As of this month, Disney has released their 61st animated feature almost in time for their 100th anniversary, Strange World. Influenced by pulp magazines and retro sci fi works like Journey to the Center of the Earth, the film has garnered fairly warm reviews from critics and moviegoers. Unfortunately, due to a lack of proper marketing and certain countries banning the feature, the film is currently flopping at the box office and is expected to lose roughly $147 million for the Disney company. This news is quite concerning to say the least, as the feature on its own is charming as far as familial tensions are concerned.
The film tells the story of the Clades, a legendary explorer family of explorers with generational differences. Upon farmer Searcher Clade needing to restore their plantation resource called Pando, he must set aside his differences with his father Jaeger and embark on a journey to a mysterious surreal landscape. Right off the bat, the core theme throughout the feature is the struggle between one generation after another, especially with one wanting to explore beyond their homeland and another prefering to play it safe with what they have. As a result, the film is conceptually not that unique with many of its story beats being easy to figure out with the drop of a dime. On top of Jaeger and Searcher having to go through literal and metaphorical obstacles between each other to settle their differences, the grandson Ethan is battling his own issues in wanting to be his own thing in spite of his father's fears, all while navigating feelings for someone. With the adventure ahead detailing roots beyond the family on their own, there's not much to scream about as far as conceptual storytelling goes.
However, as cliched and predictable as many of the story elements are, what does make the feature endearing and enthralling is the journey itself. Based on the title alone, the film does not hold back in showcasing just how strange the world beyond the Clade's village of Avalonia, with landscapes and creatures far beyond what the eye can see. Many of the strange inhabitants of this underground world accompany the stakes and thrills in the feature by either going against our heroes or aiding them to save the day, and they all vary in design and function as well. Along with Henry Jackman's intense music score, the whole adventure aspect of the movie pays off through the journey in many different aspects. In many ways, this film might be the closest Disney has come to making their own Indiana Jones inspired adventure, complete with the surreal obstacles along the main character's path and them having to overcome their differences just to make it out in the end. As routine as the film may be storywise, at least the main adventure has enough thrills of its own.
So while Strange World might feel too familiar in its story to be truly unique, its dazzling sense of scope, adventurous plotline and earnest representation makes it worth the watch. It's truly heartbreaking that there simply isn't enough promotion being done for the film for audiences to consider checking it out in their local cinemas, but hopefully with strong word of mouth, we can help it pick back up in the long run. Whether you want to see it now or wait until it's on Disney+, I recommend checking this flick out at least once for curiosity alone. Perhaps it has a chance of getting noticed as a cult classic later on.
The film tells the story of the Clades, a legendary explorer family of explorers with generational differences. Upon farmer Searcher Clade needing to restore their plantation resource called Pando, he must set aside his differences with his father Jaeger and embark on a journey to a mysterious surreal landscape. Right off the bat, the core theme throughout the feature is the struggle between one generation after another, especially with one wanting to explore beyond their homeland and another prefering to play it safe with what they have. As a result, the film is conceptually not that unique with many of its story beats being easy to figure out with the drop of a dime. On top of Jaeger and Searcher having to go through literal and metaphorical obstacles between each other to settle their differences, the grandson Ethan is battling his own issues in wanting to be his own thing in spite of his father's fears, all while navigating feelings for someone. With the adventure ahead detailing roots beyond the family on their own, there's not much to scream about as far as conceptual storytelling goes.
However, as cliched and predictable as many of the story elements are, what does make the feature endearing and enthralling is the journey itself. Based on the title alone, the film does not hold back in showcasing just how strange the world beyond the Clade's village of Avalonia, with landscapes and creatures far beyond what the eye can see. Many of the strange inhabitants of this underground world accompany the stakes and thrills in the feature by either going against our heroes or aiding them to save the day, and they all vary in design and function as well. Along with Henry Jackman's intense music score, the whole adventure aspect of the movie pays off through the journey in many different aspects. In many ways, this film might be the closest Disney has come to making their own Indiana Jones inspired adventure, complete with the surreal obstacles along the main character's path and them having to overcome their differences just to make it out in the end. As routine as the film may be storywise, at least the main adventure has enough thrills of its own.
So while Strange World might feel too familiar in its story to be truly unique, its dazzling sense of scope, adventurous plotline and earnest representation makes it worth the watch. It's truly heartbreaking that there simply isn't enough promotion being done for the film for audiences to consider checking it out in their local cinemas, but hopefully with strong word of mouth, we can help it pick back up in the long run. Whether you want to see it now or wait until it's on Disney+, I recommend checking this flick out at least once for curiosity alone. Perhaps it has a chance of getting noticed as a cult classic later on.