****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
"Equestria Girls" (the first movie) caused some division in the fandom. But, for me as a casual viewer, "Rainbow Rocks" establishes the Equestria Girls spin-off franchise as legitimately good and full of potential due to it's sense of continuity, improved focus & flow, and an even more lively characterization and interactions. And the animation & music quality added the final touches.CONTENT ISSUES:This is a kids movie first and foremost (and therefore very much a family movie)...not really anything to worry about here.PLOT (ABSOLUTELY NO SPOILERS OF THIS CURRENT MOVIE...BUT A FEW MINOR ONES FROM THE FIRST):Continuity -There were many things I really appreciated about "Rainbow Rocks" - one of which was its sense of continuity. The first movie caused a kind of rift amongst the fandom with some liking it and others abhorring it (just so you know where I'm coming from, I liked it). Even so, the writers did not ignore the first movie but made sure to allude to past events (aka "Equestria Girls"). What do I mean? Things like how the whole reason the Dazzlings go to Canterlot High was because they witnessed (from a distance) the aftermath of the battle between Twilight & company against Sunset Shimmer. But even more ingenious than that was they used past events to help create points of conflict and character development...for instance, even though Sunset Shimmer is trying to find redemption and forgiveness...many of the students are still very wary of her and just waiting for her to turn evil all over again...even her friends. They also use bits of Sunset's past as an effective plot device. Simply put, they built off of what already existed and made it better...instead of abandoning it and trying to start completely over to fix things. I appreciate when franchise moves maintain continuity in these sorts of things.Characterization -"Equestria Girls" really focused too much on moving the storyline along that they didn't pay as much attention to character development as they could have. This time, they take a slower pace and focus a bit more on character interactions and development which creates a much more interesting and engaging film. The fact that the main group of friends (Rarity, Applejack, Rainbowdash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie) haven't been friends for long shows as they are still trying to discover what friendship truly is. I found this to be a very good and intriguing dynamic. As to the Dazzlings, as main villains they are rather flat and don't go through any major character changes. BUT that does not make them any less interesting to watch. Their strong and distinct personalities, plus the way they interact with each other and other characters really leaves a lasting impression. They are definitely some of the best villains MLP has to offer. One aspect of the characterization that I found most intriguing was how (while avoiding spoilers) Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle became closer friends by being foils of each other: Sunset as the girl that everyone is waiting for to destroy something, and Twilight as the girl everyone expects to solve everything. They really played this aspect well and created some interesting food for thought.Focus & Flow -The plot line was developed much better. This was probably because not only was the pacing not rushed, but also because they did not try to focus on too much (jack of all trades, master of none). They focused on the main plot, the internal struggles of Sunset and Twighlight, and the evolution of the bond of friendship between the main characters. And by especially focusing on these things, they made some really great narratives out of them that were fleshed out well, cohesive, and interesting. Also, the comedic bits were executed more naturally and convincingly and added to the film rather than detract (as some of the humor fell flat in the first one).ANIMATION:A special note needs to be made for the animation and visual quality. They really stepped it up this time. The first movie had effective animation, but it felt more like something you would expect from a movie-meant-for-TV kind of thing...or even just an extended "normal" episode. With "Rainbow Rocks", they got it right...not only is the animation pristine, but it's also more natural. And they make use of brilliant camera angles and perspectives...something they did not pay too much attention to in the first movie. This film definitely felt much more "cinema worthy". I also appreciated the fact that most of the animation for playing the instruments was actually synced well to what was happening in the music.MUSIC:MLP is known for it's music...and especially with the battle of the bands theme going, it's even more important that it shines. The background music (non-main songs) were wonderful and magical in their own rights adding to the atmosphere. But the key songs, themselves, were very powerful and lasting. The music of "Equestria Girls" was nice, but "Rainbow Rocks" definitely surpasses it in huge degrees. The rock and pop infused music is powerfully arranged and much more sentimental, fierce and sultry (for the Dazzlings), and catchy. And to top all this off, they were much more naturally slipped in and choreographed, here, than in the last movie...which really made these moments even more impactful rather than jarring. They simply add so much to the scene and movie.ALL IN ALL:The "Equestria Girls" movie left some loving the concept but many others wondering if EG could be a valid addition to the franchise. But "Rainbow Rocks", on the other hand, cements this spin-off as something that is solid and filled with wonderful potential. The stronger and more focused narrative, the stronger focus on characterization and character interaction, major upgrades on the animation and more lively camera angles, and more intentional and powerful music...there's a lot to enjoy in this one. Oh! and do yourself a favor! Watch all the way through the end credits. Not only is the story further expanded on, but there's a nice little surprise at the end.
