Raya and the Last Dragon

Raya and the Last Dragon, is a detail-oriented story filled with so much essence and heart! - 8.5/10

by Francesco Bakhos - 365 Movies Lebanon

Merging together the vibrant cultures and the diverse mythologies of over 670 million people, Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon is the South East Asian representation which many generations have been long waiting for.

With an imbued sense of political and social commentary, Raya and the Last Dragon’s narrative is an educational and a thought-provoking world of culture. Taking exemplary elements from each Southeast nation and its unique philosophies and folklore, Director Carlos López Estrada and Director Don Hall constructed a universal message of unity, betrayal, and healing which, in return, manifests the film’s entire existence.

Viewers will get to witness, firsthand, the remarkable evolution of Raya and the Last Dragon’s multifaceted characters. Forming an unlikely family of misfits and refugees, each persona got to represent a different culture and a different set of beliefs, giving us the opportunity to learn as much as possible about the film’s real-life origins and inspirations.

Voiced into life by the likes of Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina and Gemma Chan, the voice work was simply spectacular. With Tran’s vulnerable vocal tones, Awkwafina’s joyous charm and Chan’s empowering attitude, this film was a sonic masterpiece. This notion was further supported with the use of the very minimalistic and appropriate score.

Undeniably, Raya and the Last Dragon’s best aspect is its fully developed and vibrant color palette and the striking imagery and graphics which can be easily considered as Disney’s best work in years. The mix of these two elements created a fantastic ambiance of color, magic and mystique that will fascinate each viewer exclusively.

Disney’s first inclusive Southeast Asian story, Raya and the Last Dragon, is a detail-oriented story filled with so much essence and heart!

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