Soul

I have compassion for every soul. Except you. I don’t like you
Mother Theresa

Summary:

Joe is a band teacher with a passion for jazz music. He is an aspiring musician and it has been his passion since he was a young boy. It is one of the best memories he has with his late father and he holds it dear. He believes that his passion for playing is something he can turn into a career, and he finally gets his shot at a big gig. Joe does good, but just as thinks he has found his passion, he learns there might be more to his life than it seems.

Characters:

Joe is a pianist and a middle school band teacher who aspires to be a great jazz musician one day. Joe is very ambitious and believes his sole purpose is to play jazz. Joe is a nice guy overall though he is a little arrogant and longs for more. 22 is a soul who has yet to finish receiving her personality so she can go to earth as she does not think Earth is a place worth going. 22 is a funny and sarcastic character who provides a lot of humour.

Sebastian: 8.8/10

This movie actually surprised me. Now to get it out of the way I thought this was a really good film that I highly enjoyed. By surprised me what I meant was that when I saw the trailers and when the movie started, I thought the message was going to be one thing but it actually turned out to be even deeper than I expected. I’m not going to spoil here what the message is but it is one of the deepest and most profound messages I have ever seen in not just an animated film but any film. In my mind that’s the best part of the movie is the message because it is something that adults can relate to and understand and something kids should learn. It does help if a movie has a good story that surrounds the message and this does with an interesting deep dive into the meaning of life and how we receive our personalities. The animation in this film is top-notch though we expect nothing less from Pixar, with some realistic people at times and very realistic city backgrounds. The soul world also has a very distinct style and is very creative with some interesting designs. The characters are charismatic and you want to follow them with both Joe and 22 having very different yet similar character arcs that show a real progression for their characters. Honestly, if I had any complaints is that the movie starts off moving quite fast and throws a lot at you with some weird ideas so it takes some catching up.

All in all, this is a fun, meaningful, and deep adventure that is fun for the whole family that I would recommend to all families and anyone looking for that Pixar/Disney magic.

Nathanyal: 8.5/10

This movie was surprisingly deeper than I expected, as it covered messages about life, death, purpose. Overall, I enjoyed the movie due to its quirky characters, vibrant colours, and wonderful storytelling. Filled with funny moments, this movie kept my attention most of the time and I found myself laughing along to the small jokes thrown throughout the movie.

The only major downside of the movie is the pacing. Compared to other Pixar movies, this one felt slower and more drawn out. There wasn’t some external conflict that captivated my attention from the beginning. Instead, this movie seemed to focus more on the story and the themes instead. Now, although this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, there is a chance that some will find the story slow and a possible drag. However, for those who like to dive deeper into movies, the messages and themes bring many points to ponder about, such as the purpose of life and why we are born to this Earth.

Overall, Soul was an enjoyable movie with a strong story, fun characters, and bright colours. For a younger audience, the vibrant colours will definitely keep them entranced while older viewers can enjoy the deeper messages explored throughout the plot.

Austin: 8.4/10

I enjoyed this movie. It has that Pixar feel, where it has childish and funny scenes, but it doesn’t miss the opportunity to dive into a few deep mental health issues. The message isn’t overpowering, and as a young child, it would be very easy to laugh and enjoy this without the hidden context. As an adult, a university student nonetheless, I can relate to the emotions and ideas this movie explores. The characters are funny and lovable, and they grow and develop so much from the beginning to the end. It is really enjoyable to watch how Joe grows because of 22and vice versa. The plot is good, a little bit sporadic at times, but it kept me on my toes. It does get a bit weird for a few minutes along the way, but the plot keeps a good flow.

Soul is one of the longer Pixar movies we have seen, and as a result, it moves slower than we are used to. I wouldn’t say it moves too slowly, in such a way that it affects the quality of the movie, but this is a plot-heavy movie compared to their other work. They take a deeper dive into the deeper issues such as our purpose, as well as the issues that can come when you lack positive encouragement from those around you. It is one of the deepest “family” movies I have ever seen, but it is a message that can never be taught too early.

Soul wasn’t quite what I expected coming in, but I think the final product was better. The characters and story are great, and they are used quite well to emphasize the messages behind this movie. This is a movie that just about everyone can enjoy, a true family movie.

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