Imagine a world of fantasy, mythical creatures, mgic, and full of adventure... But then technology and life come along and that gets pushed into near extinction. That's the universe Disney and Pixar transport us to in their latest animated film offering "Onward" - which is absolutely fun and a love letter to those who love adventure games and fantasy fiction! It's a treat to see these kinds of films still being made when we're so used to seeing modern day heroes and machinery all but take the spotlight in adventure films, and now we are reminded of the importance of embracing our childhood fantasies and sense of adventure, as well as treasuring the things we have that make us the people who we are today.
Thanks to Disney Philippines, I was able to catch a special advance screening of "Onward" on IMAX a few weekends ago - and it's definitely something you need to take your family and friends to - especially if you love going on a quest and play adventure games like Dungeons & Dragons! This is Pixar's love letter to the latter, and also incorporates the values and lessons we can learn from Disney films - most especially when it comes to family, gaining self-confidence, and realizing what we're looking for is right in front of us in plain sight!
Featuring the voices of Marvelous stars Tom Holland and Chris Pratt (and Octavia Spencer as the Manticore!), "Onward" tells the story of two brothers names Ian and Barley Lightfoot - who embark on a quest to restore their Dad after a resurrection spell goes awry and leaves their father literally only half the man he was! As Ian just turned 16, it is a personal mission for him to get to know the father he never met (his Dad passed away before he was born), and Barley (who happens to be an enthusiastic role-playing game fanatic) makes it his goal to help his little brother fulfil that goal while also teaching him the long forgotten history of adventure and how to become a magician. What follows is an adventure set in a world very much like ours that is full of mythical creatures that have adapted to modern society, yet still holds many unique secrets and the potential to bring back the magic and wonder of fantasy that was long thought forgotten.
Whether you have played a game like Dungeons & Dragons, watched movies like The Lord of the Rings, or read novels like The Witcher - you will definitely love everything about "Onward" as it plays deep into that fantasy nostalgia while giving us the growing pains and truths of life we embrace and experience everyday. Ian and Barley, as well as the family and friends they interact and encounter in this film, are like the people we meet every day who want to be with the people they love and make something of themselves. It's especially true for Ian - our hero of the story who learns he has the "gift" of being a spellcaster and is determined to meet the father he never knew. Meanwhile Barley is the adventurer who rebels against society's expectations and embraces his interests in magic and fantasy. Although the journey is perilous and full of risks, both brothers get to know each other, and we as the audience experience the emotions and realizations the two siblings have about themselves and one another as they quest to get dear old Dad back together for one day.
Highly recommended and definitely fun to see in a big screen like IMAX, "Onward" starts playing in theaters in the Philippines on March 4! Go see it and be on an adventure with the whole gang!
Rating - 5/5
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