Pete's Dragon - directed by David Lowery
I have never seen the 1977 "Pete's Dragon" - a musical kids movie featuring an animated dragon.
From what I understand this new version is a very different film.
It's not a musical of course but storywise and thematically it is also apparently very, very different.
In writing about "Ben Hur" last week I mentioned the mixed feelings that I have about remakes and the timing of the comments turn out to be very apt indeed because this film belongs very firmly on one side of the for/against argument that I posited.
By using only the basic plot of its predecessor and carving through fresh ground unhindered by it writer/director David Lowery has allowed himself the freedom to craft an emotionally dense, moving film that still provides laughs and excitement.
And that is just the start of the praise that I want to lavish upon a film that I believe will come to be considered a new classic children's movie.
A description of the plot of "Pete's Dragon" is likely to draw comparison's with Steven Spielberg's seminal "E.T The Extraterrestrial".
Both are about a young boy and his connection to a strange beast that only he knows about.
The name 'Elliot' is shared between the films - Spielberg's child hero uses it and here the dragon bears it.
There are a lot more similarities both overtly and subtextually but I want to shy away from them because "Pete's Dragon" deserves to stand on its own as a superior example of how to make a movie for children without patronising them, being condescending or boring the hell out of their adult chaperones.
And this simple story of a boy lost in the woods who for six years is cared for by a big green dragon is likely to entertain both ends of the spectrum equally.
When we first see Pete he is a four or five year old child in the back seat of a stationwagon who is embarking on a family trip with his parents.
As he reads his favourite book there is a tragic accident that leaves him alone in a dense forest at the mercy of the elements and the wildlife.
As a pack of wolves is about to dine out on the child a large green beast scares them away.
Surprisingly the dragon is revealed in full right at this early stage - there is no toying with the audience - no partial reveals every new time we see the beast.
He is shown head to tail in all of his glory - stomping, running, climbing and yes- flying.
Given how dark the opening scene is it is probably smart to introduce some whimsy in these early beats.
This is of the old school style of children's storytelling - not afraid to show death and despair and it is smart and as it turns out - necessary.
We flash forward six years and meet the local townsfolk of Millhaven- a logging town set amidst the vast forest that Pete and Elliot dwell in.
Meacham (Robert Redford) tells tales of a dragon to local children much to the chagrin of his forest ranger daughter Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard).
Grace is set to marry Jack (Wes Bentley) who owns the local logging firm with his brother Gavin (Karl Urban).
During a visit to the logging site Jack's daughter Natalie (Oona Laurence) catches a glimpse of Pete and chases him. In pursuing him up a tall tree she falls, hurting herself and attracting Grace, Jack, Gavin and a group of lumberjacks to the site.
Pete is taken to the hospital after an accidental bump on the head knocks him out cold.
From there it is a fish out of water story as Pete adjusts to life with real people and without Elliot.
The dragon misses his friend and makes ever riskier trips to the town to find him.
What becomes clear right from the start of the film is that this is no quickie kids flick cash in.
With some terrific match cuts (a steel bridge changes to Redford's carving tool peeling back wood) and judicious use of close-ups, slow zooms and overhead shots Lowery absolutely directs the hell out of this thing.
There is real care here - the mark of a director totally in sync with the material and with the skillset to bring it to life in a truly impressive way.
There is startlingly effective use of both score and songs going on here too.
The Lumineers track 'Nobody Knows' plays as Pete runs, scared through the town having escaped from the hospital.
Not in a million years would I have thought to use this sort of song in this scene but it is utterly perfect.
(check it out HERE)
Also perfect is the casting of Bryce Dallas Howard of whom I am now firmly a fan.
Honestly, I am embarrassed that up until now I have not counted myself a fan but that has changed.
She delivers a pitch perfect performance as Grace.
It's a role that could have been just a standard caring movie Mother but she imbues the character with a childhood wonder that bubbles just under the surface. Grace has pushed the childish part of herself down it is clear.
She berates her Father for telling the local children about the time he says he saw a dragon.
For his part Meacham is obviously saddened by her lack of faith in him and perhaps in her having so firmly rejected her own inner child.
Redford is amazing here- better than I have seen him in a while.
Yes, he was very good in the amazing "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" but here he shows that the charisma and charm he brought to characters like Sundance in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" is still with him.
He isn't looking remotely like his eighty odd years either.
His presence here is invaluable to this film.
Whenever he wasn't on screen I wished he was.
There is real subtlety to both his and Howard's performances.
On their first foray into the forest together Grace says 'I've never seen this part of the forest before' and without ever speaking a word Redford's face replies 'I have'.
Charm and subtlety are the two words that I would apply to the whole film in fact.
A lovely touch is the scene in which Oona Laurence's Natalie sings to Pete as Grace walks up the stairs.
The intercutting between the two reveals a lot about Grace and her relationship with her Father (he used to sing the song to her)
This film is full of such moments.
Careful edits, deliberate use of framing, that perfect, perfect use of score and songs alike.
I cannot speak highly enough of this movie.
On a technical level it is stunningly, staggeringly good but this is matched by its ability to stick to its central theme of the need for family.
The relationship between Pete and Elliot is beautifully revealed even though the constraints of a 100 minute running time allow only a couple of scenes to do so.
And the dragon itself is a marvel.
Created by the same effects team that made Smaug in the second and third Hobbit films the two couldn't be more different both in appearance and character.
In many ways Elliot must have been the tougher gig for WETA Digital - Lowery's script requires that he be intimidating and lovable, expressive and yet still a dragon.
He is a marvelous creation as is the movie in with he resides.
I could go on and on about this film - I am just that amazed by how much I loved it.
For all of its technical prowess it is the emotional impact that impresses most.
It's a simple, sweet tale performed by a cast that is incredible and surprising to the last.
Redford and Bryce Dallas Howard are magnetic together and I can't recall ever having seen a Karl Urban character squeal like a frightened child and run from danger.
The child actors who play young Pete, older Pete and Natalie are not at all out of their depth amidst such experience either.
I cannot wait to see this again and maybe in 3D.
I want to marvel at how well put together it is - the editing, the music....
A remake of what is allegedly a pretty average original film has no business being this good but thanks to David Lowery it most certainly is.
This film is a an absolute wonder.
RATING: 91 / 100
CONCLUSION: Proof that a remake can be not only better than its predecessor but better than most of its contemporaries. A stunningly well made movie and a perfect family film about family. I couldn't love this more.
Starring: Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Redford, Karl Urban, Oakes Fegley, Oona Laurence, Wes Bentley, Marcus Henderson, Isiah Whitlock Jr, Aaron Jackson, Phil Grieve, Steve Barr, Levi Alexander, Craig Hall
Screenplay: David Lowery & Toby Halbrooks
Music Score by: Daniel Hart
Cinematography: Bojan Bazelli
Cinematography: Bojan Bazelli
Edited by: Lisa Zeno Churgin
Running Time: 103 minutes
Language: English
Rated: PG - Mildly scary for very young viewers
Running Time: 103 minutes
Language: English
Rated: PG - Mildly scary for very young viewers
From what I understand this new version is a very different film.
It's not a musical of course but storywise and thematically it is also apparently very, very different.
In writing about "Ben Hur" last week I mentioned the mixed feelings that I have about remakes and the timing of the comments turn out to be very apt indeed because this film belongs very firmly on one side of the for/against argument that I posited.
By using only the basic plot of its predecessor and carving through fresh ground unhindered by it writer/director David Lowery has allowed himself the freedom to craft an emotionally dense, moving film that still provides laughs and excitement.
And that is just the start of the praise that I want to lavish upon a film that I believe will come to be considered a new classic children's movie.
A description of the plot of "Pete's Dragon" is likely to draw comparison's with Steven Spielberg's seminal "E.T The Extraterrestrial".
Both are about a young boy and his connection to a strange beast that only he knows about.
The name 'Elliot' is shared between the films - Spielberg's child hero uses it and here the dragon bears it.
There are a lot more similarities both overtly and subtextually but I want to shy away from them because "Pete's Dragon" deserves to stand on its own as a superior example of how to make a movie for children without patronising them, being condescending or boring the hell out of their adult chaperones.
And this simple story of a boy lost in the woods who for six years is cared for by a big green dragon is likely to entertain both ends of the spectrum equally.
 |
| Bryce Dallas Howard - perfect casting and a performance to match |
As he reads his favourite book there is a tragic accident that leaves him alone in a dense forest at the mercy of the elements and the wildlife.
As a pack of wolves is about to dine out on the child a large green beast scares them away.
Surprisingly the dragon is revealed in full right at this early stage - there is no toying with the audience - no partial reveals every new time we see the beast.
He is shown head to tail in all of his glory - stomping, running, climbing and yes- flying.
Given how dark the opening scene is it is probably smart to introduce some whimsy in these early beats.
This is of the old school style of children's storytelling - not afraid to show death and despair and it is smart and as it turns out - necessary.
We flash forward six years and meet the local townsfolk of Millhaven- a logging town set amidst the vast forest that Pete and Elliot dwell in.
Meacham (Robert Redford) tells tales of a dragon to local children much to the chagrin of his forest ranger daughter Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard).
Grace is set to marry Jack (Wes Bentley) who owns the local logging firm with his brother Gavin (Karl Urban).
During a visit to the logging site Jack's daughter Natalie (Oona Laurence) catches a glimpse of Pete and chases him. In pursuing him up a tall tree she falls, hurting herself and attracting Grace, Jack, Gavin and a group of lumberjacks to the site.
Pete is taken to the hospital after an accidental bump on the head knocks him out cold.
From there it is a fish out of water story as Pete adjusts to life with real people and without Elliot.
The dragon misses his friend and makes ever riskier trips to the town to find him.
 |
| The legendary Robert Redford and far right- writer-director David Lowery |
With some terrific match cuts (a steel bridge changes to Redford's carving tool peeling back wood) and judicious use of close-ups, slow zooms and overhead shots Lowery absolutely directs the hell out of this thing.
There is real care here - the mark of a director totally in sync with the material and with the skillset to bring it to life in a truly impressive way.
There is startlingly effective use of both score and songs going on here too.
The Lumineers track 'Nobody Knows' plays as Pete runs, scared through the town having escaped from the hospital.
Not in a million years would I have thought to use this sort of song in this scene but it is utterly perfect.
(check it out HERE)
Also perfect is the casting of Bryce Dallas Howard of whom I am now firmly a fan.
Honestly, I am embarrassed that up until now I have not counted myself a fan but that has changed.
She delivers a pitch perfect performance as Grace.
It's a role that could have been just a standard caring movie Mother but she imbues the character with a childhood wonder that bubbles just under the surface. Grace has pushed the childish part of herself down it is clear.
She berates her Father for telling the local children about the time he says he saw a dragon.
For his part Meacham is obviously saddened by her lack of faith in him and perhaps in her having so firmly rejected her own inner child.
Redford is amazing here- better than I have seen him in a while.
Yes, he was very good in the amazing "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" but here he shows that the charisma and charm he brought to characters like Sundance in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" is still with him.
He isn't looking remotely like his eighty odd years either.
His presence here is invaluable to this film.
Whenever he wasn't on screen I wished he was.
There is real subtlety to both his and Howard's performances.
On their first foray into the forest together Grace says 'I've never seen this part of the forest before' and without ever speaking a word Redford's face replies 'I have'.
 |
| Oona Laurence and Oakes Fegley with Howard and Wes Bentley- family is always at the centre of the film |
A lovely touch is the scene in which Oona Laurence's Natalie sings to Pete as Grace walks up the stairs.
The intercutting between the two reveals a lot about Grace and her relationship with her Father (he used to sing the song to her)
This film is full of such moments.
Careful edits, deliberate use of framing, that perfect, perfect use of score and songs alike.
I cannot speak highly enough of this movie.
On a technical level it is stunningly, staggeringly good but this is matched by its ability to stick to its central theme of the need for family.
The relationship between Pete and Elliot is beautifully revealed even though the constraints of a 100 minute running time allow only a couple of scenes to do so.
And the dragon itself is a marvel.
Created by the same effects team that made Smaug in the second and third Hobbit films the two couldn't be more different both in appearance and character.
In many ways Elliot must have been the tougher gig for WETA Digital - Lowery's script requires that he be intimidating and lovable, expressive and yet still a dragon.
He is a marvelous creation as is the movie in with he resides.
I could go on and on about this film - I am just that amazed by how much I loved it.
For all of its technical prowess it is the emotional impact that impresses most.
It's a simple, sweet tale performed by a cast that is incredible and surprising to the last.
Redford and Bryce Dallas Howard are magnetic together and I can't recall ever having seen a Karl Urban character squeal like a frightened child and run from danger.
The child actors who play young Pete, older Pete and Natalie are not at all out of their depth amidst such experience either.
I cannot wait to see this again and maybe in 3D.
I want to marvel at how well put together it is - the editing, the music....
A remake of what is allegedly a pretty average original film has no business being this good but thanks to David Lowery it most certainly is.
This film is a an absolute wonder.
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