Forgotten Island

Can friendship stand the test of time? Especially after high school? Most adults can attest, entering adulthood marks the first the test to any childhood friendship. Personal goals lead both parties in different directions and eventually to sever bonds. However, the protagonists in Forgotten Island put their friendship bond to the test.

The film opens up with Jo sent to the principal’s office for her usual (er, unusual) taste in story telling. Jo meets Raissa outside of the office and together they form a bond (both metaphorically and literally with a charm bracelet). Fast forward to High School. Cal Tech offers Raissa enrollment, and she must leave Jo behind. However, before the besties can bid each other a final bye-bye, a portal opens and transports them to Nakali! Nakali is an island from Jo’s stories (and Filipino folklore) which brought them together. Now, they must find their way home while avoiding the dangers from this Filipino folklore brought to life!

Mga Kalakasa (Positive Aspects, and Strengths)

The film offers the audience a fresh, new voice, to the world of animation. It highlights a different culture to present to a mainstream audience. Usually, films like Forgotten Island come to life through independent distribution and then are left to be…forgotten. Fortunately, Universal picked it up and supported this gem to distribute. Watching a new, fresh perspective to animation was exciting.

The film delivers visually amazing art. We are not watching one medium, or style, of animation, but several wrapped up in one film. It opens with the traditional CGI animation that filmgoers have grown accustomed to, but switches to hand-drawn art. It also displays Japanese Anime style and a variety of others. Each style is timed to match and enhance a plot point in the film. Any artist needs to plan to catch this film in the theater.

Obviously, the plot and theme center on friendship, but as the plot unfolds a clear and strong message regarding friendship unfolds. There is more to maintaining the bond of friendship than what most Americans may believe. Highlighting this perspective on the power of friendship adds a deeper meaning to the film.

The focus never strays from Filipino culture and folklore. Anyone from a Filipino background, or familiar with Filipino culture, will appreciate the film’s tribute to the culture and language. From the hilarious karaoke scene and large celebratory dinner, to the code-switching of Tagalog and English from the main protagonist matches what Adam Sandler accomplished with Spanglish. For those unfamiliar with Filipino culture, the film provides an entertaining introduction for everyone.

Mga Kahinaan (Weak points)

While the film dives into Filipino culture and folklore, it takes a lot of time introducing a variety of character. Each character jumps into the spotlight and shares their backstory and relevance to the conflict that it drags the film, leaving the audience to question the importance of the character to the plot. The film may have moved at a steady pace if the focus remained on the two protagonists instead of taking the time to delve into the backstory of every character in their hodgepodge group.

Pangwakas na Pagsusuri (Final Critique/Analysis)

I really enjoyed watching this one. I loved the various cultural references throughout the film (yes, you will find a lot of 80s references). I love highlighting and celebrating the Filipino culture and language, considering usually we see films focus more on one ethnic group and very little films showcasing others). Learning about this Filipino folklore is also a huge plus! A refreshing take on a story instead of what hits the silver screen more often. The message and theme throughout the film brought tears to my eyes. I love meeting Jo and Raissa and being dragged along on their wild adventure throughout Nakali. In the end, I rate this 4.5/5 with the 0.5 dip for pacing. I really think the film spent a little too much time on some characters instead of keeping the focus on our wacky protagonists.

Let me know what you thought about the film in the comments below.

Side note:

While Universal released Forgotten Island at the end of September, Disney decided to re-release Avengers Endgame Encore. The intent for the release was to bridge Endgame with the upcoming Doomsday film and offer the audience an exclusive look into the upcoming film. However…both Endgame Encore and Forgotten Island fell on the same release date! Honestly, Endgame over-shadowed Forgotten Island which upsets me. Forgotten Island is such a beautiful film, and it breaks my heart seeing it miss out on the recognition it deserves. I encourage all film lovers to check out this film while it’s in the theaters and bring awareness to large studios of the type of film we want to see more often.