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Given the declining quality of Disney's recent animated films-especially their sequels-I was genuinely worried about whether Zootopia 2 could live up to the standard set by the first movie. However, those concerns completely disappeared once I actually stepped into the theater and finished watching the film. Zootopia 2 avoids the trap of rehashing old ideas. Instead, it introduces a brand-new mystery that expands the worldbuilding in ways the original never explored. I particularly appreciated how the filmmakers used the progression of the plot to guide viewers, through Nick and Judy, into completely new areas of the city. Storytelling and worldbuilding work hand in hand, enhancing one another rather than adding unnecessary elements just for the sake of expansion.

I also enjoyed how much of the humor is built upon the natural characteristics of each animal. Because the audience already understands these traits, the subtle jokes land even better. And although sequels often need to bring back familiar characters, Zootopia 2 handles their return surprisingly well. Many beloved characters reappear in ways that feel organic, and some even play crucial roles in advancing the story-something not all sequels manage to pull off.

Of course, the film's visual design is another highlight. The animals in each ecological zone behave, speak, and even choose professions in ways that closely reflect their real-world species. Every time the story enters a new environment, the screen is filled with layers of details and Easter eggs-so many that a single viewing likely isn't enough to appreciate everything. Moreover, the shifts in musical style subtly reveal which real-world groups the so-called "reptile" characters are meant to represent. This clever use of musical language further shows how thoughtfully crafted the film's symbolism and narrative techniques are.

Beneath its animated surface, the film also touches on issues such as racial tensions, the oppression of minority groups, and the structures of capitalism. By the final act, it even invites the audience to reflect on a deeper question: even if Zootopia is meant to be an animal utopia, can it truly escape the influence of politics and economic power?

Overall, I genuinely enjoyed this film. It is funny, visually captivating, and successfully expands its world within a limited runtime. Although the ending could have revealed a bit more about the world's lore, the careful planning behind the story direction and worldbuilding is still clear-not at all like last year's Moana 2, which felt driven primarily by commercial interests.

For me, for a horror or thriller movie to be good, the most important thing is the overall plot development, including what will happen next. Nothing should be predictable for the audience, because the main selling point of this type of movie is suspense. If the audience can figure it out too early, the overall atmosphere of the film will be greatly weakened.

The thrillers I'm most looking forward to this year are Bring Her Back and Weapons. After watching the former, I was filled with disappointment because the plot twists were actually very predictable and cliché!

But Weapons is different! You have no way of guessing why the child in the story disappears simultaneously until the last chapter begins, while also using a narrative style that's rarely seen in thrillers to weave together the stories of different characters, allowing the audience to understand the full picture from different perspectives.

Some friends asked me, "Is this movie scary?" Actually, it's not really scary, but through excellent camera work and the shifting of color tones in each scene, the entire film is placed in a tense atmosphere. Moreover, besides the suspense, the movie also has quite a bit of dark humor, making the audience's emotions feel like a rubber band being stretched-sometimes the suspense makes you anxious, but sometimes the dark humor makes you feel relaxed.

In short, I would use two words to describe this movie: bizarre and wild.

"The Bad Guys 2" continues the unique visual style of its predecessor, but this time the visuals and color palette are even bolder. In some scenes, the film even incorporates 2D hand-drawn animation to add expressive flair and emotional tension, making the viewing experience feel like reading a moving picture book. On top of that, the action sequences are smooth and dynamic, keeping the audience fully engaged.

But, what really surprised me is that, despite being a family movie, the storyline is far from simple. Compared to the first movie, the heist elements in the sequel are more intricate, full of twists, turns, and hidden schemes. The writers, in the movie, constantly put the Bad Guys in morally challenging situations, and their decisions in the face of these dilemmas help to deepen and develop their characters.

Overall, "The Bad Guys 2" is a sequel that surpasses the original. With its distinctive art direction and a plot full of surprises, the film strikes a perfect balance between action and humor. It delivers thrilling moments alongside genuinely funny ones, making it an entertaining and heartwarming movie for audiences of all ages.