity in different forms of cinematic art, more importantly, Kubo and the Two Strings is such a pleasure to watch.The fantasies with an oriental charm and the stop-motion technique that goes so well the the vintage-looking whimsical world which Kubo's story happened, Kubo is quite a successful effort in the age when CGI animation dominates the screen, which is precious.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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8

JyroJyroSep 12, 2017

Kubo and the Two Strings is a breathtakingly profound adventure of love & life. Bolstering a beautiful story, excellent voice acting and a particularly heart-wrenching soundtrack, it is genuinely one of the best films I have seen for a while.Kubo and the Two Strings is a breathtakingly profound adventure of love & life. Bolstering a beautiful story, excellent voice acting and a particularly heart-wrenching soundtrack, it is genuinely one of the best films I have seen for a while. The ending is a little emotionally incoherent but is still delivered with a touch of magic.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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7

CicoNutNov 28, 2016

Okay, so Kubo is pretty weird – but in the best of ways. After all, what other movie have you seen that stars a magical boy, a monkey and a beetle samurai? The odds that you have come across this concept before is pretty unlikely.

The movieOkay, so Kubo is pretty weird – but in the best of ways. After all, what other movie have you seen that stars a magical boy, a monkey and a beetle samurai? The odds that you have come across this concept before is pretty unlikely.

The movie is basically about a powerful young boy named Kubo (Art Parkinson) who embarks on a journey with his guardian, a.k.a. Monkey (Charlize Theron) and an amnesiac samurai-beetle (Matthew McConaughey) to find magic armour when his grandfather, the Moon King (Ralph Fiennes) comes after him to convert him to the ‘dark side’, so to speak. And if that wasn’t already enough of an all-star cast, Rooney Mara voices Kubo’s two aunts, who are powerful and scary witches, both of who are excellently animated and acted.

A strong link in this movie is the beautiful animation, which blends origami and stop-motion animation, which works surprisingly well. Some out-of-place CGI sticks out like a sore thumb, but luckily it is scarcely used.

Kubo and the Two Strings is easily Laika’s best movie to date, with stunning animation, excellent voiceover work and one of the most original stories in recent memory.… Expand

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8

Maxxwel_DiegoMay 22, 2017

Kubo and the two Strings left my eyes with immense satisfaction with its masterful stop motion and tears with its mature theme. Kubo and the two strings went completely under my radar for films to watch. So finally I gave it watch onKubo and the two Strings left my eyes with immense satisfaction with its masterful stop motion and tears with its mature theme. Kubo and the two strings went completely under my radar for films to watch. So finally I gave it watch on Netflix.

Just from the very few first minutes my eyes were greeted with masterful crafted stop motion. Kubo and the two strings sense of Art direction is something I have ever seen before.

Kubo and the two Strings kept my attention throughout the whole film. Never in a moment where I felt this film hit a low point. Every scene either has well choreographed action set pieces or meaningful scenes between our characters. Also how this film paces through its editing style keeps every next cut interesting

I never thought I would get such a serious theme from a film like this. I feel it was handles very well as it was being told through the film. Basically I saw two themes here. The major one was that memories are the most powerful thing you could ever have and every story has a end. These two kind of entangle with each other as in the end of the film Kubo honors his parents as passing memory at the ending scene of this film, thus giving Kubo a end to his story

However, for the plot of the film I feel it was a little bit of a mashed up adventure with your typical encounters with baddies and with the epic final boss at the end. But for the most part it checks off everything on creating a compelling characters and conflicts.

Kubo and the Two Strings is defiantly worth the watch and I encourage all of you to take a night with some popcorn and watch it.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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9

ColginatorSep 13, 2016

Kubo and the Two Strings is the fourth feature film from Studio Laika, the animation studio responsible for some of the best stop motion films of the past couple of years. Their previous work includes Coraline, The Boxtrolls and ParaNorman,Kubo and the Two Strings is the fourth feature film from Studio Laika, the animation studio responsible for some of the best stop motion films of the past couple of years. Their previous work includes Coraline, The Boxtrolls and ParaNorman, all of which have been consistently fantastic, mixing studio Laika's signature stop motion animation with heartfelt stories and memorable characters. And Kubo might just be their best film yet. It's the brilliant kind of family film that doesn't just try to distract kids for an hour and a half, but instead challenges them, whilst also taking us on an epic adventure not quite like any I've seen done through stop motion animation before.

The films story feels as if it's been ripped right from the pages of a classic fairy-tale. Kubo (Art Parkinson) is a young boy gifted with magical powers that allow him to control paper using his shamisen. At day he uses his powers to tell stories in a nearby town, often telling tales of his father, who was a legendary samurai warrior. Then at night he must return to live with his mother in a cave, as if he wonders out at night Kubo's grandfather, the Moon King (Ralph Fiennes), will find him and steal his remaining eye to make him blind to the world.

One night Kubo ventures out too long and his grandfather sends his mothers sisters (both played by Rooney Mara) to capture him. Now with the help of a strict and protective monkey (Charlize Theron) that has been bought to life from a wood carving to protect Kubo and Beetle (Matthew McConaghey) who is a samurai that was transformed in to a giant insect man, Kubo sets off on a quest to find his fathers armour and defeat the Moon King.

They never really explore much what exactly the Moon King's powers are or why they need to find the armour to defeat him. But just like we never need to know where the fairy godmother comes from in Cinderella, we never need a backstory here. We're so caught up enjoying the adventure and are too invested in Kubo's journey to start questioning the logic of this world. Also whilst all the characters of the film play their typical roles, they all play them so well. Our trio of heroes are all hilarious and lovable whilst the villains are genuinely threatening, having an intimidating presence whenever they're on screen in a similar style to the Other Mother from Coraline.

The story is the stuff of mythical legend, but Kubo's journey in the film is one that we can all relate to. He ends up facing a great deal of loss in the film, which is something that any viewer can relate to in some way. But the film tackles death in a very unique way. Instead of just showing death to be the end, this film serves to remind us that the ones we love will always be with us within the memories that we cherish. That they can live on through us and the stories that we tell. It's a message that might sound difficult and complex for a kids film, but it's told in such an elegant way that it's actually a very accessible message for audiences of all ages.

Then there's the films breath taking imagery. It's always incredible to see what minds like Pixar are able to do with computer generated animation, but there's something truly special about seeing a film on this scale made using stop motion animation. It's the same reason to love a film like Fury Road over something else that favours CGI. It just looks all the more impressive when it's really there. Plus the epic scale that Laika's undertaken for this production is remarkable. Whilst there is some CGI used, the focus on all the action sequences remains on using real sets and stop motion characters to tell the story. For example, in one stunning sequence Kubo is fighting a giant skeleton to retrieve a sword, which the animators created by using a giant 18 foot puppet in order to capture the scale of the monster.

Kubo is a rare family film that succeeds at just about everything that it sets out to do. It's both fun and adventurous, whilst also containing a very melancholy tone that's never afraid to take the film in to some dark places. Beyond this, the films ending, particularly its final shot, is something truly beautiful that really must be experienced to be completely understood.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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10

alianorareeNov 25, 2017

For all that we associate bright colors and animation/stop-motion with kids, this isn't a children's movie. The hero is an eleven-year-old boy, but the themes aren't childish.
There are moments of silly humor, but nary a fart joke to beFor all that we associate bright colors and animation/stop-motion with kids, this isn't a children's movie. The hero is an eleven-year-old boy, but the themes aren't childish.
There are moments of silly humor, but nary a fart joke to be seen. "And that really is the least of it." Ultimately, the movie is more about joy than happiness; if you don't get that, you won't like the ending.
The visuals are gorgeous, with only one or two times during the whole movie where I felt something was off.
Kubo and the Two Strings also has something else most movies lack for me: a kind of poetry. A good poem uses the fewest words necessary to achieve the desired result, packing meaning into every phrase. This movie packs meaning into every scene, every line and every visual. I almost never buy movies because I won't re-watch them, but as soon as I finished Kubo I wanted to restart it, to catch details I'd missed and to see how knowing more about the characters and story would shade my understanding.
"If you must blink, do it now." Because once the movie starts, you won't want to.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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10

toph123Oct 17, 2016

This film is a masterpiece. It ranks among the best animated films of all time. Gorgeous visuals, masterful story-telling, inventive, exciting, funny, touching. I came out of the theater in awe, and quite moved.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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10

CaillouPettisOct 13, 2016

Kubo and the Two Strings has beautiful animation, an emotional story, and a great adventurous feel, making it not only the best animated movie of 2016, but the best movie of 2016.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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9

MordoReviewerSep 11, 2016

This is the best movie that Laika has ever made
Full of drama, action, charm, comedy, love, wisdom and an emotional movie with great characters, outstanding animation and a beautiful story that makes the film an instantaneous classic

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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9

Muskrat147Aug 30, 2016

Kubo and the Two Strings offers not only brilliant animation and a wonderful story, but also amazing characters, gut-wrenching emotion, and just a little bit of magic.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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9

McFeistySep 11, 2016

Really loved this film, plenty of mystery throughout until the end, artistically beautiful, and very entertaining. Unexpected ending, which was very satisfying.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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10

alejandro970Oct 18, 2016

A marvel of stopmotion animation. The story captures the attention of viewer, altough lacks of elements of humor, these are spontaneous and almost invisible. Mandatory.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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9

td05Oct 18, 2017

By far the best animated movie of 2016, and the second best movie of 2016 only behind La La Land. First off, the animation is the best animation in any animated movie ever made. Second,the story is an emotional masterpiece. Third, the actingBy far the best animated movie of 2016, and the second best movie of 2016 only behind La La Land. First off, the animation is the best animation in any animated movie ever made. Second,the story is an emotional masterpiece. Third, the acting is great. And the music is powerful. This is a great movie I recommend to everyone.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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10

spacebear1Dec 11, 2017

Laika's Kubo and the Two Strings is by far one of the best animated films ever. The animation is once again flawless and the story is perfect. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this film and I really,really love it. And my rating is 10/10

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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10

CTHReviewsMar 13, 2018

Kubo and the Two Strings was absolutely robbed of the Best Animated Feature Oscar. This was even my favorite movie of 2016! Hell, this might even be one of the top five animated movies of all time in my opinion! This story is so gripping andKubo and the Two Strings was absolutely robbed of the Best Animated Feature Oscar. This was even my favorite movie of 2016! Hell, this might even be one of the top five animated movies of all time in my opinion! This story is so gripping and emotional, with brilliant visual storytelling and facial expressions to show what the characters are thinking.

And speaking of which, this rivals Aladdin and The Lion King as one of the most gorgeous animated films ever made. The tangibility of the stop-motion effects make it feel so real even though I'm looking at stop-motion. I fathom how some of these effects were done, like the water, mountains, this giant red skeleton, and even the combat sequences!

Zootopia was good, but no where near as memorable or emotionally impacting as Kubo and the Two Strings.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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10

GDsReviewsJun 10, 2022

Excellent and charming movie with great characters, character designs, and story.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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10

SelenicAug 30, 2016

An incredible picture that boasts both a beautiful and mature story as well as the gorgeous artwork that you'd expect from Laika, Kubo and the Two Strings is not only Laika's best work but simply one of the best films of the year. Don't allowAn incredible picture that boasts both a beautiful and mature story as well as the gorgeous artwork that you'd expect from Laika, Kubo and the Two Strings is not only Laika's best work but simply one of the best films of the year. Don't allow yourself to go into the movie thinking it's just another animated children's movie - because it isn't, it is so much more and it's simply an adventure that you need to experience for yourselves.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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10

djniceySep 12, 2016

I found myself thinking WOW this is a masterpiece many times during this movie, it grabs you right from the very start and the story progresses nicely with some really good humour. The plot is fairly straightforward and is not overly complex,I found myself thinking WOW this is a masterpiece many times during this movie, it grabs you right from the very start and the story progresses nicely with some really good humour. The plot is fairly straightforward and is not overly complex, its kept simple for the U audience but the film I think is appealing to all ages, particularly adults. The animation and cinematography is absolutely sumptuous, it reminded me of Mad Max Fury Road in the way that it cleverly uses rich colour in its visual design. The acting is well done and sound effects and music are all top notch. I would watch this film again for sure. The only thing that slightly lets it down (and what all the negative ratings are critisizing) is its straightforward hero story, but I think some are forgetting it is a U movie, and anything more complex may have reduced its audience to older children. As its a U it gets a full 10 from me.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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9

TimW001Aug 29, 2016

You have not seen a movie like this before. It has a consistent pace, with a fun thorough adventure, vivid colours, and a great story. Good villains who were actually kind of frightening. It was a movie that is not typical. It is worth seeing.

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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8

marcmyworksSep 13, 2016

Kubo and The Two Strings is not a typical kids movie. It talks of loss and inner strength and not since The Lion King has a film been able to encourage such a heart felt and beautiful message to children.

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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8

jayhawx86Aug 28, 2016

Fantastic movie. Visuals were amazing. Story was interesting and the characters were great. If I had one complaint it would be that the character development could have been better. Still, this is a fantastic movie, and one of the few moviesFantastic movie. Visuals were amazing. Story was interesting and the characters were great. If I had one complaint it would be that the character development could have been better. Still, this is a fantastic movie, and one of the few movies I actually want to go back and watch again in the theater.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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6

TazmilyKoalaSep 21, 2016

Kubo and the Two Strings is a mixed bag of amazing visual and terrible storytelling. The best thing about this movie is no doubt the visuals! It oozes charm, originality, and culture. Stop motion fans will be in awe of this movie's actionKubo and the Two Strings is a mixed bag of amazing visual and terrible storytelling. The best thing about this movie is no doubt the visuals! It oozes charm, originality, and culture. Stop motion fans will be in awe of this movie's action scenes, paper craft at its finest! Also, the voice acting is top notch. Delivery of dialogue is so punctuated yet natural-sounding at the same time. But other than that, there's not much else to like about this movie. Kubo and the Two Strings is based on a folk tale and it really shows! Scenes either go on WAY to long or end WAY to quickly. The plot of this movie is sometimes really predictable and other times stupidly irrational. Also, despite its kiddy looks, Kubo and the Two Strings will scare your kids! It's by no means a horror film with gore and jump scares, but there are some moments that I personally think younger viewers couldn't handle. In conclusion, unless you REALLY want to see something with pretty visuals, then avoid Kubo and the Two Strings. It's by no means terrible, but there's definitely a lot of better options.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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8

tamcwlmmDec 30, 2017

Kubo and the two strings was a magical adventure that made me both smile and tear up. With beautiful animation that makes this movie even more magical. Great story, somethimes little slow, but it keeps up the pace very good throughout theKubo and the two strings was a magical adventure that made me both smile and tear up. With beautiful animation that makes this movie even more magical. Great story, somethimes little slow, but it keeps up the pace very good throughout the movie. All the effort by Laika Studios has been awarded in this masterpiece.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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3

familyguyAug 23, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Warning spoiler

After seeing Kubo i have a mix feeling between great artistic + great visual effect and childlish writing. Not to metion there a lot of loophole in the movie whick i will break down here.
1. The plot is basically rip off from Coraline : old man try to stole the little kids's eye so he can force the kid to living with him forever. To avoid losing the eye the kid must complete 3 task to defeat villain. Tell me that not the same plot from Coraline
2. 3 task is bull **** since he not using any of that to defeat the monster. In the end he use the guitar he have in the first time to defeat evil granpa
3. Ending so anti climax it give me 0 feeling at all
I don't understand what critic's point of view but this movie even worst than Boxtroll… Expand

12 of 20 users found this helpful128

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9

NavyBeanSep 6, 2016

The animation is just off the charts beautiful. Fun character design and points for an attempt at a sophisticated story that doesn't explain every single element to the world to the viewer.

I already do have a God I want to talk to. I talkThe animation is just off the charts beautiful. Fun character design and points for an attempt at a sophisticated story that doesn't explain every single element to the world to the viewer.

I already do have a God I want to talk to. I talk to God every day and he talks back to me. We usually just have a rap session about sports and ladies. God is a big fan of Denise Milani's. Me too of course, but God just goes on and on about her. Enough already! LOL.

I am just kidding. God is a VERY down-to-earth god. He sees what you do when no one is looking and he does not judge. He understands because he gave you all those deviant thoughts and of course why would you not act on the urges and emotions that were God-given? But maybe you should take it easy on yourself before you get a blister from all the rubbing?

I am a huge Patti LuPone fan and I think that she has the voice of an angel, but God's always like she's not that great.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

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4

ImjusthereAug 27, 2016

While it is very reasonable to say that yes, Kubo is a delight to the eyes. I find it extremely unjust to give it a free pass on every single other point of film making. What about the story? The plot? A characters that has a southern accentWhile it is very reasonable to say that yes, Kubo is a delight to the eyes. I find it extremely unjust to give it a free pass on every single other point of film making. What about the story? The plot? A characters that has a southern accent even though this is Japan? And the ending! All these problems should be taken into account rather than just saying pretty = masterpiece.… Expand

7 of 13 users found this helpful76

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6

DirtyDaveSep 7, 2016

Half the movie looks so beautiful it's amazing what medium it was created in. They are hampered by bad pacing, constant ambiguity, and a plethora of flat falling jokes though. Which is really a shame since the rest of the movie can be quiteHalf the movie looks so beautiful it's amazing what medium it was created in. They are hampered by bad pacing, constant ambiguity, and a plethora of flat falling jokes though. Which is really a shame since the rest of the movie can be quite emotional.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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6

BiasSep 10, 2016

It was a tolerable story. Unfortunately, it felt like a semi-flat American interpretation of Japaneseness. It had a couple redeeming qualities, like the animation was great... and I'm sure there are others too. Your kids will probably love it.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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9

TheQuietGamerDec 31, 2016

There's a heart and most importantly a soul to Kubo that you aren't going to find anywhere else. The tale is brimming with imagination. It's unique and powerful. Backed up by stunning stop motion animation. It's an emotional and adult storyThere's a heart and most importantly a soul to Kubo that you aren't going to find anywhere else. The tale is brimming with imagination. It's unique and powerful. Backed up by stunning stop motion animation. It's an emotional and adult story that's told in a way that's acceptable for all audiences. It's brimming with depth, humor, and emotion. There's also some impressive action and magic.

Kubo is a family movie with enough maturity to be just as compelling to adults on a story level as it is to kids on an entertainment and humor level. A triumph in animation and storytelling, Kubo is not to be missed.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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9

CineAutoctonoDec 22, 2016

"Kubo and the Two Strings" was an exciting and touching story of adventure in which Laika Animation, stood out a lot in this film, I enter in the film, in its characters, and of history in general, is one of the Best animated films of the year.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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10

Rebecca31Oct 14, 2016

No question this is the best animated film I've seen in years. Stunningly original, it's honestly in a league of its own. Starring Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson, Matthew McConaughey and Ralph Fiennes. And if you don't know who Art ParkinsonNo question this is the best animated film I've seen in years. Stunningly original, it's honestly in a league of its own. Starring Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson, Matthew McConaughey and Ralph Fiennes. And if you don't know who Art Parkinson is he's the guy who should have zigzagged in Game of Thrones. Incredible story, fabulous stop motion and beautiful music. Strongly recommended.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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7

Ohurra_BanwajeeSep 8, 2016

This movie was nice. I loved it like a sibling whose health and well-being I have utmost concern about, and for whom I’d willingly overlook the need to run errands as a mild inconvenience that comes with siblinghood. For whom I’d loan aThis movie was nice. I loved it like a sibling whose health and well-being I have utmost concern about, and for whom I’d willingly overlook the need to run errands as a mild inconvenience that comes with siblinghood. For whom I’d loan a hundred dollars under the understanding that it IS a loan, then forget about it because that, too, comes with the territory. For whom I’d pick up from their home to drop off, wait for, and return home from the supermarket without asking for gas money (not to mention the unquantifiable compensation for time).

But I wanted to love it more like a child whose needs I feel obliged to meet without question; whose well-being is not just important, but necessary; whose bright future shouldn’t just be a concern, but assured. I wanted to love it more than I did, but I couldn’t. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good movie, but to me, it was one of those that was good enough to be better. It was ‘generalistic’ enough that it could fascinate younger audiences, it was deep enough that it could resonate with the more mature, and it was thought-provoking enough that it could appeal to the very cerebral. So why, in the end, wasn’t it even better than it was?

Kubo himself took centre stage early on, with wails that brought his spent mother to his side. The story goes on to keep him in the spotlight, and throws in a few sidekicks that are as varied, capable, and witty as a light-hearted movie of this nature is intended to be. However, despite the occasional flash back or real-time dialogue, it never gets beyond superficial explanations of anything, leaving you to answer your own questions about everything - if you even bothered to ask. In my opinion, character development could have been deeper, and though I liked the art style, I couldn’t help but wonder if this wasn’t one of those that would have received more critical acclaim if only the sidekicks and the effects alone were CG.

In the end, it’s a smooth ride at a casual pace with enjoyable music that could put the driver to sleep. Kubo and the Two Strings makes for a fun romp but not a must-see. It brings to an end a summer of non-blockbusters, causing me to postulate that depth is being traded for effects. It delivers an action animated movie with a nebulous storyline that makes me wonder why it wasn’t performed by real characters in the first place! The strumming of the guitar and the telling of the stories might have been a sight to behold if it were performed in person by Neel Sethi or the likes. But alas, it was nice, and in the absence of overwhelming choice, I’ll settle for nice.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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1

TakestwototangoAug 25, 2016

What does The Junge Book and Kubo and the two stings have in common? They are both HIGHLY over rated films propped up by mostly younger viewers and hipster critics whom state these films are art in the most pure of forums! If you are the typeWhat does The Junge Book and Kubo and the two stings have in common? They are both HIGHLY over rated films propped up by mostly younger viewers and hipster critics whom state these films are art in the most pure of forums! If you are the type of person who is dazzled by special effects you'll likely think this film is the second comming! If the pursuit of good story telling is what your after I advise you to look elsewhere! I could go in the detail here but a look though at other honest reviews posted here, have already done a pretty good job at explaining it.… Expand

9 of 20 users found this helpful911

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10

LugubriousAug 21, 2016

In the very beginning of the movie, the line 'If you must blink, do it now. Pay careful attention to everything you see no matter how unusual it may seem. If you look away, even for an instant, then our hero will surely perish', delivered byIn the very beginning of the movie, the line 'If you must blink, do it now. Pay careful attention to everything you see no matter how unusual it may seem. If you look away, even for an instant, then our hero will surely perish', delivered by the titular Kubo, accomplishes two things: it creates the movie's all-important emphasis on the idea of stories, and it sets in forth a principle that helps to make Kubo and the Two Strings one of the most interesting and thoughtful movies I've ever seen. He's not lying; throughout the movie, small details regularly reappear in dramatic fashion, allowing the casual viewer moments of revelation and the experienced cinemagoer the chance to piece things together for themselves. This masterful planning isn't the only great thing about Kubo, though.

From the movie's start, it is rich in feeling and characterization, allowing you to understand and quickly grow attached to the various characters. There is humor, but not so much that it gets irritating or stale, and there is drama, but nothing so dark that kids can't thoroughly enjoy it. The heroes are all likable, competent, and useful in different ways, and they interact seamlessly together. The villains manage to be very frightening and threatening. All of them have personality and their own sort of coolness. To top it all off, the effort put into the visuals is simply amazing. This stop-motion marvel is full of incredible shots and moving images, and while there are occasional moments that seem more 'stop-motiony' than usual, I have no complaints. Some elements of the plot may seem like contrivances, but in the end it makes for a very well-paced movie. What may seem like a standard quest for three macguffins takes on a completely different tone with story elements of family, humanity, and even mortality, and the ending is very impactful.

Kubo and the Two Strings, because of its excellent characterization, storytelling, visuals, and emotional experience, achieved a top spot on my list of favorite movies of all time. I would heartily recommend it.… Expand

9 of 21 users found this helpful912

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8

EpicLadySpongeAug 19, 2016

Well, it's finally about time those kids get something to see in theaters. Kubo and the Two Strings brings all the crumbling stereotypes and with its impressing story, interesting voice acting, and great animation, takes them to a place whereWell, it's finally about time those kids get something to see in theaters. Kubo and the Two Strings brings all the crumbling stereotypes and with its impressing story, interesting voice acting, and great animation, takes them to a place where you'll never see them during at least much of the film.… Expand

10 of 26 users found this helpful1016

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10

WheelzFourReelzAug 20, 2016

Simply put, Kubo and the Two Strings is one of the best animated films I've ever seen in my life. The combination of gorgeous stopmotion animation, great characters, phenomenal voice acting, exciting action, and a beautiful and emotionalSimply put, Kubo and the Two Strings is one of the best animated films I've ever seen in my life. The combination of gorgeous stopmotion animation, great characters, phenomenal voice acting, exciting action, and a beautiful and emotional story results in a movie that I absolutely adored from start to finish. This movie deserves all the money in the world for how excellent it is.… Expand

7 of 21 users found this helpful714

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10

ThegodfathersonAug 23, 2016

For an animated film, Kubo masters mature storytelling in a way no film has this year. It dazzles with gorgeous stop motion, a bone chilling score and a story that will entertain both kids and adults.

6 of 19 users found this helpful613

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10

dnabzugAug 20, 2016

Kubo has more charm, originality, heart, and magic than any other three films I've seen this year. There have been remakes and sequels galore lately, but this is that rarest of things. It's original. It's funny. it's heartwarming. It'sKubo has more charm, originality, heart, and magic than any other three films I've seen this year. There have been remakes and sequels galore lately, but this is that rarest of things. It's original. It's funny. it's heartwarming. It's exciting. And it makes you feel like few films have done.

Do yourself a favor. Go see this film.… Expand

7 of 23 users found this helpful716

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10

blizzardblueAug 20, 2016

Beautiful to watch, to think people made this with their own hands gives makes you appreciate movie making & story telling, voice acting is excellent from all involved, don't miss it.

6 of 20 users found this helpful614

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8

moviemitch96Aug 21, 2016

I must say that this is Laika's finest film to date! Obviously, the beautiful and impressive handcrafted animation is the film's biggest highlight, but the great voice cast with the likes of Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, Rooney Mara,I must say that this is Laika's finest film to date! Obviously, the beautiful and impressive handcrafted animation is the film's biggest highlight, but the great voice cast with the likes of Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, Rooney Mara, Ralph Fiennes, and Art Parkinson as Kubo also keeps the film lively and entertaining! There are some familiar plot points and ideas, but for the most part, the film remained highly unique and original with what it had to show. Overall, this year is certainly amounting to be one strong year for animated films and I'm happy to say that this film is further proof of that!… Expand

6 of 21 users found this helpful615

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10

HectorInTheMornAug 21, 2016

A great animation with a great story and characters. the stop motion in this is amazing and the film is paced very well! the action is animated be beautiful too!

6 of 21 users found this helpful615

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8

WendyTAug 20, 2016

Visually stunning it holds your attention from the first scene. The care and affection in making the film is evident. The story is also as compelling, it reveals itself in ways unique. The voice actors were excellent - my one regret is thatVisually stunning it holds your attention from the first scene. The care and affection in making the film is evident. The story is also as compelling, it reveals itself in ways unique. The voice actors were excellent - my one regret is that the dialog, stylistically, was often at odds with the film's visual styling; word and picture simply did not match. I wish the director had had more confidence in the audience's begin comfortable with language worthy of a film so beautifully rendered.… Expand

6 of 21 users found this helpful615

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10

ScrawnyPunkAug 20, 2016

A perfect movie. Stunning visuals, quests, humor, a classic hero's journey, and life-through-story, all orbiting around a massive emotional center. That's the "Dad" review. From the eight-year-old boy - "Second best movie ever...behindA perfect movie. Stunning visuals, quests, humor, a classic hero's journey, and life-through-story, all orbiting around a massive emotional center. That's the "Dad" review. From the eight-year-old boy - "Second best movie ever...behind Jurassic Park."

This is an absolute work of art, and something that other children's movies should aspire to. (Most of the reward is seeing the plot unfold, so I'll let you experience that for yourself)… Expand

6 of 22 users found this helpful616

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9

JSpot9Aug 19, 2016

So this movie basically has the same narrative structure as a Legend of Zelda game, and I'm not gonna lie it's pretty great. It's a ton of fun, and moves fast enough to never get boring, despite having a lot of solemn, deep moments. It's notSo this movie basically has the same narrative structure as a Legend of Zelda game, and I'm not gonna lie it's pretty great. It's a ton of fun, and moves fast enough to never get boring, despite having a lot of solemn, deep moments. It's not perfect though, the plotting is a bit unoriginal, certain character beats feel a bit one note, and a couple of key plot twists I predicted long before they were revealed, however the whole enterprise is held together by some truly stunning animation, awesome fight scenes, emotionally compelling characters, the themes of loss and family, and a sense of adventure. So yeah I love Kubo.… Expand

6 of 22 users found this helpful616

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9

GwyndolinAug 19, 2016

The sound and visual are stunning and I would recommend the movie for those qualities alone.
The story had potential that was never fully realized. Same goes with the dialogue, had some great moments but often times missed the mark. DespiteThe sound and visual are stunning and I would recommend the movie for those qualities alone.
The story had potential that was never fully realized. Same goes with the dialogue, had some great moments but often times missed the mark. Despite its shortcomings, this is going down as one of the most memorable movies I've ever seen.… Expand

5 of 19 users found this helpful514

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9

tjman09Aug 25, 2016

Kubo and the Two Strings, the next installment from the stop-go animation studio Laika is here, and I think it’s an amazing film. I’ve stated for years that Laika could be the biggest competition for Pixar, and finally Laika has delivered aKubo and the Two Strings, the next installment from the stop-go animation studio Laika is here, and I think it’s an amazing film. I’ve stated for years that Laika could be the biggest competition for Pixar, and finally Laika has delivered a movie to prove me right. Kubo and the Two Strings is beautifully animated, conveys amazing amounts of emotional depth, and brings a true sense of magic. In the past I had been critical of some stop-go animation, but the works of Aardman and Laika have taken it to a premier level.
This film’s animation is gorgeous, simply put the characters, the settings, the creatures, they all look amazing. It shouldn’t come as any surprise, Laika has consistently made beautiful films, but it’s always impressive when you consider the amount of time and effort that goes into animating a stop-go animation film. Above the animation the looks of the film is amazing, as the animators used color so well to give the film a look, and even more impressively the animators weren’t afraid to make it dark. That has been one of the best staples of Laika, it’s boldness to be willing to make an animated movie dark (but only to an extent.)
The boldness to make the film look dark occasionally, really exemplifies the film’s impressive emotional depth. Much like Pixar, Laika seems to understand that the marshmallow fluff most studios give kids, are very one dimensional. While that fluff is in this film, there’s elements of light horror in this film as well. Any film that can juxtapose kiddy fluff with any kind of horror tones, deserves credit for their depth and understanding of mood. It also helps make this film feel all the more magical, as if the presence of a character can change the mood of an area, which is amazing.
The entire film’s look and depth help create a truly magical film, one where imagination seems to be at full capacity for the writers and filmmakers. The film’s villain characters, voiced by Rooney Mara, are creepy and perfectly designed, and the main characters are very well developed as well. This film uses color amazingly, especially blue, which is a common color used in films today, but the use of it in this film both enhances the story and the mood beautifully. Above that the voice work is also incredible, especially the work of Matthew McConaughey and Charlize Theron.
All in all, this film is amazing, it may possibly be the best film of the year so far, although it’s still early and Captain America: Civil War was pretty great as well. The story may have been a tad predictable in the end, but the magical look and feel of this animated film transcends a slightly predictable story. For those who love great movie and those who have imaginative young kids, see this in the theaters where the sense of magic can still be felt.… Expand

3 of 12 users found this helpful39

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0

lunanulDec 11, 2016

Gorgeous visuals and animation, but story and character development are seriously lacking. At times, felt like watching an interactive video game, albeit a somewhat boring one.

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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2

JonaWeNov 23, 2016

quite boring: lame story & characters. horrible voicecast. too much vfx, the lovely stopmotion is covered and burried under computer visuals. plotholes deep and wide... most of the time the audience will ask, why is he/she doing this andquite boring: lame story & characters. horrible voicecast. too much vfx, the lovely stopmotion is covered and burried under computer visuals. plotholes deep and wide... most of the time the audience will ask, why is he/she doing this and that, characters motivation are mostly unclear or strikingly hold up in uninspired dialogues, trying to cover the missing character development...which goes to zero! Maybe this movie is o.k. for the target audience... 2 points for the time-consuming set-design. designideas and setting could be a good videogame! In this kind of media, the story do not count that much.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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7

TrevorsViewDec 13, 2016

Travis Knight takes the director’s chair under the same studio that created other stop-motion spectacles such as Coraline, ParaNorman, and The Boxtrolls. Except this one stands out far greater than the others, as Kubo and the Two Strings usesTravis Knight takes the director’s chair under the same studio that created other stop-motion spectacles such as Coraline, ParaNorman, and The Boxtrolls. Except this one stands out far greater than the others, as Kubo and the Two Strings uses a classical story to make a tribute to the art of storytelling, in the form of Japanese clay puppets and the old forgotten art of origami.

Never before has a story about a one-eyed lonely boy feeding his spiritually lost mother felt so captivating for a contemporary audience. This little restless wanderer takes his journey toward self-worth to a much greater level, as he treats us to a story told within a story with his origami figures, the strings of these puppets controlled by the strings of his musical instrument. Just one sound of the strum, and the paper folds itself to tell of a Moon King who takes a samurai and his family. But young Kubo is not satisfied with his life, as he longs to find his lost father, who he’s been told was once a mighty warrior.

All other strides taken by the animators to generate this moving picture are worth the attention of all worldwide art academies. These artists know how to fluidly combine the techniques of stop-motion animation and computer generated imagery in a way that services the artistry rather than the technicality. I am now officially won over upon the concept of combining CGI with Claymation, as everything in the frame of this feature flows and blends together seamlessly, making it impossible to tell what is CGI and what is practical. Kubo is a remarkable feat for 3D viewing.

The moments of spectacle in the near-two-hour run time include a moonlit ocean wave split in half, a big scary skeleton with glowing eyes, a large underwater sea creature with a circular mouth, a swordfight with a monster from the afterlife, and two frightening looking ladies who appear merged from V for Vendetta and the twins from The Shining.

With such a love toward the history of storytelling, it’s a shame that the story itself needed some fine tuning here and there, particularly in the second act.

After some serious drama, Kubo winds up in some other world coated in snow, a monkey there to greet him. Here is where Kubo begins to feel tonally different from how it was marketed.

The next hour contains an excess of humor that for the most part falls flat. The conflict is there between the boy and the authoritative monkey, but by jokes that suggest a genre not previously established. To make it worse, Kubo and the monkey later meet with a beetle who has no memory of his past life. Almost all of his dialogue contains jokes that would get on anybody’s nerves like the class clown you had in fourth grade. The voices of these two mentors to the boy are voiced by Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey, neither of which are that terribly fitting with their parts. But Theron does actually have her moment as she gets to tell a story to Kubo in the classical warm tone as told through memory. I’d also like to add that there is a plot twist involving these two figures, but it’s one of those twists you could have easily guessed.

This film’s theme supports the belief of Buddhism, which includes reincarnation and praying to ancestors. If you, like me, are of a Christian or other religious belief, it might be offensive to you. But on the plus side, strong bonds in the feature are made between mother and son, offering children an important moral on the importance of storytelling from generation to generation.

I always enjoy a good stop-motion film now and then; it’s such a shame there isn’t nearly enough of them being made nowadays. I think innovative forms of animation such as this one add significantly more meaning and artistry to storytelling, much more impactful than the computer animation we’ve gotten way too used to. Now look, I still enjoy CGI as much as the next guy, but I also enjoy a little variety.

This story about stories reveals to us why we go to movies: the stories told reveal our true selves, including which ones appeal to us and which ones we choose to tell. Stories, especially in movie format, live on past our own lives through constant retellings.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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10

JurassicParkFanAug 22, 2016

One of the best animated movies I've ever seen and the best animated movie of this year. this should get more money than it got this weekend at the box office. the stop-motion animation is beautiful an the story is well written. TheOne of the best animated movies I've ever seen and the best animated movie of this year. this should get more money than it got this weekend at the box office. the stop-motion animation is beautiful an the story is well written. The characters are so entertaining to watch and I rout for Kubo the entire movie. the message for kids is well realized also and this is a movie adults will love too. 10/10. probably gonna win at the Oscars.… Expand

3 of 16 users found this helpful313

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10

DigitalMindZAug 19, 2016

Kubo and the Two Strings est un film d'animations magnifique. La réalisation par « stop motion » rend au visuel un aspect organique que l'imagerie par ordinateur pure ne rend pas. L'histoire n'est pas pour les jeunes enfants. En résumé, leKubo and the Two Strings est un film d'animations magnifique. La réalisation par « stop motion » rend au visuel un aspect organique que l'imagerie par ordinateur pure ne rend pas. L'histoire n'est pas pour les jeunes enfants. En résumé, le grand-père de Kobu, une entité céleste, roi de la lune, lui a pris un œil et il veut lui prendre l'autre. Son père est décédé en affrontant les forces du roi de la lune afin de permettre à Kubo et à sa mère de fuir. Comme sa mère, Kubo possède un pouvoir sur les choses qui l'entour. La nuit tombée, notre héros doit absolument demeuré caché afin que les forces du roi de la lune ne le retrouvent pas... Sauf qu'un soir, Kobu se fait surprendre par ces forces obscures... À plusieurs reprises, l'action et les enjeux m'ont fait être absorbé par elles. Le singe vole la vedette. Un film à voir pour les fans de films d'animation et d'histoire style asiatique avec une pincée dramatique. J'écris ceci et j'ai déjà envie de le revoir. :)… Expand

2 of 15 users found this helpful213

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10

Eilidh2Aug 20, 2016

Kubo is staggeringly beautiful both visually and aurally. Dario Marianelli's score is sublime. The stop-motion animation has so advanced that nothing previously done is comparable in quality.

The story is simple. The hero Kubo must acquireKubo is staggeringly beautiful both visually and aurally. Dario Marianelli's score is sublime. The stop-motion animation has so advanced that nothing previously done is comparable in quality.

The story is simple. The hero Kubo must acquire the arms to protect himself from the evil Moon King, his grandfather. Along the way he is helped by Monkey a magical being Kubo's mother created from a talisman and Beetle, a giant man-beetle hybrid who suspects (he doesn't have a memory) that he must have been a warrior serving Kubo's father the greatest samurai.

The story is incredibly moving with great flashes of humor alleviating the mournful tone. Matthew McConaughey provides the comic relief as Beetle and, ultimately, a great poignancy. Charlize Theron is very forceful as the determined Monkey. The constant banter between the two is very amusing and gives the viewer the chance to catch their breath between stunning action sequences and the terrible sadness of events in the film.

As Kubo, Art Parkinson gives a performance that is haunting. It may only be a voice performance, but it is one of the best a child actor has ever given.

Rooney Mara playing both of Kubo's evil aunts is as creepy as the twins in The Shining. Ralph Fiennes was the only (slightly) disappointing performance.

When the audience discovers the significance of the "Two Strings" of the title, it may be hard to hear the rest of the dialogue for the audible sobbing in the theater!… Expand

2 of 16 users found this helpful214

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7

Compi24Aug 22, 2016

Now, here's a kid's movie with its priorities straight. A movie that's more preoccupied with teaching salient lessons on death and bereavement than it is with showcasing it's pretty colors and goofy characters (though, don't get me wrong, theNow, here's a kid's movie with its priorities straight. A movie that's more preoccupied with teaching salient lessons on death and bereavement than it is with showcasing it's pretty colors and goofy characters (though, don't get me wrong, the colors are still brilliantly pretty and the characters are still delightfully goofy), "Kubo And The Two Strings" ultimately won me over with its powerful climax and commendable vocal performances. And though the film's ambitious narrative may sometimes exceed its grasp on logic, it's still an overwhelmingly memorable, visually resplendent cinematic experience.… Expand

2 of 17 users found this helpful215

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7

SteelthoughtsAug 20, 2016

This film was basically exactly what I expected it to be. I wanted to see it because I am a fan of Japanese RPG video games, and I wasn't disappointed. However, most others may be disappointed since the story was rushed, the backstory wasn'tThis film was basically exactly what I expected it to be. I wanted to see it because I am a fan of Japanese RPG video games, and I wasn't disappointed. However, most others may be disappointed since the story was rushed, the backstory wasn't explained well enough, and the brief moments of humor in the film didn't have enough silence in between to allow the audience to laugh. In other words, if there is a different film that is child-appropriate to take children to this weekend, that film is probably a better choice.… Expand

2 of 17 users found this helpful215

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9

AkusureiAug 20, 2016

I had a chance to see and advance screening of this in 3D. My biggest issue with the movie wasn't the movie itself, but the poor quality of the theaters projection. The 3D is some of the best I have seen, but the picture presentation wasI had a chance to see and advance screening of this in 3D. My biggest issue with the movie wasn't the movie itself, but the poor quality of the theaters projection. The 3D is some of the best I have seen, but the picture presentation was murky as hell! This obviously isn't the movie's fault, my suggestion would be, "If you choose to see this in 3D, see it in a newer theater." This movie would make Kurasawa smile.

Pros + Fantastic use of 3D.
Amazing stop motion animation.
Likable characters.
Gets emotional at times.
I loved the Regina Spektor cover of "While my Guitar Gently Weeps".
Great voice talent.
Easy, Breezy, Story.
I love the amount of love that went into the making of this.
Fantastic end credits.
No annoying forgetful fish. Warning: This movie does contain fish

Cons - Story is predictable, it's a fetch quest, Grab these items and proceed with caution to the next
location.
The surprise Kubo finds out about during his journey.
Needed more George Takei and Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa… Expand

2 of 18 users found this helpful216

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0

HealingToolbox1Nov 21, 2016

Most original, inventive and deep movie I have seen in 2016. Hardly a derivative bone in its body. A boy learns how to resource and make use of his inner parents, a benefit which will stay with him for the rest of his life. A spiritualMost original, inventive and deep movie I have seen in 2016. Hardly a derivative bone in its body. A boy learns how to resource and make use of his inner parents, a benefit which will stay with him for the rest of his life. A spiritual movie in the same sense as the 1978 Star Wars. The Force is used but not talked about much. Very unusual for adventure stories, the chief villain is not killed at the end. One of the themes is memory. At the end the villain is reformed by giving him new memories by an entire village working together. I'm a VFX and stop=motion nerd and even I cannot fathom this convergence of stop-motion and CGI animation. The facial animation rivals anything we have seen in 2016 from the major effects vendors. Several astonishing character flourishes and responses are attempted--and pulled off. Really remarkable for any animation let alone stop-motion. By far the strongest Laika movie yet, a wonderful convergence of script, voice case, animators and spirit.… Expand

1 of 19 users found this helpful118

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8

imthenoobDec 2, 2016

Beautifully animated movie with the stop motion. I was kind of leaning towards a 7 but in the last 30-40 minutes of the film, It was like flicking a switch. The emotional journey that Kubo takes hits the high it's been building towards and byBeautifully animated movie with the stop motion. I was kind of leaning towards a 7 but in the last 30-40 minutes of the film, It was like flicking a switch. The emotional journey that Kubo takes hits the high it's been building towards and by the climax, You can't help but feel for him, all he's lost and the closer he's gained by finishing his unexpected quest.

And what really helps carry this film isn't just the talented voice acting cast but by the voice of Kubo - Art Parkinson. Not only does he have to compete against some of the best talent alive but at just 15, He totally delivers and gives a great performance. Kubo is my pick for best animated film of the year.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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9

BrianMcCriticNov 22, 2016

A breathtaking emotional journey involving family, honor, and the art of story telling. Laika has been doing great work for years, but with Kubo and the Two Strings they set a new bar. A

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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10

TheShrike222Jan 14, 2017

It seems that many of the best movies I've seen this year are ones that are quietly waiting to be discovered, not the mainstream fare. After watching Kubo, I sat stunned through the credits and spent two days analyzing every last detail ofIt seems that many of the best movies I've seen this year are ones that are quietly waiting to be discovered, not the mainstream fare. After watching Kubo, I sat stunned through the credits and spent two days analyzing every last detail of the picture. It was delicate, sublime, sad, triumphant, exciting.... put in another 200 adjectives and that should cover it. It was also mind blowing to realize how much exacting work went into a stop-motion movie with quite a lot of action. I could watch this again forever. That's my favorite type of movie.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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7

KrissTolliday14Sep 26, 2016

A wonderful animation tale filled with original, innovative moments that will make you laugh and cry. Interesting and fascinating characters are spliced with Japanese folklore bringing together a Hollywood version of a Studio GhibliA wonderful animation tale filled with original, innovative moments that will make you laugh and cry. Interesting and fascinating characters are spliced with Japanese folklore bringing together a Hollywood version of a Studio Ghibli production. Kubo is the hero of our story. A story teller himself who longs for the truth behind his parent's demise. In order to unravel the one tale he doesn't know the ending of, he must find a suit of armour, with the help of a talking monkey and beetle, before his evil Grandfather and Aunts find him and steal his eyes. What a truly unusual and unique concept and despite how outrageous it sounds the filmmakers manage to pull it off with glee and without feeling daft. Magic is used without having to be fully explained and that can only be a testament to the world that has been created by Laika studios. Compared to the Pixar films I believe this lacks the family friendly warmth that the character's such as Dory or Sully bring to the screen, however with Kubo we have a new storytelling technique for children. It is dark and unafraid to be so. The story isn't forced and overly explained and it encourages children to take hold of a very different type of narrative. There are still the comedic moments from Beetle and Monkey (McConaughey and Theron excellently bring these characters to life) to keep the children happy but it feels educational with dark themes that encourage new ways to look at life. Beautifully animated and wonderfully told, this is Laika pushing Pixar and Disney all the way.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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3

hollywoodgothicJan 21, 2017

Wonderful visuals (though the renderings of humans are sub-par). However: poor dialogue rife with 21st-century colloquialisms and Americanisms, plot holes you could drive a tractor-trailer through, poor story logic, derivativeness,Wonderful visuals (though the renderings of humans are sub-par). However: poor dialogue rife with 21st-century colloquialisms and Americanisms, plot holes you could drive a tractor-trailer through, poor story logic, derivativeness, undeveloped characters. And it was boring. "Coraline" was much better. This was a triumph of style over substance. Only one Asian voice actor! The high scores are saddening.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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6

PrazonCyberpunqMar 11, 2017

I remember having goosebumps when i first saw the trailer, the visuals, the sound and the plot (which seemed different) caught my attention but i have to say i was very disappointed with the direction this fascinating story took. The plot isI remember having goosebumps when i first saw the trailer, the visuals, the sound and the plot (which seemed different) caught my attention but i have to say i was very disappointed with the direction this fascinating story took. The plot is good, the love of the parents who wish to save their child from the horror that awaits due to the burden of his lineage...apparently. I can imagine it being a great great story on paper but the forcefully drawn out cliche characters paired with cliche moments and dialogues to fill you with synthetic emotions. "oh! the poor boy" "oh the evil antagonist" "oh the confused antagonist" "oh the confused boy", so it tends to leave the entire audience quite confused on how to feel about the movie, the twists it takes and its characters. The plot twists can be seen from light years away, at least for me it was and i was wondering if it is more than just a "good vs evil" movie, which would have given it so so much depth but the direction managed to make it annoyingly shallow. I would not take anything away from the stop-motion animation as it was always a visual feast in spite of the confusingly portrayed characters. At the beginning it was all heart warming for me seeing the love of son for his mother and vice-versa but as the movie progresses past the 15 minute mark you start to wonder if they are the same characters you thought you knew. Hence, at this point it becomes very clear that the character development is very disappointing, and i use the word "disappointing" because the script deserved so much more than what it got. I believe this was because the creators were torn between making it a kids' movie which they would enjoy and also understand in the simplest form without taking anything away from the interesting plot twists, but it failed to do both. This is a prime example how a great script can be ruined by lack of sincerity and vision and i could not help but feel ecstatic imagining what the same script would have done had it fallen into the hands of someone like Hayao Miyazaki who would know these characters and understand their motivations and enable any kid and child to feel for the in the ways they themselves would not be able to understand how. This just shows how much the western movie makers underestimate their younger audiences. They might as well just give out candies and ice-cream at the end to convince them they had a good time. The morally grey characters are forced to side with either black or white which leaves the audience confused on how to really feel about them. I loved the sound and the visuals but they do not do anything more to compensate for it, which might be asking too much from my side. Regardless the visuals are stunning and sounds soothing but they do not tie well with the overall theme of the movie or the characters. The action sequences are just as dull as the characters and the clashes are pretty basic hand to hand combats all the while trying to convince the audience that they are witnessing a battle of some of the most divine beings of the universe. That pretty much sums up the entire movie for me, everything and everyone seems out of their depth here and i can imagine the sigh the writers much have left with after watching it. Nevertheless, i hope in future, a distant future where we have forgotten about this atrocious attempt to take something so artistic and mold it into something so synthetic just to please the movie audience who are far more sophisticated than they give us credit for. I am also very disappointed to see great reviews for the movie which was not bad, nope, i could not be that heartless but fell extremely short of what it could have been and what it was meant to be.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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7

fungusgnatOct 1, 2016

Setting and characters notwithstanding, this is not a Japanese movie. It does not have the off-kilter story sense (from a Western perspective) that distinguishes the work of Hayashi and others; this one lies in a land somewhere in betweenSetting and characters notwithstanding, this is not a Japanese movie. It does not have the off-kilter story sense (from a Western perspective) that distinguishes the work of Hayashi and others; this one lies in a land somewhere in between here and there, where events can materialize out of nowhere and sentiment may be called upon to help make the pieces fit. This is all fine with me, as is the story’s insistence on the importance of storytelling. What is not fine is the music—in which Kubo’s plucky samishen is nearly drowned out by trite Western “movie music.” No problem, though, with the “photography” (or the art, or whatever a cartoon’s got), which is flat-out beautiful, especially towards the beginning where one has not had the opportunity yet to realize how high the bar is being raised. All in all, I liked this movie quite a bit and would recommend it without reservation for, say, six-to-ten-year-olds in particular—boys and girls. Meanwhile, the accompanying adult will be all smiles throughout, except where s/he is agog over the fact that this film is largely stop-motion.… Expand