Disney+ original film Raya and the Last Dragon dropped last Friday March 5th, 2021.
🐉✨#DisneyRaya is the first Disney movie inspired by Southeast Asian culture.
rottentomatoes: 95%
metacritic: 76
imdb: 8.0
Raya
Raya tries to restore peace back to the world of Kumandra.
“I know what you’re thinking. A lone rider. A dystopian world. A land that’s gone to waste. How did this world get so broken. Well, that all began 500 years ago. Kumandra. This is what we used to be. When our land was whole, and we live harmoniously alongside… dragons. Magical creatures who brought us water and rain and peace. It was paradise. But then, the Druun came. A mindless plague that spread like wildifre, multiplying as they consumed life and turned everyone they touched into stone. The dragons fought for us the best they could, but it wasn’t enough. That’s when the Mighty Sisudatu, the last dragon, concentrated all her magic into a gem and… …blasted the Druun away. Everyone that was turned to stone came back. Except the dragons. All that was left of Sisu was her gem. It should have been this big inspirational moment, where humanity united over her sacrifice. But instead, people being people, they all fought to possess the last remnant of dragon magic. Borders were drawn, Kumandra divided.” — Raya
“We all became enemies, and the gem had to be hidden. But that’s not how the world broke. That didn’t truly happen until 500 years later, when I came into the story.” — Raya
“Hmm. Huh. Looks like someone’s trying to be clever. All right, Tuk Tuk, let’s show ’em what clever really looks like. Tuk Tuk! Come on! Focus! Thank you. Hey, bud, that was awesome. Give me some shell. I got ya. Whoa. Wait a second. This feels too easy. Chief Benja. I know it’s your job to try and stop me, but you won’t. You might wanna take out that blade. You’re gonna need it. Did I? Hey, don’t beat yourself up too much, Chief Benja. You gave it your best. Wow. The spirit of Sisu.” — Raya
“Well, yeah. I mean, anyone hoping to steal the Dragon Gem no has to face the fury of the two baddest blades in all the lands. They are? Uh… okay. Okay, no, we can do this. I’m ready. I know exactly how we’ll stop them. First… Tail. A sweltering desert with sneaky mercenaries who fight dirty. Second, Talon. A floating market famous for fast deals and fighters with even faster hands. Third, Spine. A frigid bamboo forest guarded by exceptionally large warriors, and their giant axes. Fourth, Fang. Our fiercest enemy. A nation protected by angry assassins, and their even angrier cats. Okay, so we’re gonna need some crossbows and catapults and… ooh! What about flaming catapults? We’ll poison them? Wait, what? But they’re our enemies.” — Raya
“That’s ridiculous. It doesn’t do that. That’s ancient history, Ba. Things look a little tense, Ba. Please don’t. I have something to say. Who’s hungry? Hi, Namaari. I’m Raya. Is that Sisu? Sorry, um, yeah, I might be a little bit of a dragon nerd. Come on. Come on. Have you eaten yet?” — Raya
“Seriously? Your mom actually said that? Awkward. Okay, next question. Hand-to-hand or swords? Right? Only a monster would choose to wear this outfit on the regular. Uh, rice or stew? I didn’t think that’d stump you. Really? Oh. And we’re both Sisu superfans. Sisu? You’re kidding, right? Are you supposed to have that? But which river? There’s, like, hundreds. Yeah. Maybe we really could be Kumandra again. Whoa. Really? Hmm. Hey. Come with me, dep la. I wanna show you something.” — Raya
“It’s the last bit of dragon magic left in the whole world. There is now way you’re taking Sisu’s gem. Ba! No! Ba! Come on, we have to go! Ba, get up! Come on! Please, we have to keep moving. Get up! Ba! We don’t have time! Stand up! I’ll help… Ba, why are you saying this? No! We can make it together. You’re okay. Ba? No! Ba! Ba.” — Raya
“Please let this be it. Whoa! What are you doing, you big fur bug? Hey, buddy focus. Eyes forward, Tuk Tuk. Good boy. You’re so easily distracted. You’re getting a little too big for this, bud. Six years of searching and we end up at a literal shipwreck. That’s not a bad sign, is it? Sisudatu… um… I don’t know if you’re listening. I’ve searched every river to find you, and now I’m here at the very last one. Look, there’s not a lot of us left, and we really… we really need your help. If I can he honest, I really need your help. I made a mistake. I trusted someone I shouldn’t have, and… …now the world’s broken. Sisudatu… Suvaa de draa sim Mandra de draa lim Bavaa de draa Tomben I know, buddy, I haven’t forgot…” — Raya
“Oh, Mighty Sisu. You are Sisu? Raya. I’m Raya. Today? When exactly do you think today is? I mean… it’s jackfruit jerky. I dried it myself. Uh… Sisu, there are a few things I need to catch you up on. I don’t know. But I still have a big chunk of it, though. Can’t you just make another one? But you’re a dragon. But you saved the world. Whoa. Uh… you’re glowing. No, no. Look! Your little sister’s magic? Okay, what’s yours? Wait, wait, wait, you touched this gem piece and it gave you powers. You know what this means, right? What? No! You’re still connected to the gem’s magic, and that means you can still use it to save the world. If we can get all the other gem pieces… …you can reassemble it… and bring my ba back?” — Raya
Chief Benja
“Don’t mistake spirit for skill, young one. I promise you will not set foot on the Dragon Gem’s inner circle. Not even a toe. Not today. Boop. Like I said, not one foot on the inner circle. You lost, Raya. Raya… I probably should have said two feet. I won’t. And it’s either ‘Father’ or ‘Ba to you. You did good, dewdrop. You passed the test. For generations, our family has sworn to protect the gem. Today, you will join that legacy. Raya, Princess of Heart, my daughter, you are now a Guardian of the Dragon Gem.”
“Well, someone’s excited. I’m glad you feel prepared, dewdrop, because I have something important to tell you. The other lands, they’re on their way here, as we speak. Really? Tell me what you know about the other lands. Or, how about shrimp paste from Tail, lemongrass from Talob, bamboo shoots from Spine, chilis from Fang and palm sugar from Heart? No, we’re not going to poison them and we’re not going to fight them. We’re going to share a meal with them. I invited them. They’re only our enemies because they think the Dragon Gem magically brings us prosperity.”
“They assume it does, just like we assume things about them. Raya, there’s a reason why each land is named after a part of the dragon. We were once unified. Harmoniously as one. Kumandra. But it doesn’t have to be. Listen, if we don’t stop and learn to trust one another again, it’s only a matter of time before we tear each other apart. This isn’t the world I want you to love in. I believe that we can be Kumandra again. But someone has to take the first step. Trust me.”
“Don’t worry, I’m gonna be open with a joke. I’m kidding. I’m kidding. People of Tail, Talon, Spine, and Fang, welcome to Heart. For far too long, we have been enemies, but today is a new day. Today, we can be Kumandra once more.”
“The gem’s not a weapon. It’s a sacred relic.”
“Chief Virana, I’m so glad Fang accepted our invitation. Huh? You will not set foot on the Dragon Gem’s inner circle. Listen to me! We have a choice. We can tear each other apart, or we can come together and build a better world. It’s not too late. I still believe can be Kumandra again. No… no… Druun. They’re repelled by water. Hurry! Get to the river! Raya, you have to listen. You are the Guardian of the Dragon Gem. There’s still light in this. There’s still hope. Raya. Don’t give up on them. I love you, my dewdrop.”
Sisu (Awkafina)
“Oh, my… where am I? Pengu? Amba? Pranee? Are you here? Who said that? Hello? Oh! Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there. Not too bad. Just a little dusty. Let me get that for ya. And you’re people. What’s your name? And you’re not made of stone, which means… we did it! You hear that, Pengu? It worked! I didn’t mess it up! Is that food? I was so focused on saving the world, I forgot to have breakfast today. Tuesday. Mmm. What is this delightful culinary treat? Well, compliments to the chef. Wanna finish this, Skippy? You broke it? Oh, oh. Oh, my. This is bad. This is bad. I’ve been asleep for 500 years, you brought back the Druun, and none of my brothers and sisters came back. Why didn’t they come back? Also, you broke the gem! Is that supposed to make me feel better? If you lost a puppy, and I said… ‘well, we still have a big chunk of it!’ Would that make you feel better? No, I can’t just ‘make another one.’ I’m gonna be real with you, all right? I’m not, like, the best dragon, ya know? I did do that. That’s true. But have you ever done like a group project, but there’s, like, that one kid who didn’t pitch in as much, but still ended up with the same grade? Yeah, I wasn’t the one who actually made the gem. I just turned it in. Oh, thank you. I use aloe and river slime to maintain my… oh! This is my little sister Amba’s magic. I got the glow! Yeah, every dragon has unique magic. I’m a really strong swimmer. I no longer need a night light? I can reassemble it… …and boom the Druun away! And bring all of Kumandra back.”
Chief Virana (Sandra Oh)
“Go ahead. It’s all right.”
Namaari (Gemma Chan)
“I’m Namaari, of Fang. Hey, I’m the one wearing the Sisu fan necklace.”
“Blades all day. Okay, dressy or casual? Uh… this is actually one of the first times I’ve had rice in awhile. Fang may look nice on the outside, but we have some pretty big holes on the inside. Sorry. Didn’t mean to bring it down. So, where were we? We both have single parents who are terrible at telling jokes. We’re both warrior women who despise uncomfortable formal wear. Yeah. You know, Fang legend says she’s still out there. Wanna see something? No. According to this, after the Mighty Sisu blasted away all the Druun, she fell into the water and floated downstream. Legends say she’s now sleeping at the river’s end. I don’t know. But if we could find it, could you imagine? A dragon back in the world. Things could be so much better. Here. From one dragon nerd to another.”
“The spirit of Sisu. I can feel it. I see why Heart guards it so closely. Thank you, dep la. You’ve been very helpful. In a different world, maybe we could have been friends, but I also have to do what’s right for Fang. Sorry. It’s Fang’s now.”
Tail Chief
“Nice speech, Chief Benja. But why’d you really bring us here? Are you gonna rob us? He brought us all this way to talk about fairy tales.”
“Not if we get to it first!”
Talon Chief
“Why would he need to rob us? The land of Heart already has everything.”
Spine Chief
“Oh, its really east to pontificate on Kumandra when you hold the mightiest weapon in all the lands. Kumandra! Kumandra’s a joke! This is pointless!”
“What is this? No! Spine should have the gem! The gem belongs to Spine! Give me the gem! Get the pieces!”
Spine Warrior 1
“What’s going on? Fang’s making a play for the gem! There’s still magic in them!”
Spine Warrior 2
“Our blades say different.”
Heart Citizen 1
“Whoa. Ah…”
Spine Citizen 1
“Oh.”
Tong (Benedict Wong)
