Movies

Raya and the Last Dragon (Disney)

Catholic News Service

This is a scene from the animated move “Raya and the Last Dragon.” Rated: A-II, PG. DISNEY | CNS

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To defeat the dark force that has brought turmoil to her once-tranquil world and turned many of its inhabitants into stone statues, a teen (voice of Kelly Marie Tran) teams with a dragon (voice of Awkwafina) on a quest to reunite the five fragments of a magical gem that, once made whole again, will restore peace and revive the petrified. Along the way, they enlist the help of, among others, a young mariner (voice of Izaac Wang) and a fearsome but good-hearted warrior (voice of Benedict Wong). Co-directed by Don Hall and Carlos Lopez Estrada, this lively and colorful animated adventure promotes trust of adversaries, primarily through the character of a peer of the protagonist’s (voice of Gemma Chan) from a rival realm who once betrayed her, and showcases the ills produced by greed and aggression. Yet, as scripted by Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim, the film includes quasi-religious behavior that might confuse impressionable viewers. Well-catechized teens, by contrast, will easily shrug off such elements.

Watch out for: Nonscriptural practices, stylized combat, including swordplay and martial arts fighting, potentially frightening sights, childish scatological humor.

Rated: A-II, adults and adolescents. MPAA: PG.

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