Monday, November 10, 2014

Movie Review: "Big Hero 6" (2014)

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You can always count on Disney animated films to keep you consistently entertained. As with other films like "Frozen," "Saving Mr. Banks" and "Wreck-It Ralph" Disney is a genius at taking those elements that make you feel like a child again and amplifying them, resulting in a wide grin throughout the movie.

Their newest film, "Big Hero 6" continues that trend by invoking a range of emotions. Whether that is through cuteness, awe-inspiring visuals, comedy or tragedy, Disney's animated collaboration with Marvel results in a film that you might see coming way ahead of time, but is far from disappointing.

In the futuristic city of San Fransokyo (with the visual style of San Fransisco and Tokyo), 14-year old Hiro Hamada tries to find his way in the world by using his advanced mind to build stunning machinery to use in robot fighting, though it is frowned upon by society and his brother Tadashi. 

After Tadashi introduces Hiro to the robotics department of his college and his latest project, the inflatable nurse robot Baymax, Hiro decides to use his brain for a better use and wants to apply for the robotics department. But when Hiro builds micro-bots that could change the world, it puts his life and everyone in San Fransokyo in danger.

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The charm of "Big Hero 6" comes from how it feels like an amalgamation of many films and stories, but without ripping any of them off. Baymax, fro example, only wishes to help others out but has a funny way of going about it, mostly due to his big balloony gut and rudimentary programming, just like another famous Disney animated robot, WALL-E. Both robots are huggable creations that want to serve their functions yet develop a personality along the way. Baymax, however, can talk and is quite clumsy, which sets him apart from WALL-E.

One of the most breathtaking moments in the film comes when Hiro equips Baymax with his new armor, granting him the ability to fly, and the two test out these new powers by taking an aerial tour of the city. Normally, I'd say this would be a rip-off from "Iron Man" when Tony flies for the first time. But then you see how Baymax and Hiro interact with the city and each other, as they go through subway tunnels, circle billboards, land on their version of the Golden Gate Bridge and end it on the many blimps circling the city.

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"Big Hero 6" invokes many movies, mostly super heroes and revenge tales, but does so while still having its own unique personality. Each of the six heroes come across as likable in their own right. From the orderly and cautious Wasabi with his electric claws that can cut through anything, to the calm and straight to the point Go Go and her magnetic wheels. These characters breathe life into the film and make otherwise cliché scenes into a joy to watch.

Even the plot, which is quite predictable, becomes quite forgivable in the face of the cheerful but creative nature of this film.

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I like to think of "Big Hero 6" as the animated equivalent of "The Avengers." Forgettable story, but wonderfully fleshed out characters, a unique sense of humor, more than delivers in the action department and an atmosphere that just wants to make people happy. A fun experience that will either have you laughing or stunned at how beautiful it can be. I would highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys super hero films or Disney animated works, which should cover everyone who enjoys cinema.

Final Grade: B+

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