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    Movie Review

    Raya and the Last Dragon is classic Disney with an Asian twist

    Alex Bentley
    Mar 4, 2021 | 2:49 pm
    Raya and the Last Dragon is classic Disney with an Asian twist
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    In the past 10 years or so, Walt Disney Studios has been trying to rectify a big blind spot in its history by putting people of color as leads in their animated films. They include 2009’s The Princess and the Frog, 2014’s Big Hero 6, 2016’s Moana, 2017’s Coco, and 2020’s Soul, a list that admittedly is still dwarfed by films featuring white lead characters. Raya and the Last Dragon can now be added to that list, although it still raises some interesting questions about inclusion.

     

    Instead of an actual Asian country, the film is set in the fictional country of Kumandra — at least, that’s what it was called before divisions split it into five lands named after parts of the dragon-shaped lake it surrounds: Fang, Heart, Spine, Talon, and Tail. Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) is the daughter of Benja (Daniel Dae Kim), the leader of Heart, which controls the Dragon Gem, the last remaining remnant of when dragons protected the country from an evil force known as the Druun.

     

    Without getting too into the weeds of the complicated plot, human nature and jealousy destroy the tenuous peace the five lands had, forcing Raya to go on a years-long journey to restore that harmony. Along the way she’s joined by a ragtag group from the other lands, as well as the titular last dragon, Sisu (Awkwafina), each of whom has something unique to offer to the mission.

     

    One of the first notable things about the film is that its vaguely Asian setting allows the filmmakers to play around with casting. Tran is the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, Awkwafina is of Chinese and Korean descent, Kim is from South Korea, and other significant characters are played by Gemma Chan (Chinese descent), Benedict Wong (Chinese descent), and Sandra Oh (Korean descent). This mixture of actors goes along with the setting of the film, which press materials say was “inspired by Southeast Asian cultures and geography.”

     

    The film is also written by Qui Nguyen (Vietnamese descent) and Adele Lim (Malaysian), although six other people, including co-directors Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, are credited with the story. Having a story that multiple Asian cultures can call their own is wonderful, opening up the characters to be accepted by anybody. However, it will be up to the individual viewer as to whether the homage to different cultures is as worthy a tribute to the region as making a film that’s actually set in one of the represented countries.

     

    If you take cultural politics out of the equation, which most people will do since it’s a Disney film aimed at children, the film is as effective an adventure as any recent animated film. The story arc mostly follows the same trajectory that many other Disney films have, but there’s a reason the formula has remained successful for so long. The little details they add along the way — including a con baby with monkey henchmen, gestures of respect that take on real meaning, and more — make the film feel almost seamless.

     

    Tran, previously best known for playing Rose in the last two Star Wars films, is an inspired choice for Raya, and her voice fits the character extremely well. Awkwafina’s raspy voice is so unique that it’s no wonder she’s already had plenty of voiceover work, and this part feels predestined for her. The rest of the cast does well, although none of them stands out like the first two.

     

     Raya and the Last Dragon has the type of story to make it fit right in with other Disney classics, but it will be interesting to see what the reception is from members of the Asian community at large. There appears to be nothing but positive intent, but in modern-day society, how something is intended and how it’s received can be miles apart.

     

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    Raya and the Last Dragon will debut in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access on March 5.

    Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) and Benja (Daniel Dae Kim) in Raya and the Last Dragon.

    Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) and Benja (Daniel Dae Kim) in Raya and the Last Dragon
      
    Photo courtesy of Disney
    Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) and Benja (Daniel Dae Kim) in Raya and the Last Dragon.
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    Movie Review

    New Superman film honors the past while forging into the future

    Alex Bentley
    Jul 11, 2025 | 1:26 pm
    David Corenswet in Superman
    Photo by Jessica Miglio
    David Corenswet in Superman.

    When the character of Superman was invented in 1938, it was perhaps easier to see the world in good and bad terms. Fascism was already on the rise in Germany under Adolf Hitler, and the idea of an all-powerful superhero who stood up for people in need was a welcome one. In the nearly 90 years since, though, the world and the character have undergone multiple evolutions, and the thought of someone who is purely good is often met with cynicism or worse.

    The new Superman, written and directed by James Gunn, puts the superhero (or metahuman, as the film calls him and similar creatures) squarely in the midst of the modern world, with geopolitical conflicts, mega-corporations, and social media all combining to make the altruism of Superman/Clark Kent (David Corenswet) questionable. That skepticism even extends to his coworker/girlfriend Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), whose knowledge of his exploits puts her in a tricky position personally and professionally.

    Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) is out to dominate the world and take down Superman, with his eponymous corporation and vast group of underlings dedicated to doing both. Superman is generally a one-man fighting crew, but he’s occasionally aided by a group calling themselves the Justice Gang, comprised of heroes many have never heard of like Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), a version of Green Lantern; Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), a flying metahuman; and Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), who knows all kinds of technology.

    One of the best things about this new version of Superman is that it mostly dispenses with introductions, putting the audience in a world where Superman is already a well-known quantity who’s adored by many and hated by some. Gunn has used his new position as co-CEO of DC Studios to honor the past of the hero and take him into the future. With the 1978 John Williams theme song echoing throughout and Corenswet giving off Christopher Reeve vibes, it’s clear Gunn wants audiences to feel nostalgia while still getting something new.

    He also appears to want viewers to fight against the negativity that the modern world can bring. The plot involves manipulation of the public, usually at the hands of Luthor, through bombastic talk shows, political theater, and social media, the latter of which - in a great joke - comes to involve hundreds of typing monkeys. The film could be read as a rebuttal of many real-world ills as, despite Luthor’s machinations, many choose to continue to believe in the goodness of Superman.

    There is a lot going on in the film, but somehow it never comes off as overly complicated. Superman’s relationship with Lois Lane and Luthor’s attempts at taking him down are given the most prominence, with everything else supporting those two main things. The Justice Gang is a fun addition, with Mr. Terrific becoming the breakout hero of the group. The addition of the (CGI) dog Krypto provides levity, poignant moments, and unexpectedly great action scenes. The only part that gets somewhat short shrift is the crew of The Daily Planet, with everyone besides Lois and Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo) getting little more than face time.

    Being the new Superman is a lot to live up to, but Corenswet is completely up to the job. He, like Reeve, plays the character as someone who is earnest but not naive, a quality that comes through even when he’s in the middle of fight scenes. Brosnahan is also fantastic, providing a nice balance to the relationship while also proving the character’s own worth. Hoult makes for a great new version of Luthor, and Gathegi nearly makes the case that Mr. Terrific should get a starring film of his own.

    Just as he did with the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, Gunn has shown that success can be found through making characters people want to see. Not everyone in this Superman will be familiar to viewers, but in the end a group of people working together toward a goal that serves the common good is one worth watching and cheering for.

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    Superman is now playing in theaters.

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