DVDizzy Forum

Clindor wrote:If you scrutinize the shots of the trailers attentively, there are some interesting spoilers to be spotted there

D82 wrote:Awkwafina talks about the movie on Good Morning America and on Live with Kelly and Ryan. A clip from the movie is shown at this point of the first interview.

DisneyFan09 wrote:I liked that scene. I liked it`s mood and the atmosphere. And not to mention the soundtrack.

DisneyFan09 wrote:What really strikes me with Awkwafina`s voice, is that it sounds too old for her age. Her voice sounds like a old woman, yet she`s barely in her 30`s. But at least it suits the character of Sisu.

There were some rumors floating around about the potential R-rated violence in the action scenes of “Raya,” but the group was quick to clarify. “We sort of said that in jest,” said Hall, “a couple of our [storyboard] artists really indulged themselves, but we knew we were gonna back off on certain things like blood. There is a particular sword fight that is crazy intense. I don’t think we held back in terms of visceral impact, [and] I think that comes because you care about the characters.” Nguyen added, “Just as a credit [to Disney], some of the themes and ideas do feel adult and do feel heightened and real, and honestly, we never got [pushback] because everything is so grounded in story and feels very deliberate and necessary.”

A brand-new sneak peek at Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Raya and the Last Dragon” reveals the new original song, “Lead the Way,” written and performed by Grammy®-nominated artist and songwriter, Jhené Aiko. Oscar®-nominated, Emmy® and Grammy®-winning composer James Newton-Howard (“News of the World,” “A Hidden Life,” “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindewald”) created the original score. “Lead the Way” is featured in the end credits and is included on the Walt Disney Records soundtrack, available digitally on Feb. 26. The music video for the track featuring Aiko is directed by one of “Raya and the Last Dragon” directors, Carlos López Estrada, and will be released next month.

About Jhené Aiko

Six-time Grammy nominee Jhené Aiko has crowned a breakthrough year with three new Grammy nominations for her R&B masterpiece, Chilombo, including the prestigious ‘Album Of The Year.’ Chilombo was also nominated for an American Music Award for Best Soul/R&B female, two Soul Train Awards, and three NAACP Awards. Jhené’s 2020 album Chilombo – now certified Platinum with seven gold and platinum singles – topped the Billboard R&B Chart at #1 not once but twice this year, and has garnered over 2 Billion streams worldwide. Chilombo made chart history as the biggest Billboard R&B debut from a female artist since Beyonce’s Lemonade. Jhené is currently dominating urban and rhythm radio with her hit single “B.S.” featuring H.E.R. and guest appearances on new singles from Big Sean, Ty Dolla $ign, and Saweetie.

DisneyFan09 wrote:But at least we got to see how Raya and her father says goodbye to each other before the accident happens.

farerb wrote:Don't know if anyone noticed this spoiler in the last promo, I'm linking it instead of posting just in case:

spoiler

It was already obvious before but now that shot pretty much confirms that Namaari will eventually be a part of Raya's group.

Disney's Divinity wrote:Of the domestic posters, the only one I really like is the second from the right in that picture you posted, D82 (the one that's second from the left is okay although I think the similar international poster is a better version of the same idea). Of the international posters, I love 1 and 4. The Chinese New Year 2020 poster is pretty, too. The Chinese New Year 2021 poster makes me think of the Chinese zodiac and how I'm a Dragon myself (though not a Water Dragon). The next Year of the Dragon is 2024--it would've been neat if it had been the year this movie was released.

Disney's Divinity wrote:So I guess this joins Frozen in being another film with two princesses then if Raya and Namaari both have that title.

Think of it a bit like Indiana Jones plus dragons. Amazing animation, a moving story, plus @awkwafina bringing all of the magic together.

Just had the honor of screening #RayaAndTheLastDragon! The casting issue is not going to be resolved by the film, and it’s a shame they didn’t search for more SE Asian artists to voice the roles, but the art is impressive and the themes at the heart of the film resonate today.

#RayaAndTheLastDragon: a big scale, beautifully animated adventure centered on restoring trust in a humanity divided by selfishness & prejudice. Kelly Marie Tran & Awkwafina are great. Innovative, humorous & heart-filled, its spirit makes the journey rewarding.

Raya is absolutely stunning to watch. The animation, the story, and the production speaks to the soul, especially my SEA self. To see elements of my heritage reflect a movie is just so hard to describe right now. Kelly Marie Tran & Awkwafina elevated the story.

I do wish they did have more SEA actors involved with this, as it does shine a light on SEA culture and skin tones. The sea of olive and dark complexions is what I am in used to seeing in my own family. So, it does take away a little bit hearing these other voices.

The moral of the story based on trust brought me to tears. Raya is such a great warrior.

My only wish, other than more SEA, is that it could have been a musical. There were so many moments I paused & thought a song would have been great here.

Raya and the Last Dragon is a fantastic and wonderful journey to find trust and friendship. Incredible Disney animation into the realm of fantasy and magic.

Raya and the Last Dragon is a visually stunning, action-packed adventure. Awkwafina & Kelly Marie Tran bring serious girl power & are absolutely phenomenal in this gem of a film that teaches important lessons of trust & teamwork. Beautiful, hilarious, & heartwarming.

#RayaandtheLastDragon is a breathtaking joyride. Its beautifully crafted visuals & emotional story speaks to the heart of onscreen representation, and importance of honesty & trust. The modern humor & explosive action are great, but I really connected w/ SEA cultural aesthetics.

But my biggest criticism of this, by far, is the lack of SEA representation in some of the supporting roles. While there are key figures in this who helped pave the way for equality and authentic Asian representation, #DisneyRaya would have benefited by casing more SEA actors.

All that being said, I will fully support #RayaAndTheLastDragon. That means I will buy the premiere access on Disney+. Believe me, #DisneyRaya is that good.

RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON is a phenomenal journey with visually stunning locations & a riveting story.

Kelly Marie Tran shines in her lead role as Raya with an emotional performance bolstered by a splendid supporting cast.

From beautiful scenery to action-packed sequences, the animation doesn’t disappoint & could become Disney Animation’s best visual work yet.

Although some jokes may not land, audiences from all ages can certainly enjoy this flick, whilst also learning some valuable lessons.

Kelly Marie Tran absolutely kills it as Raya, one of the best voice performances I’ve seen in a while.

Not only that but the world of RAYA is much more intriguing than previous Disney Animation films, hope they continue this world in some form.

There is a lot to love in #RayaAndTheLastDragon, especially the visuals and intersecting female dynamics. Kelly Marie Tran, Gemma Chan & Awkwafina are all standouts. The overarching message is heartwarming if a bit obvious, perhaps needed in the aftermath of the last 4 years.

But I echo the complaints about the overall casting, because I can’t stop imagining how rewarding it would have been to see the onscreen efforts to honor Southeast Asian cultures matched by Southeast Asian voices bringing life to the characters onscreen.

#RayaDisney is an exquisite storytelling & breathtaking art. It's so refreshing to see POC on my screen.

#RayaAndTheLastDragon Is an inspirational story with heart and humor, highlighting messages of trust, honesty and courage. I loved the action sequences between the Princesses Raya and Namaari. Raya does not lack in adventure and is visually stunning.

I wish Disney involved more South East Asian voices in this project and took this opportunity to educate viewers on one South East area vs generalize an entire region. That being said, I appreciate their dedication to representing POC in their films.

We just watched #RayaAndTheLastDragon and loved it! The world-building feels deep and full of potential, the animation is gorgeous and varied in style, and Kelly Marie Tran truly shines as Raya.

Saw an early screener of #RayaAndTheLastDragon -- it's yet another visually stunning film by @DisneyAnimation and @kellymarietran is absurdly good at voice acting in this fun kids flick. I'd recommend seeing this on the biggest and brightest screen you have.

Man: Raya and the Last Dragon is a bleeping delight. Vibrant, exciting, funny action-comedy throughout and then hits hard with the feels. Con-baby for the win.

#RayaAndTheLastDragon has gorgeous visuals, fun adventures, and the message about trust is heartwarming. Awkwafina is a treat as Sisu and Con-baby is ridiculously hilarious. Wish the movie was longer since I couldn't get invested in many of the characters.

Raya And The Last Dragon is a visually stunning adventure. Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina’s girl power friendship is heartwarming, hilarious and everything you never know you needed.

#RayaAndTheLastDragon is an epic adventure boasting cinematic visual flare with exotic designs. A long-awaited treat for southeast asians, like me. Its relevant themes are perfected in the climax. I cried, TWICE! It’s the film the world truly needs right now!

A huge praise to Kelly Marie Tran! She nailed it, so naturally I can see her soul in her voice. Awkwafina steals every scene she’s in. All of her jokes land and never feel forced. You’re gonna love her even more in #RayaAndTheLastDragon

"Raya and the Last Dragon" has breathtaking animation, a powerful story and cute furry sidekicks (especially Tuk Tuk). Especially amazing that a lot of the work was done out of 400+ individual homes due to the pandemic.

#RayaAndTheLastDragon is my favorite Disney Princess movie. The animation is breathtaking. Absolutely stunning. And what an adventure! everything I wanted & more.

Had the opportunity to screen @DisneyRaya in advance & I got so teary eyed by how BALANCED, BEAUTIFUL & IMPACTFUL our Southeast Asian culture was executed in the story. RAYA IS BEAUTIFUL & STRONG. Thank you for this @Disney.

just had the chance to screen RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON and I am so blown away by the beautiful majesty of the animation, the fantastic voice cast, and the emotional story about coming together and regaining trust.

yes, 100% the casting should have included SE actors, i love the actors in the cast but this could cast better given that this is a south east asian story. the story and film itself is still uplifting and deserves praise, but we can always do better.

Just saw Raya and the Last Dragon and it was absolutely terrific. A truly beautiful movie both visually and storywise. Oh, I had some big teary-eyed moments thanks to this one. Big ol’ emotions flying left and right. Also, she’s got one rad sword.

I’m gonna be honest. After watching the @DisneyRaya trailer I wasn’t excited. Let me tell you, this movie is the BEST film Disney has put out in a long time. Excuse me as I go watch it for the 3rd time and film our review!

#RayaAndTheLastDragon is a stunning animation w/ a breathtaking story about trust in each other! Got some tears in my eyes wishing was that easy to humanity to change. @awkwafina was so great! @kellymarietran stole my heart as #Raya! Must watch on March 5

#RayaAndTheLastDragon is an inspirational story about trust, honesty and team work . It’s visually stunning. The food,clothes and set design are very true to SouthAsian culture. Love Tuk Tuk and #Awkwafina’s Sisu . Quite a few action sequences too . Definitely cried in the end

Disney Indonesia announced a special collaboration with singer Via Vallen to sing a song called "We Can", which is the Indonesian version of the original soundtrack (OST) for Disney's latest film, "Raya and the Last Dragon".

Adapted from the original soundtrack of Disney's film “Raya and the Last Dragon” entitled “Lead the Way” sung by Jhené Aiko, the Indonesian version of the song also carries the same spirit.

The lively lyrics and cheerful musical accompaniment in the song "We Can" describe the journey of Raya and his friends in reuniting Kumandra with the cooperation and trust in others.

So #RayaAndTheLastDragon is totally amazing. A muscular action movie with a startling amount of heart, its story is constantly surprising and engaging and the visuals are truly dazzling. Also @awkwafina is Robin Williams-level genius as Sisu (designed by @CoryLoftis). So much wow

After getting the chance to see early footage last month, I got the opportunity to see @DisneyRaya in its entirety and my already glowing opinion of it has only gotten brighter. This is easily my favorite Walt Disney Animation film since ZOOTOPIA...

The story moved me from start to finish, the pace is fast but not jarringly so, the animation is breathtaking, the exploration of its Southeast Asian culture is fascinating, @awkwafina brings all of the warmth and high-comedic energy to Sisu akin to Robin Williams' Genie...

Kelly Marie Tran also thoroughly shines as the titular heroine, elevating every line of heartbreak, action hero one-liner and sly joke and making it even easier to connect to Raya. Disney's outdone themselves again and set a high bar for themselves for the coming years.

Raya & the Last Dragon is another win for Disney Animation. Parts of it feel rather familiar but they combine into a hugely epic, emotional adventure that stands on its own. Timely messages of trust and community really shine through & the balance of tones/genres is spot on.

Also: Con Baby. That is all.

Full thoughts to come in review form soon, but #RayaAndTheLastDragon is another win for Disney. Its dark subject matter & thematic symbolism are perfectly balanced with its gorgeous animation, superb soundtrack & wonderful casting. Definitely going to give it another viewing

So #RayaAndTheLastDragon is by far one of the best Disney movies I've ever seen. It's visually stunning. The storyline and the characters are so well-written. Getting to see so many SEAsian cultural motifs was heartwarming. I already want to rewatch this again!

Still there should have been more SEAsian voice talent though in

I also thought it'd be a musical and I'm not upset that it wasn't. I think it worked really well without singing, but I'm sure it would be a completely different experience if there were songs.

Thanks to @DisneyRaya I saw #rayaandthelastdragon! Proud of the Asian representation: actors, voices, FOOD! Raya is full of hope and messages we all need to hear right now!

I just watched #RayaAndTheLastDragon I LOVED IT!! Such beautiful animation, brilliant story and Kelly Marie Tran is the PERFECT Raya

I did not expect to love #DisneyRaya as much as I did. It’s a gorgeously animated film with a well developed story. Kelly Marie Tran and Gemma Chan are great. Easily my fav Disney Animated film since Zootopia.

What stood out to me the most about #DisneyRaya is the beautiful & distinct score. The narrative takes risks & stays fresh. Excited to talk more about this @DisneyPlus premiere access.

Raya is absolutely stunning to watch. The animation, the story, and the production speaks to the soul. #DisneyRaya. See Disney's #RayaAndTheLastDragon in theaters or order on @DisneyPlusLA with Premier Access on March 5.

Just watched #DisneyRaya and it is beautifully done! It’s #Disneyplus at its finest! All sort of feels plus @awkwafina is fantastic!

We had the opportunity to prescreen Disney’s new movie Raya And The Last Dragon last night, and let me tell you guys it was amazing!! We watched it as a family from ages 5 to 81 and we all loved it, it is a must see!! Comes out March 5th!

Just watched #RayaandtheLastDragon and it's a stunner of a film. Visually impressive, themes we can all learn from, and a great central performance from Kelly Marie Tran. Full review later, but know now that it's good stuff.

Just watched #RayaandtheLastDragon and it's a stunner of a film. Visually impressive, themes we can all learn from, and a great central performance from Kelly Marie Tran. Full review later, but know now that it's good stuff.

#RayaAndTheLastDragon is probably going to end up being one of my favourite @Disney movies. From a narrative & visual POV, it was absolutely up my alley. Imma huge fan of Indonesian action movies & seeing shades of Silat in it was satisfying. And YES I cried. Also I want Tuk Tuk!

I pre-screened #RayaAndTheLastDragon-it is phenomenal! @DisneyRaya is a visual masterpiece that offers the richness of Southeast Asian culture through a beautiful heartfelt story full of action that rings relevant messages: hope, trust and unity. Stunning & powerful

#RayaAndTheLastDragon is a fun, emotional, and well-made film. Excellent performances by @kellymarietran, @awkwafina, and the rest of the cast. My full review will be live on @3AngryNerds on March 1st.

What do they put in the water at Disney? How do they keep on doing it? #RayaAndTheLastDragon is easily one of my favourite Disney movies. Kelly Marie Tran is fantastic. Awkwafina is hilarious. The whole thing is just beautiful.

I got to see RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON! It’s a visual masterpiece. Everyone says this about movies but THIS deserves a big screen. Fortunately, it’s so gorgeous it looks amazing on any screen. Felt like I was watching on a 3D TV.

The fight sequences in #DisneyRaya are epic. Arguably the best, most realistic animated fight scenes ever, infused with authentic Southeast Asian martial arts techniques (thanks to Qui Nguyen). Namaari’s Muay Thai style was was cool.

Like any good Asian story, FOOD plays a major role in #DisneyRaya. It represents love, trust and unity. They integrated food into the film’s themes seamlessly. Made me want SEA food so badly!

Kelly Marie Tran as Raya was really perfect. Her characterization was warm, likable and strong. I think she has the potential for a great voice acting career if she wants it.

I really wish more of the cast was made up of SEA actors. It’s a huge missed opportunity to go all in on having this film rep the SEA community & be celebrated w/o reservation. The performances were excellent but you could’ve had SEA actors do just as well. Full review soon!

So #RayaAndTheLastDragon is a beautifully animated film with some of the best world-building @DisneyAnimation has done in Kumandra and its varied social/environmental lands.

#RayaAndTheLastDragon... Trust & girl power are the headliners here. A simple yet effective script & story that shines where it counts. Action packed w/ stunning visuals & an awesome score. Voice casting was superb, both #KellyMarieTran & #Awkwafina nailed it. A must see in IMAX.

I watched #RayaAndTheLastDragon for @Attractions and really enjoyed it. Highly recommended.

#Rayaandthelastdragon is one of @Disney‘s best animated films. It changes musicals for a non-stop adventure filled w/ emotion & laughter wrapped around amazing culture celebration. The messages of unity, family & empowerment stands out. And the fighting sequences are incredible.

Just screened @DisneyRaya with my daughter and we loved it! Absolutely delivers an appropriate message in a time when we are so divided!

Watched Raya And The Last Dragon last week to prepare for interviews. So, so good. Is it the best Disney Princess movie so far? It’s certainly the one I’d like my 6YO daughter to love more than any other.

It’s gorgeously animated, the story and script, co-written by Malaysian @adeleBlim is great, and best of all, for a South East Asian, it resonates the most emotionally.

I wasn’t expecting it but #RayaAndTheLastDragon has given me all the feels. Great original story, great charm, great lighting and great humanity. I needed this. It’s definitely a tonic for our time. Bravo!

So, Raya. Strongest movie Disney Animation has had in a while. Very well written, visually gorgeous, very, VERY different from what you usually expect from a Disney movie. If you've been waiting for Disney to make an "adultt" movie with an epic/serious tone, this is your movie.

I kept thinking of Atlantis. It's totally a movie that could belong to the experimental era. It's shot as a live action, looks like a live action, feels like a live action, but blends in perfectly within the classic Disney storytelling. Very well done.

That said, I'm not entirely sure this is what animation needs right now? Tone-wise, absolutely. Animation-wise...? What does it tell us, that Disney's doing a completely hyperrealistic movie at a time when the whole industry (even Pixar) is shifting to stylization? Not sure.

I'll elaborate more on that after March 1st, not sure how much I can say because technically I'm still under embargo.

Other random stuff: the Raya/Namaari dynamic is just so good. Character animation and character design is INCREDIBLE. How did they get so much better in such a short time. Omg. Also absolutely adored the soundtrack by James Newton Howard.

And the only thing I didn't like: Sisu's design. Sorry, not a fan. It stands out so much, and it's a shame because all the other character designs are absolutely amazing (and all new CG models too!!)

Ok I'll stop I think I've said too much SORRY DISNEY

inspiring with a beautiful story about trust and coming together. i am 10000% here for the raya/namaari ships that will sail from this. give me asian water dragons forever. cast some more SE asian actors for the sequel, disney!

< 9 out of 10 >

"Raya and the Last Dragon" is a lot of fun. The world building is spectacular and imaginative and Awkwafina is a delight as the voice of Sisu. Really liked spending time with the characters and going on this journey. The drama is well handled, too.

Raya and the Last Dragon is just excellent. Visually stunning, touching, maybe the most action a Disney Animation joint has ever captured – plus it’s hilarious. Give Awkwafina all the voice roles.