Unicorn Wars (2022) Poster

(2022)

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7/10
Bambi meets Full Metal Jacket
gricey_sandgrounder14 December 2022
It's not often when you see a film that you just weren't prepared for.

This one is certainly one. It's strange that it's initial vibe was closer to a black comedy. Then it decided to be serious with its ideas and almost get philosophical. It also seemed to take pleasure in its gruesome violence which may put off some viewers It was strange at first. But I think them being fully on board with this creation shifted the tone in an effective way.

I did have an inkling as to how it would end and it managed to do exactly what I thought. That's always comforting as it certainly makes me feel like that I'm on the directors wavelength.

Throughout the film, I was seeing influences of Princess Mononoke, Full Metal Jacket, Bambi and 300. Those are the type of combinations that shouldn't even really be thought about and yet here we are.

I think what made it work for me the most was the mix of animation styles used. The colour palette is also very vibrant to the point where it's almost like you're in a fever dream. But I did notice the constant use of purple in every scene.

The whole thing ended up being weirdly captivating. The number of animation styles on show was great to see, the commitment to its ideas was much appreciated and it's themes of the horror of war, our ignorance with nature and competitive siblings were well presented.

I certainly won't be forgetting this one anytime soon.
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7/10
Full Metal Jacket Meets Care Bears.
I've seen Paddock and Leafie, A Hen into the Wild but this movie is its own dark world. This isn't your kids care bears. This is if care bears woke up with religion and a genocidal vendetta against beloved unicorns. Full metal Jacket meets care bears. There is a lot to unpack in this film, as it plays like any other war movie in its own fictional world. Following a squad of cute bears with their own feelings and choices. In a long war against their hated enemies' unicorns. Except in this Movie, you have cannibalism, drug use, murder, racism and plenty of gore to go along with the horrors of war, wrapped up in a little cute bow for you. A movie to watch when you want to destroy any remnants of childhood joy left in you. However this film for what it, has real world reflections in it, which in all honesty makes it a pretty good interesting watch. I wouldn't recommend this movie to your kids however I would recommend this movie to fans of the abovementioned movies in the beginning of this review and maybe fans of Watership down. This is a food for thought film with false cute eyes to lead you down a dark rabbit hole.
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7/10
An adult animation film with full of magic , colors and violent wars
ma-cortes9 February 2023
This darkly beautiful terror animation is really inspired by old stories and magic worlds . Some time ago , unicorns roamed the planet. They were free, until a slimy monstrosity engulfed most of them. Currently, Azulín and Gordi, two motherless bears, are indoctrinated into a premature army in order to wage a war against the unicorns , which ended at a mysterious world , the psychedelic terrors of the Magic Forest. Then the war-hungry teddy bears journey from bootcamp to the woods in order to liberate the magical forest . A forest where some evil unicorns remain, of which, as the prophecy says, whoever drinks the blood of the last unicorn will become eternal and beautiful . Something that Azulín wants at all costs. A wish that will lead to a war against unicorns. A decisive war: 'Unicorn wars'.

This wonderful film is plenty of fantasy , adventures , drama, spectacular combats and with enjoyable messages . This magnificent cartoon movie concerns ancient legends and magic worlds . The picture is narrated with sensibility and sense of wonder and quite entertaining , though isn't apt for small kids but contains graphic violence , blood , gore and guts . In this riveting and marvelous cartoon movie there's a deep critical against bloody wars and the encroaching civilization. 'Unicorn wars', by Alberto Vázquez, is an animated film that is sometimes fun , visually tender and narratively raw . A crudeness that , in our times, we have become accustomed to, since what is good, what is beautiful and what is adorable, even if it is bad, is well received. This is a very rare and offbeat movie with a traditional as well as naif animation. It is a sui-generis film with plenty of fantasy , adventure , ecological message and disturbing , at times . The film is really influenced by the Japanese Anime and especially by the fantastic atmosphere created in ¨Mononoke princess¨ (1997) directed by the genius Hayao Miyazaki and others as ¨Chihiro¨ or ¨My neighbour Tororo¨ Director Alberto Vázquez gives his most notable contribution, that sometimes has Catholic overtones , it is a new , surprising mythology , as he creates an amazing world and giving his critical view of it . An adult film , that's why it's more adequate a rating PG : Parents Guide than a children film , due to contain graphic violence , horror moments , bloody attacks , strong fights , and some creepy scenes . A decent film based on an interesting script by director Alberto Vazquez himself . Adding a thrilling musical score and colorful cinematography accompanying appropiately the story's development .

The motion picture was original and competently written/directed by Alberto Vazquez who formerly directed Psiconautas, los niños olvidados (2015) made in similar style . This bizarre and outlandish cartoon movie Unicorn Wars won deservedly a large number of Awards and nominations, such as : CinEuphoria Awards 2023 Winner CinEuphoria Best Animated Film International Competition : Alberto Vázquez , Best Director Iberian Competition , Nominee CinEuphoria Best Film - International Competition Chelo Loureiro , Iván Miñambres , Alberto Vázquez , Best Animated Character - International Competition For the character "Azulin" , Best Animated Character -International For the haracter "Gordi". Días de Cine Awards 2023 Winner : Best Animated Feature Film Alberto Vázquez. Feroz Awards, ES 2023 Nominee Feroz Arrebato Award Fiction Alberto Vázquez . Goya Awards 2023 Nominee Goya Best Animated Film : Chelo Loureiro , Iván Miñambres , Nicolas Schmerkin and Best Original Song Joseba Beristain "Batalla"
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7/10
Cute, cuddly and horribly wrong
RespectedMann24 October 2023
Think about something like "Care Bears" but with a direct and unfiltered anti-war message that feels as honest as it can possibly get. If you can get on board with this idea, you're in for a good time.

While it is true that the movie suffers a few problems when it comes to pacing and tonal shifts, I can honestly say that this has been an incredibly fun and fascinating experience.

I also feel obliged to say this: Unicorn Wars is an incredibly well animated movie!

It has some of the best animated sequences I've seen in years, and I wouldn't be surprised if future animation teachers start using this movie as a reference for their assignments.
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6/10
This was unique...
paul_haakonsen27 March 2023
Right, well I figured that with a title such as "Unicorn Wars", then this would definitely be something special. And thus, I sat down to watch this 2022 animated movie from writer and director Alberto Vázquez here in 2023, without ever having actually heard about it before stumbling upon it.

Writer and director Alberto Vázquez most definitely delivered something unique here with "Unicorn Wars". This was a very special experience to watch. Given the title alone, and the fact that the story is about teddy bears waging war on unicorns, then I wasn't expecting the level of ghastly gore, visceral mayhem and chaos that writer and director Alberto Vázquez delivered. So that was quite a surprise, and a welcomed one at that.

The storyline in "Unicorn Wars" was good and entertaining, for the majority of the movie, which ran for 80 minutes. There were some slow patched throughout the course of the feature, but the overall impression of "Unicorn Wars" was fairly entertaining.

The art and animation style in "Unicorn Wars" is good, sort of reminiscent of a 1990s cartoon from something like Cartoon Network. However, spice that up with an excessive amount of violence, bloodshed and carnage, and then you have "Unicorn Wars".

I was genuinely surprised and actually entertained with the outcome of "Unicorn Wars", and if you want to watch something that is unique, then give "Unicorn Wars" a chance.

My rating of "Unicorn Wars" lands on a six out of ten stars.
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8/10
Way Better than Expected
carmelolia29 January 2024
As one reviewer here on IMDB put it, 'Unicorn Wars' is what happens when Care Bears meet 'Full Metal Jacket'. But it is more than just that. The art style is beautiful at times and you really have to admire the director's and writer's, who happens to be the same man called Alberto Vázquez, creativity.

There is not much to add here besides what I said in the introduction. I am excited to see more films based on this style and direction so Alberto Vázquez, if you are reading this, por favor haz más películas como esta.

This adult animated Spanish film is way better than I ever expected it to be at first glance. I particularly liked the ending but it is definitely worth checking out for the beautiful animation alone.
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