Disney's Big Hero 6 - Review

On Sunday we woke up early (normal) and got ready to leave the house by 9 (not normal on a Sunday!) and made our way to the Odeon Leicester Square for a gala screening of Big Hero 6 in 3D, the latest big release from Disney. I didn't know a whole lot about it but Isla already knew that the main character was called Baymax and both her and Noah were hyped to be going to the cinema. I love going to the Odeon, Leicester Square. The screen is so huge and the sound is brilliant, it's also the type of place where people clap when the film finishes - something that rarely happens these days. 

Prior to the film starting we were treated to some Baymax balloon modelling and face painting which the kids loved and then we took our seats and prepared for 3D fun! As with most Disney films now there was a short film to warm every one up called 'Feast' about a dog, and we all loved it. I won't say anything about the story here, but as I was watching it I felt like it could be a longer film, it was that good....


What's Big Hero 6 about then?

“Big Hero 6” is an action-packed comedy-adventure, about robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada, an orphan living with his Brother and Aunt. Hiro learns to explore his genius—thanks to his brilliant brother Tadashi and their like-minded friends: adrenaline junkie Go Go Tamago, neatnik Wasabi, chemistry whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred. Just as Hiro decides to turn his back on Bot fighting to go to 'Nerd' college and join his brother, a devastating turn of events catapults them into the midst of a dangerous plot unfolding in the streets of San Fransokyo. Hiro turns to his closest companion—a robot named Baymax, created by Tadashi —and transforms the group of friends into a band of high-tech heroes determined to solve the mystery. I'm not going to spoil the film for any of you by revealing too much of what happens, you NEED to see it yourself! 

Big Hero 6 has some brilliant laughs for adults and kids alike. The robot Baymax is the source of most of this comedy genius. He was created by Tadeshi to be a robot nurse, to fix all ailments. He makes it his mission to 'fix' Hiro when his heart is broken after the loss of his brother. The way he takes literal meaning from a lot of the things that Hiro says is hilarious and were the bits that had me chuckling. Isla found the lumbering character of the huge vinyl, Michelin man shaped robot the funniest, laughing every time he was involved in some sort of catastrophe. She also loved the scene where Baymax is running out of charge and Hiro struggles to get him home. I loved that although Baymax is a robot, he learns human emotions and fragility and in his own blustering way he mends Hiro and returns him to being the person his brother would be proud of. For a character with hardly any features he is very loveable and we all felt such immediate affection for him. 

I liked the setting for the film, in fictional San Fransokyo, a cross between San Francisco, with all the hills and golden gate bridge and Tokyo with the snow capped mountains and Cherry Blossom. The film also projects the message that science is cool and since seeing the film, I've heard Isla say a number of times "I'm going to be a scientist". I think this can only be a good thing.

We give Big Hero 6 a big thumbs up and I feel sure that it could spurn a sequel, Baymax is such an enchanting creation that it would be a shame to only see him once. 

Check out the trailer here:



For a little bit of extra Big Hero 6 fun, check out these fun activities for kids:

Spot the Difference
Baymax Origami
Hiro and Baymax Balloon Experiment!

Big Hero 6 is on general release in 3D from 30th January. To get all the latest info about Big Hero 6 and other Disney releases: 

"Like" the official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyUK/ 

Subscribe to the YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/WaltDisneyStudiosUK/

Follow on Twitter : https://twitter.com/Disney_UK #BigHero6

Thank you Disney UK for inviting us to the film we had a super time!

The Lorax - Film Review

We're lucky enough to be part of the Tots100 Film club and this month we were sent a copy of the original TV cartoon of Dr Seuss's 'The Lorax'. The updated Hollywood version is currently on the big screen so I was really interested to see how this would fare being as it was first broadcast in the early 70's. It's been digitally remastered so it looks glorious and I love the twangy 70's music that plays during the 25 minutes it runs.

The Lorax is a creature who speaks for the trees and he rushes to their defence when the Once-ler starts chopping them down for his own gain to make Thneeds. The Once-ler goes across the land chopping down trees and changing the landscape from a beautiful place with colourful trees and happy creatures to an industrial place where the skies are filled with black smoke and rivers are polluted. He is the epitome of capitalism and a sad world emerges where peoples materialistic tendancies cause suffering to nature. The Lorax appeals to the Once-ler's conscience and you'll have to see the film to find out if he succeeds.

Isla watched it 3 times in one day she liked it that much. I'm certain she didn't understand the message behind the film but she did connect with The Lorax, feared for him when he was on the conveyor belt with the threat of being made into a Thneed. She also liked the music and I could tell she wasn't happy with the way the world was going with The Once-ler in charge. I loved it. I loved the message. I loved the retro-ness of it. And I think I would hesitate now to go and see the new version of this story as I'm sure it wouldn't feel so imaginative and weird. We could all do with a reminder sometimes that the world isn't being looked after and watching this film would be a good way of starting children off on a path of realisation that they must look after this planet.

The Lorax DVD was sent to us for free in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.