Page 3 - MidWeek Kauai - March 31, 2021

My older daughter just turned 17. I don’t know how many times just the two of us went to the theater to watch the latest animated film, but it’s been frequent. So, as part of her birthday celebration, I fig- ured we should go and watch an animated film in a theater (Consolidated Theatres Ward) for perhaps the last time. She’s getting too old for cartoons and will soon be off to college.
steal it from Heart, and the orb is fractured, allowing the Dru- un to return after five centuries.
Raya and the Last Dragon
is currently playing in theaters.
is set in the mythical kingdom of Kumandra (Southeast Asia), which has been fractured into five kingdoms: Fang, Tail, Spine, Talon and Heart (parts of a dragon). The only thing keeping Kumandra safe is an orb that was created by dragons 500 years before. It was used to destroy the evil Druun, spirits that turn people (and dragons) into stone. Well, of course, each kingdom wants control of the magic orb. Fang attempts to
chrismckinney808@gmail.com
The animation in Raya and the Last Dragon is breath- taking. Raya’s quest takes her through desert, river and mountain landscapes that are stunningly rendered. The vi- brant palate used in this film — wow. No color is spared. And the hair — I didn’t know if I was looking at cartoon or real hair. Raya and the Last
On a final note, it’s worth mentioning that the movie was written by screenwrit- ers of Asian descent. And the entire cast is Asian. This mat- tered to my daughter. I’m not exaggerating. It’s the first time she’s seen it in a major studio
Got questions about COVID-19 vaccines?
Is the movie perfect? No. The plot is rushed and uneven at times. The film could have been around 30 minutes longer. Ultimately, Raya and the Last Dragon needs to cater to the short attention spans of young children. The fact that it moves too quickly at times is easily forgiven.
Raya and the Last Dragon
MARCH 31, 2021
KAUA‘I MIDWEEK 3
DIRECTOR OF CONTENT/ SUPPLEMENT PRODUCTS RON NAGASAWA
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
BILL MOSSMAN
midweekkauai.com
To start/stop delivery
or report a service issue, please call (808) 245-0433.
Telephone for Editorial:
(808) 529-4700
Fax (808) 585-6324 Telephone for Advertising & Administration: (808) 529-4700
PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER
DENNIS FRANCIS
CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER
DAVE KENNEDY
VICE PRESIDENT REGIONAL SALES
JAY HIGA
SALES EXECUTIVES
EDEN RAQUEL
PHONE (808) 212-5423 eraquel@thegardenisland.com
CLAY CARVALHO
PHONE (808) 346-8897 ccarvalho@thegardenisland.com
SALLY CRAVENS
PHONE (808) 212-8240 scravens@thegardenisland.com
Kaua‘i Midweek is published every Wednesday
by Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-500 Honolulu, HI 96813.
Rotten
BY CHRIS MCKINNEY
R
PAPAYAS
P
Visual Sorcery At Its Best
V
I’m glad the last one was a good one. We went out with a bang.
Dragon is why we go to the- aters: to witness visual sorcery. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more gorgeously produced an- imated film.
Six years after the Druun return and ravage most of the kingdoms, Raya, princess of Heart, is on a quest to find Sisu, the last living dragon. She’s a lone rider, almost Clint Eastwood-esque, a steely young woman ready for a double-cross and quick with a blade. I’m not that difficult to please. You give me some- thing with elements of Indiana Jones, Mad Max, old kung fu movies and Asian mythology, and chances are I’m going to enjoy it. Add to that characters who kind of look like me and my kids, and I’m all in.
Animated character Raya (left), voiced by Kelly Marie Tran, appears with Sisu the dragon in a scene from Raya and the Last Dragon. IMAGE COURTESY DISNEY+ VIA AP
production. Hopefully, when I go through this again 13 years from now with my younger daughter, it won’t matter as much to her because she’ ll have seen it many times before.
March Sale!
Credit Cards Accepted Store Hours Lee’sFine Furniture
Financing O.A.C. Mon.—Sat.
And Accessories
Ph: 808.245.6369
10:00—5:00pm

Get the latest information at HawaiiCOVID19.com/Vaccine