Disclaimer: This is based on my biased opinion. Read at your own risks. It might also includes some spoilers.
So we've watched this new Turning Red Movie with Emma. And I just want to share some of my thoughts.
Yes, I'm Asian. I grew up in the Philippines and now here in Calgary. One of the reason I watched this is because the setting is in Toronto. The story is about an Asian- Canadian girl's growing up and pains.
I can say that some parts are really relatable in some extent like having a competitive parents. Yes, Asian parents are stereotyped for being competitive. They pushed their kids to excellence. My mom is like that. And now that I am a mom, I also push Emma to excel. I always instill the principle from the Bible that says "Whatever our hands find to do, do it with all our might."
In the story, when Mei can't control strong emotions, the red panda will be released. It doesn't matter whether it's good or negative emotions, strong emotions drive out the red panda. One thing that caught my attention is when she can't control her anger, the red panda do disastrous things. The same with our life. When we can't control our anger, we do crazy things that are sometimes undoable.
Mei's friends helped her neutralized her emotions. When she thinks of her friends, she become calm and she will not turn to a Red Panda. It reminds me of good friends. It's good to have friends to really help you in life. As the Bible says "A friend loves at all times." True friend loves at all times, in good and in bad. True friends stick closer than a brother and a sister. But I realized that as I grew older, I get fewer friends. I lose some friends but gain some. But I'm glad to have some few amazing friends who shared my joy, my pain, my strength and my weaknesses. I have some sisters who prays with and for me. These are good friends that are worth keeping.
Some of the issues discussed was putting family first above everything else and being a good daughter to the extend of supressing your happiness. Yes, I believe that families are important and honoring parents bring blessings. But anything too much is not good. And maybe it's still true in some Asian family until now. That's why it's important to talk and communicate. Open communication will help lessen this kind of problem. I'm just grateful for my parents who are not that strict. They are very supportive in what our heart desires.
Now, let's have a break with serious stuffs. 😉
In the movie, Mei and her friends love the "4 Town Band". I remember me and my sister grew up in a Boy Band phase. And this 4 Town Band reminded me of Backstreet Boys. I used to like their songs but I'm not too fanatic like them. 😜
Although there are good things that I can get from this, I would still give this movie a 2.5/5 score. Since the theme is about the growing pains and joys of a teenager I think this is not very appropriate to children under 10 years. I've watched the trailer before watching this movie, it looks fun and cute in the trailer. But, it doesn't show the not so good stuff in the movie.
Emma watched this with us and there are some things we have to explain to her. There are scenes that talks about periods, boy crushes and lying to parents. Also, there was a scene when Ming was imagining stuffs with her boy crush. And she draw some "sexy" pictures under the bed. It's mostly for girls undergoing puberty.
I was actually suprised that Pixar and Disney movie produced this kind of film. The feeling of watching this movie is kinda different to other Pixar and Disney movies they've produced all through the years. This movie is something that I would not recommend to anyone. There's a lot of good movies out there that that is better than this.
So, that's my two cents.
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