DISCLAIMER: This review has nothing to do with a storyline movie review of 2017. Readers discretion is advised.
Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to movie review.
Back in 2011, i first saw the show called "My Little Pony: Friendship is magic" and i loved it. It become worldwide popular for not just for girls, but in the social media as well, with many enjoyed the show so much that they referred as "Bronies" and "Pegasisters". We like to talking about the characters, the backgrounds, stories and lore of the show since its been over seven years. As time goes, it went change that we still like it, but others (like myself) are probably moving on to other show that we like "Steven Universe".
When the show was popular, they decided to making their movies like "Equestria Girl", which when we saw, it was rather "so and so". While the laters went to redemption to "meh". However in 2012, they announced they're gonna make a movie with a main focus of ponies in the big screen, which the bronies and pegasisters went excitement for a potential until it came out this year.
"My little Pony: The Movie" is a 2017 animated movie that was based on the show "My Little Pony: Friendship and Magic". It was directed by Jayson Thiesson, produced by Brian Goldner and written by Megan McCarthy. This is one film when i first heard of it, i was anticipated to see, but when i grew up that i was moved on, i saw how the movie looks like the trailer, i had a mixed feeling, but still curious of this movie.
So, with all that said, will this movie holds up to rising even more fanbase of the franchise, or is this film is probably feel like it should've been on Netflix or something?
Well, lets find out.
The Story
It begins where Twilight Sparkle and her friends are participating a "Friendship Festival" in Canterlot, because of their special guest named "Songbird Serenade". However, their preparation is interrupted by from the storm, that happens to the army of "Storm King", sent by his commander named "Tempest Shadow" and her silly assistant named "Grubber". Tempest and her minions invade Equestria to taking over the land and petrify three princesses, Celestia, Luna and Cadance. Its up to Twilight Sparkle and her magical friends to find the way to save their land.
I gotta say, its an interesting story, but it feels rather too simple. Which it sorta like it was an idea from a rejected story concept of the show, but borrowed to the big screen, but again, it was not bad. There's a subplot where Twilight and her friends meets the other characters who helping them like "Capper" and "Captain Celaeno", which is rather nice, even though their big deal to find the way to fix is, according to Princess Luna, is to find Queen Hippogriff. But it was rather a bit quick paste for the story, since this is 99 minute film. As for the jokes, it was 50 50, with some jokes that i did chuckle, but others that i asked a lot of questions.
The story itself was good, even though its pretty obvious for the elements of friendship. Since this is a main focus like in the show.
The Animation
Unlike in the show that it was done in digital 2D animation, which i still like the design, since again, i was moved on. In this movie, it sorta still using a 2D digital animation, but it also uses a 3D environment background. The environment looks pretty cool for the design like Canterlot and location, but sometimes the quality looks like it was something straight out of video game graphic. I know this is a big budget film than the show's budget. Despite the flaws, the character designs are the most colorful appearance in the film, even though they use the same design from the show, but advanced for the film. Some other designs like Tempest's minions, Capper, Captain Celaeno's crew and seapony looks pretty cool and creative, since this is a fairy-tale movie based on the show, which it was based on the toyline. They did a great job for the concepts. As for the song,s it was so and so, some of the songs has a good beat to listen to and some are probably forgettable, whether its the lyric.
The animations looks bright and colorful, though the effect of 3D environment looks cheap and some of the songs are mixed bag.
The characters
At first, im sure some of you are probably know of our main heroes.
Twilight Sparkle (voiced by my favorite voice actress, Tara Strong) is a magical Alicorn for a princess of friendship to saving Equestria for her friends and her intelligent. And probably my favorite character of the franchise. Pinkie Pie (voiced by Andrea Libman) is a cheerful party pony for fun and laugh, Applejack (voiced by Ashleigh Ball) is an honest farmer pony of "Sweet Apple Acres", Rainbow Dash (also voiced by Ashleigh Ball) is an energetic Pegasus for adventurous and loyal, Rarity (voiced by Tabitha St. Germain) is a generous unicorn with fashion design and Fluttershy (also voiced by Andrea Libman) is a kind and timid Pegasus who take a good care of animals. They're known as the "6 Mane", since they're the focus if you've seen the show.
So, what about the characters in the movie?
For the villain, we have Storm King (voiced by Liev Schreiber), he's a king of dark weather that his evil mission is to taking over Equestria for controlling the day and the night. The reason for that, its all because he hates... Colorful and cute. Yeah, i find him to be too silly as a villain, i mean where's Discord if you need him to facing at Storm King?
As for his commander Tempest Shadow (voiced by Emily Blunt), she's a broken unicorn from the past that she joined Storm King. I gotta say, i think she's a likable villain for how evil, threatening, badass and cold she really is. I mean, she should've been a main villain than King storm, then again, she's his commander. Though i can say that Emily Blunt did an interesting work of her role.
and the final one is Grubber (voiced by Michael Peña, the same guy who played as Kai from "The Lego Ninjago Movie), who's a wisecracking hungry hedgehog, who's a typical comical villain, but probably forgettable in my opinion.
Aside the villain, we have Capper (voiced by Taye Diggs), who's an anthropomorphic cat who's cunning, good heart, as a con artist. Even though i though he's portray as a mysterious character who's helping our main hero to find the path, but then, thats just a movie. I find him to be pretty cool and nice for our main hero, as an anthro cat, he maybe my favorite one.
Then we have Captain Celaeno (voiced by Zoe Saldana), who's an anthro parrot jaded air pirate for dealing against Storm King after she and her crew are being manipulated by Storm King for delivery. I find her to be an interesting character, even though she's probably a small appearance in the movie. I mean i wouldn't expect if she accidentally deliver her booty (as in her treasure after their adventure in the sky.).
And finally there's Queen Hippogriff named Queen Novo (voiced by Uzo Aduba), who's a Hippogriff/Seapony who ruled in the place called Mount Aris. Despite she's loving, but she's probably considered to be strict and stern, when it comes to her magic pearl. Though she looks beautiful, but she's probably one character who has a short appearance. (Sad to say.)
As for Novo's daughter named "Princess Skystar" (voiced by Kristin Chenoweth), though also small apearance, but extra more, but i find her to be a likable seapony, she's rather a fun one.
They're few other characters, like three princesses, Celestia (voiced by Nicole Oliver), Luna (also voiced by Tabitha St. Germain) and Cadance (voiced by Britt McKillip), even though they're also have a small appearance. But probably my favorite one of special appearance is Songbird Serenade, she was voiced by none other than Sia, i like her design, which is all because it was based on Sia's appearance (like where she likes to cover her eyes with her hairstyle), she did a nice work of voice acting and she has her song called "Rainbow" and i gotta say, it has a good beat of the song.
The characters are quiet interesting to see like our six mane heroes, while some are good and others are fall flat.
And now for my final opinion of the film.
Overall, "My Little Pony: The Movie" is rather an above average movie, since im an ex-brony. With the story is ok, the animation looks bright, colorful and kinda cheap, the songs are mixed bag (Except Rainbow, its a good one), the characters are great to shown and some others didn't work. Like i said, this movie would've been better to be on Netflix, even though its for a theatrical movie that the fans like to see in their dreams. Even though i noticed the movie had a controversy that most of critics gave a mixed bag opinion, which many bronies and pegasisters are not very pleased for their opinion. This is like Suicide Squad all over which whenever the critics didn't like the movie, the fans are attacking them to making a movie look good. I mean there's no reason to cannot take the criticisms, they can critique whatever whenever they want, i mean its only their opinion. If you're one of the fan who like to defending movie that its good, its just comes off as butthurt fanboy action. I mean, stop being so sensitive for anyone takl about the movie, if its gonna bad or disappointed. Anyway, even though its not the worst movie based on cartoons, but they're few out there. Its only for Bronies and Pegasisters, but if you're like me, just stick to the show version or others.
Oh! Before my final rating, before the movie, there's a short film that was based on the cartoon web series called "Hanazuki: Full of Treasures", i gotta say, i find it to be pretty cute and colorful. Even though its only for girls, but to be fair, this is the cutest and fun short film i've ever seen. The animation looks colorful and cute, even though its a bit cheap. But hey, looks fun and cute. Il give it 8/10.
So, for my final rating, il give this movie 6/10. Again, its not the worst adaptation, but you can watch it if you love MLP show.
So this ends of my movie review, if you have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at the comment bellow.
Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.
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