by Paislee House, Film Critic
Netflix has so many titles the task of finding something to watch can often be daunting and seemingly impossible. Fret no more, dear reader, here begins a new series where I will watch a handful of new additions each month and rate them on a scale of must-see, put it in your queue, and avoid. In order to keep things realistic, I will only be watching newer releases (things that are less than three years old).
This month’s pick is Disney’s “Pete’s Dragon.”
Directed by David Lowery, most known for his 2013 film “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints,” “Pete’s Dragon” is an adaptation of the 1977 musical of the same name. This version of the story is not a musical, but it does contain some wonderful music, including a cover of Karen Dalton’s “Something On Your Mind” (a personal favorite).
The movie opens with a younger version of Pete reading the book “Elliot Gets Lost” in the backseat of his parents’ car as the family heads to an unknown destination. A deer runs onto the road and the car swerves, turns over, and crashes. Pete is left alone in the middle of nowhere. Enter the dragon *ba dum tiss,* who will eventually be called Elliot. The two become friends and live together in the forest until a young girl sees Pete in the woods and chases after him. From there a tale of understanding, family, environmentalism, and speciesism unfolds.
“Pete’s Dragon” was nothing short of magical. A timeless tale told well by indie director David Lowery and acted superbly by the cast especially Oakes Fegley who plays Pete. If you are in the mood for a family movie, a grand fantasy adventure, or a heartwarming story of the power of connection to all living things be it people, animals, nature, or dragons, “Pete’s Dragon” will check all of the boxes.
Recommendation: Put it in your queue