movie. To be completely honest, there were several tear jerker moments. I guess they really nailed down the aspects of a child becoming suddenly orphaned. They also did a really good job if propelling the story so that it never sat idle. Robert Redford played the integral old timer part, but played it exceptionally well as to be expected. It is also relevant to mention that I typically do not review movies I have just seen immediately after I have seen them. This film made an exception for me.

make you feel sad, it will make you feel happy and it will make you feel angry. I'm not ashamed to admit that I cried a lot and also caught myself yelling at the screen! You share the character's emotions and you are feeling like you belong in the story. Another thing that helps with that is the kid who plays remarkably good, and the dragon that feels like real.I strongly recommend it to you. Anyone can watch it. Your kids, you and even the older people can enjoy this amazing fairy-tale.

practically a remake in name only--with the exception of the 2 lead characters, Pete and Elliot. But not to worry, because it still hangs on to the spirit of its predecessor.The film opens up with a young boy, Pete Oakes Fegley , becoming abandoned in the forest after a car crash kills his parents. Elliot, a giant green dragon, takes him in and the two become best friends.It's one of the best friendships in recent film history, and a lot of emotion is drawn out of both Pete and Elliot by Lowery. It's not a film where the emotion tries to manipulate you. It's naturally charged.Fegley is excellent as Pete. He's not overly precocious or coy. And the supporting cast, including Bryce Dallas Howard, Karl Urban, and Wes Bentley, fills in the gaps around him nicely.Pete's Dragon doesn't take itself too seriously. For a family film, it understands humor, and the jokes never come off as childish.At times, things in the film are taken slowly. This isn't a bad thing at all. Throughout the whole movie, you won't see any 21st century technology. Even the cars are ambiguously dated. It's to keep the time period vague, but it's also to compliment the film's philosophy on exploration and adventure.But the heart of the film is the relationship between Pete and Elliot.It's emotional. I didn't just cry. I balled my eyes out. Anyone who's had an animal as a best friend will get this movie just a little bit more.It's a simple film. Which proves even more how good it is. If a film is this simple without being boring, you know the filmmakers are doing something right.Twizard Rating: 100

to everybody who's open to fairy tales and magic.

everyone. "Pete's Dragon" is a Disney remake. I don't recall much about the original other than the cheesy animated dragon. Lowery and Toby Halbrooks wrote the screenplay based on the screenplay by Malcolm Marmorstein, which was based on story by Seton I. Miller and S.S. Field. A little convoluted. This "Pete's Dragon" resonates with the acceptance of loss and the beauty of unconditional love. In a heart retching scene the literally cornered Pete awesome Oakes Fegley is consoled by Grace Howard . Pete screams, "Woooo!" for his protector Elliot, the Dragon. The astonishing envisioning of Elliot as a hulking furry warm blooded creature with gentle eyes inspires the sublime bond of Pete and Elliot. The brilliant CGI deepens the narrative. Lowery eloquently reveals toward the end that Elliot has an even bigger heart as he embodies the power of letting go. I was in tears. "Pete's Dragon" is all heart. The story begins in the misty forests of the Pacific Northwest filmed in gorgeous New Zealand as 5 year-old Pete is riding with his parents. In the seemingly disturbing Disney tradition, Pete's parents are killed in a horrific accident. Pete survives. He is rescued by the giant benevolent dragon. Pete names him Elliot after a character in his favorite book, which he has. Oaks Fegley is innocently captivating as Pete, the long maned child raised in the woods, whose only family is Elliot. He has a fearless spirit fostered by his fierce protector. Elliot has a magical power which allows him to remain a secret—up to a point. Six years have passed. Grace Howard is a forest ranger in Mid- Valley. She has a touching relationship with Jack solid Wes Bentley and his precocious daughter Natalie Oona Laurence . Jack and his belligerent brother Gavin bold and funny Karl Urban run a lumbering company, which is rapidly depleting the woods near Pete and Elliot's home. Natalie first discovers Pete in woods near the lumber yard. Natalie, who is about his age, seeks him out as a friend. Laurence has a radiant spirit.Eventually, Pete is discovered by the authorities in his attempt to guard Elliot. Howard as Grace brings a gentle power and soulfulness as Pete's new guardian. She is curious like everyone else how Pete was able to survive in the woods for so long. She enrolls her Dad Redford into this journey, as Pete's stories of Elliot ring familiar. Redford's easy gravitas speaks to the hero in all of us in "Pete's Dragon". Granted parts of the story are predictable in terms of the conflict and the secret of Elliot. Lowery's touching direction allows everyone to emerge at their best. Karl Urban is masterful in this context. In "Pete's Dragon" the protected transform into the protectors. Heroes inspire new heroes. For Pete and Elliot, their love is unconditional and forever. "Pete's Dragon" is very special.

The dragon that brings them together is secondary. I found the lesson of the movie Go and see it and enjoy with your kids. 9 out of 10.

viewers that the film doesn't have much in common with the original at all. But this new 'Pete's Dragon' is about as far away from a cheap cash grab as it could be. Unlike the original, the new film starts on a somber note think the beginning of The Jungle Book, Tarzan or Bambi in that a little boy is orphaned by an accident and left alone in the woods. But just like the best fairy tales, I feel a good story often needs some darker themes: for without those, the joyous moments wouldn't feel as intense and rewarding. And this is very true here, for what follows is a tale of friendship, adventure, magic and wonder like I hadn't seen since those wonderful Spielberg films in the eighties.The story is sentimental - but never cheesy - and that is one of its greatest strengths: it dares to have a heart but it's not the kind of over-sugary tripe we so often get from big studios. The film's biggest asset, though, is easily Elliot. I had feared because I had seen a trailer that Elliot would be a cringe-worthy CGI creature of the worst kind, but the trailers really did the special effects wizards a bad service: the dragon design is perhaps the most beautiful and I'm not ashamed to say it: cute I've ever seen.It blends perfectly with the natural surroundings gorgeous New Zealand forests and while this particular dragon has more traits of a playful, over-sized dog than of a dinosaur, it looks so realistic you believe you can touch and feel Elliot's fur the 3-d works great for this film , and his face is so expressive you forget you're watching a CGI character.All in all, this really is a film I can whole heartedly recommend to people of all ages, but if you have kids, watch it as soon as possible, you won't regret it. Despite going down a very different route than the original, it's still a throwback to a different era when Disney made the best quality family films which were so good they are still immensely popular today , utterly devoid of the now so common cynicism, and full of heart, joy and wonder. 9 stars out of 10.

.Who can forget the original, it had some great moments, and pretty good stars. This version has Robert Redford is he trying to make a comeback? . Redford's performance is lackluster, I wasn't impressed. More thought and planning could've put this version up there with the original.

imagination, it proved to be a better film than anticipated.Not one of the best live-action Disney re-imaginings like 'Cinderella' and 'The Jungle Book' much better than 'Maleficent' though , but still for a re-imagining 'Pete's Dragon' was a good one. It is let down by the final act, where the darker and more action-packed tone jars with what was happening before in the film and at this point the film starts to feel rushed. The villain just felt very shoehorned in and out of place, for the sake of "needing" an "obligatory" villain for conflict that to me wasn't necessary , not helped by the hammy performance of Karl Urban that just feels out of kilter with the rest of the cast.Where 'Pete's Dragon' especially soars is in the very charming and touching friendship chemistry between Pete and Elliot, essentially the heart of the film. Speaking of Elliot, he is a very lovingly crafted creature with not just beautiful details to him but also with a personality that wins one over in how endearing he is.'Pete's Dragon', apart from some overly grim lighting in places, looks great visually, the splendid scenery being especially good complemented beautifully by cinematography that's atmospheric and picturesque. The music is lovingly whimsical and fits the film well when it could easily have not done.Scripting serves its purpose well and doesn't hurt the atmosphere or the central friendship at all, weakening only with the villain and when the film gets darker. David Lowery directs very capably and balances the various elements well. Although it won't work, and hasn't worked, for some with criticisms of it being thin narratively, slow-moving and either too sentimental or cold , for me the story radically altered with a more sombre tone for example was immensely charming and appreciated the calmer, straightforward, more gentle and deliberate nature of the story which allowed the friendship to resonate. Never found it mawkish and thought that there was enough emotion without it overshadowing things, though admittedly there is not much that is particularly new.Urban aside, the acting is good. Oakes Fegley and Oona Laurence are very appealing, while Bryce Dallas Howard is luminous and compassionate and, while not being on screen for long, Robert Redford achieves the right balance of the grizzled and the sympathetic. But essentially it is Elliot and the friendship between him and Pete that carry the film, and, as they should, captivate most strongly.In summary, while with its foibles 'Pete's Dragon' was a much more impressive re-imagining than expected after mixed expectations. 8/10 Bethany Cox