Coco himself kept a picture of the father’s face that was torn from the family, but after Imelda’s death, Héctor did not return once all the family’s family was held by Coco. Coco never completed the photo during this time and put his father’s photo into the family mourning hall. So what is the hidden line of this movie? It was Coco’s understanding of his father’s life.

After being “abandoned” by Héctor, we could imagine that it was not only Imelda who was angry, but also Coco. This explains why after years since Imelda passed away, Coco still hadn’t put up her dad’s photo. She probably hated that her father abandoned her and her mother and hated music, but she did not know whether her father died or where she was. Therefore, she concealed her father’s picture in her own drawer and she did not want to put on the family mourning hall.

When Miguel brought back the song of Remember me, Coco could see her father’s wishes once more, and then points to the past photos to recall her father and think that papa is back. It’s hard to imagine Coco’s life as a young girl who thought she was abandoned by his father and raised by a dominant, decisive mother. She was holding the whole family alone until death. She might open the drawer and look at his father’s face. Read the letter from her father, remember me, remember the past happy time. Perhaps this is why the film is called “Coco.”

Coco was a great movie because it had a lot of emotional scenes sprinkled with good humor. Aside from the emotions and ideas the movie evoked, I was really amazed at its production. I haven’t seen a new animated movie in a while, so one of the things that really stuck out to me was the level of detail. When Miguel was playing his guitar, you could tell when he was strumming an E or D chord due to the great detail in his fingers and the instrument. There was a short featurette before the movie started playing that showed how the animators created layers of drawings before superimposing them to create the finished product. From the fluttering of feathers to the subtle eyebrow movement of characters, I feel like I could re-watch that movie several times and notice new things each time.

Back to the guitar though. The white, nylon-stringed instrument that once belonged to Miguel’s guitar idol was one of my favorite parts of the movie. Because it was so realistically displayed and accompanied with really clean audio, I had a strong desire to play it. So I looked it up on Google, and sure enough there is a real replica of it along with a demo of someone playing it. I haven’t checked the price, though I think I’ll stick to my minimalist acoustic fender. Either way, the details of this movie really do add up and further submerge the audience into the world of Miguel Rivera.

I have never cried in a movie before. Maybe it’s because I’ve never found a movie I really connected with before, or maybe its because I’ve never been too emotional, but I can’t remember any time I’ve ever actually shed a tear during a movie. Of course, when Coco first released, the only things I’d hear about are how much people cried at the end. Considering the fact that this is a Pixar film, that’s not surprising. Especially when you take into account that the director, Lee Unkrich, is the same man behind Toy Story 3, extreme tugging at the heart strings is to be expected.

But, what about Coco made it such a tearjerker? On the surface, it simply looks like another colorful, feel good, family Disney/Pixar movie, with the main plot being about a young boy who aspires to be a musician(in a family that hates music), trying to return home from the land of the dead. And it certainly manages to keep a lighthearted tone all the way through. But it’s much more than that. Coco is able to touch upon sensitive subjects such as death and hateful grudges in such an effective and tactful way, giving it an extra layer that not many family movies have. But its key messages, and ultimately what everyone in the audience relates to, is the constant theme of familial bonds and remembrance. Regardless of who you are or where you come from, everyone shares a special bond with their family. Through its 109 min run, Coco continuously builds up this idea through little moments and actions, cementing the importance of family in the mind of the audience. Those themes and ideas finally come to a head in the movie’s finale, making for such a touching and emotional ending that I was thankful that no one was sitting by me in the back row. Because Coco is the first movie to actually make me cry. Everyone should watch this movie at least once in their life, and even more so with their family.

While not every single children’s movie has an underlying significant life lesson, I believe that most of them do. Children’s movies are so important because they subconsciously teach children what their priorities in life should be; Coco is a phenomenal movie that while may seem to be just an interesting cultural story, it also deals with serious motifs like filial piety and respect. All in all, the entire movie was very well done. As a young adult, I am more understanding of movies as opposed to when I was a kid and just watched movies without really absorbing anything. I seldom cried for movies as a child, but moreso at my age. I think this is because I have experienced more in my life and can relate to the stories.

In Coco, the concept of death isn’t feared. Dia de los muertos is a day for those to honor those who have passed and celebrate their coming home. This does not mean that when a loved one dies, the ones left behind aren’t sad, but they are able to look forward to when they will reunite. It takes a lot of maturity and faith to believe in such a concept that has never been proven before (in Miguel’s case, he would be the first). Comparing it to my culture, death is the permanent end with no return. There is no reuniting, so life must be cherished while you are alive because regrets follow to you death. It was inspiring for me to see this clash of culture and I was able to reevaluate my perspective on life. Having said all that, I called my parents right after the movie to spend time with them.

It was also my first time to the Cornell Cinema! I had always heard about the space but never got the chance to go or wasn’t interested in what it was showing. I’m glad I went because it had such a retro vibe and I definitely recommend watching movies here because it is so comfortable.

Last Saturday I had the delight to watch Pixar’s newest film Coco at the Cornell Cinema. I did not know much about the movie beforehand, and as such, I had no real expectations other than it would most likely be very well made as Pixar never disappoints. Pixar’s unfaltering quality held true, and yet again, the studio has produced a real gem that is bound to resonate with people of all ages.

Coco deals with death and dying, with being remembered and withering away into the forgotten annals of history, and most certainly, it deals with the nuclear family as a whole that is in potential conflict with individuality and a desire to go against the grain of a family’s desires to pursue individual happiness. All of this is beautifully blended with elements of Mexican culture as the young protagonist Miguel finds himself stuck in the land of the dead on Día de los Muertos, alienated from his family–both living and dead–as he ventures to find his long deceased great great grandfather to pursue his dream of becoming a musician.

Without giving away any plot points, the movie cumulates a variety of extremely heavy themes and blends them into a touching and impactful story. This is the first movie that has ever made me shed tears in a movie theater, and upon exiting the cinema, I was amazed at the quality of storytelling I had just witnessed. Something that beautifully depicted a unity between life and death and a reconciliation between individuality and what it means to be a family as a whole. All and all, Coco is a gorgeous tale with stunning visuals and artistry that pacts a whopping punch with its skillfully crafted story-line. For me, it was one of the best Pixar creations to date, and it should not be missed. Just don’t forget to pack some tissues!

Last weekend, I got the opportunity to see Pixar’s Coco for free at the Cornell Cinema! It was a film I had been wanting to see, so I was very excited to watch to it. As a musician myself (pianist, guitarist, and songwriter), I particularly enjoyed the movie! However, you do not have to be a musician to enjoy it. The emphasis on the importance of family, interesting portrayal of the Day of the Dead, and display of love for music (which most of us have in one way or another) gives this movie universal appeal. There are some specifics of the story that I would like to address, but I will not do that to avoid giving any spoilers. But overall, the artwork and animation was beautiful, the story was well thought out, and the music was great. I would definitely suggest to anyone to check it out!

I saw Coco for the second time this past Saturday and I think I cried just as much as when I saw it the first time. I cried for a lot of reasons; 1) the story deals with themes of family and heritage which feel so personal and vivid, 2) the film is a visual masterpiece, 3) Coco illustrates the importance of representation in media. As someone who wants to work at Disney in the future, this movie represents all of my highest aspirations.

Stories are unbelievably powerful. When certain stories are not told (i.e. stories about people of color) that suggests that these stories are not valuable. Mexican culture is often misunderstood (and disrespected) by Americans. The Day of the Dead is the subject of Halloween costumes. Prior to watching the film I knew that the holiday meant much more than candy skulls or costumes, but this film taught me how beautiful Dia des Muertos is and reinforced my belief that I (and all people) can learn so much from other people. I read that Coco is the highest grossing film of all time in Mexico, and this just reinforces the idea that the film presents an honest and accurate view of their culture.

The attention to detail and beauty in this film makes it even more powerful and expressive. I was particularly taken aback by the clothing which characters’ wore because the fabrics look so real. A still of the film at literally any moment would be a work of art. The character’s facial expressions felt life like and emotional. I’ve come to believe that animated films are more expressive than live action ones because every single element of the scene can be composed. Human ingenuity is incredible.

Long story short: I love Coco.

Additionally, this experience made me realize how convenient and inexpensive Cornell cinema is. I want to make it a routine to watch movies in the theater more often. Watching movies alone at a theater is also a weirdly awesome feeling because it allows me connect fully with what I’m watching.

This past saturday I was able to head to the Cornell Cinema to watch Disney Pixar’s Coco. Knowing that Disney and Pixar had created this movie, my expectations were already high and I have to say Coco was definitely worth the hype for me. First off, the film-making and visuals were exceptional. The land of the dead was drawn beautifully with so many vibrant colors and lights, I can’t imagine how long it took to create such beautiful scenes. Not only did the movie look aesthetic, the plot was what made it.

Coco shed light on the Mexican Culture as well as the importance of family. Through the movie, I was able to learn more about the culture and traditions behind the Day of the Dead celebrated in Mexico. I’ve previously heard about the Day of the Dead, but I never learned about the meaning behind it in depth. Coco portrayed the importance of this day for many Mexican families. For instance, families place their ancestors’ pictures on the Ofrenda so that their spirits may pass over and they can be with the living. The movie portrayed the ancestors visiting the living, but more than that, I believe it represents that they honor and remember the dead, their own family members. This tradition serves as a way for families to remember their roots just as Miguel’s grandma always reminds him.

Coco also emphasizes the significance of family and loyalty. Although I did not agree with Miguel’s grandmother’s strong opposition against his playing music, I believe she did it with good intentions. She was loyal to her mother and grandmother, and intended to keep the family together and unified. Although his journey to become a musician was bumpy, Miguel’s family’s approval proves that family is loyal and supportive through thick and thin. One of my favorite scenes in the movie was when Miguel and Hector realize that they were actually great-grandfather and great-grandson. Their connection was not just pure coincidence. All in all, the movie was a heartwarming and emotional experience for me and I enjoyed getting a look into another culture.

I don’t feel like writing a movie review because there’s classes dedicated just for that like Cinema 1100 or something. The interesting aspect of the movie is not the plot, after all it is meant for children, but rather the seemingly ridiculously cliche yet strangely realistic portrayal of parental pressure and oppression in the apparent Hispanic family dynamic.

The Mexican culture depicted in the film reminded me a lot of what it was like back in China. From normal values like family comes first to having a great grandmother with more wrinkles than a Mastiff’s forehead, the details portrayed within Miguel’s family is very similar to my own self growing up in China. The matricidal system seen with Miguel’s grandmother is actually rather common in China as the “man” of the family is often out of the house doing business or working in the field, and the head woman of the family would end up controlling the house. This leads to my point of the oppressive nature of the family as a whole. Both my family and Miguel’s family seems to be completely and utterly shaped by generational values that they take as laws of life rather than guidelines. The “NO MUSIC” rule enforced by Miguel’s grandma with iron sandals is but a fragment of a misfortune that occurred during a period when no one truly remembers other than the Coco, who ironically loves music. Having grown up with family who are just like that regarding things such as prohibiting video games or homosexuality, I grew up around people who hate but don’t truly understand why.

With a distaste for certain groups of people reinforced by my family’s values, sometimes I just hate the way I am because of it. In a land of America where political correctness is not only encouraged but borderline required to be a “socially acceptable” person, I have shaped my personality to simply laugh off the residual innate prejudices as a joke altogether. Unlike Miguel, the real world isn’t as clichely marvelous as the world of Coco and problems can’t be magically solved by being transported into another ghostly realm with friendly spirits to guide you. I simply learned to live with the oppression and accept it. Perhaps it is also why Asians get a reputation for being meek and pushovers, we accept a certain degree abuse because we believe we can rise above it. We do, but for every success story, there are thousands of untold tragedies that people tend to overlook. I personally don’t want the little gold star that is put on the Asian resume for being the “model minority.” I want to see a world doesn’t need sacrifices like Miguel who really should’ve been a victim of the oppression from his grandmother. He would’ve still stolen the De La Cruz’s guitar and the villagers would’ve simply catch him as a thief. A young life over and done with through circumstance interlinked within circumstance, ultimately amounting to nothing but a regular below average lifestyle that his family has always lived.

Perhaps I am just overthinking a stupid kids movie.

People likes a happy story, and I liked the kitty. Ultimately, I guess it’s a win-win.

I lived in Guatemala for seven years of my life and traditions there, given the geographic proximity to Mexico, are sometimes very similar to some Mexican traditions. That being said, I believe this to be one of the reasons I found the movie so relatable and moving. Coco is centered around the Mexican traditions of El Día de Los Muertos (or day of the dead), whose primary purpose is to pray for family, and put out “ofrendas” or “offerings”,  in hopes of aiding the spiritual journey of our dearly departed. This made the holiday a perfect setting for the film to covey and emphasize the importance, and meaning, of family.

Miguel was child like many others around the world, who won your compassion over by his pure will to pursue his dreams, despite the disapproval of his family. I mean, with such innocence and naïveté about the ways of the world, how could a 12 year-old understand why his family would be so opposed to music? After all, there’s a type of music for everyone to enjoy, regardless of taste. Yet, his great-great-grandfather had abandoned the family to pursue music, and so it was assumed that he would follow in those footsteps should music be a part of his life. It reminded me of all the times I was turned down by my parents without truly understanding why. Just because someone else might do something hurtful, it doesn’t mean that he will (or that I would) if placed in the same situation. Our choices are ultimately our own and I find it unfair that you could deny someone happiness for such an assumption. It is a question that I find relatable to this day, and so I placed myself in Miguel’s shoes.

Yet, hispanic culture really tends to center around family and traditions. In this case, the family could not find a way to reconcile their traditions with Miguel’s pursuit of music because their shoe-making origins stemmed from a resentment for a particular musician. This is also something that I could empathize with, since you cannot expect someone to have a positive attitude towards something that hurt them so deeply. It’s a basic conditioning principle. We can therefore understand the Tía’s feelings towards music. How does one consolidate such strong, opposing feelings that have brewed over generations? If you’re Miguel, you start questioning the meaning and purpose of family. If a family is meant to support you through thick and thin, then they should be capable of setting aside resentment for their willingness to show love. Ultimately, that’s what life, and family, is about. Family is there to love you unconditionally, and you can show love through your support for others.

I think this entire film really hits home on what I always believed family is there for. I know that families are very different and come in all forms and sizes, but even if this was based on hispanic traditions, it is a universally relatable movie for people across cultures. How can we not seek acceptance from the people we grew up with? Why should we sacrifice our dreams, and hearts’ desires, to obtain that acceptance?

I think most people past the age of 10 have found themselves asking similar questions at one point or another, making this one of the most relatable movies I’ve ever watched. I couldn’t stop crying (tears of joy at the resolution).

Rate: 10/10

Like all Pixar movies, Coco is charming, poignant, and visually beautiful. The movie was filled with the classic La Calavera Catrina imagery as well as traditional Mexican music. Even though I know it is a Pixar movie, I was still blown away by the production value. Each scene must have taken so many artists working collectively and it was definitely one of the best parts of the film. It is also reminiscent of classic animated films like Spirited Away and Tim Burton’s The Corpse Bride. However, I do think some of the plot was too predictable. Also, the whole narrative of a boy having a dream of which his family disapproves only to change their minds with the message of ‘family is most important’ is hackneyed in my opinion.

The movie also explores the topic of death, focusing on the Mexican holiday El Día de Los Muertos or the Day of the Dead. Every year, the living set up pictures of their deceased loved ones on an alter along with their favourite foods or other tokens to invite their ancestors to join them in spirit for a few days. It is interesting to learn about Mexican culture’s views on death and the afterlife and how it is unique to other cultures and religions.

I studied Spanish in high school and one of the things I miss most about it is learning about the cultures of various Spanish speaking countries. Watching this movie has inspired me to continue educating myself, even if it is not in a formal setting.

Today I saw the movie Coco, and I was very surprised. I’m a big fan of Pixar films in general, but I was not impressed with Coco.

A major issue for me was how derivative the plot was. There are three major surprises in the plot, and one minor one. I knew that two of the major ones and the minor one were coming well before they showed up onscreen. I’ll admit that this is a somewhat elitist/”true nerd” thing to say, but it happened nonetheless, and it took me out of the movie experience. This is problematic because the emotional parts of the story depend on the audience believing that the character has truly lost something (before the movie shows how it isn’t actually lost). I think this predicability of the plot stems from the fact that the general arc of the story is nothing new: a boy wants to follow his dream, but society/family/etc. say that he’s wrong, and he has to find his own path. This is a standard trope in movies and the media in general and doesn’t help the situation.

I also found the main message of the story problematic. Coco is supposed to emphasize the importance of family: my problem was that it seemed to do this at the expense of all else. The main character actually states at one point that “Nothing is more important than family”. This is not a good message to be sending, particularly in this context. Culture is changing now, to the point that it is more socially acceptable everywhere for people to strike out on their own, irrespective of family traditions. One should never give up on a major life goal (being a musician, traveling, marrying someone) because family disapproves. But at least to me, Coco seems to be specifically encouraging this model that we see in certain cultures that ones family gets to dictate their life.

A final pain point is the striking similarity to the movie Book of Life. I’m not going to say that Coco was a total rip-off, but it certainly is uncomfortably close to the Book of Life in visuals, subject matter, and overall themes.