davelynch16

The Legend of Ochi attempts to weave a simple tale of a young girl trying to return a baby creature to its home, but despite its technical merits, the film largely fails to connect with its presumed target audience, or indeed, any audience.

From the outset, The Legend of Ochi presents a puzzling viewing experience. Early night scenes are so shrouded in darkness that it's genuinely difficult to discern what's happening on screen. This lack of visual clarity, combined with a sluggish pace, makes for a frustrating opening act. If a film is aiming for children, it does a remarkably poor job of holding their attention; within ten minutes, my six-year-old was declared it "boring" and was soon fast asleep.

One of the few compelling reasons to stay with the film is the always watchable Willem Dafoe. However, even his presence can't salvage the narrative. Like many of the characters in The Legend of Ochi, Dafoe's role feels oddly detached and underdeveloped. The characters in general are peculiar, lacking the depth or relatability needed to forge any kind of emotional bond with the viewer.

While the story itself is straightforward, there's a surprising absence of anything truly exciting or engaging to draw you in. The central premise, while simple, never truly blossoms into a captivating adventure. This makes it challenging to pinpoint who the film is actually for.

Technically, the movie shines in certain areas. The practical effects are commendably done, adding a tangible quality to the creature. Thankfully, CGI is kept to a minimum and used sparingly, which is a refreshing approach. Furthermore, the cinematography is undeniably beautiful, offering striking visuals throughout. Yet, these artistic achievements can't compensate for a lack of narrative pull or character connection.

Ultimately, The Legend of Ochi is a technically proficient film with a visually appealing aesthetic, but it's severely hampered by a strange tone, underdeveloped characters, and a story that struggles to ignite any interest. It's a curiosity, perhaps, but one that leaves you feeling more bewildered than entertained.

I wasn't expecting anything perfect or to see something I would never forget. But I was at least hoping to have a laugh. I don't have a problem with toilet humor, in fact I think it's difficult to get it wrong, if it's not overdone, but this sorry excuse for a movie couldn't even get the poo jokes funny. Lines are delivered with little emotion or comic timing. Nothing wrong with bad language but bad language alone is not funny. The script is weak and the CGI lip sync on the dogs is poorly done. There are a couple of scenes early in the movie that were slightly amusing which prevents me giving this stinker the minimum 1/10. Not sure about all the positive reviews, maybe it's somehow better if watched in the cinema.

Well I thought it unfair to write a review or score a series based on one episode, so I gave it to episode four. The first was unfunny but I was interested and intrigued enough to give it more time. Wasted time probably as I can't see where this is going or not sure if I care anymore. Some of the cast are good but have little in the way of script to work with. Josh Gadd being one exception, he's just terrible whatever he says. Trying to decide if I'll keep watching, at least the episodes are short.