“There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in between.”

Before seeing the movie, I didn't know much about "A Monster Calls". The only information I got from it is that it's based on Patrick Ness novel and the trailer had a "Iron Giant" vibe to it. I also liked the director (Juan Antonio Bayona) previous movies, so I guess that's what peaked my interest in seeing it. And I came out pretty surprised of how good it was. Not just that, but how moving and heartfelt it was.

Juan Antonio Bayona is the type of director that knows how to tell a compelling story in his films. To screw lose the sentiment, until your eyes are filled with water to the point where you can't help but spill out. And in this movie he dose exactly that and how smart he was with it's decisions of the emotional scenes.

There's a lot of great actors in this and none of them are put to waste. Liam Nesson was excellent as The Monster. Sigourney Weaver was great as the Grandma. Felicity Jones and Toby Kebbell were also great as Connor parents. But I think the real stand is Lewis MacDougall as (Connor). Even at the age of 14 this kid literally carries this movie and really dose reflect Connor's inner conflict.

That's what I notice in Bayona movies. All of the kid actors in his movies are pretty solid and I would go as far to say that they better than the adults. This is very rare for me to say that, because most kid actors suck. Yes there are good ones out there, but only some, as most of them don't fully bring their all.

The visual effect's were pretty stunning and impressive of how it interacted with the real environment that it was in. In all honesty, I was pretty surprised. And what I mean by "surprise" is that I was expecting The Monster itself to be the only effect in the movie. Because The Monster tells three stories to Conner and all three are done in a visual dye artwork that's beautiful to look at. It's good to be surprise.

For problems I had with the movie are slim, but if I had to pick, I would probably say that films message can be a little repetitive and oblivious towards the end. I think that may bug some people. But still, it's a great message that's speaks the truth and actually sticks to it. I mean, if the message was terrible or nothing special, then this might be a big complaint. The film doesn't have an happy ending and neither a sad one. There's no Hollywood ending or anything like that. It would say it's mixed.

Overall rating: "A Monster Calls" is entertaining, sad, and unforgettable tale that sticks with you after it's over. The film tells the truth and nothing but the truth of life. You want everything to be alright for this kid, but you're left with a feeling of stillness. Like you can't do anything about it, even with all the magical things that's happening. It just gotta let it happen....

that's life.

A Monster Calls is a film that tackles a difficult and very emotional subject and wraps it up in a fantasy-monster tale. It could be awful, really bad, but in this case, thankfully the topic and the way it is portrayed and told to the viewer is handled admirably. As is always the case with these type of films that acting is paramount to how you feel about the whole thing. Liam Neeson brings the right tone of menace with a purpose to fantastically animated tree-monster. He was both scary and angry when he needs to be but just by voice acting alone showed his whole reason for being was to help Conor from the very beginning.

Lewis MacDougall is basically perfect in the role of Conor and never plays for out-and-out sympathy even though he gets it from the audience. Totally believable and if he doesn’t make you cry then you must get that stone you have for a heart seen to. Ably supported by the great acting of Felicity Jones, Toby Kebbell and Sigourney Weaver as his immediate family the performances slot together to produce the perfect storm of emotions.

Make no mistake this is a film about a serious topic, particularly for youngsters watching the film. It’s about life, death, how we deal with strong emotions, how we affect other people, how we have to accept the finality of situations beyond our control. This list goes on and is simple and yet complex enough for any audience. Each story, or parable if you like, is not a sugar-coated fairy tale but points out little truths to Conor and therefore to us all.

Although fantastical in its approach A Monster Calls manages to present a serious topic in a realistic and somehow entertaining way. If nothing else younger viewers with perhaps no understanding of death and the grief process might just get an insight into something that they hopefully never experience until later in life.

This could have been maudlin, manipulative and even dark but thanks to the skill of the writing, directing and acting you have a film that certainly makes you think about it long after it has finished.

“There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in between.”

Before seeing the movie, I didn't know much about "A Monster Calls". The only information I got from it is that it's based on Patrick Ness novel and the trailer had a "Iron Giant" vibe to it. I also liked the director (Juan Antonio Bayona) previous movies, so I guess that's what peaked my interest in seeing it. And I came out pretty surprised of how good it was. Not just that, but how moving and heartfelt it was.

Juan Antonio Bayona is the type of director that knows how to tell a compelling story in his films. To screw lose the sentiment, until your eyes are filled with water to the point where you can't help but spill out. And in this movie he dose exactly that and how smart he was with it's decisions of the emotional scenes.

There's a lot of great actors in this and none of them are put to waste. Liam Nesson was excellent as The Monster. Sigourney Weaver was great as the Grandma. Felicity Jones and Toby Kebbell were also great as Connor parents. But I think the real stand is Lewis MacDougall as (Connor). Even at the age of 14 this kid literally carries this movie and really dose reflect Connor's inner conflict.

That's what I notice in Bayona movies. All of the kid actors in his movies are pretty solid and I would go as far to say that they better than the adults. This is very rare for me to say that, because most kid actors suck. Yes there are good ones out there, but only some, as most of them don't fully bring their all.

The visual effect's were pretty stunning and impressive of how it interacted with the real environment that it was in. In all honesty, I was pretty surprised. And what I mean by "surprise" is that I was expecting The Monster itself to be the only effect in the movie. Because The Monster tells three stories to Conner and all three are done in a visual dye artwork that's beautiful to look at. It's good to be surprise.

For problems I had with the movie are slim, but if I had to pick, I would probably say that films message can be a little repetitive and oblivious towards the end. I think that may bug some people. But still, it's a great message that's speaks the truth and actually sticks to it. I mean, if the message was terrible or nothing special, then this might be a big complaint. The film doesn't have an happy ending and neither a sad one. There's no Hollywood ending or anything like that. It would say it's mixed.

Overall rating: "A Monster Calls" is entertaining, sad, and unforgettable tale that sticks with you after it's over. The film tells the truth and nothing but the truth of life. You want everything to be alright for this kid, but you're left with a feeling of stillness. Like you can't do anything about it, even with all the magical things that's happening. It just gotta let it happen....that's life.

**It's not a hateful or forgettable movie, but it's far from being lively or happy.**

Despite its weaknesses, I confess I liked this film, and that maybe comes from the fact that it touched me personally. Being a film that is so focused on the pain of losing someone dear, on how a person faces situations of suffering and manages to digest it, it was a film that cost me a little to watch because I also lost a very dear person recently. I expected a more cheerful film with a more lively tone. That, yes, partially frustrated my expectations, and I believe that other people will also say the same. However, I cannot say that I hated what I saw.

In fact, the script focuses on a young teenager who has to live his day-to-day life, at school and at home, while mentally and psychologically preparing himself for the imminent orphanhood, as his mother is very ill and, we know it, will die soon. And in the midst of all this, he ends up imagining, in a very realistic way, a big monster that comes to visit him and that forces him to deal with the feelings he is feeling, and to deal with situations, and also with a grandmother with who has relationship problems.

Directed by J.A. Bayona is a relatively average film. The script is predictable, the "monster-tree" is something we've seen in other films, but it's always a good idea, especially if it's supposed to be a wise and ancient monster, as is the case here. Lewis MacDougall is the young man who will have the lead role in the film, and he does it quite well, even though the script is not very demanding on him. I also enjoyed Felicity Jones' performance, even though the actress doesn't really have much to do. And I feel sorry for Sigourney Weaver, because she's a good actress in the wrong role. It was a massive casting error, and it would have been preferable to cast a genuinely British actress in the role, rather than an American with a notoriously faked accent.

Technically, the highlight obviously goes to the CGI, which is good enough and does an interesting job, especially in the scenes where the tree “awakens” to move and reveal its real appearance. I also liked the soundtrack, even if it's not the most memorable or interesting, and the cinematography, which does its job flawlessly. Liam Neeson was, once again, responsible for the voice of the monster. The actor is already a veteran of dubbing and has given voice to many fantastic characters in other films, so it was a sure bet for the production.

**An alternate way to confront the reality.**

Based on the British novel, made by a well known Spanish director. This film might remind you the titles like 'Finding Neverland', 'Where the Wild Things Are', 'Neverwas' et cetera, but still it is unique. Particularly for the message it carried out. Many lines were awesome, inspiring for those whose world are crumbling down. Emotional, as well as one of the best recent children's films.

The story of a boy whose mother is severely ill. He starts to have weird dreams, following, an appearance of a tree-monster from the nearby cemetery. The monster is to tell a few tales and at the end of it, he has to tell the truth about his nightmares to him. So as the days go by, it becomes more challenging to him to confront the reality. He can't run away from all, but to face it and those are the remaining narration.

While being a kid, they believe every fantasy tale have narrated to them. Even a picture of those tales would influence to have an imagination in their daily life activity. This film does not hide anything from the viewers just to bring a breathtaking twist at the finale. So, you would know what's happening, but why, is the puzzle to solve. Even that is not a hard nut to crack. Though the purpose of the film is to reveal how some children cope a tragic event in their life, like perhaps the film 'Before I Wake', with misunderstanding the words said by the grown ups to them. This is really a wonderful film for kids, as well as for adults. I Hope you won't miss it.

_7/10_