The World according to Charlie Brown: A review on Snoopy and Charlie Brown The Peanuts Movie

Guaranteed no SPOILERS!

As a kid, I always took out the comics section of the newspaper and PEANUTS is one of the daily strips I read. Even though the Peanuts Gang don't have a regular animated series, As part of my review, I will bullet point different insights why I like the movie.

Photo courtesy of Bluesky Animation and 20th Century Fox

#Blue Sky Studios, the same animated studios that brought you Rio, Ice Age and the upcoming Angry Birds movie; did a great job bringing the Peanuts Gang in this movie without dishonoring the late creator Charles Schulz's wishes that his characters will be just the same as the way he draw them. You can still see the Blue Sky trademark in their movements.

#Even though Peanuts is known because of famous beagle, Charlie Brown is still the central figure of the Peanuts universe. Charles Schulz mirrors himself in Charlie Brown because he is also timid and shy. I also shares Charlie Brown's characteristics but I don't share his same enthusiasm and positive outlook in life which is I am also adopting in life. Charlie Brown believes that even he fails in flying kites and never got to succeed in kicking a football, he still does it. Like in his baseball team, even though the team needs a big score to win, Charlie Brown brings that positive outlook in life to them by not giving up. Sometimes, we all need to see the world in the eyes of Charlie Brown. Although Snoopy don't speak and only uses gestures, some of his sounds are from the late Bill Melendez from the archives.

#The famous beagle Snoopy was best interpreted by the movie. Before Calvin and Hobbes, Snoopy already had a big imagination and already have many adventures including a dog fight with his nemesis, the Red Baron. The inspiration for Snoopy was Schulz's family dog. Although it was a pointer and not a beagle; the family photos proved that there was physical similarities. You may be wondering why the real-life World War I ace fits in the Peanuts universe. My only observation is that during the growing years of Schulz, the Red Baron fought for Germany and was considered the villain because of how many he killed during battles. But unlike the Red Baron who only appears in the trademark red Fokker DR.1 tri-plane in the beagle's mind; Manfred von Richthofen a.k.a. the Red Baron; is an honorable ace fighter pilot who fought for Germany. His motto was not to kill an unarmed enemy. Snoopy is an example for anyone to dream big.

#As the protagonist of the Peanuts Gang, Charlie Brown also has a nemesis but not like the conflict of Snoopy and the Red Baron. Lucy Van Pelt always bullies Charlie Brown but still considers themselves as friends because Lucy only wants to think herself as a dominating figure. Just like Charlie Brown, we all have our Lucys to deal with.

#Lucy's brother Linus is a total opposite. Despite having a fixation of his blue blanket, he has a wisdom to give advice to Charlie Brown that is beyond his years.

#The Little Red-Haired Girl although is already named in comics strips, is continued to remained nameless in the movie. She is the object of Charlie Brown's love and being Charlie Brown, he is hesitant to talk to. As the trailer shows, the story took place when the Little Red-Haired Girl is called the new girl in class. The character is inspired by Schulz's first love who happens to be a red-haired. Just like Charlie Brown, I also have a crush as early as pre-school named Nicole who seats next to me in my rear. You may find it corny because I was still a kid but she smiles always I look back at her and turn nervously turn my head back.

This review was also inspired by the book title The Gospel According to Peanuts by Robert L. Short as part of the Gospel according to series where Short describes the Peanuts Gang as theologically bound to Christianity.

Bluesky Studios did a great job for the 3D imagery since I can see it is blurry when you are not using the 3D eyeglasses.

Snoopy and Charlie Brown The Peanuts Movie is a must-see by the whole family as the first Rated G movie of 2016 in Philippine cinemas since it was shown late here which is a good thing because it might collide with the blockbuster movie of 2015. Premiered in 3D at Megamall last January 3.

For more movie reviews, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.