Art & Life

Raya and the Last Dragon

Marcus Cinema
Marcus Cinema in Cedar Rapids as seen on Saturday, April 10, 2021. PHOTO BY JESSICA MCWILLIAMS.

Raya and the Last Dragon is a new Disney release. It tells the story of Raya and her quest to reunite the pieces of the Dragon gem in hopes of bringing back the last dragon, ending a plague and bringing back everyone that had been turned to stone. Raya has spent year on the run after rival tribes attack her tribe and according to her, “broke the world while under the guise of friendship by breaking the dragon gem that was used to end the plague that had happened 500 years ago and separated all of the tribes to begin with.” I won’t spoil the movie but it takes team work and trust to fix the world. 

I really like that Disney tried to include cultural legends of Asia in the movie without sticking to just one location. I also like how the message lines up with what is happening in our country. Right now, there has been a lot of Asian-targeted hate crime because of the pandemic and I think this movie’s overarching message is that it is important to not react in anger and to take the first step so that you can be the change you want to see in the world. 

The animation was incredibly vibrant without being overwhelming. The music in the movie was on par with the quality expected from Disney. It was a fun way to spend the afternoon, and I honestly think it is a movie worth watching for both children and adults. 

I appreciate that Marcus Theaters has tried really hard to make sure your trip to theater is safe. Every seat in cleaned before you enter and a seal is placed on it to tell you no one has sat in it. You can also preorder food so you don’t have to wait in line. As Mr. Marcus says, see you at the theater! 

What should I rearview next? Drop a comment below! 

Image courtesy of Jessica McWilliams | Kirkwood Communiqué

Categories: Art & Life