Storm Crashers

It's hard to find a movie that touches your heart lately, and that's the case with Giants, or "The Explorers" in our country.

It's a movie with soul, and you can tell it was made with heart. Its protagonists are unusual characters, and far from being the typical heroes of animated films, they are erratic beings, but with conviction. This tells us that many times the will and desire are the greatest tools to achieve our dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem.

Visually, the art is extremely original, with a Stop Motion style at times reminiscent of the beautiful Laika films.

The animation is very good and the humor that is constant throughout the adventure stands out.

An important detail, for some reason in our country they removed the references to Don Quixote, which in my opinion makes it even more interesting, since it closes the whole concept of the movie.

If you want to have a good time with your family, and especially transmit messages and values to your children, go see this movie, then talk to them... And you will be surprised at the number of messages the movie contains.

We need more movies like this.

"Alfonso" is a distant relative of the legendary windmill-tilting "Don Quixote" and is an accident-prone young lad who doesn't always know how to differentiate between the real and imaginary! One thing they all agree on, though, is that the weather is turning increasingly violent and the storms - coupled with some offers for their property from the local nasty "Carrasco", are driving people out of their La Mancha village. Luckily, he and his three rabbits make friends with "Pancho" and "Victoria" and quickly they determine to find out just what's the connection between the property developer and these new sudden downpours. No, there's not much jeopardy here nor is it all very original, but it's still quite a good fun adventure film with plenty going on, some gadgets and loads of imagination for those of us who have/had friends that only we are clever enough to see. It probably doesn't need a cinema viewing, but there were young kids in the cinema when I saw it who laughed out loud and that's got to be a good thing as it focuses more on the characteristics of loyalty and friendship and less on endless whizzy CGI.

Just watched this at the cinema. Wow, is it bad. There's a fart gag, or similar every few minutes. For some reason, in the last few scenes there's a mime for no other reason than cheap laughs. Nobody laughed. Seriously, maybe one in eight gags got a reaction from the audience despite being mostly children.

Animation was average at best. In particular the lead character, Alfonso, looked cheap as if they had purchased the model from some animation stock library.

The script and story lacked any sensibility. Some scenes just didn't make any sense at all. The imaginary characters could have played a major part in the movie, but were just some weird subplot. There are so many better kids movies out there.

If I had a nickel for everytime a movie based on Don Quixote was released in the 2020's... I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it'd be weird that it happened twice.

Overall, this movie is not pleasing to the eyes, having a CGI style with unflattering character designs; the fact that the 2D concept art in the credits is so lively only makes this a bigger sin. If it has one redeeming quality, it's the depiction of Spain's mountains, which look gorgeous.

Some odd creative decisions include having the Panzas be scientists, one of the henchmen having a weirdly swolen neck, three imaginary rabbits that have no impact in the plot and a jittery rate frame that makes movements look bizarre and unnatural.

The villain is a generic cliché and the story doesn't seem consistent with how ruthless he is given a scene I won't spoil. This movie has an environmentalist message, though it's also anti-gentrification so kudos I guess.

Overall a disjointed mess.

"Giants of La Mancha" is a cinematic masterpiece that dazzles with its captivating storytelling and impeccable execution. Directed with mastery by a talented team, this film transports us to a world of fantasy filled with adventures and discoveries.

The plot, inspired by the classic "Don Quixote of La Mancha", immerses us in an epic journey featuring endearing and vibrant characters. From the brave and dreamy Arthur to his loyal companion Pancho, and the intrepid Victoria, each character is masterfully portrayed, allowing us to deeply connect with their emotions and motivations.

The cinematography is simply spectacular, with breathtaking landscapes and thrilling action scenes that keep the viewer on the edge of their seat at all times. The visual and special effects are impressive and contribute to creating a vibrant world full of magic.

But what truly elevates "Giants of La Mancha" to another level is its inspiring message and its ability to touch the heart of the viewer. Through the exploits of Arthur, Pancho, and Victoria, the film reminds us of the importance of pursuing our dreams, even when the world seems to be against us. It's a powerful lesson on the power of imagination and courage, resonating in every frame.