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• DVD & Streaming

The Book of Life

• Animation , Comedy , Kids , Romance , Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Content Caution

In Theaters

• October 17, 2014
• Voices of Diego Luna as Manolo; Zoe Saldana as Maria; Channing Tatum as Joaquin; Ron Perlman as Xibalba; Kate del Castillo as La Muerte; Christina Applegate as Mary Beth; Ice Cube as Candle Maker

Home Release Date

• January 27, 2015
• Jorge R. Gutierrez

Distributor

• 20th Century Fox

Positive Elements   |   Spiritual Elements   |   Sexual & Romantic Content   |   Violent Content   |   Crude or Profane Language   |   Drug & Alcohol Content   |   Other Noteworthy Elements   | Conclusion

Movie Review

There aren’t many cheerful children’s tales about death. But Mary Beth, a museum tour guide, has one to tell.

You see, she’s regaling a bunch of rowdy kids with a story about the Día de los Muertos , the Day of the Dead. It’s a Mexican holiday, she tells them, a magical occasion when the spirits of the departed return to earth to receive gifts and remembrances from their still-living family members. And if the living fondly recall those ancestors and celebrate their lives, then the dead get to keep spending their afterlife in the Land of the Remembered—a colorful place of joy and revelry. But if those who’ve passed on are remembered no more, then they’re relegated to the not-so-pleasant, dark and crumbling Land of the Forgotten.

And that’s what Mary Beth’s story is all about.

Well, kinda .

It’s also about three beloved friends—Maria, Manolo and Joaquin—who have known one another since childhood. Of course, as they grow older, it’s no surprise when both of the boys fall in love with pretty Maria. And on the Day of the Dead celebration, those handsome gents—one square-jawed and courageous, the other sensitive and true—vie for the hand of the one they love most.

And that’s what Mary Beth’s story is about … almost .

It’s also the tale of La Muerte and Xibalba, two powerful deities who oversee the Lands of the Remembered and the Forgotten. On the Day of the Dead these gods place bets on who Maria will choose as her beloved. But, of course, the devilishly deceitful Xibalba can’t help but cheat a bit to tilt the odds in his favor.

How so, you ask?

Well, it involves a special medal of everlasting life, and Maria’s very existence is threatened, and one of our brave heroes is killed, which necessitates impassioned treks of love through both the Land of the Remembered and the Land of the Forgotten, and then there are ghostly ancestors and attacking banditos and …

That’s still not all Mary Beth’s story is about!

Positive Elements

Maria, Manolo and Joaquin are true-blue friends. Even when Manolo and Joaquin are contending with each other to win Maria’s hand, they rarely lose sight of their undergirding friendship. They also fight for what is right and save those around them. In fact, in a final battle with banditos attacking a town, each man puts his life on the line to save the other’s.

Manolo is also willing to speak up about the things he believes to be wrong. In the face of his father’s demands that he carry on the family’s bullfighting tradition, Manolo makes it clear that he won’t kill a bull in the ring. He’s no wimp here and is actually quite talented with that red cape, but he’d rather sing a song than take a sword to the animal, and twice he does just that.

As the movie unfolds, we learn more about Manolo’s difficult relationship with his father, all of which is related to the family’s legacy as champion bullfighters. When Manolo refuses to take up the full mantle of that legacy, his father essentially disowns him. As Manolo proves his courage and worthiness, however, he earns back his father’s respect. His dad eventually tells him, “I should have been a better father. I am very sorry.”

Maria, meanwhile, is a self-sacrificial sort, too. Not only does she step up to fight for the townspeople, she pushes one person out of the way and takes a snake bite in his stead. She’s also willing to put “duty before her heart” when her father asks her to marry someone for the sake of protecting the town.

From start to finish, The Book of Life emphasizes having a good, pure heart. Manolo is told, “May your heart always be pure and courageous.” The movie ends with La Muerta saying, “Love, true love, the really, really good kind of love, never dies.”

Spiritual Elements

“What’s with Mexicans and death?” asks one of the school kids as he hears about the Day of the Dead and the many people who die in the tour guide’s story. It’s a good question. And another one might be, “What’s with the theology of this film?”

More so than many (if not most) animated movies, The Book of Life presents an elaborate set of ancient ideas with regard to life, death and the afterlife, a worldview that in Mexican culture is largely descended from Aztec roots. A person’s experience of the afterlife isn’t linked so much to what he did or believed while he was alive. Instead, it’s closely connected to whether or not his descendants still remember and revere him. The playing out of that critical concern goes a long way toward determining which of two very different afterlife fates someone experiences—and keeps experiencing. In the Land of the Remembered, a constant colorful fiesta takes place. As for the Land of the Forgotten, it’s a dark and bleak destination where dead souls blow away like ashes in a breeze.

One of our heroes gets bitten by a poisonous, two-headed snake (one on each end), after which he ends up traveling through these two very different underworld realms. There he meets up with many of his skeletal ancestors. He also meets the Candle Maker, a godlike being who’s said to be the balancing deity between the two realms of the dead. In his Cave of Souls, the Candle Maker points to millions of glowing candles he’s created—each one representing a living soul. He says he doesn’t have the power to interfere in the workings of the Land of the Remembered and the Land of the Forgotten, but becuase it’s the Day of the Dead, he can “bend the rules” a bit.

La Muerte and Xibalba, meanwhile, are two mini-gods, married deities who rule over their respective underworld kingdoms. They can also magically manipulate things in the real world (Xibalba turns his staff into a snake and both disguise themselves as humans, for instance). We hear (as La Muerte and Xibalba make their wager) that these gods have quite different takes on humanity. La Muerte believes humankind is good and noble and pure, while Xibalba believes people are corruptible and susceptible to temptation when it comes to getting what they want. To some extent, they’re both shown to be right, though good triumphs over evil in the end.

When the Candle Maker shows Manolo his page in the Book of Life, it’s blank. That prompts the godlike being to tell Manolo, “You didn’t live the life that was written for you. You’re living your own story,” a message that hints at the age-old tension between predestination and free will. The result? Manolo must do battle with a monstrous amalgamation of all the bulls his ancestors ever killed. Instead of fighting the creature, however, he sings a song, calms the raging beast and asks for its forgiveness. Similarly, Xibalba eventually asks his wife for forgiveness for centuries of devious behavior.

One scene involves townspeople gathering around altars and gravesites, praying for lost relatives as the ghostly forms of their ancestors hover nearby. A number of people from the Land of the Remembered are given flesh once again in the real world. Eventually, the story suggests that no one is ever truly dead and gone unless they move into the Land of the Forgotten.

A Catholic priest and a trio of nuns are prominent members of the town. Characters cross themselves. As a young girl, Maria is said to have been sent away to the Convent of the Perpetual Flame of Purity.

Sexual & Romantic Content

Though all of this fable’s characters are represented as wooden marionette-like figures, some of them—including Maria and La Muerte—still show their curves. Maria and Manolo kiss, as do La Muerte and Xibalba (behind the cover of her oversized hat). A mariachi band member suggests Manolo woo Maria with the Rod Stewart song “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” He croons, “If you want my body/And you think I’m sexy/Come on, sugar, let me know” as he wiggles his wooden backside. Another song includes the lyric, “I live for your touch.”

Violent Content

When Mary Beth tells of both Maria and Manolo being bitten by poisonous snakes, a young listener cries out, “What kind of story is this? We’re just kids!” And it is of special concern, actually, that Manolo so willingly gives up his life for the sole purpose of pursuing the love of his life into the afterlife.

In all of the many melees in this tale—between humans and large animals and townspeople and large banditos—the violence is bloodless. (These folks are made of wood, after all.) But there is quite a lot of violence (and death) here, and at times various battles can get intense. Joaquin is given a magical medal that keeps him from dying. So even when he is pummeled and beaten—which happens several times—he’s not harmed. Later, the medal changes hands repeatedly, always protecting its wearer. In one case, an individual is caught in a deadly explosion with a bomb-wielding bandito, only to find that he was secretly given the medal and is unscathed.

Confrontations with rampaging bulls are kinda scary at times; threatening flames leap from the body of one massive bull in the underworld. The banditos, and especially their oversized leader, Chakal, are threatening-looking fellows who bellow and smash their opponents with mighty blows. One of Manolo’s skeletal ancestors runs into a large wall and breaks into pieces. For a while he is just a talking skull, until he gets his body back.

Crude or Profane Language

Someone meanly labels another person a “misbegotten son of a leper’s donkey.” We hear the exclamation “kick his butt!” Speaking about a huge bull, somebody says, “Man, this is a whole lotta bull.”

Drug & Alcohol Content

Drinking from goblets is a normal thing at the colorful parties that are thrown. A member of Manolo’s mariachi band staggers a bit while admitting that he and his friends have visited four different bars … twice.

Other Noteworthy Elements

Xibalba’s somewhat menancing appearance (part bat, part cat) might make for nighmare fodder. The same could be said of those menancing bulls we’ve been talking about.

A boy hawking churros is surprised when a passing bird poops on the food, but in a blink he shifts from calling out “Churros!” to “Frosted churros!” A goat defecates.

There is, as mentioned, wagering and cheating going on. We hear a snippet of Radiohead’s song “Creep,” which boasts the line, “I’m a creep/I’m a weirdo/I don’t belong here.”

From a movie-loving perspective, this is a pic chock-full of fun stuff for a young audience. There’s cartoony bullfighting, bandito besting, and beloved balladeering. The animated characters are cute and colorful. And the vibrant Mexican folk-art world in which they live is visually stunning.

On top of all that, the romantic triangle at the story’s center is bursting with nobility, with both suitors being friendly good guys and their love interest being a spunky, self-assured heroine herself. And through all of the heroes’ derring-do, this rollicking story gives a big thumbs-up to sincerity and self-sacrificial love. It’s the kind of solid cinematic sojourn that kept me as involved as the kids around me. At one point, in fact, a youngster near me in the theater couldn’t contain himself and piped up, “Yes! The bad guys lose!”

But looking at things from a more contemplative angle brings the film’s central spiritual issues into focus—most notably the tradition of the Day of the Dead and its accompanying theological wanderings.

The film sets up this ghostly reunion day—featuring altars and prayers for the dead, multiple afterlife worlds, wagering overlords and a godlike Candle Maker—as something light, cheery and playful. But in the real world, it’s a pagan pageant (occasionally fused with bits of Catholicism) that’s still earnestly practiced, and not just in Mexico. It’s a celebration that promotes communion with (and in some cases even worship of) the dead—practices repeatedly and roundly condemned in the Bible.

That’s obviously a lot less cheery and playful.

Should such a conundrum be avoided altogether by families, or can the ideas (the very good ones right along with the misleading ones) in a movie like this be navigated with conversation and engagement? The answer in this case (due in some measure to the absence of any sort of extreme content) can actually be yes to both sides of that question. But families that choose to go for it will certainly need to tread carefully and with intentional attention given to discussing the core issues of death and salvation, heaven and hell, and how the Bible’s truth about them differs in so many radical ways with this vibrantly animated adventure’s take.

Adam R. Holz

After serving as an associate editor at NavPress’ Discipleship Journal and consulting editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees the editing and publishing of Plugged In’s reviews as the site’s director. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children. In their free time, the Holzes enjoy playing games, a variety of musical instruments, swimming and … watching movies.

After spending more than two decades touring, directing, writing and producing for Christian theater and radio (most recently for Adventures in Odyssey, which he still contributes to), Bob joined the Plugged In staff to help us focus more heavily on video games. He is also one of our primary movie reviewers.

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Film Review: ‘The Book of Life’

Produced by Guillermo del Toro, this animated feature helming debut for Jorge R. Gutierrez is a visual treat.

By Geoff Berkshire

Geoff Berkshire

Associate Editor, Features

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The visuals outshine the story in “ The Book of Life ,” a lively animated tale that mixes age-old myths with today’s toon tropes. But what lovely visuals they are. The feature debut of smallscreen animator Jorge R. Gutierrez (co-creator of Nickelodeon’s “El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera”) proves to be perfectly charming in relaying the tale of a lopsided love triangle set against the backdrop of Mexico’s Day of the Dead holiday. And yet it hardly matters what the characters are saying (or occasionally singing) when their warmly handcrafted appearance keeps stealing the spotlight. Opening domestically three weeks after Focus/Laika’s “The Boxtrolls” and three weeks ahead of Disney’s “Big Hero 6,” “Book” should have time to carve out its own space in the family entertainment marketplace and could become a significant sleeper worldwide, especially if Latin audiences respond to the pic’s universal, yet culturally specific, delights.

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As if to ensure every viewer has a window into the story, the central narrative is framed as a legend being told by a motherly museum tour guide (voiced by Christina Applegate) to a group of rebellious school kids on Nov. 2, the Day of the Dead. While that choice initially plays like an unnecessary distancing device, it also reinforces the mythic quality of what we’re watching (and eventually gives the young listeners the opportunity to offer a few adorable asides). Plus, it explains why everyone in the tour guide’s tale looks like a handmade wooden toy  — a captivating visual conceit.

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Ever since they were children, music-loving bullfighter Manolo ( Diego Luna ) and burly bandit vanquisher Joaquin ( Channing Tatum ) have been enamored with the same girl: feisty free spirit Maria ( Zoe Saldana ). So they’re equally heartbroken when Maria’s unconventional behavior gets her shipped off to Europe by her strict father (Carlos Alazraqui). It’s not until her 18th birthday that she returns to the town of San Angel to reignite the rivalry between Manolo and Joaquin, each hoping to be the one to marry their mutual true love.

As our narrator explains, there’s even more at stake in this competition than Maria’s heart. Each young man has been backed by a different deity of the spirit realm. Sensitive Manolo has been selected by the kindly La Muerte (Kate del Castillo), who rules over the joyful Land of the Remembered. Manly Joaquin is the choice of her devious husband, Xibalba (Ron Perlman), who oversees the miserable Land of the Forgotten. A victory for Team Manolo means Xibalba can no longer meddle in the lives of humans, but a victory for Team Joaquin will banish La Muerte to the Forgotten realm and release Xibalba to lord over the Remembered. No fair guessing in advance who wins (and at least there are a few twists along the way).

If the idea of two men fighting over a pretty lady seems a bit retrograde in the post-“Frozen” era of animation, Gutierrez and co-writer Doug Langdale make it clear that Maria is no shrinking violet. She’s the one in control  — despite her father’s clear preference for Joaquin, if only to help save the city from rampaging metal-encased monster Chakal (Dan Navarro). Imbued with an inner fire thanks to Saldana’s impassioned vocal turn, Maria also stands strong for her pet cause (literally, she loves animals and adopts a pig about to be slaughtered) and proves capable of inspiring the townspeople with stirring rhetoric at pivotal moments.

Sure, the pic stacks its soulmate deck firmly in favor of Manolo — he refuses to kill the bulls he fights, composes original love songs on the guitar Maria gifted him with an inscription reading “Always play from the heart” (the music is courtesy of Gustavo Santaolalla, lyrics by Paul Williams), and is keenly voiced by the ever-likable Luna (who also croons the songs)  — but the choice is up to Maria.

To that end, the pompous Joaquin overcomes obvious comparisons to “Beauty and the Beast” villain Gaston with a healthy dose of Tatum’s signature affable charm (one possible factor in the otherwise decidedly inauthentic casting choice). That helps to lend at a least a modicum of suspense to the romantic drama. And it only increases once Manolo finds himself on a temporary detour in the afterlife, where he’s reunited with his deceased relatives on a quest to find La Muerte and return to Maria.

Between the framing device, multiple musical numbers (including a handful of brief Latin-infused covers of recognizable pop hits), three leads, two supernatural realms and entire vibrant village of San Angel, “The Book of Life” is undoubtedly stuffed with more business than its fleet, kid-friendly running time can properly handle. Yet Gutierrez’s confident delivery of the material remains so buoyant and passionately felt throughout that he almost gets away with it. It’s not until a final epic battle with the otherwise superfluous Chakal that the burden of trying to play to as wide an audience as possible finally gets the best of him.

Fortunately, that’s not what audiences will remember. Repping a major step forward for Dallas-based Reel FX Animation Studios (after their anemic feature bow on last year’s “Free Birds”), the beautifully rendered CG animation brings an unusually warm and heartfelt quality to the high-tech medium and emerges as the film’s true calling card. Creative character design by Gutierrez and wife Sandra Equihua is a consistent treat, especially the playful touches in the winged Xibalba and regal La Muerte, and the intricately designed worlds rep a modest triumph for production designer Simon Valdimir Varela. The ravishing color explosion when Manolo enters the Land of the Remembered single-handedly justifies the pic’s 3D presentation.

“The Book of Life” also marks the most significant role yet for filmmaker Guillermo del Toro in an animated project. A frequent consultant and executive producer for DreamWorks Animation (where Gutierrez originally had this film set up, before creative differences led him elsewhere), Del Toro was clearly a hands-on creative producer here, bolstering the visual aesthetic of a production that can more comfortably introduce a younger generation to his darkly fanciful sensibilities. There would certainly be cause for excitement should Del Toro follow in the footsteps of fellow live-action visionary Tim Burton and helm his own animated feature.

Reviewed at 20th Century Fox Studios, Los Angeles, Oct. 9, 2014. (In Rio de Janeiro Film Festival — World Panorama.) MPAA Rating: PG. Running time: 95 MIN.

• Production: (Animated) A 20th Century Fox release presented with Reel FX Animation Studios of a Guillermo del Toro production. Produced by del Toro, Brad Booker, Aaron D. Berger, Carina Schulze. Executive producers, Aron Warner, Cary Granat, Chuck Peil. Co-producers, Geoffrey Stott, Matthew Teevan.
• Crew: Directed by Jorge R. Gutierrez. Screenplay, Gutierrez, Doug Langdale. Camera (color, 3D); editor, Ahren Shaw; music, Gustavo Santaolalla; music supervisor, John Houlihan; production designer, Simon Valdimir Varela; art director, Paul J. Sullivan; sound (Dolby Digital/Dolby Atmos); sound supervision and design, Scott Martin Gershin; re-recording mixers, Andy Koyama, Beau Borders; visual effects supervisor, Augusto Schillaci; head of animation, Wesley Mandell; head of story, Ricardo Curtis; character designers, Sandra Equihua, Gutierrez; associate producers, Greg Lyons, Chris DiGiovanni, Heather M. Drummons; casting, Christian Kaplan.
• With: Voices: Diego Luna, Zoe Saldana, Channing Tatum, Ron Perlman, Kate del Castillo, Christina Applegate, Ice Cube, Hector Elizondo, Ana de la Reguera, Grey Griffin, Carlos Alazraqui, Danny Trejo, Jorge R. Gutierrez, Placido Domingo, Gabriel Iglesias, Cheech Marin, Ricardo Sanchez, Dan Navarro, Eugenio Derbez.

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The Book of Life

Dove Review

“The Book of Life” is an exuberant and entertaining movie! There is plenty of action and lots of fun for kids and adults alike. The film features themes such as being true to one’s self, deceased loved ones are kept alive by our memories, and selflessness is what makes a true hero.

Zoe Saldana plays the lovely Maria, whose affections are sought by Joaquin (Channing Tatum) and Manolo (Diego Luna), two young men she has known since she was a young girl. The Day of the Dead is celebrated on Nov. 2, and the movie features this celebration along with an adventure to the Land of the Remembered. There couldn’t be a good story without conflict; the evil Xibalba (Ron Perlman) makes a wager as to which of the two young men Maria will one day choose. Of course he plots to help make sure his choice becomes Maria’s choice so he can win the bet. While the backdrop of the film is the Mexican celebration known as “Día de Muertos” or “Day of the Dead,” the event is used as a means to teach important life lessons to a group of troublesome children by a museum tour guide.

The movie features bullfighting, sword fighting, constant energetic action, great villains like Xibalba and the bandit Chakel, and a touch of romance. Along with the themes already mentioned, the idea of “writing one’s own story” is featured. With memorable characters, great songs, and a fast-paced plot, the movie will capture your imagination from beginning to end. Kids of all ages will enjoy “The Book of Life.” We are extremely pleased to award the movie five Doves, our best rating, and our Dove Family-Approved Seal for all ages. Olé!

Dove Rating Details

Lots of slapstick action like sword fights, bull fights, characters being slapped, bitten by snakes, punching, bull runs into wall; characters knocked over; character hit with guitar; friends swat each other.

Kissing by a few couples.

Bozos-1; Lazy Bums-1; Acting like fools comment-1; Ugly-1; Duh-1; You were a "clown"!-1; Son of a leper's donkey-1; Bull-1; Butt-1.

Drinking of wine.

A goat poops; the idea of lives being like candles and there is a great Candle Maker; pig pees; grief over deceased loved ones including a boy missing his mother; belching and spitting; gum "spitballs;" skulls seen on wall; loved ones seen beyond death; character has to earn a second chance at life.

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‘the book of life’: film review.

Jorge R. Gutierrez's animated film, produced by Guillermo del Toro, is inspired by the Mexican holiday the Day of the Dead.

By THR Staff

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The Book of Life Still - H 2014

It’s not surprising that a companion art book to the new animated film directed by Jorge R. Gutierrez and produced by Guillermo del Toro has already been released. Steeped in Mexican folk art and inspired by that country’s holiday the Day of the Dead, The Book of Life is a visually stunning effort that makes up for its formulaic storyline with an enchanting atmosphere that sweeps you into its fantastical world, or in this case, three worlds. The film, which will have an obvious special appeal to Hispanic audiences, should prove a winner for 20th Century Fox Animation.

Bookended by amusing contemporary segments in which a sassy museum tour guide ( Christina Applegate ) hosts a group of skeptical school kids, the story concerns the romantic triangle among the free-spirited Maria ( Zoe Saldana ) and her two suitors: Manolo ( Diego Luna ), the scion of a long line of bullfighters, who really wants to be a singer/guitarist; and the vainglorious Joaquin ( Channing Tatum ), a military hero who struts around with a huge display of medals on his chest.

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The plot is set in motion by squabbling married gods La Muerta ( Kate del Castillo ) and Xibabla (del Toro regular Ron Perlman ), who make a wager as to which of the two men Maria will choose. La Muerta, the ruler of the Land of the Remembered, places her bet on Manolo, while Xibabla, who oversees the dark Land of the Forgotten, puts his faith in Joaquin and thinks nothing of exerting his influence to determine the outcome.

Read More ‘The Art of the Book of Life’ Preview: How to Design a Villain

To that end, he tricks Manolo into thinking that Maria has ventured into the Land of the Remembered, so the love-struck suitor sets off after her. While initially joyful to be introduced to the magical world containing all of his ancestors, Manolo is soon chagrined to discover that Maria is not there and sets off to find La Muerta to help him in his quest, stopping first at the Cave of Souls to consult with the Candle Maker ( Ice Cube ) who’s in charge of The Book of Life. Meanwhile, the Land of the Living is beset by the villainous monster Chakal ( Dan Navarro ) and his gang of bandits, with the inevitable battle affecting the destinies of all concerned. Acerbically commenting on the proceedings from the sidelines is the whiskered, elderly Grandma, hilariously voiced by Grey Griffin .

While the screenplay by Gutierrez and Douglas Langdale may prove a little too convoluted for younger viewers, they will surely be swept up by the magical visuals depicting the three worlds and their — literally, not figuratively — wooden inhabitants (Tatum’s Joaquin is, again, literally square-jawed). Its frames packed with vibrantly colorful, detailed imagery inspired by Latin American folklore and art, the computer-animated film looks particularly impressive in 3D.

Read More ‘Book of Life’ Fashion Collection Celebrates Mexican Art (Exclusive)

Although thankfully devoid of the sort of winking, pop culture-inflected humor prevalent in so many current animated films, The Book of Life provides much amusement with its inspired musical choices. Besides the original score and songs by two-time Oscar winner Gustavo Santaolalla ( Brokeback Mountain , Babel ) and veteran songwriter Paul Williams , there are fun, mariachi-flavored versions of such pop hits as Mumford and Sons’ “I Will Wait,” Radiohead’s “Creep” and Rod Stewart ‘s “Do You Think I’m Sexy?” among others. Luna and Saldana provide their own singing, with impressive results.

Adding further regional flavor is the supporting voice cast, which includes fun contributions by Placido Domingo , Hector Elizondo , Cheech Marin , Gabriel Iglesias and Danny Trejo .

Production: Reel FX Creative Studios, 20th Century Fox Animation, Chatrone Cast: Diego Luna, Zoe Saldana, Channing Tatum, Ron Perlman, Christina Applegate, Ice Cube, Kate del Castillo, Hector Elizondo Director: Jorge R. Gutierrez Screenwriters: Jorge R. Gutierrez, Douglas Langdale Producers: Aaron Berger, Brad Booker, Guillermo del Toro, Carina Schulze Executive producers: Cary Granat, Chuck Peil, Aron Warner Editor: Ahren Shaw Production designers: Paul Sullivan, Simon Valdimir Varela Composer: Gustavo Santaolalla Casting: Christian Kaplan

Rated PG, 95 minutes

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Book of Life, The (United States, 2014)

The Book of Life represents Guillermo del Toro's most hands-on foray (to date) into the realm of family friendly entertainment; this is closer in tone and sensibility to one of Tim Burton's offbeat animated films than one of Pixar's more "vanilla" productions. The visual aesthetic is unusual with the characters being modeled as 3-D wooden puppets. I was reminded of a more polished version of some of the old live action TV Christmas specials. Background detail doesn't match that of many other big budget animated films but the presentation is quirky enough to make this less important. The 3-D, however, is disappointing. It adds nothing and is so low-key that it might as well not be there.

The Book of Life opens in a modern-day setting with a conventional animated style. A group of rambunctious kids visiting a museum hear a story excerpted from "The Book of Life" by their tour guide (voice of Christina Applegate). This tale takes place in long-ago Mexico and revolves around November 2, The Day of the Dead. Two boys, aspiring bull fighter and guitar player Manolo (Diego Luna) and would-be champion and defender of the town Joaquin (Channing Tatum), are in love with the same girl, a spirited firebrand named Maria (Zoe Saldana). Observing their interactions, the gods place a bet on which boy will win Maria's hand. La Muerta (Kate del Castillo), the ruler of the bright, heavenly Land of the Remembered, chooses Manolo. Her opponent (and spouse), Xibalba (Ron Perlman), the lord of the gray, hellish Land of the Forgotten, opts for Joaquim. Once the children have reached adulthood, it's apparent that Maria prefers the sensitive Manolo but everyone else believes Joaquin to be a better match. Events conspire to keep couple apart and send Manolo on a quest beyond death to the three realms of the afterlife.

There's a lot going on for a 90-minute movie, with a love triangle, an earthly battle between villagers and bandits, renditions of various pop tunes, and Manolo's odyssey into The Land of the Remembered, The Land of the Forgotten, and The Cave of Souls (presided over by The Candle Maker, whose voice is provided by Ice Cube). The Book of Life moves breezily from one scene to the next, keeping the pace brisk and rarely skipping a beat. The plot may be a little convoluted for younger viewers but that might not matter much. The modern-day framing device is awkward; occasionally pulling back from the main story to return to the museum can be distracting and the eventual payoff isn't worth it.

Manolo, whose voice (both when speaking and singing) is provided by the always-likeable Diego Luna, immediately captures the viewer's sympathy with his unwillingness to kill a bull in the ring. He becomes the filmmakers' means to emphasize the central theme of self-determination. Zoe Saldana makes Maria cheeky and forthright; this is no damsel-in-distress. When the bandit army arrives, she's the first one to grab a sword and issues the "Once more into the breach" speech. Channing Tatum's Joaquin borrows more than a few personality traits from Beauty and the Beast 's Gaston (his idea of a romantic gift is an autographed picture of himself) but he replaces the latter's cruelty with a naïve likeability. Gaston was evil; Joaquin is just a little self-absorbed. The part of the "cute animal" is filled by a pig, but he's not a big part of the proceedings and he doesn't talk.

Del Toro and director Jorge R. Gutierrez have worked diligently to distinguish The Book of Life from every other animated film out there. It takes chances visually, with every character having a Pinocchio-influenced appearance. The settings and backdrops skew far from photorealism. The incorporation of pop tunes (including an odd rendition of Rod Stewart's "Do You Think I'm Sexy?") doesn't work as well as in (for example) Shrek ; there are times when it's hard to shake the feeling that Manolo is a boy band singer.

In general, animated films have underperformed in 2014 and, while The Book of Life lacks the pedigree and broad-based appeal to reverse the trend, it will be interesting to see how it performs with Latino audiences. Although del Toro and Gutierrez didn't tailor the movie to a specific demographic, some of the imagery may be familiar to those with an understanding of cultural elements from south of the border. In broader terms, however, The Book of Life has sufficient mainstream appeal to provide solid entertainment for parents and children.

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• Main Characters
• Land of the Remembered
• Reformed Characters

La Muerte is a major character in The Book of Life . She is the kind-hearted ruler/queen of the Land of the Remembered and the estranged wife of Xibalba (the Ruler/King of the Land of the Forgotten ) who is an ancient immortal goddess of benevolence, kindness, generosity, purity, forgiveness, mercy, hope, love, passion, light and death.

She first entered the plot of the film when she and Xibalba made a bet concerning which of the two mortals, Manolo Sanchez or Joaquín Mondragon would marry María Posada .

In The Book of Life 2 , the director said that they will look further in Xibalba and La Muerte's relationship.

• 1 Physical Appearance
• 2 Personality
• 3 In The Book of Life
• 4 Abilities
• 5.1 Xibalba
• 5.2 Candle Maker
• 5.3 La Noche
• 6 Etymology
• 8.1 Concept art
• 8.2 Screencaps
• 8.3 Maya and the Three (miniseries)
• 8.4 Animations
• 9 References

Physical Appearance [ ]

Despite being as old and ancient as time itself, La Muerte retains her vision of youth and radiant beauty where she is made entirely of white sugar candy with knee-length black licorice hair that is tied in a low ponytail with bangs split on either side and multi-colored glowing eyes with aqua eyeshadow that are in shades of gold and red.

She wears a red dress decorated with cempasuchil (Mexican marigold flowers) all over her dress and marigold flowers with lit white wax candles at the hem of her dress. She also wears an extremely large, wide-brimmed sombrero bedecked with more lit candles and marigolds (her favorite flower), small skulls, pink-plumed, curly, swirly feathers and palm leaves. She also wears a circular gold locket on a choker.

Personality [ ]

La Muerte is shown to be a largely kind and loving goddess, showing a deeply caring and welcoming attitude to almost everyone she meets. Considering that she is the ruler of the Land of the Remembered , she is also free-spirited and festive. It is believed that the kindness and love of mortal-kind stem from her own. La Muerte demonstrates her helpfulness in the movie to Manolo Sánchez to help him reunite with his love, María Posada . However, La Muerte is also shown to have a habit for bets and wagers, displaying her liking of gambling. She was even willing to risk swapping places with Xibalba which involved leaving the Land of the Remembered.

She is also a very benevolent, wise, sweet and compassionate ancient immortal goddess who believes humankind is completely and entirely true and pure and good. La Muerte is also very truly forgiving and easily forgives those who truly want to repent and truly want to redeem themselves for their sins and evil deeds. La Muerte is also passionate and full of love. La Muerte is also well known for her fondness and weakness for wagers and betting.

Despite her kind and loving nature, La Muerte has also been shown (at least) to have an angry side as seen when she was infuriated after she discovered that Xibalba had cheated in the bet that costed her her kingdom. It is likely Xibalba is the only person La Muerte has ever been angered by (probably more than once), although she is still forgiving of most people in the end as shown when she reconciled with Xibalba towards the end of the movie.

In The Book of Life [ ]

La Muerte and her husband Xibalba have been estranged for over a thousand years. Due to having a previous bet in which Xibalba cheated, she rules the Land of the Remembered while he rules the bleak Land of the Forgotten . Upon arriving at San Ángel together to observe The Day of the Dead festivities, La Muerte remarks that Xibalba's heart has become as dark and cold as the land he now rules. The two have different ways of valuing human beings as showed when La Muerte stops Xibalba from 'taking' an old man's life. When Xibalba begs for her to trade lands with him, La Muerte playfully teases and scolds Xibalba reminding him that he is down there by his own doing. She also says that he "is not the man [she] fell in love with all those centuries ago."

Hoping to distract his wife and make a play for the Land of the Living , Xibalba suggests they make another wager and La Muerte is enraged at first, but accepts the idea of a betting game. This leads them to finding Manolo Sánchez , Joaquín Mondragon and María Posada playing together. This leads to La Muerte choosing Manolo as her champion and blessing him to always have a good and pure heart. As part of the bet, La Muerte makes her husband promise not to interfere with the affairs of man should he lose the wager, to which Xibalba agrees and the wager is set.

La Muerte reappears on the day María returns to town at the bullfighting arena where she slaps Xibalba for staring at María and cheers for Manolo when he appears in the arena. She appears after the fight when Manolo sings and María hears his anguished song " Creep ", observing that the mortal girl was moved by Manolo's words. La Muerte appears again when Manolo serenades a song called " I Love You Too Much " to Maria on her balcony.

She is not seen again until Manolo, his mother Carmen Sánchez and his grandfather Luis Sánchez reach the Land of the Forgotten to tell her that Xibalba cheated in their wager. Upon learning of this, La Muerte roars in anger and Xibalba appears, thinking his wife wishes to see him and reconcile. Instead, he sees Manolo and his relatives along with his infuriated wife. Learning about Xibalba's whole scheme involving the two-headed snake staff and the Medal of Everlasting Life , La Muerte, along with Carmen and Manolo, demand Xibalba to assist in bringing Manolo back to life. When he refuses, La Muerte tries to persuade him by calling him "Balby", but when he still refuses, she becomes angered until Manolo suggests the alternative of his own bet. Offering up the right to give the Land of the Forgotten to her husband, La Muerte convinces Xibalba to give Manolo a fair chance.

La Muerte watches as Manolo meets his worst fear in the bull arena and he is happy to see him emerge victorious, as is the Candle Maker , and, to some extent, Xibalba. The three of them then give Manolo his life back. Later, the three of them use their powers on The Day of the Dead to bring Manolo's deceased family back to help defend the town from Chakal and his army of bandits . After the town is saved and the Medal is returned, La Muerte and Xibalba reconcile on the top of the church.

Back in the present day, the tour guide Mary Beth finishes her story and then leads the detention children back out to their bus. Waving goodbye and saying one of the names of the youngest girl, the guide reveals herself to have been La Muerte the entire time with the intention of teaching those children something about living and life.

Abilities [ ]

• La Muerte can travel disappearing and reappearing in nearby places, leaving a trail of flower petals.
• La Muerte can transform in many forms such as Mary Beth and an old woman .
• La Muerte can levitate.
• La Muerte has telekinesis as she is able to pull Xibalba closer without actually touching him and she manages to retrieve the rest of Luis Sánchez 's body with only a snap of her fingers at one point in the Land of the Forgotten .
• La Muerte can generate and control fire.
• In tandem with Xibalba (the King of the Land of the Forgotten) and Candle Maker (the Keeper of Balance), La Muerte can restore the dead back to life.

Relationships [ ]

Xibalba [ ].

Xibalba is La Muerte's husband whom she has a complicated relationship with due to their different beliefs and the completely different, opposite antagonistic kingdoms, lands and realms they rule. They also have different perspectives on humankind; La Muerte believes that humankind is completely good, true and pure while Xibalba thinks and believes that humankind is selfish, greedy, sinful and concerned only in its own interest on the other hand. Despite their differences and occasional conflicts, the two complement each other very well and can’t live without each other.

La Muerte knows Xibalba well enough to know that he is not completely evil, so seeing him act in a petty and selfish way saddens her and disappoints her. But when he is able to put his pride aside and show genuine repentance for hurting her, she is more than willing to forgive him [4] .

When they are really on good terms, it is seen that they are very affectionate with each other. She's addicted to his charms and she knows that she is the only one who can change him. [5]

Candle Maker [ ]

It is known that Candle Maker and La Muerte are good friends, although they have not seen that they interact much on screen. However, La Muerte is happy to see him when he appears in the Land of the Forgotten with Manolo Sánchez and two of his family; Carmen Sánchez and Luis Sánchez .

Near the end, Candle Maker embraces both La Muerte and Xibalba where she is surprised at first, but then she smiles at him amiably.

La Noche [ ]

La Noche is La Muerte's twin sister [6] , but that is the only thing known about their relationship so far.

Etymology [ ]

• The La part of her name basically means "the".
• La Muerte and Xibalba got back together when Xibalba finally apologized to La Muerte.
• La Muerte is called " La Catrina " in Latin America. This is because she is named after La Calavera Catrina in Mexican traditions.
• La Muerte's body is made out of sweet sugar candy and her dress is made of Cherry fruit roll up [7] .
• La Muerte and Xibalba had many bets in between the time Manolo Sánchez , María Posada and Joaquín Mondragon were children until they were grown up. They mostly tied [8] .
• La Muerte and Xibalba met on earth at a party where both were pretending to be human [9] .
• La Muerte's necklace was a gift from Xibalba when they first met [10] and the accessory is a locket [11] .
• The candles on La Muerte's dress and sombrero are humans' lives that mean something to her [12] .
• La Muerte inherited the Land of the Remembered from her mother [13] .
• La Muerte has a close resemblance to " Santa Muerte ", a Mexican Goddess that bring people a swift and just death and prevents violent and unworthy demise.
• The candles atop of La Muerte's sombrero might be an indicator of her emotions as shown in the part where she shouted in fury when she realized Xibalba cheated once more and the flames of the candles enlarged and thus lighting the whole dark place of the Land of the Forgotten .
• La Muerte is said to be a few centuries younger than her husband, Xibalba.
• La Muerte had won a different wager before with Xibalba, although it wasn't fully depicted.

La Muerte and her green snake

• In a concept art, La Muerte originally had with her a green snake that was part of Xibalba (like Más y Menos ) [15] .
• A quote from  The Art of the Book of Life : “Her dress is red because it represents love, passion, and life. The only blue in her design is in her eyes, because she only has eyes for Xibalba" [16] .
• Coincidentally, Lady Micte and La Muerte share the same voice actress ( Kate del Castillo ) and certain elements of design.
• Due to her relation to Lady Micte, this makes La Muerte Maya ’s aunt by extension.

The Sacred Heart (El Sagrado Corazón) formed from La Muerte's hat and Xibalba's wings

• When La Muerte and Xibalba kiss at the very end of the movie, her hat and his black wings form The Sacred Heart (El Sagrado Corazón).

Gallery [ ]

Concept art [ ].

Screencaps [ ]

Maya and the Three (miniseries) [ ]

Animations [ ]

References [ ]

• ↑ https://twitter.com/mexopolis/status/553842052417720320
• ↑ https://78.media.tumblr.com/be98f33619ef40314097b92249928264/tumblr_o6xtxuXZPq1t8js5oo1_500.jpg
• ↑ https://twitter.com/mexopolis/status/552249925652594688
• ↑ https://twitter.com/mexopolis/status/539829195287719936
• ↑ https://twitter.com/mexopolis/status/550475229500166144
• ↑ https://twitter.com/mexopolis/status/552308302785576960
• ↑ https://78.media.tumblr.com/81ad382830a7149c2aad12d27cc123dc/tumblr_nhu4kipX2V1ql3l5eo1_500.png
• ↑ https://twitter.com/mexopolis/statuses/674064562929328129
• ↑ https://twitter.com/mexopolis/status/570411657165348864
• ↑ https://twitter.com/mexopolis/status/553044220710100992
• ↑ https://twitter.com/mexopolis/status/512747803102027777
• ↑ https://twitter.com/mexopolis/statuses/593888234087710720
• ↑ https://twitter.com/mexopolis/status/575409015334682624
• ↑ https://twitter.com/mexopolis/status/539971514775650304
• ↑ https://twitter.com/mexopolis/status/553748097126248448
• ↑ https://twitter.com/mexopolis/status/991824335147909120
• 1 La Muerte
• 2 The Book of Life 2

The Book of Life (2014)

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The Book of Life (2014 film)

The Book of Life is a 2014 American 3D computer-animated musical fantasy comedy film directed by Jorge R. Gutierrez and written by Gutierrez and Doug Langdale . It was produced by Reel FX Animation Studios , 20th Century Fox Animation , and Chatrone, and distributed by 20th Century Fox . Guillermo del Toro , Brad Booker, Aaron D. Berger, and Carina Schulze produced the film. It features the voices of Diego Luna , Zoe Saldana , and Channing Tatum with supporting roles by Christina Applegate , Ice Cube , Ron Perlman , and Kate del Castillo . Based on an original idea by Gutierrez, the story follows a bullfighter who, on the Day of the Dead , embarks on an afterlife adventure to fulfill the expectations of his family and friends.

The Book of Life premiered in Los Angeles on October 12, 2014, and was released theatrically in the United States on October 17, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Animated Feature Film . The film grossed $100 million on a $50 million budget.

Mary Beth, a museum tour guide , takes a group of school detention students on a secret museum tour, telling them the story of a Mexican town called San Angel from the Book of Life , which holds every story in the world.

On the Day of the Dead, La Muerte, ruler of the Land of the Remembered, and Xibalba , ruler of the Land of the Forgotten, see children Manolo Sánchez and Joaquín Mondragon competing for the love of María Posada. They strike a wager: if María ends up marrying Manolo, Xibalba will no longer interfere in mortal affairs, but if she marries Joaquín, La Muerte and Xibalba will swap realms. However, Xibalba cheats by giving Joaquín his Medal of Everlasting Life, which grants the wearer invincibility.

María is sent to Spain to become a "lady" after freeing pigs destined for slaughter. Years later, when María returns to San Angel, Joaquín has become a military hero with the Medal's aid, and Manolo's father has trained him bullfighter in their family tradition, though his real dream is to be a musician. At Manolo's first bullfight, he defeats the bull but refuses to kill it, angering Carlos and the crowd but impressing María. That night, María is pressured by her father and San Angel's mayor, General Ramiro Posada, to marry Joaquín so he stays in San Angel and therefore protects the town from the Bandit King Chakal——but María is reluctant. She instead professes her mutual love for Manolo before dawn, but they are interrupted when Xibalba sends his dual-headed snake staff, which bites her and sends her into a coma . Devastated by María's apparent death, Manolo allows Xibalba to kill him, believing he will be reunited with María in death.

In the Land of the Remembered, Manolo reunites with his mother and his ancestral family. They travel to La Muerte's castle, discovering Xibalba, now the ruler of the realm, who explains the bet and smugly reveals that María didn't die because she was only bitten once and therefore survived. However, Manolo was bitten twice and died. Furious but determined to return to María, Manolo travels to the Cave of Souls to reach La Muerte. Inside, he meets the Candle Maker, the overseer of mortal lives and the Book of Life's keeper. The Candle Maker sees that Manolo's story in the Book of Life is blank and can be rewritten by himself, so he takes them to the Land of the Forgotten. They find La Muerte at Xibalba's castle and expose his cheating. Furious, La Muerte lectures Xibalba before offering a new wager at Manolo's request: Manolo's life will be returned if he completes a challenge of Xibalba's choosing, but if he fails, he will be forgotten and Xibalba will keep both realms. Xibalba sets Manolo against a giant bull skeleton made from the skeletons of every bull slain by the Sanchez family, believing that to be his greatest fear.

Meanwhile, María awakens from her coma, learns of Manolo's death, and reluctantly accepts Joaquín's proposal. Their wedding is interrupted by Chakal, who leads his army to San Angel to find the Medal, which was previously his. Chakal kills Carlos, who arrives in the Land of the Remembered in time to see Manolo's fight. Manolo, realizing his fear is actually of being himself , refuses to fight and instead sings an apology to the bull, appeasing it and touching the hearts of everyone present (including Xibalba and Carlos). Impressed, the deities resurrect Manolo and send him and his family to San Angel to protect the town. Manolo is knocked unconscious when Chakal destructs himself , but he is protected by the Medal, which Joaquín had slipped him earlier. Joaquín returns it to Xibalba and resolves to be a true hero, while Manolo and María are happily married as Xibalba and La Muerte reconcile.

In the present, Mary Beth finishes the story, and the amazed children leave the museum. Mary Beth and a security guard reveal themselves to be La Muerte and Xibalba in disguise. The Candle Maker appears and encourages the audience to write their own story.

Voice cast [ ]

• Emil-Bastien Bouffard as a young Manolo.
• Joe Matthews as young Manolo's singing voice.
• Genesis Ochoa as a young María.
• Elias Garza as a young Joaquín.
• Ice Cube as the Candle Maker, a being who oversees the lives and stories of the living through candles and the Book of Life, which he also oversees.
• Ron Perlman as Xibalba , the ruler of the Land of the Forgotten and La Muerte's husband.
• Christina Applegate as Mary Beth, a museum tour guide , the story's narrator and one of La Muerte's disguises.
• Tonita Castro as La Muerte disguised as an old woman.
• Héctor Elizondo as Carlos Sánchez, Manolo's well-meaning yet extremely harsh father.
• Ana de la Reguera as Carmen Sánchez, Manolo's deceased mother. She was credited as "Skeleton Carmen".
• Danny Trejo as Luis Sánchez, Manolo's deceased grandfather. He was credited as "Skeleton Luis".
• Grey Griffin as Grandma Anita Sanchez, Manolo's short great-grandmother who later dies due to cholesterol problems.
• General Ramiro Posada, Maria's father who serves as the mayor of San Angel and the general of its army.
• Dali, a member of San Angel's army.
• Chuy, María's loyal pig pet who thinks that he is a goat.
• Plácido Domingo as Jorge Sánchez, Manolo's deceased granduncle who wears an eyepatch over his left eye and swords on his right arm and left leg and can sing opera songs. He was credited as "Skeleton Jorge".
• Jorge R. Gutierrez as Carmelo Sánchez, Manolo's deceased tall and burly Aztec ancestor who is often called a savage by Jorge. He was credited as "Skeleton Carmelo".
• Gabriel Iglesias as Pepe Rodríguez, the largest of the three musicians.
• Cheech Marin as Pancho Rodríguez, the medium-sized of the three musicians.
• Ricardo Sánchez as Pablo Rodriguez, the shortest of the three musicians.
• Dan Navarro as Chakal, the Bandit King.
• Eugenio Derbez as Chato, a member and second of Chakal's group of bandits.
• Anjelah Johnson as Adelita, one of Manolo's deceased cousins and Scardelita's twin sister. She perished during the Mexican Revolution while protecting Emiliano Zapata .
• Sandra Equihua as Scardelita, one of Manolo's deceased cousins and Adelita's twin sister who wears an eyepatch. She perished during the Mexican Revolution while protecting Emiliano Zapata.
• Miguel Sandoval as the Land of the Remembered Captain, the guide to the Land of the Remembered and the resident that Manolo meets first.
• Angélica María Hartman Ortiz as Sister Ana, a Catholic sister who works in San Angel's church.
• Sandra Echeverría as Claudia, a beautiful woman at San Angel and one of Joaquín's biggest fans.
• Luka Ramirez, a Mexican-American goth boy and one of the detention students in the present world who listens to Manolo's story from Mary Beth. He was credited as "Goth Kid".
• An orphan in San Angel
• Kennedy "KK" Peil as Sasha, a little Russian-American girl and one of the detention students in the present world who listens to Manolo's story from Mary Beth.
• Ishan Sharma as Sanjay, an Indian-American boy and one of the detention students in the present world who listens to Manolo's story from Mary Beth.
• Callahan Clark as Jane, a Chinese-American girl and one of the detention students in the present world who listens to Manolo's story from Mary Beth.
• Father Domingo, a priest that works in San Angel's church.
• Cave Guardian, the guardian of the Cave of Souls.
• Aron Warner as Thomas, a museum tour guide.
• Troy Evans as Old Man Hemingway, an old man who lived at San Angel.
• Guillermo del Toro as the Land of the Remembered Captain's Wife, the unnamed wife of the Land of Remembered Captain who died of a broken heart.
• Brad Booker as a train conductor

Main article: The Book of Life (soundtrack)

In April 2013, it was announced Gustavo Santaolalla and Paul Williams would be adapting pop songs for the film. The soundtrack was released on September 26, 2014, while the score was released on October 24, 2014.

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