A modern family adventure with Princess Ellian, in the fantasy universe of Lumbria. Don't miss it!
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| Image Credit: Netflix |
Hear, hear her name! Ellian! The princess of a distant kingdom, which you can discover on Netflix from November 22, 2024, is the intrepid protagonist of the adventure of Spellbound. The animated film was directed by Vicky Jenson (Shrek), with the original soundtrack by the EGOT-winning composer Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast) and lyrics by Glenn Slater (Tangled). Hoisted into a magical adventure and sentimental and nostalgic atmospheres, the young daughter of the rulers of Lumbria embarks on her fantastic journey to the lake of light to free her parents from a curse. In addition to Jenson's direction, the voice cast is remarkable, including prominent names such as Rachel Zegler and Nicole Kidman. Massimo Ranieri instead offers his voice to Bolinar and Flink in the animated film - returning to the world of dubbing after 28 years from The Hunchback of Notre Dame (in which he lent his voice to the fictional character of Quasimodo).
Spellbound - The film moves between "reality" and fantasy in the universe of Lumbria, with a spell to break!
We can't say we've never seen an animated film like this if we look at the fundamental component of special effects. The creation of these is an essential component and the producers have certainly invested a lot in technology and realism for the creation of the characters and the scenography of Spellbound, to create the whole world of Lumbria, but the same cannot be said about its originality: the appearance of the oracles of the sun and the moon refers to Alice in Wonderland, for example, the wheels of the carriages make us think of Cinderella, Ellian's parents "caged in a frame" remind us of the romantic poetry of King Kong.
The authenticity of Spellbound is quite recognizable in the modernity of the family story told and in the anatomy of the musical pieces (our favorite refrain is "Find the light"). The film is like a shipment dedicated to fragile packages: you are sure that the "goods" will arrive intact at their destination. All the vulnerability of the plot should be traceable in the character of Ellian from the beginning, but we can only glimpse it at the end, after having disposed of his many layers of resistance and tenacity. Delicate and full of hope. Suitable for the little ones and nice to watch with the whole family. The camera follows a young princess from an enchanted land, as she grows up and discovers an “alternative” happiness (less idealized and based on real-life events).
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| Image Credit: Netflix |
At the center of the animated film is the eternal struggle between light and darkness
Spellbound is magical, with a perfect Rachel Zegler who plays the role of the princess, Ellian, determined and optimistic, who shines exactly as she should, while Alan Menken and Glenn Slater give us an emotional and overwhelming ballad with the song The Way It Was Before. As mentioned, among the strengths of the film are its central, admirable, and current themes: the parent/child relationship, questions of responsibility, the loss of childhood, and the ability to accept/adapt to change. The original film by Netflix is capable of entertaining and transmitting a deeply mature message.
Spellbound: evaluation and conclusion
In the beginning, it explores the phenomenon of penalization, with a protagonist who finds herself having to manage the chaos sown daily by the king and queen (her parents) who are – “out of metaphor” – two destructive monsters kept hidden from the people and all the diplomats who arrive in the kingdom. In the second part, Ellian and her parents learn to look less at the exterior and discover something more about themselves. Ultimately the goal in the vision is to “reset” one’s mindset and return to shine in no time. And there is no “curse” that cannot return or be canceled when one manages to look in the right direction, where there are manifestations of love.
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