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Culture Corner

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The Arts Desk’s weekly picks for music, movies and more

By MIRIAM RAMAKRISHNAN — arts@theaggie.org 

My first year of college is about halfway over, and it would be an egregious lie to say I feel normal about that. In this nostalgia for an era I’m currently experiencing, I find myself reminiscing on being a child. Young adulthood is a strange time; I like to believe that I have a mature perspective on life while occasionally feeling like a kindergartener. With that being said, the following films can be appreciated from both points of view and were some of my personal favorites growing up.

“Surf’s Up” dir. Ash Brannon, Chris Buck (2007)

Before I was old enough to understand the appeal of mockumentaries like “The Office” or “Spinal Tap,” “Surf’s Up” scratched that itch for me. A story about a penguin with a passion for surfing might not immediately make you ponder life’s inner meaning, but growing up, it made me realize how insightful this film really is. “Surf’s Up” follows main character Cody Maverick, a teen penguin chasing the only thing that matters to him: the Big Z Memorial Surf Off championship. Maverick is mentored by the reclusive Geek — who later turns out to be Big Z himself — and battles nine-time champion Tank Evans for the grand prize. This was a fascinating film for me as a child: the realistic voice acting made the film seem grounded and conversational in a land of movies with high-pitched fairytale characters. However, I relate to it even more as a young adult. Cody doesn’t really know what he’s doing in life, and he’s tired of everyone around him defining him before he gets a chance to do it himself. Soundtracked by 311, Sugar Ray and Pearl Jam, this movie pulls its weight in grown-up music as well. I can confidently say that “Surf’s Up” is one of the few children’s movies that I can easily enjoy at the age of 18, just as much as 8.

“The Book of Life” dir. Jorge R. Gutierrez (2014)

I knew this movie was special early in my film critic career, at age 9. The vibrant colors, stop-motion animation and iconic rendition of Radiohead’s “Creep” captured my heart even as a youngster. Protagonist Manolo Sánchez has a family legacy of bullfighting to continue, but he’s drawn to music over the violence of the former tradition. When his childhood love Maria Posada is killed and taken to the Land of the Remembered, Sánchez’s mission is now to bring her back to life. I wished I could be Posada as a child — beautiful, intelligent and above all, steadfast in her beliefs. As I look at this film through the lens of adulthood, I realize how visually and emotionally beautiful this movie is. Mexican culture is showcased with so much love and care in “The Book of Life,” proving why Director Guillermo del Toro is so widely praised in Hollywood circles. The Land of the Remembered is accurate to its namesake — in this story, ancestors live on as long as they are remembered, which helps reframe how younger audiences might think about grief. This movie taught me that honoring where you came from doesn’t mean surrendering who you are, both as a child and as an adult.

“The Incredibles” dir. Brad Bird (2004)

I truly believe that “The Incredibles” is one of the best children’s movies of all time. I loved the sleek cars and suits when I was younger, along with the modern lair of superhero fashion designer Edna Mode. Yet, I appreciate this movie for the details that were included for the adults. Superheros are hidden away from the rest of the world, placed into a system akin to the Witness Protection Program in real life. The Parr family, also known as the Incredibles, are not happy about this. Despite his dissatisfaction, we see Mr. Incredible’s superhero traits shine even in his mundane job at an insurance firm, where he secretly tries to help customers get their claims adjusted and then gets fired for it. “The Incredibles” reminds me that being a good person shows up in everything I do — and not all of those moments are cinematic or grandiose. You see “super” moments in day-to-day life: Unitrans drivers waiting for someone running to the bus stop, professors giving second chances and helping a friend cram for an exam. A movie being so entertaining as a child and so profound as an adult is not a common occurrence, which is why I saved the best for last.

Written by: Miriam Ramakrishnan — arts@theaggie.org