Review of Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002) by Sebastianali — 27 Nov 2022

Spirit is a movie that, while it doesn't break new standards in story or graphics, unlike other classic animated films in the late '90s and early 2000s, is really one that stands out with some merits of its own. Thanks to a good combination of elements inspired by other movies. Partly it reminds me of Bambi since the movie spends a long, long time showing you situations with the characters and the settings, without saying a word. However, in my opinion, this movie has almost the opposite tone to Bambi, since although this is much more calm and relaxing, Spirit is much more action-oriented, with many situations that will leave you excited and excited constantly. I love everything that can be empathized with Spirit. I think it's been a long time since I empathized with such a protagonist, at least thanks to his facial expressions. I would even go as far to say that he would be a totally different if it didnt have this. The other characters are good, although they don't have the charm that Spirit has, in my opinion.

I only have two problems with this movie, its villain and its graphics... yes, its graphics... at least only part of it. Incredible that I would point as a negative point the graphics, in a 2d animated movie of the "post-classic" era, being almost classic eh? But don't get me wrong, I think the movie is beautiful overall. The only problem I have is the first 10-20 minutes. They tried to make a 2d/3d evolution of what was already seen in other movies like Treasure Planet. The problem is that I feel that in these few minutes of the movie, the settings and the characters seem to be made of paper. They don't look as natural, they look a bit flat and the environment looks like something out of an N64 game. Fortunately in the rest of the scenes all this is compensated, but I never thought I would criticize something like that in a 2002 animated movie. Treasure Planet, Beauty And Beast, Atlantis or even Tarzan did not have these problems.

The last problem, also somewhat minor is his villain. The colonel or leader of the soldiers, whatever you want to call him. Well, actually he is together with Spirit the best built character in the movie, and that really helps Spirit to show the "Edgy" side of him that stands out so much, but at the end of the movie he decides... to forgive him? As if he was admitting defeat to him or something? I think it was a somewhat forced way to get rid of him. The whole movie made us hate him, so that we empathize with him?

Anyway... Spirit... good movie. It does not innovate, and it is not perfect, but it is charming and beautiful enough and that is enough for me. It's not as good as Shrek as some say, but it doesn't need to be. This year was possibly the end or almost the end of 2d classic animated movies, and movies like this are highly appreciated. I know I left many things to comment but I think this is the most important. I write my reviews in a hurry, I know, lol.