very nice family movie!

I'm surprised I didn't hear more about this before I finally got around to watching it. A sweet, funny, adventurous, touching story with absolutely gorgeous visuals. I could happily rewatch this just to catch more details of the scenery. And yes, I cried (happy tears) at the end.

Favorite moment: at 1:09:00, at the wedding ceremony scene and all the brides-maids were trying to get the groom not to say 'I do'. That was hilarious.

Second favorite moment: The Apology scene. That was the perfect song - very touching - brought tears to my eyes. With our society filling girl's heads with all that boy-girl romantic garbage; it is little wonder our culture is so twisted, but an apology song to a bull: now that is true love. LOL.
- so says, a grumpy old man. LOL.

This was a very charming movie and I am happy to report it is very different from Coco! I was most surprised when I watched the credits at the end -- this movie has an ALL-STAR cast. I highly recommend checking this movie out, no matter how old or young you are :-)

Using colorful Mexican Folk Art style with computer animation, this was one of the first successful major movies to hit theatres about Dia de los Muertos for families of all ages. Fans of this movie should check out Coco, too.

If you liked this, I think you will like Coco, also about Dia de los Muertos, even more for being less cartoony. Kubo & The Two Strings shares many similarities too but has a different cultural basis.

It's ridiculous how much I loved this film when it was announced. I watched it in theaters twice, bought the art book, and I now own the movie at home.

Jorge R. Gutierrez's work incorporates fun visuals with Mexican culture. There's a genuine love and celebration of his heritage in the things he makes, and The Book of Life is an excellent example.

I love the score, with its mix of jukebox musical and original songs. I love the amount of detail that was put into the outfits. I love how everything has a wooden texture to it, as it is a story told with dolls. I love the fluidity of the Candlemaker's movements, like he's made of soft wax. The songs at Maria's balcony and the apology scene are my favorite ones--and I have a bias towards the Spanish version; Diego Luna's voice is gorgeous. I love the colorful chaos of the Land of the Living, and I love how mechanical and threatening Chakal looks in contrast to the more organic and softer looking Manolo and Joaquin.

I could continue to gush, but I think my position is pretty clear--this is a very good film.

The Book of Life is an underrated, animated Día de los Muertos gem that was released in 2014, directed by Jorge R. Gutierrez, and produced by the legendary Guillermo del Toro. The story follows a young romantic named Manolo who must embark on a Herculean journey through the world of the dead to be reunited with is beloved Maria before she chooses someone else (all while saving the city from the terrifying bandit Chakal). With vibrant visuals, an intriguing cast of characters, and a unique animation style that is somewhere between stop motion and commonplace 3D modeling, The Book of Life is a fun film with a lot of heart and catchy musical numbers to boot.

A fun animated adventure showcasing Mexican culture and celebrating el Dia de los Muertos. I enjoyed the music--though I was surprised to hear a few contemporary pop songs covered and slipped into the story--and the art style was unique and colorful. I loved the classic folk-tale feel of the story that persisted in spite of more contemporary dialogue and humor.

The scene playing the Apology Song is just beautiful.