Dora Goto Talks Films

Photograph by Laurie Sparham /  Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures During Disney's era of reviving classic Disney films and franchises into modern, live-action films, oftentimes offering different takes and perspectives, Marc Forster's Christopher Robin  was truly the refreshing - or rather, nostalgic - ride it promised to be. While the live-action film adaptation didn't reach the potential of A. A. Milne's original writing about Christopher Robin and his furry friends, Walt Disney Studios' 2018 take on the story of Christopher Robin was still soothing, truthful to it's iconic yellow bear and his friends (including in characterization), and delicate in it's treatment of its cinematography and transitions within the film. Christopher Robin  opens up with a young Christopher Robin attending his going away party with Pooh and his friends as Robin is to be sent to a boarding school, during which Robin promised to never forget Pooh and his friends. The...

Lion (2016) Just like in Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire (2008), Dev Patel proves once again to possess the strength and capability as an actor to deliver a powerful performance about a character with a complicated past and journey. But don't get me wrong, though appearing to have very similar premises, Slumdog Millionaire and Garth Davis' Lion (2016) are very different journeys. While in Slumdog Millionaire 18-year-old Jamal (portrayed by Patel) tries to explain how he had gotten the questions right in the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? by reflecting on his complicated youth and journey of how he got to where he is today (ultimately fueled by his love for Latika, portrayed by Freida Pinto), Lion offers voice to a different kind of journey - equally important and well-executed - involving finding his birth family and, ultimately, his self-identity and peace within himself. Garth David's Lion was truly a captivating ride - particularly throu...

Loco Love (2013) Loco Love , co-directed by Jose Luis Gutierrez Arias and Fernando Sariñana, is set in modern day Arizona and deals with a Mexican teen, Marisol (portrayed by Melany Bennett), and an American teen, Gavin (Evan Deverian), falling for each other and dating amidst the social pressures and racial tensions coming from both their families against each other. Though in theory the plot of this film sounded interesting - taking an apparent inspiration from Stephen Sondheim's "West Side Story", except set in contemporary time, and exploring how an interracial relationship could cope ( if ), in a town full of racial tension and prejudice from both racial sides involved - but unfortunately this film and its exploration of its themes and messages of racial tolerance and inclusivity failed in execution, starting with the characters who are supposed to carry the plot and help us connect. While Melany Bennett's interpretation of the protagonist, Marisol, is f...

If you read my regular blog (which you probably don't), then you're probably scratching your head wondering what are you doing here and what this second blog is for...and now I'm going to tell you. Okay, after this sentence. I've been an avid film watcher and lover since I can remember. It started with films such as Disney's  Mulan   when I was a little girl (and continues as a little girl to this day) to appreciating films like Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel, Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream , Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather and anything in between - in topics, themes, directing styles, genres, ways of exploration, and really anything. Although I realize watching films is not a strange activity and rather is a common means of entertainment, my passion for watching films and actual filmmaking (that's a WHOLE other story) extends the casual seeing and appreciation. For me, I watch films and try to create films to (be) entertain(...