Hello, movie enthusiasts and Disney lovers!
Today we are breaking down Raya and The Last Dragon, the latest release of Disney Animations that premiered on March 5th, 2021. This highly anticipated release captured the hearts of audiences and critics, scoring 7.5/10 on IMDb and an extraordinary 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Let's learn a little bit more about the story:
Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people. However, along her journey, she’ll learn that it’ll take more than a dragon to save the world—it’s going to take trust and teamwork as well.
(from: The Walt Disney Company)
Rating: PG
Runtime: 1h 47min
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
My Rating: 8.5 / 10
Plot
The introduction to the story and the world is done wonderfully. The characters' personalities shine from their very first lines and the very world of Kumandra is a magical place to explore. The lore has it all, an epic battle between good and evil, powerful dragons that protect their world and a prosperous -as it seems- future.
After the dragons are all but lost, the people of Kumandra -a kingdom spread along a dragon shaped river- divide, creating 5 tribes, each representing a part of the dragon.
Heart is the most prosperous of the 5 and the protector of the Ancient Dragon Gem, the powerful jem Sisu, the last of the dragons, used to defeat the evil known as Druun. Raya's family has been the jewel's protector for generations, a duty destined to pass onto the hands of our beloved heroine.
Fang is the main rival of Heart, a nation known for its skilled assassins, military strength and affinity with big cats. Fang also happens to be the home of our main antagonist, Namaari, daughter of Chieftess Virana.
Spine is a large village surrounded by bamboo trees and covered in a thick coat of snow. Through the many hardships, its people grew thick skin and are always prepared to blow the horns of war.
Talon is a floating market, with vibrant colors and alluring scents distracting the unaware of its people's fast working hands. Notorious thieves and skillful tricksters, the people of Talon are blessed to have a natural fort that repulses the Druun, as the monsters are afraid of water.
Lastly, Tail is an endless desert, with mercenaries and the Druun as its main residents. Most of its people turned to stone or fled after the legendary monsters came back.
In each region, Raya finds a new ally as well as a beloved friend.
Asian Pride
Disney tried to honor the Asian culture in this film. The clothing, architectural style and environments were inspired by countries of Southeast Asia, such as Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and Laos. To add to that, we a stellar cast of Asian descent actors to voice the beloved characters. Hollywood is well known for whitewashing its characters and forcing actors to comply with the 'standard' American image and I was delighted to see that, for the most part, the people involved were from Asia and were in a deeper level connected with the culture and customs.
I myself am not of Asia descent and I truly hope the representation in this movie is something that makes my Asian friends smile. The rep should not stop here! I am living to see all people of the world represented equally in films, tv and media. And it's up to us to demand it and stand by those who speak up on a daily basis and advocate for change.
Characters
Our protagonist is Raya (Kelly Marie Tran), a young protector in training, who will one day rule over Heart and dedicate her life to protect the Ancient Dragon Jem. Raya has the weight of the world on her shoulders, guilt and regret swirl inside her since she was a child, and mixed with them are rage and sadness. She follows her destiny, wherever that may lead and has to overcome her prejudice over people and their always 'malicious' intentions. Her journey is long and very interesting to witness.
Sisu (Awkwafina), the Last Dragon, is a pure-hearted creature, insecure about her own abilities but willing to go the distance and help defeat the Druun once more. She is Raya's opposite personality, keeping the balance between them.
For me, my favorite is Namaari (Gemma Chan). Her arc unfolds throughout the movie and she dances on the thin line between good and evil, making her the perfect antagonist. Her childhood dream is to meet a real dragon but it is buried in the past as she grows older. The most impactful moment was once she came face to face with Sisu. A mighty warrior turned back into a child, eyes filling with tears and a shy smile spreading across her lips. It was truly magical to watch.
What I missed from the movie was a cannon romantic relationship between Raya and Nammari. The tension was evident and their chemistry perfect, but I guess Disney is not ready for that.
Summary
Raya And The Last Dragon is a family movie about friendship, forgiveness and the power of faith. Packed with breathtaking graphics and magical sequences, it will leave you with a big smile and a soaring heart.
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