The Book of Life (2014) Review!!

Synopsis – Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart, embarks on an adventure that spans three fantastic worlds where he must face his greatest fears.

My Take – This is easily one of the best animated films of 2014 along with The Lego Movie (Read my review here) & much better than the trailers suggested it to be. It may not be perfect but is a highly enjoyable film in general for both children and adults alike. The film has a lot of educational value in it for the young audience it targets. There are a lot of Mexican Latino values being tackled here about friendship and family, the status of women, the respect for the dead, etc., which are likewise universal as well, more often than not. It also introduces us, both kids and adults alike, to the vibrant Mexican culture, especially about their Day of the Dead. The story follows The a love triangle between three childhood friends: Musical Manolo (voiced by Diego Luna), scrappy Joaquin (voiced by Channing Tatum) and smart Maria (voiced by Zoe Saldana). After Maria gets sent to Europe to study. Joaquin enters into training to become a military officer, just like his deceased father.

While Manolo is discouraged by his father from his musical aspirations, he is forced into taking up bullfighting, which is the traditional Sanchez family occupation. When Maria returns to town after several years, Joaquin and Manolo decide to win her heart & marry her. Outside of their mortal coil, the trio are being watched by two married deities, La Muerta, mistress of the Land of the Remembered (Kate del Castillo) and Xiabalba, master of the Land of the Forgotten (Ron Perlman). They watch over The Land of the Remembered, a happy place where people go when they die, and also The Land of the Forgotten, a dreary place where the dead go when the living forget them. The two make a bet on the love triangle. La Muerta bets that Maria will choose Manolo, while Xiabalba has his money on Joaquin. The winner gets to rule the netherworld. On the Day of the Dead, the deities interfere with the outcome, leading to an adventure which will bring the characters from the land of the living to the land of the dead and back. The best thing about the film is the animation, which is never less than outstanding and even spellbinding at its best, consisting of vivid warm colors, smooth imaginatively done background art and beautifully drawn character designs that look real. The brilliantly colorful and psychedelic imagery of Land of the Forgotten and the character designs of the two supernatural lead characters are particularly well done, the whole film is a stunner to look at and has so much depth and rich detail.

The music is good and fits well, the score is robust and authentically orchestrated and the songs are a lot of fun- in the cinema you have difficulty resisting the temptation to sing along and tap your feet-, are catchy and of many moods. If there was any complaint about the soundtrack, it’s that I wish there was more of a Mexican vibe to it. The script was sharp and funny, even managing to liven the darker elements a little without jarring or being over-reliant on postmodern gags, it has a good flow and is always easy to understand. The story isn’t perfect but is a winner overall. does it have cliches? Of course it does. Does it handle them well? Yes. It does have its overstuffed and contrived spots but it’s warm – hearted, entertaining from the get go right up to the last second and you always feel like you’re being immersed in all these different worlds in the film, which aside from the animation was what was the most remarkable thing about this film. On the whole. ‘The Book of Life’ is different, and it’s creative engine is provided by Guillermo del Toro, the whip-smart filmmaker who previously gave us Hellboy and Pan’s Labyrinth. With The Book of Life, he puts together a beguiling experience that looks and feels new. Overall, “The Book of Life” is a very unique animated feature film, its a joyful, giddy experience, brimming with energy and life, which needs to be experienced at least once!