Mar
15th
2018
Thoughts on The My Little Pony Movie · 5:09am Mar 15th, 2018
So, I finally, finally saw The My Little Pony Movie, and it was fine, I guess. I mean, it was NOWHERE near as disappointing as Legend of Everfree. Heck, my experience with the live-action Beauty and the Beast was more disappointing than my experience with this movie.
I’m going start with the cons because I want to end on a good note:
- The writing staff was trying too hard to seem cool. The two biggest offenders are anything Grubber and the Storm King call scene. Eh, could have been worst.
- The plot left quite a bit to be desired. I mean, I understand what this movie was trying to be. It was trying to be a sort of coming-of-age story with ponies. It’s got a lot of the elements of a coming-of-age story. Loss of innocence, check. Exposure all the ways that the world that isn’t fair, check. Reaffirmation of everything good and right with the world despite everything wrong with it, check. At the same time, coming of age stories tend to spend a little more time elaborating on the character development, and they usually take place over a longer timeframe.
Since the movie tried to show all that in such a short timeframe, the plot ended up missing a quite a bit of meat. I’ve got to give them props for trying though. - I’m so used to how lighthearted the show normally is that I was a little off-put by how dark the movie was in comparison. I get that this was done to appeal to a larger audience, but I couldn’t help but be a little creeped out.
Got that negativity out of the way. On to the pros:
- The songs and the score. Well, okay, three, maybe four, of the songs and the score. I normally have a hard time getting into villain songs, but “Open Up Your Eyes” did a good job making me sympathize with Tempest, so it’s a maybe song for me. “We Got This Together” and “Time to Be Awesome” were so upbeat and motivational. I might be a little biased towards them because they helped get me through studying for my first final as a med student, but wow, they were just so dang positive. Just hearing the instrumentals for those songs, which was most of the score by the way, gets me pumped. Also, I had avoided listening to “Rainbow” for the longest time because it seemed like a song that was best heard in context. When I finally did hear it, it was beautiful. It definitely captured the coming-of-age aspect of the movie. Unfortunately, “I’m the Friend You Need” and “One Small Thing” didn’t really impress me, but never mind that. The other songs more than made up for it.
- The visuals. Oh sweet goodness, the visuals. Canterlot has never looked more stunning, and the part where Celano’s ship unfurls its rainbow sails was just breath-taking.
- Capper and Princess Skystar were total gems. Now, I’m normally not into silver-tongued charmers because I’m a woman who prefers her men genuine, but once Capper’s heart of gold is exposed, he’s hard not to like. I mean, I just love how he goes from pretending to be other people’s, err, ponies’ friend to learning what it truly means to be one. It’s good development. Princess Skystar was hilarious. The way she behaves around the ponies just gives you the feeling that the isolation was starting to drive her mad. Pinkie Pie couldn’t have gotten a better friend to play off of. She was also quite the powerhouse in the big fight scene near the end. Before anyone complains about me leaving out Celano and Tempest, I already mentioned Tempest in item 1, and unfortunately, Celano as a character wasn’t quite as memorable for me as Capper and Skystar. Celano does have quite the voice. I’ll give her that. I know her voice actress isn’t best known for her singing, but she definitely shouldn’t feel shy about accepting roles that require her to sing.
- I got to drive my sister’s boyfriend crazy with my fangirling. I know it has nothing to do with the movie plot or quality, but watching these characters, who I’ve seen on the small screen for a while now, come to life on the big screen was surreal, and I had a hard time not feeling happy about that. I even fangirled over being able to recognize the background ponies.
- Ponies are still cute. Enough said.
All in all, this movie was a fun experience. I wasn’t as totally blown away as I wanted to be, but I was entertained. It’s no animation masterpiece, but it’s a fun family movie, and there’s no shame in being only that.
Honestly I found that to be funny, the dial-tone was a nice call back to my childhood and the delivery of A Storm! That would be great was well done and the I should trademark that. line also got a couple of laughs from me. As for Grubber... his voice actor voices him well but he's a hit or miss character... more misses than hits
Yeah, this should have been a two-hour film,
Understandable. But's not the first time they went dark ie "The Crystal Empire"
... to each his/her own. That's my favorite song from the film. Because I'm you're pal, your amigo, useful and resourceful too.
I have to agree that Celano came off weaker as a character than Capper, I think she was stronger than Skystar, but then again more effort was made on Capper earlier and Skystar was more recent... Dang Celano was the middle child
4817337
I forgot to add this, but why isn't "weaponized Spike" a meme yet? It should be a meme.
4817518
I don't know why it's not.
4817724
I forgot to mention this on the post, but the Storm King kept giving me evil toy company CEO vibes. I can't tell if it's scary or funny, maybe both. Am I the only one who got that? I mean, did the writing staff intentionally write the Storm King as an evil toy company CEO? There's something about the way the Storm King was written that felt REALLY meta.
4819731
maybe?
What was the Beauty and the Beast movie like, entirely?
4844151
If it does, please don't complain about it. 
I wrote a blog post about it. https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/744421/the-ramblings-of-an-optimistic-yet-admittedly-disappointed-beauty-and-the-beast-fangirl By the way, the last bit on that post kind of reveals that I'm a Flashlight shipper. I hope that doesn't bother you.
4844159
I never paid much attention Flash, but, the pairing doesn’t really bother me. I actually think it’s cute when I see the two together.
Can you elaborate more on your reasons for not liking Grubber and the Storm King?
4844175
I didn't really mind the Storm King that much. I actually kind of liked the evil toy company CEO vibe that he had. Grubber felt like one of those annoying teenage boys that try WAY too hard to be cool and funny but don't know when to keep their mouths shut.
Also, that call scene felt like it was trying way too hard to impress 90s kids.
4844181
Ahhh. Now I see.
To tell you the truth, I really enjoyed the Storm King. I thought he was a really evil and intense villain, perhaps the best in the franchise yet. The only problem I had with him was that he didn’t get the amount of screentime he deserved and was very much overshadowed by Tempest Shadow.
I would love to see him appear again someday though. To have more development and make up for not being featured much.
Would you?
4844187
I'm also not entirely sure how the show writers would be able to add on to the evil toy company CEO thing he had going on. Unless they reveal that he's been making other creatures slaves for his evil toy factory. 
Hmm, not really sure. The franchise is only going to run the show for one more season after this one and then move on to Gen 5, his original voice actor probably wouldn't fit the show's budget (of course, they could always hire a soundalike), and he's currently in pieces.
4844203
I think he was more of a pirate of the skies than a toy maker. There are some prequel comics that can show that, and he did try to kill Tempest and Twilight at one point. Perhaps they can make him a little more darker because of his anger toward our heroes for defeating him.
Also, Hasbro Studios is planning on making itself a larger film company. They even plan on making films that have a budget of over 100 million dollars.
4844212
He does sell merchandise if what Celaeno said to Tempest is anything to go by.
4844225
Of course.
Although, that could only be to advertise himself to gain followers as well as a way to make money.
Have you ever read the comics?
4844233
Nope. No money for them.
4844235
I read them once via a website where you can read comics for free.
They’re really great.
They also give you a view of who the Storm King is as a character, and he has a much larger role in them.
Would you like for me to send you the link to the website?
4844237
Okay.
4844239
Here you are:
http://www.comicextra.com/comic/my-little-pony-the-movie-prequel
4844241
Thanks
4844244
You’re welcome.
Did you read the comics yet?
If so, then, what do you think of them?
4844831
I'm a little busy, so I haven't found the time. I'll try to finish them by, umm, next week maybe.
4844832
Okay. I was just checking.
4844851
I haven't read everything yet, but Storm King's backstory is only adding to the evil corporate executive vibe that I'm getting from him. Shows appreciation for his crew through corporate parties and/or casual wear days. Insatiable lust for wealth and control. Thinks of and treats everyone as an underling/a means to an end. Mistreats "secretary." Replaces "secretary" with spineless yes-man after he/she (I can't really tell) quits.
4846005
What about burning down villages?
4846015
Aren't evil corporate executives practically famous for making greedy, hostile, self-serving decisions that often make life a hundred times harder and more miserable for everyone who doesn't work for them? Granted, traditionally they do it by running competitors out of business or some other underhanded means. I guess I can see your point. He's a little too militaristic to be an evil CEO.
4846029
I gues you could say that he’s a combination of an evil king, evil military leader, and evil toy factory boss. The writers probably based him off of some certain people they know.
How’s it coming with the comics?
4848956
I finished. Capper and Celaeno's stories were SO sad.
4848972
I know.
One time I came up with what I believe to be a really awesome idea for how the Storm King could return and be developed more in the series.
Because, in my opinion, he deserves a lot more than just a few minutes on the screen.
4849128
This is where the idea I have is at:
https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/789583/did-you-guys-know