This is not my first rodeo and not my first film review. So I will tell you straight up. I watched Slumberland right after I watched Disenchanted 2022, Disney's attempt to re-awaken (!) one of their most successful franchises. During Disenchanted, I was so bored I started making a list of all the ways the film had failed to meet the standards of the original, yet alone improve on them, until I finally gave up. Slumberland, on the other hand, hooked me from the getgo with a simple story, well told, and loads of cool CGI. The film worked for me. Only after watching did I read the mainstream reviews, and discovered to my surpise that the mainstream critics felt Slumberland lacked an emotional connection. When precisely did our world become so cynical and lacking in hope that a story about an 11 year old who loses her father ... becomes lacking in emotion?? Riddle me that if you can. A solid film, well done. Recommended. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
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A_Different_Drummer18 November 2022
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Jyoti_Mishra21 November 2022Well, the credits are rolling and I'm wiping away my tears. What a film! You know how Pixar do kids films but they gut you if you're an adult? Slumberland just did that to me.
The energy of this film is of those best Pixar bittersweet moments, the feel is dreamlike hyper-reality like Babe or the even weirder sequel, Pig In The City. Or Happy Feet's opera sequence. Indeed, I had to check this wasn't written/directed by the Mad Max don, it's so similar in raw peculiarity.
This is a film meant for kids that outshines allegedly adult fare in its acting performances, writing and direction. It is Paddington good and I don't say that lightly.
Slumberland could have coasted by and I would have been fine with that. The fact that it tries to connect, that it gives so much is why it has to be an 8/10
The only warning I would give is for adults watching this: if you've been through recent heavy familial trauma, you might want to give it a miss. -
viveck_thakur27 November 2022I have come to realize that if one is making a movie for families it will never get high enough rating, that's a given. Frankly, People who only watch and love Noah Baumbach and Terrence Malick movies should not expect similar experience from Slumberland. This limits the movie's reach to people who would have otherwise experienced it and loved it. I gave it a well deserved 8 since it is very well made but it is no The Return of the King. Not as much layered as some would want it to be but, come on, it made for viewing as a family which includes kids as young as 8 years old (my family) it indeed is competently handled by Francis Lawrence. A simple story with a lot of heart. Cool CGI and imaginative set pieces along with amazing performance across the board do help. I wasn't expecting it to be so good, just wanted to have a good time with my kids but was completely drawn in. This is a perfect one for holidays. Give it a go and you won't be disappointed.
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thewalkingpuns19 November 2022After nemos father dies in a freak storm, nemos dreams are the only thing she can escape with. And through them she has to search for a pearl in order to get one more day with her dad. Nemo is played by. Marlow barkley, a new up and coming actress who I feel will shine in further roles. She took the role well and overall was very good. She meets a friend called flip. Played by jason momoa, he is trapped in the slunberland and warms to nemo, just like her uncle philip does. Chris o dowd has an ok american accent which I was not expecting. Her father, peter is played by kyle chandler. I wish we got to see more of him bond with his daughter but what was there was nice. Overall a well acted movie that was enjoyable throughout and had some real heart.
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IonicBreezeMachine18 November 2022Nemo (Marlow Barkley) is a young girl who lives with her father (Kyle Chandler) in a lighthouse on the sea where he regales her with stories of his high adventures with his outlaw partner Flip. When Nemo's father is lost at sea following his assistance of a vessel in distress, Nemo is placed in the care of her estranged uncle Phillip (Chris O'Dowd) who's very much a loner and is unsure how to be a parent to Nemo. In Nemo's dreams of her father's lighthouse, she comes across a burly fast talking satyr con-artists who is actually the Flip (Jason Momoa) from her father's stories. Flip tells Nemo that her father had a map of Slumberland, the land where all dreams reside, that tells the location of magical pearls within the Sea of Nightmares with the power to grant any wish. Using her father's map Nemo embarks with her living stuffed pig and Flip on a journey through the dreams of others to find the pearl and reunite with her father, but a Nightmare hunting Nemo based on her fears and Agent Green from Slumberland's Bureau of Subconcious Activities (BOSA) stand in their way.
Announced in March of 2020, Slumberland from producer Peter Chernin and director Francis Lawrence is the latest even release from Netflix. Loosely based on the early 20th century newspaper comic strip Little Nemo by Winsor McCay, the strip is no stranger to adaptation with McCay himself having produced a number of animated shorts featuring his characters, adaptations for theater and opera, an unauthorized obscure adaptation in 1984, and probably most notably the 1989 Japanese-American co-produced anime film Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland which survived a lengthy 10 year production cycle only to become a massive financial failure but did eventually get a cult following. In interviews Lawrence stated that his work on more grim works such as I Am Legend, The Hunger Games films and Red Sparrow left him wanting to try his hands at something more light-hearted and optimistic which lead to him choosing Slumberland as his next project. David Guion and Michael Handelman, best known for their work on Dinner for Schmucks and Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, write the screenplay and the movie covers very familiar ground, but for me I think it does it well enough.
At the core of Slumberland, the movie is essentially a treasure hunt story with Nemo and Flip using her father's map to travel through various recurring dreams belonging to other people as the dreams of Slumberland possess hidden doors used by BOSA to keep order in the world. While some iconography from the comics and 1989 film is revisited such as the iconic "walking bed", most of the dreams are original creations with a ballroom filled with dancers made of butterflies and a city of glass some particularly well rendered set pieces. Sometimes the dreams can be a little underwhelming with some set pieces being the Canadian wilderness except with giant wild geese or one set that's just a large bathroom not particularly memorable and the BOSA being tailored after the 70s is more odd than it is whimsical. I also wasn't a fan of the design of the Nightmare as it's just a vaguely squid shaped smoke cloud.
In terms of the characters and performances I think the film does pretty well. Marlow Barkley I thought did well playing Nemo and she makes a solid audience proxy for which the dreams bounce off against. Chris O'Dowd is also very good as Nemo's uncle Philip and you feel his struggle being a parent to Nemo because he's been alone for so long. But stealing every scene he's in is Jason Momoa as Flip who gets to play into his comic side with a lot of high energy. While Flip's redesign is about as far from his original as you can get, let's be honest: after years upon years of creepy clown movies and those weird clown sightings in the Carolinas in the early 2010s (Remember those?) I don't think too many people want a clownish protagonist. Momoa is havin an absolute blast playing Flip who's sort of like a less threatening version of Beetlejuice with a air of "wannabe" dashing ladies man coupled with his brash impulsiveness that makes him fun to have an adventure with.
Slumberland is agreeable time killing family viewing that provides a fairly rousing adventure even if it doesn't go quite as full force with the concept as it could've. Overall a decent way to spend two hours. -
ricbret-119 November 2022Yes, it's a good family film. Lively and not too complex.
It's just kind of rotten that the credits for the film make no note of Winsor MacKay, without whom so much of the basis for this film simply would not exist. McCay's amazing imagination expressed through his comic strip LIttle Nemo in Slumberland contained most everything of which this film is composed, minus the search aspects which are kind of weak and don't really carry the film forward. It's the cities and fantastic landscapes, the dreamlike aspects of Slumberland that all draw from McCay's graphics, that make this film really special. But without credit, this feels like a corpse being robbed.
It doesn't deserve any further comment or review. The producer and director should be ashamed. -
michellegovernale27 November 2022All around I recommend this movie. I'm not a critic or anything. Slumberland is sweet yet heartbreaking while remaining hopeful. It is creative and whimsical, but has more of a heal your inner child vibe than a kids movie. Great for them in the sense of imagination but I cried the whole time, so it may be a bit of a big concept and for littles. Maybe for a little older? Depends on your kid of course. While sentimental it is a bit predictable but that's what makes this feel like a safe, comfort movie. Jason mamoa is funny. The cast is all around likable. It has as happy ending as it could have given the beginning.
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thekarmicnomad19 November 2022This is a very well made, perfectly balanced film.
It has enough confidence to take its time laying down the background and characters - yet doesn't drag.
The set pieces are imaginative and well rendered - younger children will be enthralled.
The production and acting is great! The cast is lean and all the characters are interesting and serve a purpose.
The writers used great skill replicating a dreamlike state by bending the rules of reality in fun ways - but managed not to take things too far and lose all sense of tension.
This is a remarkably well made film that is fun, exciting and touching.
It has amazing affects and great character moments. -
CinemaSerf17 November 2022"Nemo" (Marlow Barkley) has one of those lifestyles I would love! She lives in a lighthouse. When a storm visits one night, a tragedy ensues and she must relocate into the city to live with her estranged uncle "Philip" (Chris O'Dowd). He is a shy man who designs door handles - successfully - for a living. Struggling to come to terms with her new environment, she finds her dreams become more and more bizarre as she encounters "Flip" (Jason Momoa). Now this is a character that her father had regaled her with exciting adventures stories about, and now it seems he is looking for a map that will track down some pearls that might enable him (and her) to get what they most desire. This is no ordinary map, though. It is one of dreams, and the pair now have some lively escapades at they gate-crash the nocturnal visions of others. Of course, these transgressions aren't allowed and they are both pursued by the relentless and cunning "Agent Green" (Weruche Opia) from the Bureau charged with preventing such activities, as well as by the nightmares of the young girl which threaten to consume all in their path. To be fair, Momoa does enter into the spirit of the story, but his characterisation is just too hammy and over-cooked. I kept wondering if Antonio Banderas might have been better, or Geoffrey Rush? Barkley is enthusiastic and quite engaging, though, and the visual effects are creative, imaginative and vividly expressed as we progress. The nature of the narrative is a bit repetitive, which doesn't always help, and the story is the simplest of fairy tales-style efforts that does have a certain charm to it - especially her stuffed pig - but is really rather too thin to pad out an overlong two hours of screen time. It's clearly Netflix' attempt to enter the Christmas family market, but somehow I can't imagine many kids sitting through it all, particularly the long, drawn out, denouement.
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Picturesinflow21 September 2023"Slumberland" is a Netflix original film tailored for young audiences, offering a delightful visual spectacle, whimsical humour, heartwarming moments, and a poignant message about dealing with life's inevitable challenges. It unfolds the tale of a young child who receives news that no one, regardless of age, wants to hear. We follow how this life-altering event shapes her world.
The film employs exaggerated facial expressions, designed to tickle the funny bones of its target audience. While it might not elicit laughter from adults, it's bound to have the little ones giggling or bursting into full-fledged laughter. Nevertheless, "Slumberland" is a satisfying family film, perfect for a cozy evening with a cup of hot chocolate.
The story, while straightforward, is profoundly meaningful. As mentioned, it delivers a heartfelt message about learning to move forward after a tragic loss. We accompany the main character, Nemo (portrayed by Marlow Barkley), as she navigates a new life after the devastating loss of her father, forcing her to relocate to an unfamiliar place with her uncle. However, as night falls, her dreams become vivid, offering her guidance in an indirect yet profound manner. Amidst these dreams, we encounter Flip (played by Jason Momoa), another key character, who revels in carefree amusement without any apparent purpose.
"Slumberland" is a film crafted especially for children, and its primary goal is to captivate their attention throughout its duration. It achieves this with exaggerated expressions, a straightforward storyline, and relatability for today's young audience. If it doesn't captivate with its acting, story, or music, it undoubtedly excels in delivering stunning visual effects. While there may be occasional instances of slightly lower quality or rushed effects, they swiftly give way to the next impressive scene. It's a visual delight best enjoyed at the highest resolution available.
In terms of humour, it embraces quirkiness, recognizing that comedy is inherently subjective. "Slumberland" maintains a cheerful tone, even while addressing a somber theme. The actors visibly enjoy their roles and refrain from taking themselves too seriously, inviting viewers to adopt the same carefree attitude.
This film doesn't demand deep contemplation, and those who seek profound meaning might be pursuing a personal agenda. "Slumberland" is a movie tailor-made for children, start to finish, making it an enjoyable watch for audiences of all ages. -
RebelPanda20 November 2022Slumberland is a mediocre modern take on Little Nemo in Slumberland, a New York Herald comic strip from 1905.
Imagine a combination of Monsters Inc, Bedtime Stories, and a touch of Inception. Even with tens of millions of dollars and Francis Lawrence directing, there's not a single good scene. There are a few creative art references in the dream like McKay's giant walking bed. Unfortunately, Lawrence's take on Alice in Wonderland is uninspired and rather ugly. It looks like the characters are walking through a Nintendo game sometimes, other times it's clear they didn't use a greenscreen because the scene looks like the director's mansion in LA.
Jason Momoa is usually hilarious, and he thrives this role as Jack Sparrow crossed with a centaur. It is far from his best performance, but marginally better than anyone else here.
It hits every beat of a Netflix original young adult fantasy feature: Terrible CGI, Mediocre child acting, Illogical alternate reality, No established rules, Predictable twist ending, Unfunny comic relief, The kids are way smarter than adults.
Well, at least it's not as bad as The School for Good and Evil, but it's pretty bad. -
gatorgus4820 November 2022Jason Momoa was part Beetlejuice, part Jack Sparrow.
He did a terrific job and was great fun to watch. He has turned into a very versatile and likable actor.
Chandler. Barkley and O'Dowd were also very good in their parts.
I don't know what the critics were whining about, I really liked it and would have loved it as a kid.
A few laugh out loud moments, and touching ones as well. Well paced and fun action sequences. Special effects, with a couple exceptions, were outstanding for what they are.
The plot, while somewhat predictable in parts, was unique and fun.
While not perfect, I would have changed nothing. Great job in my mind, critics are too critical:) -
cresy-2887323 November 2022Watched this with my daughter. We both really enjoyed this and got a bit emotional.
Reminded me of a watered down version of Inception. I watched alot of fantasy films as a kid including the likes of Neverending Story. In recent times the CGI saturation has taken away some of the magic in fantasy films compared to the 80s epic Labyrinth for example. But Slumberland shows with the right storytelling it doesn't matter if the effects are overwhelming.
Didn't expect much from this but the relationship between father and daughter hit home. You'll laugh and possibly shed a tear.
At the end I had to give my daughter a big cuddle
Brilliant storytelling. -
angelabundia21 November 2022Great movie with, wild imagination, and profound ideology.
I love the story bringing a love of a daughter towards her Father.
How à heart of à daughter seeks her Father's love.
It's a great movie to watch with kids.
I couldn't understand how come they choose the wrong actor Jason as the lead actor is not an ideal actor for this movie. He doesn't have the character and it looks like he copied the style of Johnny Depp.
Johnny Depp is the best actor for movies like this. He would have brought more audience to the movie and they would have made even more money. How come the director make this stupid mistake? He should know better.🤦♀️ -
angel-soha25 March 2023Its not a typical fantasy comedy movie which Disney usually shoves down our throats again and again.. Rather its an emotional and beautiful ride into the life of a little girl fighting her fears loss and separation...The love towards a father... striving to end and compensate for your loss and sacrificing your dreams to end someone elses pain is the core of this movie... Beautifully written and visuals are awesome.. only those people who have endured loss and lost loved ones can truly understand this movie.. so buckle up and get ready for the journey into the world of dreams which is beautiful adorable emotional and full of life.
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Movie_Rating_n_Ranking21 November 2022Entertaining family film full of fantasy and adventure. Apart from the story itself, I really liked the way this movie was filmed. Always with shots at medium height simulating the vision of a child and with very interesting camera movements. I also liked the photography a lot. The chosen camera lenses help a lot in the development of the story, being a useful tool at all times. Coincidentally, a few reviews ago I was complaining about this same concept, in the movie Black Adam, where the range of lenses somewhat harmed the story they wanted to tell.
Slumberland is full of visual effects, some excellently executed, but also some a bit sloppy.
Some moments of this film reminded me of the great animated masterpiece called Song of the Sea. Although without the same magic and emotion of that jewel.
Great movie to watch an afternoon with the children of the house. -
Slumberland (2022) is a movie that my daughter and I recently watched on Netflix. The storyline follows a young lady who recently lost her dad. She lived with her dad in a lighthouse and he told her stories of adventures from his past nightly. After his passing she finds an opportunity to retrace the steps of his adventures.
This picture is directed by Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) and stars Jason Momoa (Aquaman), Marlow Barkley (Spirited), Chris O'Dowd (Bridesmaids), Kyle Chandler (Argo) and Weruche Opia (Bad Education).
This is a unique film with a nice story and solid ending. The special effects are out of this world but a bit too much at times. Jason Mamoa gets better as the film unfolds. There were some scenes that I loved - the misdirection sequence was good and every scene at the Spanish Club was beautiful. I adored the daddy/daughter relationship aspects as well.
Overall, this is an above average addition to the family entertainment genre. I would score this a 5.5-6/10 and recommend seeing it once. -
tankboy-468514 December 2022It's definitely worth a shot.
Francis Lawrence is one of my favorite directors. I feel like he has an eye like no other. From I Am Legend to the Hunger Games Movies, he knows how to capture scenes that have beauty and subtle pain behind them.
Slumberland follows suit. It's good at showing the fairytail-like quality of the "waking world" despite it being...well... the waking world. And where the movie really shines is in its performances. Marlow Barkley is really fantastic. She shows a shocking amount of maturity for her age and in the role she's playing.
The rest of the supporting cast does extremely well too. Pretty top notch for an outing like this.
I think my biggest disappointment in the film is when we're in the dream world. No matter how great your director or crew is, nothing comes across quite as well in front of a gigantic green screen (of which most of the runtime plays out).
I know where all supposed to be "in a dream" but I feel practical sets and CGI used sparingly would have been the better way to go here.
Just like Star Wars I, II, & III, and Oz the Great and Powerful... a huge computer generated world without sets is really off putting and takes me out of the story.
Overall it's good wholesome family film with some genuine heart. I think it just could have been a little bit better. -
paultenhout-140-41315019 November 2022I didn't know this movie was out. I was pleasantly surprised. I watched it with the family (two daughters, 11 and 13) and what fun this movie is. It's funny, looks amazing, decent acting, really good story. We were captivated from start to end. A must see if you have kids! This is the best family movie out there at the moment.
Jason Momoa was a surprise as well. Good to see him in a different role. He was entertaining.
Story is about a girl who lost her dad and tries to find him in her dreams. That sounds lame, but don't let that fool you. The movie is really entertaining from start to finish. -
koolhandkarl8 May 2023It's as though someone watched AI and thought the catastrophe of a Kubrick/Spielberg mashup was a successful and workable concept - and then, somehow, made it work.
The kid: likable and relatable, especially considering the trauma The Dream Momoa: Inventive, delightfully gross and fun, with heart and heartbreak Uncle: so believably awkward and pulls at the heartstrings at his attempts to relate Dreamland: some uninventive cliches but DreamCop channeled some serious Pam Grier action and was sensitive and stern Story was a journey worth taking.
Exploring the world of dreams and making it something the waking world can relate to is always a challenge, but the character development from the main to the tertiary is subtly and expertly done that anyone can find themselves represented in the story. The quest to reconcile Flip, the metaphor to connect the two in life and in dream regardless of whatever "reality" imposes, is beautifully done. -
william-391-27713018 November 2022The Netflix algorithm has once again taken bits and pieces of timeless classics and pasted them together in a failed attempt to create something meaningful.
Take one part Chronicles of Narnia, add in some Neverending Story, garnish with CGI and a well known actor. As with most Neflix originals, you never really connect with the characters. There is no development and the story just passes from each act to the next with a reused template. No doubt small children will enjoy the visual effects though. For everyone else you have a great movie to watch in the background while you scroll on your phone. -
shoppsi22 November 2022I absolutely loved this children's fantasy movie soooooo very much! I'm over 50 so not the demographic, but I thought it was wonderful, magical, delightful, even.
I love the hopeful tone of the movie, that love and hope can beat out even the worst feelings of despair and loss.
The little girl actress was very good, and the adults were also good.
It was beautifully filmed; the CGI was lovely and it took me back to my own childhood. There's definitely a sense of wonder in this movie.
The little CGI pig was so adorable that I wish I had one, lol. So cute.
The plot was good, fast paced, and the whole thing was well written.
What a lovely, refreshing change from regular shows on Netflix. -
nicoleahmed28 April 2023Completely engaging from the start. A proper fantasy with a whole sprawling world and an epic journey which builds kinship and self belief.
The acting and storyline are great. Real character development and people you care about.
Cgi effects for the landscapes are on the whole fantastic. Occasionally on the faces the Cgi flopped for me but the target audience here is families and children /young adults. I think the whole production comes together to give engaging escapism so little flaws here and there can be forgiven.
The films crescendoes to some final thrilling scenes which are satisfying to watch. Recommend. -
ericgoldberg-5015920 November 2022Jason Momoa hams it up more than the pig (pun intended). He acts ridiculous and stupid. The movie is visually stunning but that alone doesn't make a good movie, at least not for me. The story is poorly written and tedious. It has a horrible moral of trying to make kids think it's okay to sleep all day and hide in dreams rather than actually living life. There is a great line in Harry Potter which is "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live". I'd rather sleep than watch this movie and I would rather watch the grass grow than watch Jason Momoa act like an idiotic fool. I'd rather be in La La Land than Slumberland.
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yangna-2516612 December 2022It was very exciting to see Nemo's dream lead to reality. The harmony of each actor seemed to be fun and well-organized, so I was able to watch it comfortably throughout the movie. It was very exciting to see Nemo's dream lead to reality. The harmony of each actor seemed to be fun and well-organized, so I was able to watch it comfortably throughout the movie. It was very exciting to see Nemo's dream lead to reality. The harmony of each actor seemed to be fun and well-organized, so I was able to watch it comfortably throughout the movie. It was very exciting to see Nemo's dream lead to reality. The harmony of each actor seemed to be fun and well-organized, so I was able to watch it comfortably throughout the movie.