Hello and good tidings, all you explorers of stories!
This month the movie Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) turned 25 years old! And when it comes to this movie, I am a HUGE fan. Let's see, it has:
Blue being the main design color for the Atlanteans (which I approve of heartily)
An original story for Disney in the style of Jules Vernes's work (only maybe copied from something else...stay tuned for my theory on that.)
One of the best examples of a large cast of characters being done right where they all have their unique personalities and skills to contribute which makes each memorable.
A self-awareness of the explorer/white savior dynamic that other films (*cough* The Road to El Dorado *cough*) are lacking, and an examination of what it means to interact with other cultures (which they could do with this fictional world in ways that are not disrespectful!)
Great quotes and comic relief.
Not to say it doesn't have its fair share issues (and surprises, such as one of the highest body counts in a Disney movie?), but it navigates a new territory in story, characters, and themes that Disney had not explored before.
All that's to say, it's a delight. And I'm not the only one who thinks so, as Sally Silverscreen at 18 Cinema Lane put together a book tag to celebrate that this movie has been around for a quarter of a century (just multiply that by 340 and we get Kida's age). I'm filling it out today to join in the celebration.
Remember that excellent huge cast of characters I mentioned earlier? Each of the questions based on one of the characters! Because of that, there are SPOILERS for the movie. This movie is super nostalgic for me so I wouldn't recommend revealing the twists to yourself if you haven't seen it.
Questions:
Milo Thatch:
Throughout the film, Milo never gives up on finding Atlantis, even when he originally faced scrutiny from the Smithsonian Institute’s board of directors. What book series do you see yourself not giving up on?:
I didn't give up on The Queen's Thief series - by Megan Whalen Turner even though I was super tempted a time or two. But it paid off because the last book was my favorite!
As far as a series that I am still in the midst of reading go, the sequels in the Emily series - by L. M. Montgomery are #1 on my Goodreads list. I read the first book, Emily of New Moon (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4), in 2019 and keep meaning to continue the series. It hasn't happened in the last 7 years but that doesn't mean my resolve is crumbling at all!
Another one would be to read all of Agatha Christie's books. I only read a Hercule Poirot book every few years people might have thought that I've given up, but that's the not the case at all. I'm just savoring them!
Kidagakash "Kida" Nedakh:
While recounting the state of Atlantis, Kida says, “We [Atlanteans] are like a stone the ocean beats against. With each passing year a little more of us is worn away.” Which book would you save from becoming lost to time?:
The Kite Runner - by Khalid Hosseini. This is a hard, hard book. It deals with very horrific things and dark circumstances but has stuck with me even 5 years after I read it. Due to some of the subject material it has been challenged to be a banned book so I would like to save it from being lost in time in that sense. There have been criticisms that certain groups are portrayed in an overly negative light which I have no place to speak about, but aside, it is one of the most stunning works I've ever read and really opened my eyes to perspectives so vastly different from mine.
Audrey:
As a gifted mechanic, Audrey is tasked with making sure the Ulysses submarine and the team’s vehicles run smoothly throughout the expedition. What book had a pace you thought ran smoothly?:
Etiquette & Espionage - by Gail Carriger is not your typical "protagonist goes to a new school" book. It's cheeky and fun and has lots of mysteries and lessons for Sophronia to complete. I gobbled it up so quickly and am already working on the second book. And as a bonus that speaks to Audrey's character, there are lots of mechanical goodies as it fits in the steampunk genre.
Also, Audrey is one of my favorite characters EVER and I feel like I forget about her and need to apologize.
Vinny:
One of Vinny’s most memorable lines is “Hey look, I made a bridge” after creating a pathway using dynamite. What literary worlds would you like to see bridged together?:
LOVE this question (and a moment to do with "nitroglycerin" takes the cake for my favorite line of the whole film).
My combination is not going to make a lot of sense, but I just really, really, really want more Lemony Snicket books. Because I've basically read all of them and I want more. Another book series that really reminds me of those books is The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place - by Maryrose Wood. Lemony Snicket's world is here on earth, but has a timeless quality because no reference to the actual timeframe is made. There are cars and skyscrapers and submarines and movie theaters but it could really be anytime post-1960s? Meanwhile, Miss Penelope Lumley and co. are firmly in Victorian London.
To combine this world let's say Miss Lumley and the Incorrigibles (and Simon Harley Dickenson) somehow are transported to the future and it's up to Lemony and crew (the cast from the All the Wrong Questions series) to get them back. Because I think it would be cute to see Jake cooking food to coax Alexander, Beowolf, and Cassiopeia to eat. And Penelope being fascinated by Pip and Squeak and their driving. And Moxie trying to get interviews which only Simon takes to heart because he's used to the press as an actor. And meanwhile Lemony is the only one doing any work at the Black Cat Cafe to try to get them home.
OH and each of the characters of the respective worlds being confused about the relationship so they think Penelope is somehow related so they call her Miss Lemony instead of Miss Lumley.
It would just be fun and cleverness would abound.
Doctor Joshua Sweet:
According to Disney Wiki, Doctor Sweet was the first character to show Milo kindness during the Atlantis expedition. Which book character would you give kindness to?:
Owen from Becoming Naomi Leon - by Pam Muñoz Ryan. Owen is ADORABLE and PRECIOUS and legit the sweetest kid in the universe but people can be mean to him because he's a FLK (funny looking kid) due to his limp. He's so good natured he doesn't hold the teasing against anyone but that doesn't mean he should have to endure it. I just want to get him ice cream every day and help him practice riding his bike.
And if I'm hanging out with Owen that means I'll be with Naomi, too! I'd tell her she's awesome and brave and I would gush over her soap carvings.
Gaetan "Mole" Molière:
When Milo meets Mole, he discovers Mole’s dirt collection, with each particle of dirt coming from different parts of the world. If you could collect dirt from a book’s world, where would you go?:
In Between Jobs - by W. R. Gringell there are three worlds: the main world we live in, Behind (where fae, vampires, and many other magical creatures are), and Between (which is how the worlds are bridged). Things from Between are more illusions than anything else. You're not supposed to take things from Between but that doesn't stop Pet and even though I'm a rule follower I would want to take some to see what it could later turn into.
Cookie:
On Cookie’s chest is a tattoo of “all 38 states.” Which book would you choose out of the states represented in Cookie’s tattoo?:
From the screenshots I can find of him showing off his tattoo it's hard to see what's there, but it looks like at least: Wisconsin, West Virginia, Florida, and Texas? Those are the distinguishable shapes, then the rest of them are a bit blurred together so I'm not sure where the divisors are.
The Last Bus to Wisdom - by Ivan Doig revolves around Montana, but there's also a sizable bit where our main character Donal is on the bus to Wisconsin then when he gets there it's not how he expected it would be.
Mrs. Packard:
According to Disney Wiki, “Packard is hardly involved during the journey to Atlantis” yet as the Officer of Communications, Mrs. Packard plays a vital role in the Atlantis expedition. Which underrated book character do you wish received more recognition?:
In The Chronicles of Narnia, the Pevensie children and Eustace and Aslan and Caspian are all very well known characters. But as the series goes on even more are introduced yet aren't as talked about as much. For example, Digory and Polly from The Magician's Nephew. I LOVE Polly. I think she's so plucky and down for anything and gets annoyed at Digory at all the right instances. Digory is also a dear. Because it's the 6th book in the series (fight me) maybe people don't get around to it and so these two are just unknown instead of underrated. Maybe with Greta Gerwig's version coming out soon they'll get some more love!
Meanwhile, as far as a character getting more recognition from the author and therefore more "screen/page time" in a book, Margaret's brother in North & South - by Elisabeth Gaskell. His role is so brief that I don't even remember his name (should we guess John? That seems typical of the period). He's only there for a couple of chapters (if that!) and serves the plot point to introduce some misunderstandings and I understand why he can't stick around but I kind of wish he could've been there for Margaret for a little longer because she's going through a time where she really needs some support. Because I'm not there to comfort my girl!
Preston B. Whitmore:
Because of his funding, Mr. Whitmore is the reason why the Atlantis expedition happens in the first place. If you possessed a large sum of money, what book related purpose would you use the money for?:
Textbooks for students are such a tremendous expense so I would like to set up a way that they could get them for cheaper! With some subjects that are evolving, after a few years textbooks aren't even the most current knowledge so it's painful to buy them for hundreds of dollars when they can't be resold.
(Also, was it just me or did anyone else think Cookie and Mr. Whitmore were the same person for the longest time? It was only a few years ago that I watched it and realized they were COMPLETELY different characters. They both just seemed like old white guys to me? The rest of the cast are so diverse in race and drawing style and I just associated those two as the same person.)
Kashekim Nedakh and the Queen of Atlantis:
Kashekim and the Queen of Atlantis play important roles in Kida’s story, despite spending most of the movie apart. Which book couple do you wish had gotten to spend more time together?:
I feel like I bring this book up in every tag that I do, but it's gotta be All the Crooked Saints - by Maggie Steifvater. I'm in a particularly celebratory mood when it comes to this book because I finally got my younger sister to read it and then she got one of her friends to read it, too! Daniel and Marisita spend most of the book separated and we hear retroactively about some of the time they'd spent together but I want to see those scenes play out.
This is a perfect book, though, so nothing needs to be changed. I can just imagine it (and maybe make some fan art...).
Helga:
As one of the villains, Helga is not intended to be a likable character. In your opinion, what book possesses an unlikable female character?:
Leda Fox-Cotton in I Capture the Castle - by Dodie Smith. She's not in it that much but her antagonistic role serves to show what a person looks like who only uses others for themselves (the lesson that Cassandra is learning). She does it well and I really, really, REALLY dislike her for it. Poor Stephen.
Commander Rourke:
In Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Rourke desired to locate a book called the Shepherd’s Journal. Once found, he removes one of the pages from the Shepherd’s Journal in an effort to use that page for bad intentions. Which book would you not want to see fall into a fictional villain’s hands?:
The Count of Monte Cristo - by Alexandre Dumas. Because it's a honking big book and if a villain wanted to use it as a blunt weapon they surely could.
It's also about revenge and if you don't get through all 1200+ pages you might think that it is encouraging it. I even stalled out part way through, so I imagine a fictional villain who's really busy might not put the effort into finishing it and might be encouraged to poison people and whatnot in imitation of Edmond.
Thanks to Sally for putting those questions together! If you're a fan of Atlantis, feel free to fill it out yourself! For those of you who have seen this (which should be all of you if you made it past my spoiler warning), do any of you remember the sequel?
I low-key loved the 2nd one growing up. Do I remember the plot? No. Do I remember that it gave me nightmares? Yes. Is it still super nostalgic? Absolutely. All I remember is that they go to a bunch of other climates like a desert and a blizzard and lava? I think I have both films on VHS that I should dig out and coax my player into working. (Editor Chloe here, turns out I don't have the sequel, so it's probably lost to time!)
I'm not sure if the sequel even has continuity or a resemblance to the original, but last year I found another movie that I think is the prototype or inspiration for Disney's work. Do you remember how earlier I said it was maybe copied from something else? My theory is it was inspired by Stargate (1994).
This movie came out 7 years before the animated adventure, but the entire time watching it I kept making connections between the two. Especially through the character archetypes and dynamics. I've only seen Stargate the once while Atlantis has been dozens of times, so I won't go into a huge analysis, just some images to demonstrate my point.
Both are action/adventures films where a group sets out to explore a far away lost culture where they discover new technologies and that the culture isn't lost at all but still alive.
Both promotional posters have pyramids/triangles and beams.
Our protagonist is sandy-blond nerd with round glasses who is the only one who knows the forgotten language.
Army green and ulterior motives? (these characters do veer in different directions but both of strong chins)
Benefactors who give the linguist the benefit of the doubt. (remember how I apparently associate old white men? I guess I associate anyone with white hair who's not an Atlantean.)
Names starting with the same letter aside, it's up to them to protect their people.
Kida is a more developed character than Sha'uri, but they both have conflicts with their fathers about trying something new instead of sticking to the way it has always been done.
sooooooo...what do you guys think?
Do you see the similarities between Stargate and Atlantis: The Lost Empire? Stargate branched off into a TV show and other movies so the first film is most likely where the similarities end, but maybe Atlantis's sequel took notes from those, too!
Do you have an Atlantis character you relate to the most? What worlds would you branch together? Any other beloved direct-to-video sequels you love? Thanks for reading!
On October 16th, 2014 I read my first Kate DiCamillo book: The Tale of Despereaux. I devoured the whole thing in one day and I LOVED it. That started me on the journey of Kate DiCamillo being one of my favorite authors. By complete coincidence, I read another book of hers in totality on October 16th, 2015. When I realized that I year had passed since my first, I decided to make this accident turn into tradition and therefore read a book by her every October 16th. I consider it my "reading birthday" in a way.
Today I'll be reviewing three of her books I've read over the years that are slightly connected.
This "series"---called Three Rancheros---takes the three girls introduced in the first book---Raymie, Louisiana, and Beverly---and gives each a turn at being the main character. They are sequential in that each goes off of the background of the previous book(s), but they could also be read as stand-alones. I'll give a light overview of the premise and some thoughts, both of which will be spoiler free.
Raymie Nightingale - by Kate DiCamillo
"Are you going to be a problem causer or a problem solver?"
Premise: Raymie Clarke's father just left her, but she desperately wants him to still be part of her life. The best way she can think of to accomplish this is to make him see her picture in the paper by winning the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition and he'd be proud of her and come back. Some other girls in the competition are Louisiana and Beverly, but Raymie learns to not see them as rivals but friends, and needs their help in forming her new life.
Genres: Coming of age, Middle grade fiction
Awards: National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature, Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Middle Grade & Children's, The Magnolia Award Nominee for 6-8.
There is an updated cover for this book that is in the same style as the next two, but I just adore this original cover.
General thoughts:
Kate DiCamillo perfectly captures the feeling of a hot summer filled with a young girl's desperation to bring back what she has lost. I admire Raymie's determination to fix things. I love stories with three friends as I have two sisters and together we make up our own "three rancheros." My first instinct was to say that I was most like Louisiana due to physical appearance, but as I look back on this book I think I'm most like Raymie. Just minus the determination. The other characters form so solidly in ones imagination as Ms. DiCamillo's prose just carries you along: from youngsters to old folks and everyone in between.
"She sounded like a little cartoon bird when she talked, and this made everything that she said seem ridiculous but also possible--both things at the same time."
Ms. DiCamillo's books always have powerful character revelations and this is no exception, pulling in the historical figure of Florence Nightingale, not as a character but as a hero to admire. This book looks at the emotions when someone we think of as a hero does things we would not believe them to, and how to be heroes ourselves. It's a book about what it means to rescue things.
There are references to other great children's literature such as The Borrowers, Paddington, and Little House on the Prairie, and I would say it should go in the canon of heartfelt children's books itself.
"Well, dear, I have found that most things work out right in the end."
Louisiana's Way Home - by Kate DiCamillo
"In some ways, this is a story of woe and confusion, but it is also a story of joy and kindness and free peanuts."
Premise: One day Louisiana's grandmother tells her to get in the car and they start driving. This feels different from her grandmother's other whims and as they don't have any money they try to keep that secret as they arrange for a hotel room in a new town. But that's not the only secret her grandmother is keeping and between her health and her grandmother's, someone is bound to notice that something is wrong.
"Because that is what it means to be alive on this infinitesimally spinning planet. It means you have cares.
Doesn't it?"
Genres: Coming of age, Middle grade fiction
Awards: Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award Nominee for Grades 3-6, Vermont Golden Dome Book Award Nominee, Minnesota Book Award Nominee for Middle Grade Literature, Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Middle Grade & Children's, Whippoorwill Award.
General thoughts:
"Those who love us can't always find us, can they? Or else I would not be writing these words."
One of my notes from reading this book several years ago was "why is it so amazing and sob inducing???"
If my younger sister read this book she'd probably say that it wasn't realistic. But that's part of the point, it's seeing the world for what it could be and finding unexpected kindness in strangers. The sort of people "who give you two when you ask for one."
Through that, I adore the cast of characters in this one. Burke Allen III will forever hold a place in my heart, and his grandpop is pretty great, too. Louisiana is such a dear and her strength comes from within.
If I had to name one type of book to read for the rest of my life, it would be "fish out of water" stories, where the main character comes to a new town and the reader gets to discover all the residents at the same time the main character does. The character has been through a couple towns already and is reluctant to let these new people take up residence in their heart to only leave again.
This book checks all of those boxes.
It's about forgiveness, kindness, and finding oneself. I couldn't ask for a better and more hopeful message.
"And perhaps what matters what all is said and done is not who puts us down but who picks us up."
Beverly, Right Here - by Kate DiCamillo
"This is the end of the road unless you have a dream."
Premise: It's 1979 and Beverly is lonely. So she decides to run away from those feelings and her town and start anew. She lies about her age to get a job at a restaurant and as an old lady's chauffeur in exchange for a place to stay. Beverly is known for being quiet, so she usually blends into the background, but that's not the same as belonging. Maybe leaving will help her find a true home.
"I mean to say that I am afraid I've mislocated my capabilities."
Genres: Coming of age, Middle grade fiction
General thoughts:
"The fan was on the floor, turning slowly from side to side, looking for something it had lost."
This is a book where plot-wise, not a lot happens. But emotion-wise, everything happens. You've got an old lady going to bingo and an odd kid in a grocery store and a restaurant that is trying to survive and all of those are connected through Beverly. All her life she's been told she doesn't have feelings, and now they're swarming inside of her from not being released.
Of all the books in this series it's the one that feels most firmly set in a year. And as I know someone who was Beverly's age in that year, I felt it gave me a look into her life.
It's a book about trust and letting people inside, both literally and figuratively. I love the art. And the turkey scenario. And the bird motif. It has relationships with young and old folks alike that made me grin non-stop. My heart was very full after reading this book.
It seems to me that this is the least well known of the three books, which makes me sad because it is a masterful conclusion. It's set a few years after the other books and I love the way they all connect.
"They were such beautiful blue words.
She couldn't help it. She loved them."
Ah, Kate DiCamillo writes books that I will never get tired of and never forget. Her stories always change me and as she says in Louisiana's Way Home, "There is a great deal of power in writing things down."
Thanks for reading! Have you read any of these or Kate DiCamillo's other books? What are other books that pull at your heart? Any "fish out of water" books, like these or Moon Over Manifest?
I've found it to be a common theme that when I was little I would enjoy a movie, but then I got to a phase where I just thought it was silly or inane. Eventually I grew out of that and once again saw many of the films for how brilliant they are. Kind of like that C. S. Lewis quote, "One day you will be old enough to read fairytales again."
Today, I'm talking about one of those movies! I remember just missing Kung Fu Panda when it came out in theaters in 2008, but I've seen it countless times since. Since my years of shunning it I now claim this to be one of the most humorous films I've ever seen. It always cheers me up to watch it, and likewise to talk about it, so let's get down to business (wrong movie) let's get to kung fu fighting.
The following is me talking about why I enjoy the movie and the messages therein but not what actually happens in it, so this article is spoiler-free. Enjoy!
Kung Fu Panda (2008):
Premise: Po eats, sleeps, and dreams thinking about kung fu. Due to an accident, Po gets chosen to be the new "Dragon Warrior" and disgruntled by this, Master Shifu is determined to make him quit. The Furious Five are disappointed at not being chosen but they aren't the only ones as word reaches Tai Lung, an exiled former student of Shifu. Tai Lung will stop at nothing to get the Dragon Scroll given to the Dragon Warrior and the way to defend is through kung fu...that is if a panda can learn how to master this ancient martial art.
Age Range: This is rated PG, for some mild violence (the titular action of kung fu is part of it!). Some tiny kids might be scared of Tai Lung, but all in all this works for any age.
Crew: Directed by: John Stevenson and Mark Osborne. Produced by: Melissa Cobb. Written by: Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger based on the story by Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris. Animation by: DreamWorks studios. Music by: Hans Zimmer.
Kung Fu...red panda?
Starring the voices of: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Ian McShane, Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Jackie Chan, Randall Duk Kim, and James Hong.
General thoughts:
How I look when I'm acting out what happens in this movie.
Me watching this movie is like Po being tickled: I'm just in stitches the whole time through. There's one scene where Po is in a hall of ancient kung fu weapons that my sister and I can't reenact without giggling. It is marvelously quotable, so much so that I couldn't even begin to tell you how many times I've said lines from it over the years. It is a movie that is as satisfying as the dew from a ginkgo leaf.
While the majority of the movie is in 3D animation, the beginning and credits have a 2D animation style that links back to other Chinese art forms. The score by the brilliant Hans Zimmer is mystical and magical, and I love the song "Kung Fu Fighting" performed by Jack Black and CeeLo Green.
"One often meets his destiny on the road to avoid it."
As for the story itself, Po is quite a relatable and sympathetic character. He goes through real struggles of trying to achieve things while everyone doubts him while staying cheery himself. This movie deals with real moments in small ways, such as having to communicate to family member that what you love is different than what they love. Po's dad runs a noodle shop and wants Po to take over, but Po wants to do "kung fuuuuuuuuuu!"
The rest of the characters are so lovable, from wise Oogway to impatient Shifu to the strengths of the Furious Five, each character has their own goals and sense of humor.
This film was so successful that it has since received three sequels. I've only seen the first of them (Kung Fu Panda 2) and think it's one of the most solid sequels I've seen. It is missing one aspect that is quite prominent in this film: food.
Food in the film:
"Well done, students...if you were trying to disappoint me."
When I was younger I was told that I was a stress eater. This was not in an official diagnosis, just observation from others, and it immediately confused me. First of all, I was never all that stressed, and second, I just liked to eat. It seemed like something that was wrong with me, but I took comfort in the character of Po, because he eats when he's upset. College since taught me that I'm not a stress eater; I eat when I'm bored. When I'm stressed, I just don't eat. Which also isn't a healthy thing to do. Po learns that what he wants to be (a kung fu master) and who he is (a panda) can be possible when he does it the way a panda would. It's not going to be the same for a snake, a bird, or a tortise.
"I guess my body doesn't know it's the dragon warrior yet."
Through this lens, I think this movie subtly looks at abelism. It starts because Po cannot get up the stairs. He's called "just a fat panda" many times but learns to take ownership of it and who he is actually becomes an asset. Already there are many different animals that are the kung fu experts as within the Furious Five you have Tigress, Monkey, Crane, Mantis, and Viper. The characters in this movie already understand that one can be small and mighty, but this looks at the other end. What that would like to have a panda as a kung fu master? It would be wrong for a panda to not be cute and cuddly, but Po shows other possibilities of what to do. He is made how he's supposed to be and he just needs the right training.
"Oh, careful! That soup is...sharp."
Which involves food.
Once Shifu figures out the lengths Po will go to get a snack, he uses food as a way to train this panda. Thus commences one of my favorite training sequences in film. I've always loved this approach of maybe you're not doing it wrong, maybe the teacher just hasn't found what works for you. In Po's case it is through food and once Shifu realizes this, he becomes a better teacher himself.
From Po's dad running a noodle shop to Po making food for his friends to the idea of "secret ingredient soup," food is a medium for the characters to learn and grow.
For my readers, what motivates you to achieve the impossible? For me it would probably be food. Or getting to watch a movie or read a book. Do you have a favorite movie in the Kung Fu Panda series? What would ideal kung fu training look like for you?
I guess all my talking here would be what Shifu would consider "flapping" so by response to his request of "Would whoever is making that flapping sound please quiet down?" I'll take my leave.
I hope you're all doing well! It's been a hot minute since I posted because I've been really busy in school. That's all over now as I recently graduated with a minor in Hispanic Studies (I have a post on my major coming up, but it's taking a while)!
To celebrate, I thought I'd commemorate all of the films I watched for my various Hispanic Studies classes! Which...was a lot. I mean, one class was specifically a Hispanic film class (where we watched 13 movies), but the other 12 were sprinkled around. There are so many other stories I could talk about (having taken Hispanic Theater and Hispanic Literature classes), but because this is Movies Meet Their Match I thought I'd start with films. Therefore, I'm going be ranking all 25 of the movies that I watched! Which, if you've been around for a while, you might have been wondering about from my yearly wrap-ups.
Even though I was trying to keep it short by only talking movies, this post is still ENORMOUS. So feel free to skim and skip around based on what sounds interesting to you!
How this will work: I'll provide a brief summary (written by yours truly so not all that official, haha.) and then thoughts on why it is ranked where it is.
This was harder than I thought. I have my strong dislikes and my ABSOLUTELY LOVE, but in the middle they're mostly on the same level.
All of these movies have varying levels of content, but I'm mostly going to be talking about what the story's significance was to me. On some, the content is why it is so low in the ranking which I will mention, but that's usually tied into other aspects. If you have any questions about the age ranges for any of these movies feel free to ask and I will provide details!
25. El conde [English title: The Count] (2023)
Premise:Chile's dictator Augusto Pinochet is actually a vampire. This has lead him to live longer so he's faked his death a few times. Now he doesn't want to live so his family is waiting for him to die and to get on with it his children hire a nun to exorcise him.
Hated it. Most of my class hated the gore and violence, but I was most upset about the assault. Yes, but it's probably shown as a bad thing...not really. This woman is raped but it's all set up as she gave in to the seducing eventually, with this whole ecstasy sequence and I was over it. I was very triggered.
I think this has some creative ideas (Pinochet as a vampire! Who are other historical "vampires"?), but I did not like the plot at all. So much so that I stopped watching it and was doing sudoku while it played in the background. Just now I had to look up what actually happened to write the summary (thanks Wikipedia for the stark reminder that YEP, STILL HATE IT). My sisters and I joke about repressing things (it's a movie reference but I'm blanking right now on what movie...) but it's true. I do not want to think about this one, so moving on.
24. Memorias del subdesarrollo [English title: Memories of Underdevelopment] (1968)
Premise: While many left Cuba between the Revolution and the Cuban Missile Crisis, wealthy writer Sergio stayed. This collection of his memories is his disgust at the mentality and cultures of the people there in contrast with actual footage of things that happened.
I get the point now, but I feel like there should be a huge disclaimer of YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO LIKE THE MAIN CHARACTER. He is one of the most despicable people ever. And that's the point. Because he's supposedly lamenting all of these people who are "underdeveloped," but it is HIS memories that we're seeing, so he's the one who is "underdeveloped." Maybe that is a spoiler. But I feel you can appreciate it better if you know that going in.
I mean, Sergio is wanting to emulate Hemingway, if that tells you anything.
This is the only movie I've seen from Cuba, I think? So I appreciate that. This is a critique in so many ways, I just don't think I was ready for it.
23. El buen patron [English title: The Good Boss] (2021)
Premise: Julio Blanco is owner of a prestigious scale factory. He is known in the business world as being a good boss, but in reality he is cruel. In order to gain awards, he starts getting involved in the lives of his employees. Meanwhile, someone he fired is fed up and wants to put the scales back in balance.
I watched this for extra credit. And, again, a character that you're not supposed to like is the main person we're watching. Which is my least favorite plot device. I am never going to get invested if I don't have a reason to root for the character! It has made me say, "That's Javier Bardem!" every single time I now see Javier Bardem in something. This was the first time I went to a cool independent movie theater in my college town, so I appreciated the excuse to go there.
Premise:Janis is a photographer who after getting involved with an archaeologist decides to raise her baby on her own. She bonds with a young girl who gives birth the same day she does, but after Arturo denies being the child's father, this leads to uncovering more secrets that Janis does everything in her power to keep buried.
I had such a hard time summarizing this because the things that are important to me in this film aren't the plot, but side stories that I wish HAD been the plot. This movie was made under a time-crunch because it was talking about issues happening in Spain at the time (finding the bodies of people who disappeared during the Civil War), but...it needs more editing. I was so bored watching this that I kept zoning out and instead thinking about how to re-cut it. Because do we need that many sex scenes? No.
This has an interesting perspective on loss and hanging on to the past. I'd guessed what was going to happen through my theological studies, whether that was purposefully put in there or not.
An interesting one for the LGBTQ+ community, but I was put off by the age difference because I think Ana was still a minor? Also the adultery between Janis and Arturo is not what I'm here for.
21. Retablo (2017)
Premise:Segundo is apprentice to his father who makes elaborate retablos--decorative boxes that display a scene inside them. His father is much revered for his artistry, but Segundo senses tensions. The stories that are on display are not the only stories being told and when Segundo finds a secret retablo he is conflicted on where his loyalties and love lies.
This one is important, but it's rough. I'd heard about it a lot from my professor before watching it and had it hyped up, so much that I thought it was about something else. The LGBTQ+ aspect is important, but I don't think it's that beneficial to the community. However, just because it isn't positive doesn't mean it's not realistic, and this looks at rural life, being trapped in tradition, and facing cruelty. I don't support all of the decisions here, but I think we can agree the society sets the characters up for failure.
My favorite part of this movie was the discussion we had in class where one of my classmates asked "What we would do if we were Segundo?" An essential question for everyone to grapple with who watches this.
20. Ixcanul (2015)
Premise: Maria is tired of her life below the mountain growing coffee---where she is about to be married off---and yearns to go North. Desperate to escape, she comes up with a plan where the boy she likes will take her to the U.S. when he runs away. Betrayed and now left with consequences, her mother asks for help from the gods within Ixcanul, the volcano where she lives.
The ending was so solid, really connecting so many elements from the beginning. I just HATED the beginning. The whole first half. I wish that we had started from half-way through? I get that there are supposedly important elements for the story, but I just don't think that we needed to see it on screen and we could've gotten exposition. I'd been so annoyed at this movie that I had been making lists on my computer while "watching" it until the middle. Then there was pay-off after pay-off that it was like watching a train crash but the story couldn't go anywhere else. And, ironically, that's when I couldn't tear my eyes off the screen.
The dynamic between Maria and her mother was so fascinating because Maria's mother will do absolutely everything for her daughter, but usually makes a decision without Maria's input. You can see that they love each other, but there are in a cycle of tensions that they continue to create. It also was really cool to hear the language Kaqchikel.
19. Neruda (2016)
Premise:Politician and poet Pablo Neruda is under warrant for arrest but no one can find him. Policeman Óscar Peluchonneau is assigned to find him and to do that decides to study Neruda's life and poetry. As Neruda continually evades him, Peluchonneau despairs that this is just like a story and struggles to break the ending that he sees coming for him.
This one was well-made and a different style than I'm used to seeing in Hispanic films (noir! We had a whole discussion about that. Even though I was the only one of my classmates who had watched a noir movie before. Old movies for the win!), but I just really don't like the figure Neruda. I was rooting more for Gael García Bernal (as you do). It was interesting to see how other people reacted to Neruda, even though I was screaming at the screen at one point that they shouldn't be.
Along with being noir, it is also a psychological drama in Peluchonneau's mind. The poor dear.
18. Todo sobre mi madre [English title: All About My Mother] (1999)
Premise:Manuela is a transplant surgeon in Madrid. After a surgery she never wanted to see, all hope for her future is gone. She decides to go back to the past and fulfill her son's wish of contacting his father. Through that, in Barcelona she finds an old friend and relives the past through helping a woman who is pregnant by her son's father.
This is an important movie (it's on 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die list, along with Memorias del subdesarrollo.), it just isn't my favorite. I get the cultural significance, but I don't think I'd want to watch it again because, even though it was a small part of the plot, the transplants hit me really hard as I know people who might have to be on a transplant list some day. I feel like I was missing something from it because I haven't seen All About Eve (where the title comes from) or A Streetcar Named Desire, which are big parts of the plot. Who knows, maybe I'll watch it again after I see those respective films.
It's commentary on the AIDS/HIV epidemic which was so huge but because it was before I was born I feel like people tend to hush it up? People also tend to act as if the LGBTQ+ community is a new thing, but it really isn't, and the presence of trans characters in this film shows part of that. I would SO MUCH prefer this to be the token LBGTQ+ movie than Rocky Horror. This gives a compassionate look at these characters while also showing what it's like to live in a society where your options are limited. Manuela is such a kind-hearted character and I admire her so much.
I cried just at seeing Barcelona because at the time I was watching this I knew someone there.
17. Pájaros de verano [English title: Birds of Passage] (2018)
Premise:Zaida and Rapayet go through the rituals of becoming a couple, but when Rapayet becomes involved in drug trafficking, and the traditional values and rituals are put to the side.
This one is a cautionary tale. In my class I remember talking about the similarities between this and The Odyssey, but when I went back through the slides it only had the question of "how is it similar?" and none of the answers. And I don't remember the answers. Or much of the plot, as is shown by my very weak description of the premise. I also don't really remember why it is titled the way it is (...I think it was the dance that Zaida did?). All in all, of all the movies on this list, I remember this one the least, which is why it's low in the ranking. So I probably should watch it again.
It's about losing culture which is important because so often the stereotype of Hispanic countries is about gangs, but that's stepping away from what the culture actually is, which is the travesty.
16. Ya no estoy aquí [English title: I Am No Longer Here] (2020)
Premise:Ulises defines his life by his Kolombia style. Through a split timeline, the film follows Ulises's struggles for work in NYC as well as his old life in Mexico. From dancing in subways to sleeping on rooftops, Ulises feels the loneliness of not having his community---Los Terkos---all while trying to not get sent back home, even though that's where he longs to go.
I think about this one a lot. About Kolombia and cumbia and style and what it means to dance. This movie looks at how gangs aren't always bad, but when kids are in a space surrounded by violence then that forces them to become the biggest oppressors. This had the potential for exactly the kind of story I adore, but then took a different turn. Not that the result was bad, I just was disappointed from where I thought it was going. But it did it's job in making me think about it from time to time.
This was cool to watch because I'd just been to New York, so getting the perspective of the Hispanic culture there was a different angle than I'd just seen, but familiar at the same time. It's also a critique on the U.S. and how it is not as accepting as those moving there would hope for it to be.
15. Los reyes del mundo [English title: Kings of the World] (2022)
Premise: A group of boys have been living on the streets of Medellín, and though only two of them are related, the whole group is family. When Rá learns he can get his grandmother's property---seized by the years ago by the government but is now being returned---the boys start their way across the country to try to find home.
This one is so stinking rough. It's about kids who have no supervision and do whatever they want; one's heart breaks at the loneliness because even though they have each other, they don't have a future. They imagine a utopian world of white horses where they are the kings, but they have to deal with the dangers of this world, first, and the government and systems are set-up to make them fail. This is a kind of a world where the only kindness they receive is at a brothel.
The punches that this delivers were UNCALLED FOR. I'm still upset. The pobrecitos. For some reason the Columbian accent was harder for me to understand which I was very surprised about. I liked Laura Mora Ortega's directing and would love to watch more of her work (which reminds me to get started on the show Cien años de soledad...).
14. Roma (2018)
Premise: Cleo works for a wealthy family in the Roma neighborhood in Mexico City. The film follows her struggles: facing judgement for being Mixtec, caring for children while dealing with her unhappy employer, and her own unsatisfying relationship.
AKA the one that won so many awards. When I watched this I was so confused, as was my entire class. Once we had our discussion I think I understand it more? It is culturally significant (again, so many awards!) but it's not my favorite. Don't get me wrong, I think it deserved the awards. I just also think that there are many on this list that ALSO deserve awards but didn't get the attention because they weren't directed by Alfonso Cuarón.
What is my favorite, is the Billie Eilish song about it called "When I Was Older." Cannot recommend enough.
If it wasn't apparent before this, I should say for those of you who haven't watched Hispanic films, the plot structure is very different than most Hollywood films. There are not the typical plot points, therefore the premise is difficult to describe. When we watched this for class I remember some people struggling with it being black and white, but my old movie watching came in handy and I was not put off at all.
13. Bardo, falsa crónica de unas cuantas verdades [English title: Bardo: False Chronicle of A Handful of Truths] (2022)
Premise:Silverio is a writer who splits his time between the U.S. and Mexico. The film follows bizarre moments in Silverio's life and imagination that walk through the history of Mexico and current issues as well as the history of Silverio and his wife as they deal with the grief of losing a child many years ago.
This one is teetering on the line of "okay" and "I LOVE IT." It's so weird, guys. And some of the segments are a little too weird for me, like the child who has Silverio's head. And the most disturbing sex scene of all time. But the rest of it?? The airport scene lives rent-free in my head and is one of my favorite things ever. "America is a continent not a country, *starts swearing*" Say it louder for the people in the back! I also love the ties to Julio Cortazar's "Axolotl." And the theatricality of Mexico's history that is so tongue-in-cheek. And the most realistic flying dream of all time (the cinematography!! Totally should've won an Oscar).
So yeah, I'd actually really recommend this one, and I'm going to firmly say now that it is in the "I LOVE IT" camp. Just be prepared (especially because the sex scene has no build-up. I get the symbolism, I just have no desire to watch it.)
I was also taking a Hispanic history class at the same time and seeing all of the Hernán Cortez references I felt very knowledgable.
12. Güeros (2014)
Premise: After some trouble, Tomás goes to live with his brother Sombra in Mexico City. Tomás's idol is Epigmenio Cruz who recorded the song on the tape that Tomás carries with him everywhere. Sombra, his roommate, and Tomás set out across the city, navigating zoos and student uprising to try to find Epigmenio Cruz.
This one seems so casual compared to all of the others. But it's also the exact kind of story that I love? Sibling roadtrip? Not leaving town but discovering more about yourself? Looking for something that's lost? I don't know what it is. Besides the close up making-out that takes way too long (Chloe the editor at work again), I have no complaints about this movie. It's a vibe.
The thing that I love about these movies, too, is that there is so much to discuss because the answers aren't given. Things are left up in the air. In my Hispanic Film class, for each of the 13 films we spent two 75-minute class periods on it. THAT'S how much there is to say about these, but even then it isn't always enough. Like with this one. I would love to delve into each and every spot that they stop. So I wrote a paper that included this film. The only reasonable solution, you know.
11. Lo que arde [English title: Fire Will Come] (2019)
Premise: Benedicta's son, Amador, is recently released from prison. In the wilds of Spain, while it is away from prying eyes, everyone is still suspicious of Amador due to his history of arson.
I was in a bit of a fever dream watching this because it was 8AM and I had been up late coding. But I vibed with it so hard, it made me write a blog post. So even though I don't really remember much about it (hence the short description), I remember loving the colors and the cinematography. I also remember not understanding what they were saying and was thinking that I was just tired, but I feel justified in my confusion because according to Wikipedia this film is in Galician, not Spanish.
Meanwhile all of my classmates hated it and I don't get why. It follows the idea that if you put someone in a box, labelling them and refusing to see who they really are, eventually they will succumb to that label.
10. La llorona (2019)
Premise:After a court case against Enrique Monteverde that ended in his favor, him and his family are stuck inside their house due to the protestors outside. It's no better inside as mysterious and supernatural appearances of water start to occur in his house. What he doesn't know is that the newly hired maid is not all that she seems.
If you're going to give me horror, my number one rule is that it has to mean something; it can't just be for the purpose of scaring people. And this does exactly that. It asks questions such as: what is justice? Who's telling the truth? What does it mean to trust people? All while being deliciously creepy in a poignant way of Guatemalan myths.
If you've seen the movie Coco (2017), then you've heard one song about the pain of La llorona (which is one of my FAVORITE songs of the entire movie). If you are interested in a more creepy aspect of that same pain, then this film is for you. I also love the cameo of Rigoberta Menchu. Which is my reminder to read the book about her life.
9. Noche de fuego [English title: Prayers for the Stolen] (2021)
Premise: Ana lives with her mother in a small town, where they work harvesting poppy seeds. In the world of drug trafficking and more, Ana's whole childhood has had the fear that something bad is going to happen, but she's got her friends by her side, and with the words of her teacher she dreams of a better world.
The reason the English title is the most different than the Spanish title is because it was originally a book written in English called Prayers for the Stolen - by Jennifer Clement. Based on how much this story has my heart, I should read the book.
This one is very similar to Los pajaros de verano, but I think it's better done. Maybe because it's told from the perspective of a child? The fear that this movie is absolutely soaked in is heartbreaking, but the friendships between the girls are what carry it. I did a whole presentation about this movie and therefore I love it.
8. The Boy from Medellín (2020)
Premise:Musician J. Balvin prepares for a huge concert in his hometown of Medellín, Colombia, and contemplates whether he should address the politics of the country.
This is a documentary and it is the fault of this that I am always listening to "Mi Gente" and "Obra de arte" as performed by J. Balvin. This is such an interesting look at what it means to be a celebrity and when to use your voice. Because whether you speak up or you hold back, people are going to be angry at you. So what do you do?
This one is so high in my ranking because when I finished watching it I was in a really positive mood. Which isn't usually what happens with these movies, haha! I mean, you can't listen to "Mi Gente" and "Obra de arte" without smiling.
7. El abrazo de la serpiente [English title: The Embrace of the Serpent] (2015)
Premise:Just as a river splits into many different branches, this story splits into the different branches of Karamakate's life, both past and present. Past: Theo seeks Karamakate out as a guide to explore. Present: Evan seeks Karamakate out to help him find a sacred plant. Karamakate can't remember what happened last time, and goes to find his memory.
I originally thought this one was interesting, that's all. Now it's low-key become my "Roman empire." I think about it all the time, not only in my Hispanic studies classes but in theology, too. I love that this has over 10 languages. I love the double timelines. I love the commentary on "explorers" and "scientists" and what it means to protect.
The one thing I don't love so much is the ending because I don't quite get it? My professor was really excited about explaining the parallels between this and 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), but I hate that movie, so I wasn't buying it. All in all, the environmental commentary is excellent and I could be here all day talking about it.
6. Argentina, 1985 (2020)
Premise:Lawyers Julio César Strassera and Luis Moreno Ocampo take on a huge court case: a trial against the military dictatorship of Jorge Rafael Videla that ended two years ago. The idea that the government can get rid of anyone they don't like---"los desaparecidos" (the disappeared ones)---is a threat hanging over both Julio and Luis's lives.
If there was ever a movie whose setting FELT like a year, it's this. This feels like 1985. I mean, I wasn't around to see 1985, but that's what I think it felt like.
I think I mention this every time I talk about a court drama movie, but I always expect it to be boring? Yet it never is. What sold this movie is the relationships. Julio has such a different dynamic with each member of his family, and I loved them all, but especially the quiet curiosity of his son. This kind of has a real-world-yet-Avengers-esque aspect of "let's build a team" that I LOVE. The clips from the actual trial, too, are incorporated so well. The fact that it blends together so well is another testament to how this movie feels straight out of 1985.
5. La teta asustada [English title: The Milk of Sorrow] (2009)
Premise:A woman suffered horrendous abuse from the invasion of a guerrilla group, and her pain transferred to her daughter Fausta through the very milk fed to her. Fausta is now processing her grief and fear, coping to protect herself yet causing different health issues. She starts working for a famous pianist to earn enough to bury her mother.
If I were to describe this as briefly as possible, it would only take two words: GENERATIONAL TRAUMA. This is seeped in magical realism that is looking at how to deal with that trauma. And it was kind of my first encounter with magical realism, not in the form of horror like La llorona. My classmates and I, separately, all had to pause and say, "wait a minute, a potato??" In the movie's world it is not considered strange but accepted as part of the magic.
I lead a class discussion in this (I think I went waaaaaaay over time) about self-protection vs. self-harm. Fausta needs a hug more than anything, but she also needs a way to not be afraid, and one's heart just aches for her throughout the movie.
4. No (2012)
Premise:In order to prove to international powers that Chile is not under a dictatorship, the people are getting to vote to answer the question, "Should Pinochet remain in power?" The two sides, "YES" and "NO", will each get a TV campaign to answer the question. Many are despondent, thinking that this is a formality and no matter the results, "YES" will win, but René is hired to run the "NO" campaign and is determined to convince the people otherwise.
In contrast to El Conde---also directed by Pablo Larraín about Chile and Pinochet---it's notable that I love this one so much. I think a factor is because we never really see Pinochet and instead are looking at the basic lives of the people who have been hurt by him. This uses a different political tactic than one usually sees: hope. It's genius and such a fascinating look at psychology and sociology.
And as a bonus, René's relationship with his son is precious. And it's Gael Garcia Bernal, so who are we kidding.
3. Volver (2006)
Premise:Raimunda has a lot going on: the consequences of her daughter's self-defense, running her friend's restaurant, her aunt's funeral, and on top of it all, a return from the dead. Alone, she tries to do everything for her daughter that her family didn't do for her.
I can't geek out about this movie enough. I was deliberately mislead to what it was about and that kind of made my experience all the better. It's about generational trauma and trying to stop it while also seeing what returns (the verb "volver"). I loved the Don Quijote references.
Penelope Cruz is STUNNING. I love how this focuses on the role of women, from opening with cleaning tombstones to running a restaurant, to grieving, to protecting one's family. I just dig this so hard. I go back and forth on whether I like No or Volver better, but today I'm in a Volver mood.
2. Los lobos [English title: The Wolves] (2019)
Premise:Lucia and her two sons have just come to the U.S.. Lucia does not have money for childcare so she leaves Max and Leo alone while she works, and they amuse themselves with stories of unstoppable ninja wolves and the hope of going to Disneyland. However, the scariest dangers might not be the adventures of their imagination, but the real world.
MY BELOVED. *sobs* This was the first movie I ever watched for a Hispanic Studies course and I immediately fell in love. It's reality and story telling and immigration and trying to survive all while kids are hoping for Disneyland. It's so hard but I love it.
I think it also hits hard because my first Spanish teacher back in High School looked SO MUCH like the actress for Lucia.
If you are interested in watching any film from this list, for a first Hispanic film, please please please watch Los Lobos. I don't think I need to say anything if you watch this. You will understand.
1. La noche de 12 años [English title: A Twelve Year's Night] (2018)
Premise:From 1972-1985, Uruguay was under a dictatorship. While those who were under the government suffered, even more so did the men who were imprisoned for those 12 years. Of nine people who were hostages, this film looks at the captivity of three of them: José Mujica, Mauricio Rosencof and Eleuterio Fernández Huidobro.
I can't tell you how much I love this movie. I wrote a whole essay about it and could write more.
This is far from an easy film to watch, which is why I recommend the more light-hearted Los Lobos for people just starting with this genre. La noche de 12 años is chock-full of torture, both mental and physical. Yet that doesn't make it any less worthwhile, because the persistence of the main characters is what gives me hope in this world.
Loneliness. Memory. People being treated with the utmost cruelty and my heart screams out THIS IS WRONG. Regardless of what these people did. Watching these horrors has made me want to be a better person.
This movie is actually the reason that I'm writing this post. The characters represented in this movie were real people. And one of them, José Mujica, passed away a couple weeks ago. I admire his persistence and humility and am so honored that I got to see his story told through this film.
Over winter break, my sister and I were summarizing the movies we'd watched in 2024 (as you do), and I started talking about how disappointed I was in the movie cover for this masterpiece. The one that I have above is pretty good because the words look like cells of a prison, but I wanted that included more. So I redid the poster.
And I'm pretty happy with the result. But of course, I'll have to rewatch the movie to confirm this is accurate...which, giving myself another reason to watch it, may have been my goal all along.
WHEW. That was a lot. If you made it through this monster post, thank you!
Have you ever watched a movie for a class (the best kind of homework, am I right?)? Have you seen any Hispanic films? Have you seen any of these movies? If not, which of these sounds most interesting to you? Which do you think would be your least favorite? Have you ever wanted to remake a movie poster? Do you dislike vampires as much as I do? I'd love to hear all of your thoughts!
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