Monday night Kristen and I were able to attend the launch of the newest Dolby Cinema at AMC located at the AMC Del Amo 18. We also got to attend a Dolby Cinema Master Class and then see an advanced screening of Kubo and The Two Strings. As many of you know I am a huge fan of Dolby Cinema and continue to be blown away by the immersive cinematic experience that it provides.
For those of you not familiar with Dolby Cinema, there are three key components:
1. Dolby Vision - powerful dual-4K laser projection creating the most realistic images ever
2. Dolby Atmos - a reference quality sound system that moves audio around the theater in sync with the action to create a more immersive experience. There are 5 in-screen speakers with 48 surround speakers, 4 ceiling mounted subwoofers and in-seat transducers for extra rumble.
3. Design - premium seating, a room painted matte black to reduce ambient lighting and a large curved wall-to-wall-to-ceiling screen to make the movie going experience immersive and memorable.
So now that you know a little bit more about Dolby Cinema, let's take a look at a behind the scenes featurette for Kubo and The Two Strings:
'Kubo and The Two Strings' in Dolby Cinema from Dolby Laboratories on Vimeo.
Now that you have taken a behind the scenes look into Kubo and The Two Strings, let's get into the movie review.
Kubo and The Two Strings is the latest stop motion animated film from the brilliant and creative minds at Laika. If you have seen Coraline, Paranorman or The Boxtrolls then you have seen Laika's work. I loved the first three films by Laika but Kubo and The Two Strings is the best by far.
Kubo and The Two Strings takes place in ancient Japan and is filled with powerful storytelling and visuals. The story surrounds Kubo, a young boy who lives with his mother. He spends his days entertaining the villagers with his story about a legendary warrior and his quest for a sword, a helmet and a breastplate that will make him invincible. Kubo tells his tale through origami figures that he magically brings to life with the use of his shamisen. Right when Kubo nears the end of the story, the town bell rings announcing that it is almost nightfall and Kubo must return home.
But one night Kubo doesn't return home before nightfall and he is taken away on a quest to find the armor. Kubo isn't alone on his quest as he is aided by an overly protective monkey and a brave samurai beetle. And in hot pursuit is the Moon King and two masked demons who are also his daughters. Without giving too much away, the enemy is part of Kubo's family and the story has some very unexpected twists and turns. As Kubo says in the very beginning of the movie, pay attention to everything.
The film is pure eye candy and is even more stunning in Dolby Cinema. You forget that you are watching painstaking stop-motion animation. The storyline is superb with a perfect blend of humor with an amazingly deep story about after-life mythology and lost loved ones.
Kubo and The Two Strings is a fully immersive experience in Dolby Cinema. The score emotionally pulls you into the movie with it's pure audio clarity. The sound effects literally float around you and further add to the experience. Wait until you hear the haunting voices of the masked demons. You will literally feel them around you. Then add flawless video with every detail being crisp and sharp. There is zero quality loss. This is what Dolby Cinema brings to the table, a full immersive movie going experience that is second to none. I cannot wait to see Kubo and The Two Strings again but I will only watch it in Dolby Cinema.
Kubo and The Two Strings is not only one of the best animated films of the year but also one of the best films of the year. I cannot wait to see what Laika brings us next.
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