Belle

3.5/5
Review by Kathleen Frugalidad
Belle is a movie about Suzu, a shy 17-year-old high school student who lives with her
father in a rural hamlet. It is possibly the most ambitious work to date by Japanese
animator Mamoru Hosoda, and he himself refers to it as "the one I've been waiting to
make." 
Suzu spent years simply existing as a shadow of herself, but one day stumbled into the
vast online universe of the U dimension and entered the alternate reality as Belle, where
she later rose to fame as a well-known singer. As Belle, Suzu is glamorous and
confident, able to belt out incredible music for her audiences in a way that she couldn't
do in real life. She also develops an interest in and empathy for an outcast online
character known as The Dragon (Takeru Satoh). There are so many distinct strands to
follow in this story that it would take hundreds of lines to summarize the zigzagging
story, so this is truly just the top of the iceberg.
Early on in the movie, it's easy to see elements of Hosoda's own Summer Wars as well
as Ready Player One from Hollywood as sources of inspiration. Additionally, the movie
heavily quotes portions of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, however this serves more as
a witty homage than a straightforward reinvention. Belle, however, demonstrates that it
is much more than a remake or an updated version of those films. In fact, what's most
striking about it is how well it strikes a balance between the folks who live in the actual
world and life inside the virtual world of U.
It's a film that truly takes you to another universe, with the spellbinding graphics
presenting some of the most immersive fantasy you'll have seen in a long time,
reinforcing the film's originality from what appears to be a hodgepodge of different
storylines at first. It is also a meditation on loss, a look at identity in the 21st century,
and a semi-romantic coming-of-age story. Complete with typically gorgeous animation,
an electrifying pace, riveting character depth, sweet humor, and a handful of wonderful
songs, this is a film that you won't be able to take your eyes off from start to finish.
Hosoda has created an infinite-possibility universe in which to set this story, and the at
times perplexing plot can't help but feel confining as our imaginations tantalize at all the
things being overlooked in U's more intriguing corners. Still, there's something
undeniably empowering about the way U (and, by inference, Hosoda) recognize the
innate strengths of people who don't grasp their full potential. In some ways, movies are
similar to the virtual worlds offered by platforms like U, and this one promises a unique
kind of escapism while going out of its way to keep it realistic. If you enjoy films like
these, Belle is for you.