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OCT. 17, 2014
A rts &Entertainment
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Visuals take center stage in ‘The Book of Life’ By Noah S. Lee
Jake Shimabukuro is performing at the Center for the Arts, Escondido Oct. 31. Courtesy photo
Shimabukuro: ‘The Hendrix’ of the ukulele By L. Kent Wolgamott
Ukulele is booming. Stores are selling ever more of the four-stringed, guitar-like Hawaiian instruments. Billionaire investor Warren Buffett has taken up the uke. So have musicians like Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, giving it even
more visibility. But Jake Shimabukuro, the world’s most famous ukulele player, refuses to take credit for the uke boom. “I have been noticing a growth in popularity, especially among younger and TURN TO SHIMABUKURO ON A24
Rife with glorious animated artistry and solid vocal talents, “The Book of Life” is a delightful Day of the Dead-oriented gem. When it comes to forming your own identity, it’s important to follow your heart, for what better way is there to live your life than to be true to yourself? This is especially true in the case of animation, where the core is the guiding hand that holds everything together; therefore, what’s on the inside affects what’s on the outside. Which is exactly the kind of situation that Manolo Sanchez (Diego Luna), a torero with a guitar and a pair of swords, finds himself in when the path he desires to walk clashes with his father’s expectations. Further complicating matters is the love he feels for Maria (Zoe Saldana), whom his charming friend Joaquin (Channing Tatum) is already wooing. All this is part of a wager between the underworld spirits La Muerte (Kate del Castillo) and Xibalba (Ron Perlman) to determine which man will become Maria’s lover. Before deciding which life he wants to follow, however, Manolo has to embark on a fantastic journey spanning three otherworldly domin- “The Book of Life,” from producer Guillermo Del Toro and director Jorge Gutierrez is an animated feature ions in order to face his with a unique visual style. Image courtesy Twentieth Century Fox and Reel FX native possibilities await humor. Children and adults deepest insecurities. All it takes is one you in the three realms of will find much to appreciglance at the face of “The the dead: the Land of the ate in that universal theme Book of Life” to recognize Remembered, the Cave of of being torn between its inner radiance, powered Souls, and the Land of the following your hopes and fulfilling your family tradiby a heart blessed with a Forgotten. From what I’ve seen, tions, as seen through the wonderful pulse. And the simple mention of Guiller- the old saying “It’s the eyes of Manolo. I also liked the cenmo del Toro’s name is rea- heart that counts” perfectson enough to give it a shot, ly describes the visual style tral romantic element — given his knack for produc- they opted for, and I think the love triangle involving Gutierrez and his teams of Manolo, Maria and Joaquin ing quality projects. Such splendor mani- artists and animators de- — in terms of how it actufests in the form of vibrant serve extra points for em- ally holds your attention animation and striking bracing their creative bril- and has plenty of amusing artwork. Under the lively liance to realize the film’s and solemn moments to sustain the exciting chemdirection of Jorge Guti- unique appearance. And it is due to their istry among the three. But errez, there is this zesty beauty within the settings enthusiasm and diligence probably the most importand character designs that that the audience gets to ant aspect that Gutierrez adds to the film’s distinc- participate in an enjoyable remembered to include in tive personality. And if you folk tale-esque story set “The Book of Life,” howevthink the world of the liv- against a Day of the Dead er, was sharing that same ing is interesting, then you backdrop, one that is rich TURN TO BOOK OF LIFE ON A23 have no idea what imagi- in romance, adventure, and
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