At this point, Nimona's messy production is the stuff of legends. Pushed back, canceled, caught in the middle of a studio sale and closure, only to be brought back once more. Finally we got to see it this year and... IT'S GREAT!
In a world that's a mix between medieval fantasy and modern day technology, Nimona's plot deals with a newly appointed knight, named Ballister, who is framed and accused of a crime he did not commit. He is persecuted but manages to find an unexpected and unwanted sidekick, the energetic and chaotic Nimona, who looks like a teen girl and has the power to transform into all kinds of living beings, from animals to other humans. The two will fight to make things right and save the kingdom from an unseen menace.
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| Nimona's first transformation scene. |
Perhaps some people might think it's a rather typical rehash of fairy tale comedy but it doesn't really come across that way, in fact, this odd little movie is everything but what I expected it to be. For starters, the first trailer seemed to focus more on Nimona, introducing us to her powers and personality. I expected her to be the main protagonist of the film dealing with her issues of trying to fit in or causing a mess around town. Instead, the movie is primarily about Ballister trying to regain his honor and the trust of the Elite Knights and his superiors. Not a bad plot but kind of takes away the spotlight from Nimona.
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| Nimona in the first trailer. |
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| They have good interactions. |
The crazy Riot grrrl is everything but neglected here though, she is a focal point of the movie and in some ways she´s the central element of everything surrounding their world. She also has a lot of chemistry with Ballister, she cracks jokes frequently, is always ready for action and has zero tact when dealing with others, something that creates a lot of potential for comedy as well.
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| She might seem sinister but shes also cute and charming. |
Kind of feels like a story that could have benefited from being a TV show, the first few episodes would have served as a way to introduce Nimona and strengthen the relationship between her and Ballister, the mid point would have served as a good few episodes dealing with them finding out who framed the main knight and the final few episodes would have been perfect for the last few downer chapters followed by the tear jerking resolution. Without filler, they could have done a great miniseries as the movie feels like it goes a little too fast at times.
Having said that, the pace is nothing to worry about, it's entertaining and fun from start to finish. The characters are all likable, there's very good representation and the subtext regarding Nimona is very significant.
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| This is a pretty iconic image now. |
The film doesn't hold back in any way, not only with its LGBT themes but also with its comedy, as it features some overtly adult jokes and even slightly more violence and blood than the usual cartoon for kids and teens.
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| "Cold in here?" |
Have you not seen it? Go ahead! It's a great time! We need more transgressive female characters in media like the one we see here. A lovely film with a punk rock and anarchist energy.
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