May 13, 20214 min read

Wolfwalkers: Nature's Poetry shines over Men's Apathy

Updated: Jan 31, 2023

Reviews by:

@the_owlseyes

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In 1786 our species exstinguished another one. The last grey wolf exaled his last breath by the hand of a fierceless hunters. This what we do, when we fell threatened by someone else, we annihilite it. Not just animals, because a lot of them are extincted for other "indirect" reasons, but we do the same between ourselves. What's different and better is usually worth our hatred and jealousy, which bring us to wars, alienations and loss. It has been like that since we've started to lose our attachment with nature and feelings. Two things deeply intertwined. Two aspects that we have to rediscover. By living emotions to the fullest and experiencing art to its best. This movie is emotional art.

PLOT

"A young apprentice hunter and her father journey to Ireland to help wipe out the last wolf pack. But everything changes when she befriends a free-spirited girl from a mysterious tribe rumored to transform into wolves by night" or " A tender and emotional take on the Werewolf's legend".

SCRIPT

There's a lot of maturity and emotional intelligence in this screenplay, which manifest through great characters and an ingenious plot. Every character goes on a journey and is transformed by the end of the movie. Robyn, who starts as a girl who's trying to emulate her father and who's lost in a new environment, becomes what she's meant to be, by pursuing friendship and finding a place in the world. His father, who is a man slave of burocrats and social norms, finds a new life and a new purpose which makes him free. Mebh, who sets off as a childish girl with a predetermined idea about men, opens up and is able to achieve what kept her down and immutable. Her mother, who stays in the background but her present is felt since the first scene, represents nature and its powers. The villains are the uneducated people, the sheeps, who believe everything which is told them by the church. Ignorance is the enemy. Well written character archs and a satisfying finale which settles all the conflicts scattered subtly and explicitly throughout the story. The villain could have been fleshed out in a better way but the result is still appreciable.

Script: 9/10

ACTING

The girls who voice the main characters have done a good job but it's still a bit flawed. I can't the same for Sean Bean who is the main strenght of the movie, because he's able to convey a large array of emotions with his distinguishable voice. The side characters are voiced in adecent way but they don't add anything interesting to the movie's quality.

Acting: 8/10

PHOTOGRAPHY

That's amazing. Have you looked at the review's pictures? The colors are what touch our feelings and the movie k ows how to use them effectively. It's extremely noticeable the fact that they wanted to represent the city as a cold and colorless element to contrast it with the marvellous tints of the forest and the nature. The wood which is usually represented as a dark and fearful place, here becomes the life's centre and the lack of color has an integral role in the plot, you'll understand it. It's like watching a dynamic paint with lifelike characters. This is very powerful imagery.

Photography: 9/10

EDITING

There isn't much to say about it because it isn't original. It's enough. There aren't jumpcuts and slow motion. Usually the camera lies on a character without cuts to enhance the relevance of a scene but there's nothing interesting about that.

Editing: 6/10

SPECIAL EFFECTS

The design is beatiful and it distances itself from the usual Pixar and Dreamworks stuff. It's a wonderful mix of digital and natural drawings. It's a technic which, i think, is more effective than cgi. In a lot of ways this movie is closer to Hayao Miyazaki's stile than Disney's. There're a lot of pictures here which shows the level of care which has been used to make this animated masterpiece. It isn't just good but it's also symbolical, by giving squared shapes to the city and its people and freer forms to the wood and its fauna.

Special Effects: 8/10

SOUNDTRACK

It's pleasing and tender, with some moments of dynamic movements but overall isn't memorable. There's only a moment, during a song with lyricss, when the soundtrack gets better but it's just that unfortunately. Sure, it fits the movie and its tone but it didn't convince me, not enough.

Soundtrack: 6/10

COSTUMES

The art developers sticked to the historicic period and country in which is set the movie. Apart from the two magical creatures who have clothes which are strogly linked with the Irish culture and their bond with nature, the other characters wear the usual stuff you could find in every historic or fantasy movie. A bit underwhelming considering the delightful design which is on display here.

Costumes: 6/10

CONCLUSION

Script: 9/10

Acting: 8/10

Photography: 9/10

Editing: 6/10

Special Effects: 8/10

Soundtrack: 6/10

Costumes: 6/10

AVERAGE: 7,42

It's an animated movie which amazes and moves with great visuals and a great story, made by well written characters. The themes approached here are mature and bear a good moral for the kids who wants to enjoy a funnny and heartwarming movie. The studio deserves more attention by the media because it flew under the radar at the 2021 Oscars, to favor a more distinct producer like Disney and its Soul, which is a good movie nonetheless. Indie Movies are what keep the industry alive, freed by corporate greed and its reduced care toward riskier productions. We need original stories, we need passion.

By @the_owlseyes

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