Disney marries magic, realism, & representation in RAYA & THE LAST DRAGON by film critic and writer Paris Sewell

Raya and the Last Dragon (2021, dir by Carlos Lopez Estrada & Don Hall, USA) is the newest Disney movie to hit its Disney+ streaming platform (given the pandemic). Although due to the new LA movie theater re-openings, it is also at the cineplex!

I am a bit late, but seeing the advertisements everywhere intrigued me. 

I am a Disney fan. Watching Disney movies is so comforting. It gives you hope about the world. It transports you to another universe where fairytales and magic exist, and every ending is a happy one. 

I am enjoying the new generation of badass female protagonists Disney has been putting out lately. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy the Cinderella story where true love wins in the end. However, Elsa, Moana and now Raya display qualities of bravery and fearlessness that is just *chef’s kiss*. They don’t need a man and are strong and I am so here for it.

Something else that stands out about Raya is that she is heavily Southeast Asian inspired. Given the current recent events (like the horrific shootings of Asian Americans in Atlanta Georgia as of this writing in late March 2021), this is extremely important. 

Asians Americans are now the targets of hate crimes. They are being blamed for the coronavirus which heightens the stigma surrounding them. The racism they have been facing has been ignored and excused for too long. Enough is enough. Their lives are just as important as everyone else, so I urge everyone to not be blind to the violence and injustice. 

Raya being Southeast Asian can hopefully inspire young kids to dream and be proud of what they see on the screen. Representation matters. I hope this also encourages other stories to be told and shared. The film didn’t seem too stereotypical (even though Americans always seem to align Asians with animal symbols such as dragons), but I am not Southeast Asian so it’s not my place to say whether Raya is a good representation or not.

Like any Disney movie, it is filled with mythical elements and magical motifs. Raya and the Last Dragon tells the story of Raya, who goes on an adventure to bring together the dragon’s gem and restore the land of Kumandra. Due to humans’ selfishness, the land is divided along with its people. If this movie were to have a slogan, it should be people suck. Raya, once a naïve girl who blindly trusted her enemy, now has a cynical attitude about humans and trust. What I like about this movie is that it is raw and real. It truly shows how flawed people are. Not everything is unicorns and rainbows. Unfortunately. It is darker and it is violent, which truly shaped the story and gave the ending more of a satisfying feel. Themes such as betrayal, trust and togetherness shape the film. With all this being said, I enjoyed the film. I give it a 9.1/10. 

Written by film critic & writer Paris Sewell. Paris posts film reviews and pop culture appreciations on Instagram @parishatesyouxo and Twitter @blkspicegurl. Thank you so much for reading.