Give Me Rebirth - "1/2 Magic"
Today, let's talk about the movie "1/2 of the Magic".
The title of the film is Onward (2020), which is also known as One Half of the Magic / Magical Travels / Going Forward / Finding the Way / Onward.
This is an animated film produced by Disney Pixar.
It was released in the United States in March this year, but unfortunately encountered the new crown epidemic, the film was offline, and it was recently released in the mainland.
In the worldview of "1/2 Magic", magic and technology coexist, and various fantasy creatures also live in this magical world like ordinary people. However, with the development of science and technology, the convenience brought by magic has gradually been replaced by technological commodities. After entering the electrical age, magic with a slightly higher threshold has become uninterested. Everyone has turned to the embrace of technological power, and no one has to study magic.
In "1/2 the Magic" there are a pair of elf brothers named Ian and Barry. When they were young, their father died of cancer, and their old mother took great pains to pull them up. When the younger brother Ian turned 16 years old, the mother handed over the relics to the brothers according to the father's will.
The relics left by my father are a staff that needs to be activated by magic, a phoenix gem as a catalyst for casting, and an instruction manual. According to the instructions in the manual, as long as the mantra is chanted, the ghost of the father can be summoned. Although the ghost can only survive for 24 hours, it is enough time for the brothers and their father to reminisce.
Things are not always smooth sailing, the phoenix gem left by the father is only enough to complete half of the magic, and the brothers can only summon half of the father's body. The complete father can only be summoned by finding another phoenix gem, so the brothers embark on an adventure to find another phoenix gem within a limited time.
The literal translation of the title of "Onward" is "Invincible", which is consistent with the spiritual core of the storytelling of the film. The paraphrase "1/2 of the magic" is related to the image in the film. There are insufficient materials for casting spells, and the magic can only complete half of the summons, which is "1/2 of the magic".
Another translation, "Magic Travels", is based on the routine of Pixar's previous works. This kind of lazy translation can make people feel that it will be Pixar when they see it, but you still can't see the "circle" method...
Maybe the translator thinks it is not appropriate to translate it into Pixar's previous "XX Story", it can't be called "Magic Story", and it is a bit awkward to translate it into "Brave". "(Only the Brave) hit the name, giving people the misunderstanding of "fire brigade".
The overall feel of "1/2 of the Magic" is like making a fantasy-themed board game into an animated movie, with all the characters as if they came out of AD&D.
I like fantasy works very much, and novel board games are always welcome, so there are many places in "1/2 Magic" that have the feeling of board games. The adventures of the brothers along the way are like rolling dice. The number of dice rolled is less, and the casting fails. The number of dice thrown is qualified, and the casting is successful. Bad luck stepped on the trap, which also requires enough rolls to escape.
In a world where magic and technology coexist, how to balance the two is a difficult problem. Any party that appears too strong or too weak will have unsettling consequences. In "The Magic of 1/2", the two are neatly united.
Advanced technology is magic in the eyes of primitive people. High tech is unexplainable in a low tech environment, it's like magic to them. Just like the Asa Domain where Thor is, the setting in the comics is more advanced technology.
When technology appeared in 1/2 of the Magic, magic didn't become a hostile relationship with it, but gradually weakened on a level playing field. This allows the interest of the film to focus on the theme of the story, without being abducted by the worldview setting.
Pixar specializes in animation and has won numerous awards in this field. After Pixar was acquired by Disney in 2006, it became even more powerful. The acquisition has an obvious benefit: a lot of copyrights.
In the cartoons, Pixar can not only pay tribute to its past works, bury one egg after another, and leave it to the audience to find it carefully. It can also use Disney's countless copyrights. The audience is looking for the eggs frame by frame. And don't forget to check out the elements that originally belonged to Disney.
The dubbing cast of "1/2 of the Magic" is equally strong. Tom Holland, the "Dutch brother", is the voice of the Elf brother, and Chris Pratt, the cosmic dance king, is the voice of the Elf brother.
Both of them are famous characters under the Marvel banner, one is the latest Spider-Man and the other is Star-Lord. Anyway, Marvel is also from Disney, and the unique comic temperament of the two fits very well with this film. If Marvel Pixar is linked, the effect is very impressive.
The story line of "1/2 Magic" is very simple and straightforward. One is the growth of the characters, and the other is the sublimation of family affection. These two are the main clues of the film, and they are also common content that conforms to the universal values of the public.
In terms of character growth, it is not only limited to the two protagonists, but also many supporting characters. The narrative structure of "1/2 of the Magic" is extremely clear, ranging from a griffin in the sky to a fairy as small as a palm, and each character is clearly arranged. The two protagonists, Ian and Barry, have grown even more visible to the naked eye. One overcomes his fears and accepts himself bravely, while the other becomes composed and no longer chooses to prove himself with superficial behavior.
The family line is more mature and restrained. Compared with "Dream Travel" three years ago, this film is more direct in the handling of family affection, and the tear gas is directly accurate in the weakest part of the audience's heart. The audience knew that Pixar would make a fuss about family relationships, but they were moved every time.
Regardless of personal growth or the revealing of true affection, there is always one thing that can impress you.
Whether it is the growth of the strong man with the broken arm or the father-like care of the eldest brother, the sincere emotions and simple truths contained in the film are the most touching.
No matter how high you fly or how far you go, or stay where you are, don't forget the people around you who have always been with you and supported you. The things that have passed are no longer beautiful, and the people around them are the most cherished.
Only one is all we get,
grant me this rebirth.
Till tomorrow's sun has set,
one day to walk the earth.
There is only one chance,
Grant me to be born again.
until sunset tomorrow,
Greed for a day of sunshine.
This is the distribution center for hardcore movie fans, welcome to pay attention: Miaokan Film and Television
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