Elemental 3D Theatrical Review

MOVIE REVIEW

Elemental is a 2023 Pixar animated film and possible sequel to Osmosis Jones. It introduces us to a place called Element City that abides people made up of earth, water, air, and fire. The story is about a young woman named Ember, daughter of a couple of immigrants from Fireland who is on her way to inheriting her father's shop. That is, until a series of freak accidents occur putting her, and the shop, in a difficult situation. While attempting to fix them, she eventually meets a water man named Wade who at first, tries helping her out. But if you've ever seen the trailers for the film, you'll know it isn't too long before a romance starts to bloom between the two of them. That would all seem well and good, except for a couple small things: 1. Elements can't touch each other and 2. fire and water people look down upon each other heavily. And when one of those fire people happens to be Ember's dad, you know conflict's on the rise.

If you expected me to put an element pun somewhere in the synopsis, I apologize. I guess was just never really fired up to do so. Alright, seriously though, chances are if you've been keeping up with Elemental in the weeks leading to its release, you'd probably be under the assumption it's another example of Disney taking a potentially riveting concept and watering it down into an average kids movie. Many other people seemed to think so as the movie bombed heavily on opening weekend, and truthfully, that's an understatement. Personally, I also planned to sit this one out as I didn't think it'd really be worth my time and money. However, after reading and watching a few reviews online (shoutout to Real Future Pictures), I was encouraged to go and give Elemental a chance. And honestly, I'm very much glad I did. Is this an underrated masterpiece along the lines of the sleeper hit Puss in Boots: The Last Wish from last Christmas? I probably wouldn't say so. But on its own standards, it surprisingly a creative, entertaining, and visually engaging flick that goes to show Pixar still has the ability to put out some great original works.

Now I'm sure the synopsis above sounds pretty familiar. After all, the whole boy meets girl, girl meets boy, boy and girl fall in love, boy and girl come from disapproving families shtick has been around since the days of Shakespeare. However, like with all stories, it can take new and imaginative forms over time and become reinvented with new twists and turns that set it apart from other similar adaptions. In spite of what the trailers would have you believe, Elemental actually does this very well. Yes, the cliches and foreseen plot beats are all there. But the style works so well with the substance that all in all, only the most critical of viewers would gripe too much about it. The two main leads, Wade and Ember are a couple of genuinely likable characters with fun personalities that fit their chemical properties very well. Ember is passionate, a bit ill tempered and sometimes downright dangerous (she's a literal walking flame after all). Meanwhile, Wade tends to go with the flow and remains the sensitive one in the relationship, which leads to a repeated gag of him crying of course. However, neither of these characters delve so deep into their defining traits that they become obnoxious. Ember's character is kept in check by her internal struggle between wanting to fill her father's shoes and figuring out what she really wants to do with her life. And Wade also goes to show how much he believes elements can become more than just what other's view them as.

But beyond just the great characters on display, the world building and its service to the story are also very effective and unique. It fully delves into the possibilities that arise from people being built up of different chemical compositions and what that would mean in the interactions that people would have with one another. Obviously, the film is one big immigrant metaphor with the fire people being looked down upon and all that. But it's bonded with such a novel idea that I think it's fair to say it does more in terms of making its own world than it does at reflecting ours. In the real world, people of different nationalities could still bond with each other and touch each other like normal human beings can. But in Elemental, everybody lives in different environments suited to their needs. If fire gets into water, it'd die. And if water gets into fire, it's evaporate. Does it help the immigrant metaphor all that well? Probably not. But it does make the world this film inhabits all that much more intriguing and immense in creative potential. And that of course, is what makes movies like this well worth seeing.

The love story aside, this is also one of the most beautifully animated films from Disney or Pixar I've seen in quite a long time. In the past few years, both companies have been using realistic and detailed visuals which while impressive to be sure, also made their projects like Lightyear and Strange World appear a bit soulless. Not here. With Elemental, the designs are all very appealing and charming, and the realistic and detailed animation only helps enhance the film, giving you much to take in with this gorgeous world set before you. According to many different sources, this film took more than 150,000 computers to render because of how complex the animation was, and it shows. Not a penny was wasted in that department, and the results are mesmerizing to say the least. Elsewhere, the score by Thomas Newman is absolutely on point (he has also worked with Pixar on films like Finding Nemo and Wall-E), the humor lands virtually most of the time with only a couple jokes that fall flat, and the side characters, while aren't by any means memorable, are still do their jobs in the story well and never overstay their welcome.

With all the praise I've given Elemental though, I think there are a few things to nitpick that, while certainly don't get on my nerves, might get on the nerves of others. As I've mentioned, the plot itself does do a good job of telling the Romeo and Juliet-esque love story in its own unique way. But while the characters are plenty of fun to be around, the actual events in the story, especially in the second half, do feel pretty quickly forgettable. I don't want to give to much away, but the film ends in an action climax. I usually always like a good action climax, but the one here doesn't particularly make much sense from a story standpoint the more you ponder it. And once again, the movie treads familiar plot beats, not really offering any enormous surprises from the story department. While there are a few solid twists that make their way in the script, nothing really necessarily hits you as a stroke of genius like you've seen in films like Coco and Inside Out.

But all in all, Elemental is a very pleasant surprise, though probably not precisely because of good the movie was, but because of how mediocre it wasn't. It isn't exactly Pixar's highest work. There are a few areas in terms of plot where I can see this film not being everyone's cup of tea. But for me, I think the film's pluses and its overall technical ambition outweigh all of its measly minuses. The visuals are simply stunning, the world they build is imaginative and captivating, and while this type of love story has been done almost to death now, the characters still pull it through very well. I know Disney has gotten a pretty bad reputation as of late for their slog of uninspired content, their resistance to keep up with the changes happening in the animation industry, especially in the age of Across the Spider-Verse, and their not-so-subtle political messaging. And while I don't personally agree with many of their decisions, it's a shame that Elemental ends up taking the fall for them. It's a diamond in the rough that proves that if given the chance and the right resources, Pixar can still put out some good, inspiring original content that is especially worth seeing on the big screen. Though with the marketing it's had and the tanking box office returns it's seeing right now, that probably won't be happening too often. Cars 4 anyone?

OVERALL FILM RATING: 4/5

3D REVIEW

While Pixar probably hasn't been about as involved in 3D as its competitor Dreamworks, they haven't been known for putting out 3D duds either. In fact, some of their films like Monsters Inc. and Up have not just become my favorite animated films, but my favorite 3D films too. And now, Elemental can surely join that list. Yep, you wouldn't think of it from a relatively grounded love story. But this film shows how with the proper planning and right environment, you can create an absolutely fantastic 3D film.

There are plenty of reasons the 3D stands out in Elemental. But the biggest one I can think of comes from the very story concept this film is built up on: everyone is made up of fire, water, earth, or air (cloud). Rarely have I seen a 3D flick where the mere presence of the characters makes the 3D worth watching. Like I said several times before, the visuals are complex, detailed, and even a bit realistic. And in 3D, you see tell where all of Ember's flames are, and where all of her family and friends' flames are, you can see the light waves and bubbles passing through Wade, you get clouds with transparent edges floating into and off of the screen, and even the earth people take on good 3D shapes. There's an especially fun effect that occurs with the flame people where their faces appear to be moving in midair apart from their fire bodies. We see plenty of 3D fun being had with the elements. But for now, let's move on for a minute to talk about the overall field of depth Elemental has to deliver.

Like with virtually all 3D films nowadays, the image goes about as far back into the background as it'll go. And in a film filled with countless cityscapes, that's especially a plus. Buildings can be seen far off, but the distance between them can still be easily made out. This occurs with both wide shots of the city and shots where something in particular is in the foreground such as a building or person and the city is shown far off in the background. One highlight moment that showcases how deep the picture goes is in a scene involving a hot air balloon. But in general, this depth helps you to truly feel just how large and majestic Element City is.

But even in shots on the ground, where most of the movie takes place, the depth remains just as immersive and mesmerizing. Like I said, the characters' presence and detailed designs make for great 3D composition. But the places they inhabit also carry plenty of space. The very first shot of the movie takes place right over the the ocean surface and it stretches far into the screen, all the while a boat is coming right at you. In the city, we get many-a scenes that are used to make terrific 3D choreography. These include waterfalls, trains, pipes, canals, a dam, fences, fireworks, waves, crowds of people, be it whichever element they are, stadiums full of flying clouds, and more. One especially incredible 3D moment is one where Ember is in a bubble and Wade takes her underneath a flooded facility. In here, we get beams of light shooting in all directions, foliage all over the place with flowers blooming, and all being brought slowly into 3D space with Ember's light in the dark place. It's really something to behold. Even indoors where the 3D is not quite as impressive, the rooms still carry plenty of space. And in places like chimneys and basements, it can create a sense of claustrophobia.

But of course, does Elemental have any fun with its elements beyond just how well it automatically works in 3D? I'm pleased to say absolutely. Usually, I put 3D fun and 3D pop outs into two separate paragraphs. But here, they both almost completely overlap. On the fire side of things, we get a couple of fun shots where Ember's head protrudes the screen heavily then explodes into a ball of fire. There are some scattered flames and light beams that also head off into the audience (good thing I didn't see in 4DX or I'd be literal toast). But some of the more visually intriguing shots in this category occur when Ember is using her heat to melt and form glass objects such as a ball with a flower shapes inside it and a wall to fix up a dam. Speaking of dams, water also gets plenty of time to shine in 3D glory. Throughout the film, we see water splashing everywhere, whether Wade is struggling to hold himself together after eating hot food or water is running through pipes and canal. There are especially some great shots of running water in the third act which I won't give away. Point is water and fire lend themselves just as well to the depth in the screen as the depth out of it. Everywhere else, we get clouds and basketball hoops flying around in a stadium, motorcycle rides and chase sequences with smooth editing, and some good shots of smoke filling the room. There's one shot in particular where the smoke from two candles create a vortex and we get a top down view from right inside the middle of it. Elsewhere, pop outs are still common, though they can be a bit on the subtle side such as when characters have a conversation. But still, with all the fire and realistic water physics the people inhabit, these scenes still rank as 3D greatness.

Elemental not only holds as one of the biggest filmmaking surprises I've seen from the animation industry this year, but also one of the biggest 3D surprises. The world of Element City just happens to lend itself to the format in ways you wouldn't think of in 2D. They really went above and beyond to make sure Elemental would not only work, but shine in 3D. The result, a visual concert that must be seen to be believed. Sure, Puss in Boots 2 might be a bit more adventurous with its 3D and A Christmas Carol might have more pop out fun. But Elemental succeeds in the format for the same reason it succeeds as being a movie: everyone's an element. And I totally agree with Real Future Pictures. If this ever got a 3D Blu-ray release, I'd for sure be out to get a copy.

3D RATING: EXCELLENT

OTHER SOURCES THAT REVIEW THIS MOVIE'S 3D:

Real Future Picture's Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMX7gSj7690

FINAL THOUGHTS

It's such a shame Elemental is failing miserably at the box office. Yes, Disney and Pixar do seem to be on a bit of a losing streak right now with films like Lightyear and Strange World. But whereas those films arguable do deserve such harsh treatment from the audience due to their bland and convoluted stories, Elemental does not. Instead, what we have is a very fun and entertaining movie with a creative powerhouse of a concept, striking visual, and enduring characters. Sure, it does have some familiar elements about it, but the marketing seems to have blown them way out of proportion. There's a lot more to it than the trailers would have you believe. It's an all in all a solid Pixar movie. I'd probably put it along the ranks of Cars. It certainly, it doesn't reach the heights of Pixar's previous endeavors. But then again, it doesn't really have to. It stills stands on its own as a thoroughly likable and unique animated adventure that both kids and adults can equally enjoy. It's highly worth seeing on the big screen while you can. And if it's available, do see it in 3D. Being how very few people have seen the film itself, there's even fewer people talking about the 3D. It's honestly a darn shame because Elemental not only simply works in 3D due to its aesthetic and complex character physics, but it also goes the extra mile to throw you some great 3D thrills. To give the film's 3D less than an excellent rating would be to underestimate how much the third dimension brings to the table. It brings you into the world of Element City in a way you could barely imagine. In short, if you haven't checked out this latest Pixar gem on the big screen, I highly encourage you to do so. And be sure to do so sooner than later because who knows how long the 3D showings will stay around. There are several theaters in my area and only two today were still showing it in 3D. And even then, both theaters didn't have more than two 3D showings for Elemental. You get my point: go out and see Elemental in 3D while you can.

DID YOU LIKE "ELEMENTAL" IN 3D?

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"CARL'S FIRST DATE" POST SCRIPT

In true Pixar fashion, Elemental at the theater gets proceeded by a short. It's called Carl's First Date and it features Carl Fredricksen from the movie Up getting ready to go out on his first date with a woman since his wife Ellie passed away, with the help of his dog Dug. I was particularly interested in checking this short out not just because I've been a huge fan of the original film Up since I was a kid, but because this was also the last vocal performance by Ed Asner before his passing in 2021 (God bless his soul). So does this short do Asner and the Up franchise justice? Well, yes and no.

It's a Pixar short after all, so I don't really think it should be held up to a very high standard. On its own, yeah, it acts as a cute if not necessary epilogue to the movie that proceeded it. Six minutes of it are made up of Dug and Carl having conversations and preparing for Carl's date come that night. Naturally, comedic antics ensue. A couple times, it gets a giggle, but nothing really more than that. But the last minute of the short, though, ends up turning into a pretty touching sendoff for Carl. I'd say the short is worth watching just for that minute alone, especially as it ends up unintentionally becoming an emotional sendoff for Ed Asner and the franchise as a whole. Overall though, it's nothing too special. But a prelude to Elemental, I'd say it's not too shabby.

"Carl's First Date" does have 3D attached to it, but it's nothing too remarkable (which is a little surprising considering how the movie Up is practically a 3D masterpiece). Virtually all of it takes place within Carl's house and the field up depth is pretty shallow. There is space between the characters Carl and Dug, Carl's square head is an interesting sight in 3D, and the environment still retains discernible depth. But beyond that, there's nothing here that really demands the 3D treatment. I'd still prefer this over the atrocities known as Clash of the Titans and The Last Airbender. But if you're looking for good 3D, I'd say don't come looking too hard.

OVERALL FILM RATING: 3.5/5

3D RATING: OK