“Barbie” is an outstanding toy film adaptation, surpassing even the first “Transformers” movie

Barbie’s artistic achievement and entertainment value are high. The stereotype of the Barbie doll is also its prototype, which is actually a difficult subject to deal with. The film recreates the stereotypical Barbie visual texture while flipping outdated gender stereotyped values. Quite smart. (no thunder)

style

Most of the entire film is spent in Barbieland, the world where Barbie dolls live. Everything in this world is very like a toy from shape to color. Or to be more precise, the rules of this world are like the imaginary world when a child holds a Barbie doll and “plays house”.

This style is the focus of the entire movie, driving the development of characters and plots. When you watch the trailer, you will feel a little “noisy”, but when you really enter the movie, the people and things in that world are quite believable. This is rare.

Role

Barbie, played by Margot Robbie, is the star of the show. Watching this Barbie grow up under the stereotyped appearance and feel those subtle transformations is very enjoyable. The other two human characters just serve as a contrast, making Barbie’s personality more three-dimensional.

Kenny played by Ryan Gosling is the finishing touch. Although he is still limited to the frame of foiling Barbie in the movie (otherwise it would not be a Barbie movie), but the interpretation of this role that was originally just a foil is both real and worthy of attention. The other Barbie and Kenny are really just foils. But that’s fine too. The focus is clear without losing focus.

plot

The main structure of the plot has been revealed in the trailer, and you can probably guess the prototype, which is Pinocchio. The discovery and change of a Barbie doll after entering the human world. I couldn’t guess it beforehand, and the great thing about this movie is how to make the story interesting and novel, out of the ordinary.

Can’t reveal too many details. But I think there are two subtleties. First, the relationship between the Barbie world and the human world, and how they influence each other. There’s a little bit of Toy Story here (but only a little). Second, even if humans are involved, most of the events in the film still take place in Barbieland (watching this movie is to see that world, isn’t it).

mood

Movies are comedies. Two hours of entertainment. Compared with other movies based on the prototype of Pinocchio (such as “AI Artificial Intelligence”), this movie didn’t make Barbie suffer (of course a little hurt). It is quite restrained in the processing of emotions.

idea

The main axis of this film is women and their value. Other axes involve self-awareness and exploration. Using stereotypes to flip stereotypes, the technique is very clever, and the sense of proportion is quite good, so that it will not be too politically correct to the point where Barbie is no longer Barbie.

further reading