‘Strange World’ is Disney’s newest adventure
Category: Blu-ray's and DVD's
Disney’s newest epic adventure, Strange World, has several interesting aspects. The visuals are beautiful and the characters are endearing. When it comes down to it, the basis of this film is family.
Although the film is filled with woke characteristics, the story revolves around family, specifically the Clades. Their village of Avalonia is in trouble. Surrounded by mountains, Jaeger Clade decides to venture out to get to the other side of the mountain range to find a solution to their troubles. Adventure is in his blood and he takes his son Searcher on this expedition to save Avalonia. But along the way, before they can get to the other side of the mountains, Searcher discovers a solution. He finds a plant that is filled with energy, something Avalonia desperately needs.
Jaeger is a stubborn man and insists on his goal of getting to the other side of the mountains, something no one has ever achieved. So he travels on while Searcher and the remaining members of the expedition return to Avalonia with their miracle plant.
Fast forward many years and Avalonia is thriving – until it stops. Another expedition is mounted to find the reason the plant named Pando is dying. If they can return it to its glory, Avalonia will continue to thrive.
The film takes off with this new expedition where the adventurers encounter several strange beings, including one gelatinous blob which Ethan Clade, Searcher’s son, names Splat. Along for the adventure is their three-legged dog Legend.
There are some interesting vehicles designed for this film. The color palette lends itself to the storyline. The movie itself is colorful and the end result is interesting.
The film might remind viewers of the 1966 movie Fantastic Voyage. It shares many of the same aspects but is done in a flamboyant and animated way.
Strange World is now available on Digital and will be released on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD February 14. There are several bonus features, including how anatomy was carefully studied to create realistic aspects of the story, a look at the three generations of Clade men, and many Easter Eggs. There are some deleted scenes and a cute look into the recording boot at some of the flubs. While animators at the Disney studio usually go to locations to recreate them in their films, this group of animators went to scientists to help them recreate anatomy.
With the inclusion of a mixed race couple and a gay character, this movie has definitely added some aspects that have not previously appeared in Disney films. Jake Gyllenhaal voices Searcher, Dennis Quaid voices Jaeger, Jaboukie Young-White voices Ethan, Gabrielle Union supplies the voice of Searcher’s wife Meridian, and Lucy Liu is the voice of Callisto Mal, the president of Avalonia.
Strange World is rated PG by the MPAA for action/peril and some thematic elements.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.