210 reviews
Strangely Mediocre World
Ehhh pretty generic and meh. Didn't feel much for the characters emotionally and the movie wasn't that funny. The Strange World stuff wasn't really anything I hadn't already seen before. Where the plot goes at the end thinks it's more clever than it actually is. I was underwhelmed by the entire execution.
At the end of the day, this is very weak by Modern Disney standards. It's an easy watch and the animation is decent in places, as well as the music, but overall I'm not going to remember much from it that I had already seen these premises/concepts done in movies before. A Mediocre World is what it is.
5/10.
At the end of the day, this is very weak by Modern Disney standards. It's an easy watch and the animation is decent in places, as well as the music, but overall I'm not going to remember much from it that I had already seen these premises/concepts done in movies before. A Mediocre World is what it is.
5/10.
- AdrenalinDragon
- Nov 26, 2022
- Permalink
The film is a bit unfocused...
... and while I think they did a great job building a world, with a lot of cool recombinations of old sci-fi concepts, the actual characters don't feel at all well sketched out and the themes and plot are remarkably thin. Like it's an okay film but it's a bit below the normal standards of Disney Animation.
The dialogue is definitely too much on the nose, and it feels pitched a little too young for what they're going for.
The main character arc of the movie is reminiscent of (and far inferior to) Mitchells vs The Machines to me, which can't be a great help. Not saying that there can only be one "quirky teen has strained relationship with father" movie but it's definitely a detriment when I'm thinking about a film that does that much better and with a whole lot more emotional complexity and heart while watching this.
Also, does anyone else feel like the sheer quantity of movies that are coming out right now that are about intergenerational trauma is getting a bit tiresome?
The environmental message is fine, but honestly it's mildly horrifying how culturally we're already at the point where kids movies are pitching "you should be willing to accept a much lower standard of living to save the planet." Not totally this movies fault, but that is where we are.
The opening sequence is really nice though, I'll say that.
The dialogue is definitely too much on the nose, and it feels pitched a little too young for what they're going for.
The main character arc of the movie is reminiscent of (and far inferior to) Mitchells vs The Machines to me, which can't be a great help. Not saying that there can only be one "quirky teen has strained relationship with father" movie but it's definitely a detriment when I'm thinking about a film that does that much better and with a whole lot more emotional complexity and heart while watching this.
Also, does anyone else feel like the sheer quantity of movies that are coming out right now that are about intergenerational trauma is getting a bit tiresome?
The environmental message is fine, but honestly it's mildly horrifying how culturally we're already at the point where kids movies are pitching "you should be willing to accept a much lower standard of living to save the planet." Not totally this movies fault, but that is where we are.
The opening sequence is really nice though, I'll say that.
Not-So-Bad World
I honestly don't get all the hate for this movie, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's definitely not fantastic but it's not terrible neither, it's a better effort from Disney compared to recent outings. Yes the characters aren't as well developed as they could have been, the story is just a rehash of everything that's been done before, the ideas don't really go anywhere, and certain situations just conveniently resolve themselves without much effort. But what did you expect from Disney these days? Just turn off your brain and keep expectations low and you'll find there's a lot to like; I love the Star Trek vibe, the creatures in the strange world were pretty cool, the blue blob was a lot of fun, the three-legged dog was awesome, I'm not sure why he was there and why he had to be three-legged but what the heck, he's a good boy! Just like the movie, it's flawed and you're not sure why it's there, but it's enjoyable.
Disappointment
This movie is a the epitome of cliche . We felt the same when we left the theater as we entered it. We came with our children full of hope for a nice family film, however, about halfway in, we just wanted it to end. The movie didn't make us laugh or make us cry, it didn't move us at all. We felt like empty plastic throughout the film. As much as we wanted to feel something, the movie went nowhere. It was formulaic and predictable. The characters are shallow and unrelatable. The animation is nice as well as the action, but it was lacking a story line . If we could ask for a refund, unfortunately, we would. Definitely not recommended.
- guypop-994-459196
- Dec 23, 2022
- Permalink
Strange World
The last fifteen minutes or so do redeem this to a certain extent, but otherwise it is a curiously disjointed story that seems drawn from "Island at the Top of the World" (1974) with bits of "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" (1959) and "The Lost World" (1960) thrown in for good measure. We start with the legendary explorer "Jaeger Clade" who is determined to find a way past the enclosing mountain peaks of their community. Like many a father, he drags along his unwilling son and when things come to an head, he proceeds alone leaving the younger man "Searcher" with his newly discovered crop of radioactive Brussels sprouts. Twenty-five years pass, and he has now grown up and successfully developed a farm of these particularly useful vegetables. He even has his own statue! Suddenly, though, the plants start to die and it falls to him and his own young son "Ethan" to embark on a perilous mission to the heart of the plant's root system and save it before it dies. These escapades are nicely and creatively animated with some fun to be had along the way, but there is simply too much sentiment, familial discord and cheesy dialogue to sustain this - as well as a dog that really annoys after a while. The characterisations are really undercooked and just about every box you can imagine is ticked as the story ultimately concludes with a bit of a nod to Oriental mythology. It is certainly watchable, but there is no need to shell out on a cinema ticket for it. Disney+ will do fine in due course when you can safely leave the kids to watch.
- CinemaSerf
- Nov 22, 2022
- Permalink
Boring!
We went expecting a great Disney movie especially using 3D. Instead we found plot to be boring and effects of 3D ineffective. You know a movie is bad when your grandkids are asking to leave because they're bored. We were all Very disappointed. It was supposed to be an enjoyable Thanksgiving tradition to see a fun, adventurous Disney movie. Unfortunately, it just couldn't keep any of our family member's attention. I am hopeful that the next one will have a real plot that an 11 year old cannot already determine what's going to happen. On the plus side, the colors were vivid and the Splat character was cute.
I didn't hate it
I didn't hate this film. I am not sure why this film has received such mixed reviews. It wasn't the best animated Disney movie but overall I enjoyed it. The story was good, it wasn't too complicated but it was interesting. The animation was also good, it was very colourful and detailed. I liked all the creatures. It has some laughs and you will recognise the voices of some of the actors. It is only an hour and 47 mins which is a plus (new films are always so long now!). I would recommend, I think children would also enjoy this film. It is a great film for all of the family to enjoy. I am not sure why reviews have to have so many characters now!!!!
- kate_buckley
- Dec 25, 2022
- Permalink
Nothing wrong with this movie.
This movie is good and I'm kind of wondering why everyone is complaining. It's for kids and I really see nothing wrong with it to deserve such low ratings. The story is about living harmoniously with nature and to follow one's own path in life, all wrapped up in an adventure story on a crazy lovecraftian landscape. It was cool enough to me. Don't listen to these reviews, let your kid watch the movie, the ask if they hated it. As an adult, it passed the time better than most Disney cartoons. When I was young I hated the little mermaid, Snow White, beauty and the beast, and most other Disney cartoons( alladin was good though). If strange world came out when I was young I would of thought it was great.
It's not truly bad, but it's not good either.
It has a lot of great and interesting ideas that just sort of flounder around looking for something to do. Characters are not well fleshed out. Everything felt sort of pointless. It has few laughs and no tears. Lots of things happen and quickly resolve without consequence. The overall outcome for the characters would have been similar even if they'd stayed home. It's pretty, but all the characters are bulbous and squishy with no expression. In short, it's nothing special--just a bland, inoffensive trip into a glowing place.
Ethan is especially annoying. Frequently putting himself and others in danger; he remains oblivious and immune to the consequences of his actions, and is ultimately rewarded for being a reckless teenager. He doesn't have any ambition, skills, or direction. Stuff just kind of happens to him. Is he the main character? It was hard to tell.
I think this one can safely be skipped. You won't be missing much.
Ethan is especially annoying. Frequently putting himself and others in danger; he remains oblivious and immune to the consequences of his actions, and is ultimately rewarded for being a reckless teenager. He doesn't have any ambition, skills, or direction. Stuff just kind of happens to him. Is he the main character? It was hard to tell.
I think this one can safely be skipped. You won't be missing much.
- aimeedingman-44075
- Nov 24, 2022
- Permalink
Charming Adventure Flick Not Worth the Backlash
- elicopperman
- Dec 1, 2022
- Permalink
Definitely not a typical Disney.
I'd categorise this as a B movie, as in one that should've just been released on a streaming platform or straight to budget dvd. It's not particularly bad but it's a huge drop off in the quality you expect from them.
The characters are not ones you'll remember or think about again, they tried for a stereotypical cute one but that was wide of the mark. They handled the same sex relationship in the most natural non forced way so props for that and the inclusion of the 3 legged dog was sweet.
It was a strange plot, beautifully animated and designed but it felt like it was trying to say something but couldn't work out exactly what it was, it's too dull for small kids and not engaging for adults so maybe 9-13 sorta age?
The characters are not ones you'll remember or think about again, they tried for a stereotypical cute one but that was wide of the mark. They handled the same sex relationship in the most natural non forced way so props for that and the inclusion of the 3 legged dog was sweet.
It was a strange plot, beautifully animated and designed but it felt like it was trying to say something but couldn't work out exactly what it was, it's too dull for small kids and not engaging for adults so maybe 9-13 sorta age?
- chris_rowe-881-168820
- Nov 26, 2022
- Permalink
Look beyond the cloud of stereotypes, things are not what they seem: give this movie a chance (1st two paragraphs are not spoilers)
Visually beautiful movie about family expectations
This one really felt like a Pixar film more than a typical Disney movie. Disney continued the trend of no villian. Instead the movie dealt with family conflict similar to Encanto. Instead of granddaughter who had issues with a grandmother, this film dealt with problems among three generations of fathers and sons.
Most of the movie takes place in a beautiful unexplored place near the community of Avalonia. Avalonia is a land surrounded by impassable mountains. No one knows what is on the other side. Our explorers leave on a quest to discover why an important crop is failing. In the process, they not only discover a new land, but also discover more about themselves.
The scenery is gorgeous. The new place looks like cross between an underwater ocean and regular land. Starfish-looking creatures swing through the trees. A pod of skate-type creatures swim through the air. It reminded me of an ocean enough that I felt myself relax the same way I do when I look at a real ocean. Ahhhhhh
Some people may not enjoy the movie as there is no princess, no singing, and no big baddie to defeat. I enjoyed the movie.
Since I now know what the new land is, I'll see if I can spot the clues the next time I watch it. I did spot one clue, but brushed it off as the animators attempts to make the landscape look alien.
I do recommend this film.
Most of the movie takes place in a beautiful unexplored place near the community of Avalonia. Avalonia is a land surrounded by impassable mountains. No one knows what is on the other side. Our explorers leave on a quest to discover why an important crop is failing. In the process, they not only discover a new land, but also discover more about themselves.
The scenery is gorgeous. The new place looks like cross between an underwater ocean and regular land. Starfish-looking creatures swing through the trees. A pod of skate-type creatures swim through the air. It reminded me of an ocean enough that I felt myself relax the same way I do when I look at a real ocean. Ahhhhhh
Some people may not enjoy the movie as there is no princess, no singing, and no big baddie to defeat. I enjoyed the movie.
Since I now know what the new land is, I'll see if I can spot the clues the next time I watch it. I did spot one clue, but brushed it off as the animators attempts to make the landscape look alien.
I do recommend this film.
- monica7275-660-311897
- Jan 24, 2023
- Permalink
Jaeger Bomb
Interesting. A bit of a self-fulfilment by Disney here, in my opinion. "Strange World" has flopped quite badly at the box office, mostly I suspect due to a lack of promotion - the film was in the cinema before I'd even heard of it. You have to wonder though if that lack of promotion was because the company lost faith with a movie that struggles to shake off the idea that it's all a bit second rate.
Searcher Clade (Jake Gyllenhaal), son of the legendary explorer Jaeger Clade (Dennis Quaid) returns from an aborted expedition without his father, who continues on alone, but with a mysterious plant that can generate electricity. Decades later, with Searcher now a husband and father, he's tasked with another expedition, to work out why his miracle discovery is started to die. His new mission, undertaken with some of his father's old crew, follows the plants to their root and discover an undiscovered land, with odd creatures.
So, there are some positives to it. The vocal performances are good. The visuals are, to a point good. The creatures I found to be a bit bland, but there is an explanation within the story as to why they look the way they do. There are a few funny moments along the way. The environmental aspect of the story is worthy and some of that came as a pleasant surprise.
But it has to be said that the rest of the plot is pretty underwhelming. It's a pedestrian adventure once we're underground and, though there are a couple of surprises that you will certainly see coming, there's not really an action scene to really get the heart racing.
I've had a patchy time with Disney's own animated releases over the past few years, with "Encanto" being much better than "Raya and the Last Dragon" and with "Strange World" closer to the latter than the former. I'm more forgiving of this than I might be, as we watched it on Disney Plus and my son enjoyed it, than I would be had I been to the cinema.
Searcher Clade (Jake Gyllenhaal), son of the legendary explorer Jaeger Clade (Dennis Quaid) returns from an aborted expedition without his father, who continues on alone, but with a mysterious plant that can generate electricity. Decades later, with Searcher now a husband and father, he's tasked with another expedition, to work out why his miracle discovery is started to die. His new mission, undertaken with some of his father's old crew, follows the plants to their root and discover an undiscovered land, with odd creatures.
So, there are some positives to it. The vocal performances are good. The visuals are, to a point good. The creatures I found to be a bit bland, but there is an explanation within the story as to why they look the way they do. There are a few funny moments along the way. The environmental aspect of the story is worthy and some of that came as a pleasant surprise.
But it has to be said that the rest of the plot is pretty underwhelming. It's a pedestrian adventure once we're underground and, though there are a couple of surprises that you will certainly see coming, there's not really an action scene to really get the heart racing.
I've had a patchy time with Disney's own animated releases over the past few years, with "Encanto" being much better than "Raya and the Last Dragon" and with "Strange World" closer to the latter than the former. I'm more forgiving of this than I might be, as we watched it on Disney Plus and my son enjoyed it, than I would be had I been to the cinema.
- southdavid
- Jan 4, 2023
- Permalink
The animation is terrific; the plot is not
Why was this made?
It's been a few days since I took the kids to see this, and I can barely remember anything about the movie. The visuals were pretty good, and there were some unique visual design elements throughout, but the design of the main characters was lacking compared to minor side characters, and the pink-pudding texture grew stale quickly.
The plot was non-existent. Is it a family reunion story? A redemption story? A save the world story? A coming of age story? The characters' motivations change from moment moment and scene to scene - whatever is convenient for the writers in the moment.
The big twist was apparent from a mile away, and lacked internal consistency.
This movie didn't do anything new, just a new jumble of old ideas. At least the popcorn was tasty.
The plot was non-existent. Is it a family reunion story? A redemption story? A save the world story? A coming of age story? The characters' motivations change from moment moment and scene to scene - whatever is convenient for the writers in the moment.
The big twist was apparent from a mile away, and lacked internal consistency.
This movie didn't do anything new, just a new jumble of old ideas. At least the popcorn was tasty.
I don't get the hate
Stunning visuals, well-realized sci-fi setting, hilarious one-liners, and filled with shocking twists! What's not to love?
Maybe I just set my expectations too low, but this film really subverted my predictions in the best ways possible. Though characters are quite generic and we've seen the typical "I don't want to become my father" done plenty of times before, the family dynamic felt genuine. The film shows how men strive to live up to their father's expectations. All three main characters represent different generations, and their arcs lead to a predictable outcome, but insightful nonetheless.
The useless side characters provide nothing except for exposition, and their attempts at comic relief fall painfully flat. I found the comedy was well-timed and it didn't clash with the occasionally serious tone, but it's truly hilarious when the main trio are part of the joke. It takes itself seriously at the right moments to execute heartfelt scenes and deliver not-so-subtle climate change commentary. If there's one thing I would've loved more of is world-building; though the fictional world is well thought out with infrastructure and an economy influenced by the scifi setting, it could've been explored more if the runtime were a bit longer before going into the strange world.
7.5/10.
Maybe I just set my expectations too low, but this film really subverted my predictions in the best ways possible. Though characters are quite generic and we've seen the typical "I don't want to become my father" done plenty of times before, the family dynamic felt genuine. The film shows how men strive to live up to their father's expectations. All three main characters represent different generations, and their arcs lead to a predictable outcome, but insightful nonetheless.
The useless side characters provide nothing except for exposition, and their attempts at comic relief fall painfully flat. I found the comedy was well-timed and it didn't clash with the occasionally serious tone, but it's truly hilarious when the main trio are part of the joke. It takes itself seriously at the right moments to execute heartfelt scenes and deliver not-so-subtle climate change commentary. If there's one thing I would've loved more of is world-building; though the fictional world is well thought out with infrastructure and an economy influenced by the scifi setting, it could've been explored more if the runtime were a bit longer before going into the strange world.
7.5/10.
- RebelPanda
- Dec 2, 2022
- Permalink
Eh
- sewalker-12265
- Nov 22, 2022
- Permalink
Boring movie. Who is the target audience?
Disney has been taken over by incompetence it seems. There's no story or creativity here. I realize not every film is going to be fantastic but this must not have been screened anywhere. I'm not even sure it should have been released on streaming because it essentially devalues the subscription. Everything was forced. I should say something nice about it so I'll say the voice acting was okay. Now they just need to hire some writers. My kids and I gave up halfway through. They were excited to see a new movie available, but I didn't read the reviews beforehand. A lesson I won't soon forget. I bet soon you'll be able to take the synopsis and hand it to AI and get a better result than what they came up with here.
- mkaatman-44819
- Dec 25, 2022
- Permalink
Great world building
Disney's "Strange World" is a pretty good movie. I enjoyed the world that was created and the multiple twists at the end. While I can't speak to why others might dislike the film, I can say that it is definitely not a bad movie and is nowhere near Disney's worst. It's target audience, children will have a blast watching it.
As an older viewer, one thing I would have like to see is more development of some of the characters. While it was refreshing to see that the love interests took a back seat and there were no songs, I felt like some of the characters could have been fleshed out more. This would have added a deeper emotional impact at the end of the film.
As an older viewer, one thing I would have like to see is more development of some of the characters. While it was refreshing to see that the love interests took a back seat and there were no songs, I felt like some of the characters could have been fleshed out more. This would have added a deeper emotional impact at the end of the film.
- Paul_the_surfer
- Dec 25, 2022
- Permalink
World of disappointment
Strange World is rather a big disappointment from Walt Disney, than being a Sci-fi element filled adventure movie. The only thing that was laudable in the movie was the CGI and the special effects used.
The director Don Hall and his co-director and screenwriter Qui Nguyen (who last year collaborated on an another Disney picture, "Raya and the Last Dragon") seem to have put all of their effort into gaudy backgrounds, wacky gadgets and strange ancillary monsters instead of into dramatic urgency or conflict. The film's stumbling unoriginality, cliched characters and intended jokes that land like flops leads to a boring viewing experience, even though the plot and animation were good enough.
My Rating : 4.5/10.
The director Don Hall and his co-director and screenwriter Qui Nguyen (who last year collaborated on an another Disney picture, "Raya and the Last Dragon") seem to have put all of their effort into gaudy backgrounds, wacky gadgets and strange ancillary monsters instead of into dramatic urgency or conflict. The film's stumbling unoriginality, cliched characters and intended jokes that land like flops leads to a boring viewing experience, even though the plot and animation were good enough.
My Rating : 4.5/10.
- pranayjalvi
- Dec 25, 2022
- Permalink
Wonderfully Unique
- kateAraya715
- Apr 23, 2023
- Permalink
Nothing Strange Here, just bad
First the good points, I gave it a one star in that animation was okay. Now the minus 9 points. The plot was boring and dull. The action scenes were wimpy. Most of the characters are unlikeable - which if they were supposed to be bad guys/vilans would of been great. I couldn't relate to any the characters and had no one to root for. The script was disjointed as to where is this going and who cares. I thought it was my perception but I spoke to several other friends and two noted they got 20 minutes into it and turned it off. I'd like to know what Disney was thinking when they first green lighted this project. Nothing strange here folks, it's a big disappointment all around.
- mountainriver-15765
- Jan 29, 2023
- Permalink
A good movie without being perfect.
"Strange World" is an animated film whose script focuses on following your own path and finding yourself, as well as telling a story that aims to leave us a message about the importance of taking care of our body and our planet. The animation is excellent and obviously influenced by the adventure world of Verne and even a bit of Lovecraft, achieving great settings. Sometimes the movie feels different due to the lack of a villain played by any character, but it manages to come out on top without being perfect. The film will annoy closed-minded conservatives but that doesn't matter. An interesting production that achieves its mission of entertaining and leaving a good message.
Simple feel good movie with fun animation!
I've seen a TON of bad reviews or this movie, and though it is a bit generic, it's honestly undeserving of the low ratings. With realistic characters and a cute story, it really went above my expectations! Not my absolute favorite but I certainly enjoyed this a lot more than Disney's recent films. Lots of people have complained about a lack of connection or excitement surrounding the characters. To this I'd compare older movies like Aristocats, Robin Hood, or Sword in the Stone. Not too much "happens" but it's pleasing to look at and a nice "winding down" feel good kind of film. Despite odd pacing with the plot, the dialogue felt realistic and the film had a pretty concrete path it followed. Overall, I'd give it a solid 7/10, for its nostalgic look and homely feel. Wasn't the best but was overall a sweet film!
- carissav-96812
- Jan 10, 2023
- Permalink