“There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in between.”
Before seeing the movie, I didn't know much about "A Monster Calls". The only information I got from it is that it's based on Patrick Ness novel and the trailer had a "Iron Giant" vibe to it. I also liked the director (Juan Antonio Bayona) previous movies, so I guess that's what peaked my interest in seeing it. And I came out pretty surprised of how good it was. Not just that, but how moving and heartfelt it was.
Juan Antonio Bayona is the type of director that knows how to tell a compelling story in his films. To screw lose the sentiment, until your eyes are filled with water to the point where you can't help but spill out. And in this movie he dose exactly that and how smart he was with it's decisions of the emotional scenes.
There's a lot of great actors in this and none of them are put to waste. Liam Nesson was excellent as The Monster. Sigourney Weaver was great as the Grandma. Felicity Jones and Toby Kebbell were also great as Connor parents. But I think the real stand is Lewis MacDougall as (Connor). Even at the age of 14 this kid literally carries this movie and really dose reflect Connor's inner conflict.
That's what I notice in Bayona movies. All of the kid actors in his movies are pretty solid and I would go as far to say that they better than the adults. This is very rare for me to say that, because most kid actors suck. Yes there are good ones out there, but only some, as most of them don't fully bring their all.
The visual effect's were pretty stunning and impressive of how it interacted with the real environment that it was in. In all honesty, I was pretty surprised. And what I mean by "surprise" is that I was expecting The Monster itself to be the only effect in the movie. Because The Monster tells three stories to Conner and all three are done in a visual dye artwork that's beautiful to look at. It's good to be surprise.
For problems I had with the movie are slim, but if I had to pick, I would probably say that films message can be a little repetitive and oblivious towards the end. I think that may bug some people. But still, it's a great message that's speaks the truth and actually sticks to it. I mean, if the message was terrible or nothing special, then this might be a big complaint. The film doesn't have an happy ending and neither a sad one. There's no Hollywood ending or anything like that. It would say it's mixed.
Overall rating: "A Monster Calls" is entertaining, sad, and unforgettable tale that sticks with you after it's over. The film tells the truth and nothing but the truth of life. You want everything to be alright for this kid, but you're left with a feeling of stillness. Like you can't do anything about it, even with all the magical things that's happening. It just gotta let it happen....
that's life.
Dizzyingly perfect. Don't read anything about it, just go and see.
Make sure you bring plenty of tissues.
I was a grown man when I lost my mother to cancer yet this took a firm grip on my heart.
I can't remember the last time I cried this much at all, let alone watching a movie.
And those weren't manly tears, I mean old guy full on blubbering mess kind of crying.
This is one of those rare films I probably will never bring myself to watch again yet I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone.
Decent coming-of-age fantasy fable, with the fairly interesting gimmick of using this imaginary monster to deal with grief. Ultimately I didn't care though and I think a lot of it has to do with the little sh!t, unlikable lead....
A Monster Calls is a movie that will take you on a roller-coaster of emotions. One of the best movies of 2016. Simply mind blowing !
Here is my quick review:
[Like]
+ Stunning performances by all actors
+ Out of this world art and cinematography
+ Lots of drama and moral discussion
+ Captivating and deeply moving plot with a perfect flow
+ The movie leaves a long lasting impression.
[Dislike]
- Sorry but I couldn't find any
Plot Complexity:
Medium
Best Movie Quote:
Because humans are complicated beasts. You believe comforting lies, while knowing full well the painful truth that makes those lies necessary. In the end, Conor, it is not important what you think. It is only important what you do.
Apart from the last 15 minutes and the climax i believe the film delivered flat and cheap drama. The story was mediocre and the whole movie didn't pass above average
“There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in between.”
Before seeing the movie, I didn't know much about "A Monster Calls". The only information I got from it is that it's based on Patrick Ness novel and the trailer had a "Iron Giant" vibe to it. I also liked the director (Juan Antonio Bayona) previous movies, so I guess that's what peaked my interest in seeing it. And I came out pretty surprised of how good it was. Not just that, but how moving and heartfelt it was.
Juan Antonio Bayona is the type of director that knows how to tell a compelling story in his films. To screw lose the sentiment, until your eyes are filled with water to the point where you can't help but spill out. And in this movie he dose exactly that and how smart he was with it's decisions of the emotional scenes.
There's a lot of great actors in this and none of them are put to waste. Liam Nesson was excellent as The Monster. Sigourney Weaver was great as the Grandma. Felicity Jones and Toby Kebbell were also great as Connor parents. But I think the real stand is Lewis MacDougall as (Connor). Even at the age of 14 this kid literally carries this movie and really dose reflect Connor's inner conflict.
That's what I notice in Bayona movies. All of the kid actors in his movies are pretty solid and I would go as far to say that they better than the adults. This is very rare for me to say that, because most kid actors suck. Yes there are good ones out there, but only some, as most of them don't fully bring their all.
The visual effect's were pretty stunning and impressive of how it interacted with the real environment that it was in. In all honesty, I was pretty surprised. And what I mean by "surprise" is that I was expecting The Monster itself to be the only effect in the movie. Because The Monster tells three stories to Conner and all three are done in a visual dye artwork that's beautiful to look at. It's good to be surprise.
For problems I had with the movie are slim, but if I had to pick, I would probably say that films message can be a little repetitive and oblivious towards the end. I think that may bug some people. But still, it's a great message that's speaks the truth and actually sticks to it. I mean, if the message was terrible or nothing special, then this might be a big complaint. The film doesn't have an happy ending and neither a sad one. There's no Hollywood ending or anything like that. It would say it's mixed.
Overall rating: "A Monster Calls" is entertaining, sad, and unforgettable tale that sticks with you after it's over. The film tells the truth and nothing but the truth of life. You want everything to be alright for this kid, but you're left with a feeling of stillness. Like you can't do anything about it, even with all the magical things that's happening. It just gotta let it happen....that's life.
This is definitely NOT a children's film, despite the fantasy style picture and blurb.
I am glad I watched this alone as my son would not have understood the deepness and heart in this movie.
A Monster Calls is a hidden gem, one that I've passed over many times and wish I'd watched much sooner!
The monster of our fears; fear of saying the truth, fear of sharing our deepest feelings.
Love can change the life.
Your believes are valuables.
I literally knew nothing about this film. What a lovely little movie. Be prepared to cry. It’s sad but heartwarming at the same time. The visual affects were well done and the acting was seamless. Definitely worth watching.
A Monster Calls is a film that tackles a difficult and very emotional subject and wraps it up in a fantasy-monster tale. It could be awful, really bad, but in this case, thankfully the topic and the way it is portrayed and told to the viewer is handled admirably. As is always the case with these type of films that acting is paramount to how you feel about the whole thing. Liam Neeson brings the right tone of menace with a purpose to fantastically animated tree-monster. He was both scary and angry when he needs to be but just by voice acting alone showed his whole reason for being was to help Conor from the very beginning.
Lewis MacDougall is basically perfect in the role of Conor and never plays for out-and-out sympathy even though he gets it from the audience. Totally believable and if he doesn’t make you cry then you must get that stone you have for a heart seen to. Ably supported by the great acting of Felicity Jones, Toby Kebbell and Sigourney Weaver as his immediate family the performances slot together to produce the perfect storm of emotions.
Make no mistake this is a film about a serious topic, particularly for youngsters watching the film. It’s about life, death, how we deal with strong emotions, how we affect other people, how we have to accept the finality of situations beyond our control. This list goes on and is simple and yet complex enough for any audience. Each story, or parable if you like, is not a sugar-coated fairy tale but points out little truths to Conor and therefore to us all.
Although fantastical in its approach A Monster Calls manages to present a serious topic in a realistic and somehow entertaining way. If nothing else younger viewers with perhaps no understanding of death and the grief process might just get an insight into something that they hopefully never experience until later in life.
This could have been maudlin, manipulative and even dark but thanks to the skill of the writing, directing and acting you have a film that certainly makes you think about it long after it has finished.
As I was watching I wondered why they made Liam Neeson recognizable on the family photos if he wasn't anywhere in the movie, but it turns out he voiced The Monster. I just noticed it, I didn't recognize his voice. Nice.
Holy smokes! Someone was chopping onions during the movie, especially towards the end..
Anyways, amazing movie. It hit me in the right spots; probably due to the fact that I can relate to the boy's personality. Powerful, deep, and heartfelt. This movie will stay with me for quite some time.
A powerful film that deals with loss, grief and guilt, this is a raw story that feels all too real in its depiction of a young boy struggling to come to terms with his mother's illness. The premise could easily have become mauldin, but there is a truth to the film that prevents it from ever feeling manipulative. It is certainly helped by strong performances, not least by newcomer Lewis Macdougall. He is a revelation in the central performance, so absorbing is his struggle to deal with the emotions anyone in his position would be going through that it's only at the end you stop to consider how good he really was - it's certainly one of the best performances this year. The fantastical elements are perfectly balanced in the story, never feeling trite or out of place and the artwork used to bring the animated stories to life is beautifully done. One of the best films of the year.
I call you to watch this heartwarming film, and i recommend you have some tissues, because this film will make you drowned in your own tears... break anyone.. i couldn't walk while standing up from the seat.. i'm crying while i write this... such a moving film.. great performance from the young leading actor... a film to watch before you die... i think i need a hug...
Trailer is done very well, but I can't stop thinking: "What the hell is this about?"
An anthropomorphic tree spoon-feeds a young boy with messages about the complexity of human emotions to prepare him for the world. Despite the banality of most situations and the unimaginative take of the direction, it must be said that the film at least manages to bring up a few interesting topics. It may be too simplistic for grown-ups and definitely too heavy-handed for children, but if you are about the same age as the protagonist, it might teach you a couple of lessons that are not so frequent in preadolescent entertainment.
I only didn’t like it being conveyed that it was accepted for Conor to break things that weren’t his to break because he was hurting. He wasn’t the only person hurting. If it were his own things at least, okay, but not someone else’s stuff that matters to them. Being angry is one thing, but it’s another to take it out on someone else, certainly if they’re not even at fault. Do “things” matter in the greater scheme of it all? Would that woman allow everything in her home to be destroyed if it would somehow save her daughter? Maybe, probably. But it still hurts to lose things that mean something to you and her stuff obviously meant something to her.
I'm reminded of a quote I've seen floating around on the Internet for many years now.
“Just because you’re angry doesn’t give you the right to be cruel.”
It pulls a lot from the Guillermo del Toro/Alfonso Cuaron playbook in the way it portrays fantasy, but instead of being focussed on worldbuilding and set pieces, this is more story driven. I just don’t find that story all that interesting, and I don’t get who it’s made for. It’s too dark and abstract for kids, but as an adult I find it too simplistic and obvious. In terms of themes (5 stages of grief; complexity of the world) or the way that it portrays characters it’s not all that complex. For example, the bully character is so one dimensional and cliché that it feels like the character is ripped from an 80s movie. The emotional beats are somewhat effective, but they don’t hit as hard as they should because we’re not invested in this parental relationship beyond: it’s his mum, she has cancer, therefore you should feel stuff now. The visual effects are a little hit and miss; Liam Neeson’s monster is well realized, but some of the other stuff looks on the cheaper side. Bayona is certainly not the visual stylist that Cuaron and Del Toro are because the cinematography could also be a lot sharper. The animated bits are probably the most striking part of the film, both in terms of direction and visuals those scenes really stand out. Then there’s the acting, which is hard to discuss. Lewis MacDougall is given an impossible task here, and while he overacts like a lot of kid actors, the amount of range he displays still makes it a decent performance. Toby Kebbell, Felicity Jones and Liam Neeson are good, however Sigourney Weaver probably should’ve been recast with a British actress because the accent’s noticeably bad.
4/10
I cried rivers. Easily one of my favourites
Painfully predictable and trite, A Monster Calls is a macabre and overly melodramatic coming-of-age film. The story follows a young boy who seeks the help of a mysterious tree creature when his mother becomes terminally ill. Unfortunately, the boy’s not a very sympathetic character; reacting with violence and anger to everyone and everything around him (which gets really tired really fast). It’s cliché. However, the stories that the monster tells are rather interesting, as is the animation used in them. And, Liam Neeson does an incredible job at voicing the monster; making him threatening and dangerous, with an air of ambiguity as to whether he’s an agent of good or evil. Additionally, the score is emotionally evocative and compliments the scenes especially well. A Monster Calls is formulaic and heavy handed, yet it does have its heartwarming moments.
So superb,emotional and well made movie.I can't believe i haven't seen this movie for so long.Every minute deserves your attention it's a unique movie that makes you wonder for a lot of things.8.5/10
Maravillosos los cortos de animación, diseño de esos personajes de animacion, especialmente el Druida y el Tejo gigante.
As much as I felt empathy for the characters, also I fully understand how they felt themselves in the edge of a family tragedy and felt a little depressed at the end somehow I couldn't get involved in this movie.
Don't know what I missed exactly. The cartoonish background didn't bother me and I liked how the plot evolved. May be a few stereotypical plot points bugged me, I refer to the fact that Conor, a shy boy who dosen't look for attention or trouble, gets bullied by the big kids. Furthermore, a kid like that has been picked out for the main role. Also the single parent card has been played out. How original.
Tends to be a loose analogy, but in a similar theme, I mean deal with grief in a family situation converged with fable elements, I appreciate Big Fish even more.
Superbe film poétique et émouvant.
Mise en scène brillante.
This movie is terrible. It's a badly-written and poorly-executed wannabe Pan's Labyrinth (which is infinitely better), and they even stole some lines from that movie. It wants to create deep emotions in little time through cliché situations without caring to create interesting or original characters. Everyone in this movie is a tiresome stereotype and the kid is not even likable. It's just a plain, forgettable movie and I was wishing for it to end the entire time.
Wow. This was so not what I was expecting, and really something to chew on. The story was really moving, even though you could say that actually there is not much happening. But even so, it keeps you captivated throughout the movie - you wouldn't feel any drags. On the other hand it is really depressing and no feelgood movie, and I am not sure if you do your kids a treat (you'd rather make them cry :D ). The movie is made really good, however I was so captivated, that I did not have any time to analyse the movie in more detail (which normally I do, when watching movies) - all I can say that in the first 20 minutes I was not really immerged, so it took a shot while. In this time I had the feeling that it would be a lot like Pan's Labyrinth. However this movie stands on it's own and any resemblence to del Torrors movie that you might get in the beginning, will soon be whiped away: while Torrors movie are more on the dreamy-fantasy side, this movie is more direct and more depressing on the reality side of things.
Additional information: My girlfriend read the book and she thinks, this movie is a perfect adaption that stays true to the novel. So whoever liked the book will also like the movie ;)
One of the most beautiful films of 2016, could easily compete and possibly win in any of the major categories of Oscar.
If I wanted to want kids, I'd want them to watch this.
A Monster Calls is such a beautiful movie, although a bit more dramatic than I was expecting, beautiful nonetheless. It is a fascinating story with a great buildup and I loved "the monster", he was very wise. It was quite magical (but still very sad). I think the movie carries a great message and I would recommend watching it with a lot of tissues. (I think Felicity Jones was so amazing as Lizzie, perhaps one of her best work. I also think Lewis MacDougall has a great career ahead of him because he was goooood)
A beatiful movie. So intense, so Sade.
A very well made and imaginative story. A Monster Calls is acted very well all around with great performances from all of the main cast most notably Felicity Jones and Liam Neeson providing mo-cap and voices. The ending does lose a little steam though when it tries to hard to bring out emotions. A little more development would've really got me crying.
Shout by Lee Brown Barrow Movie BuffVIP 3BlockedParent2017-01-03T20:04:13Z
I'm still sobbing as I write this. The film is very good but it is quite traumatic. It is a subtle meditation on grief (as symbolised by the monster) and will ring true to a lot of peoples experiences. Billed as a family film, though I fear young ones will be too scared by the monster and too upset by the subject matter. Brilliant performance from the young lead and a great script that isn't as heavy handed as it could have been.