”Forgotten Island” Shan’t Be Forgotten

It isn’t too often that Filipino’s get to see their culture represented in a major Hollywood film. In today’s climate, a film like “Forgotten Island” releasing is a massive deal. The movie does an amazing job not only covering plenty of aspects of Filipino culture but tells a story we all can relate to. Pair all of that with amazing animation and well… follow along with me in this review to know more!

Written & Directed By: Joel Crawford, Januel P. Mercado
Starring: H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Lea Salonga

The Writing

As previously stated, “Forgotten Island” follows two childhood best friends in a tale as old as time; one tries moving on in life while the other refuses to be forgotten. However, this classic tale expertly weaves in Philippine folklore as Jo and Raissa find themselves on Nakali Island. The island is chock full of the country’s rich tales and mystical creatures, all of whom are met on the journey.

The way that Crawford and Mercado did this was not only well-written, but informative if not slightly changed. All of the information balanced perfectly with the story, if not enhancing it. As for the story itself,it was overwhelmingly full of heart, emotion and humor. While I was watching, there wasn’t a single moment where I wasn’t laughing, crying or saying to myself “I can relate”. With all of the fantasy and folklore, “Forgotten Island” wears its humanity on its sleeve. Our main characters Jo and Raissa both feel like real people that anyone can relate to, and they’re where the amazing heart of the film lies. There’s also plenty of twists here that I’m very thankful weren’t spoiled in the trailers.

The Directing, Acting & Animation

When it comes to the overall directing of the film, Crawford and Mercado knocked it out of the park here as well. Not only was the pacing on point, but the animation was this tight blend of 3D and anime influence. To add to that, how the movie was animated and some of what they did with it truly made me feel like I was on the adventure too. It isn’t often that a movie gives you that feeling, yet the duo did that amazingly well here. Not only that, but the visuals were stunning, creating a true masterpiece of chaotic energy.

To finish this section off, I’d like to add that the acting was stellar across the board. More specifically, H.E.R. and Soberano were perfectly cast as Jo and Raissa respectively. As a fan of H.E.R., she blended into her role of Jo so spectacularly that not even I could tell it was her. Both actors were beyond believable in their roles, making me feel like I was seeing two real best friends on the screen, mirroring my own personal friendships.

As for the likes of Franco, Jacinto and Slate, they were all standouts in their own rights. Franco’s Raww became one of my favorite characters to come out of the film, second only to Raissa. Each of them perfectly delivered what their characters called for, making sure the purpose was served while blending in.

Final Thoughts

”Forgotten Island” is by far one of the best, most relatable films to come out of this year. From the heart-string pulling story to fantastic efforts of all involved, Crawford and Mercado crafted something truly timeless that deserves to be seen in theaters. I, for one, will be seeing this once or twice more.

Overall Grade: 10/10

Comments

Have you had the chance to check out “Forgotten Island”? If so, what did you think? Let’s discuss in the comments below!