Movie Review: Raya and the Last Dragon

Image via: https://movies.disney.com/raya-and-the-last-dragon

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

W-O-W! Disney delivers with Raya and the Last Dragon!

I’ve posted before that we are big Disney fans. I REALLY LOVE Disney. We have Disney+, but I won’t normally shell out extra money for Premier access.

Well, Disney sucked me in with this one. The previews looked so good and winter in Wisconsin is very…cold and boring. So, on a particularly cold snowy day, I bought this movie.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The colors and graphics in this movie are absolutely beautiful! It has a Moana-ish and Star Wars feels in the characters and landscape. Sadly, there isn’t the Moana music 🙁 But it’s okay, because it doesn’t need it.

The story sucked me and my 4 year old in right away. This story is about a land where humans and dragons in peace live together until an evil force attempts to destroy everything. The final dragons band together and place all their magic in a single gem that saves the the world, but divides the humans. 500 years later, the humans fight over who controls the gem and it’s broken in the process. When the gem breaks, the evil returns. Now Raya seeks to find Sisu, the last dragon, and save her father.

SISU

Sisu, the last dragon, is one of my favorite characters of all. She helps guide Raya on her quest to restore humanity and the dragons. She’s young, but wise in so many ways. She has the best manners!

Really Jamie? Manners? Yes! I feel like we’re at risk of losing these manners in today’s world. Did I just say that? I must be getting older.

Anyhow, Sisu constantly talks about bringing presents to the chiefs of the different lands. That’s what my Mom always taught me. Bring a gift when you visit someone. 🙂 Sisu says that’s a way of saying I can trust you, can you trust me? Trust is a big theme of the movie.

Also, Siso always tries to compliment people when she meets them. She ate Raya’s terrible jerky, but complimented her on it regardless. Then she complimented Namaari and her big cats despite Namaari obviously wanting to attack them.

OVERALL

This movie was well worth the extra movie! My daughter and I have watched it at least a dozen times. I cry EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Yup, it wouldn’t be a really good Disney movie if I didn’t cry at least once during the movie. On a really “good” day, this movie will make me cry in at least three different spots.

I love the themes in the movie and how Raya meets people and brings them together to be their own family. How she learns to trust others. There are so many good lessons here.

Definitely see this movie! It’s planned to release to Disney+ June 4, 2021. So, consider the cost/benefit to waiting. I personally feel it’s worth the money even now. It was that good. Happy movie watching y’all!

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