Student Film Reviews

Film reviews from theaters, couches, and film festivals

Home | All Reviews | Festival Courses | Film and Media Studies | SBCC | | Log in

1. Mina Gilbertsson 02.17.15 / 8am

   I LOVED how the relationship between Hiro and Baymax developed through the film. Baymax slowly learns not to take everything literal – and towards the end he jokes. Great review.
2. Beata Bergman 02.17.15 / 11pm

   I liked this movie to, and im not usually a big fan of animation. But this was almost as good as Finding Nemo.. The only animated film that i like. hehe. Great review, yes.
3. KaiLaMacalino 03.10.15 / 5pm

   When I went to see this film, I had absolutely no idea if I would like it or not. The whole idea Disneyfied Marvel story with elements of anime left me a bit skeptical. While its not my favorite Disney film, I did really enjoy watching it. I thought it was very entertaining and has elements appealing to kids, teens, and adults. I absolutely loved the vibrant, beautifully lit, masterful visuals in this film. This film incorporated both action and emotions, while being satisfyingly funny. I fell in love with the Baymax character, and I’m sure every child wanted one of their own after seeing Big Hero 6.
4. Keeley Sparrman 03.11.15 / 2pm

   I’m a major movie buff so after I exhausted myself with the drama and horror films I felt it was necessary to change it up, and watch an animated Disney movie. I was pleasantly surprised while watching Big Hero 6 and didn’t expect the film to have so many appealing aspects for someone my age. As you mentioned in your review the film did need to take the necessary time to get to more connected to the characters and their personalities, but the character that I loved the most was the adorable and hilarious inflatable robot that added so much to the film. I loved the light-hearted energy that the inflatable robot brought to the film and then to his and Hiro’s relationship. I completely agree with you that this film is a highly action packed Disney movie that keeps the audience yearning for more. Unfortunately, I wasn’t patient enough to wait until the end of the film to notice the Marvel Comic that you mentioned, but now that I know that it’s worth waiting for I’ll have to re-watch the end of the film and take notice this time.
5. Brittney Ackley 03.16.15 / 7pm

   I still have not seen this film but this review makes me want to watch it. I am a huge fan of animated movies and I love how they are such great family movies to watch. I like the story behind this film and I like that it is a very action packed film because it keeps me more involved and more on my toes. The robot in this film sounds very funny and sounds like he truly brought a lot of humor to this film. I am now putting this on my list of movies to watch thanks to this review!
6. TeonaEristavi 04.07.15 / 11pm

   I have’t seen this movie yet but I’ve seen a lot of advertisement and merchandise everywhere and even saw the life size Hiro in Disneyland. I am definitely going to make time to watch this movie since everyone praises it so much and also because I am from San Francisco and think it would be pretty exciting to see my city animated in a big movie. In response to Keeley Sparrman: I think it is impressive how this movie made you want to change up your usual drama and horror film theme because I’m a person who enjoys animated family friendly movies so I think I would really like Big Hero 6.
7. AlexanderPaige 04.08.15 / 2pm

   Although I have never seen this film before, it is definitely on my short list of films to watch, especially after reading your review. I have always been a fan of animated films because I find that there are often hidden “Easter eggs” within the story line that can be found. By this I mean cleverly placed jokes that are more meant for mature viewers even though the target audience of these films tend to be younger individuals. I am glad that Disney stuck to their standard of quality in this film, which usually succeeds in discussing societal problems in the form of cheerful animation.
8. Rieanne Thomas 06.06.15 / 10pm

   Hello Chris! I really enjoyed reading your review on Big Hero Six. Before seeing this movie, I didn’t think I was going to like it that much. I ended up loving it and would say it is definitely one of my favorite movies. With Up being my favorite animated movie, I would consider Big Hero 6 my runner up. This movie was able to make me cry and laugh. My favorite part was when Baymax ran out of battery and Hiro had to sneak him upstairs. I was laughing throughout this entire scene. I never knew there was an extra scene at the end of this film. I will have to look it up on youtube or wait next time I watch this movie!
9. Angelina Vollucci 06.07.15 / 12am

   As I was watching this film, I was glad that there was so much diversity in terms of the characters and their backgrounds. I feel that equal representation has always been an issue in recent years, but Big Hero 6 presented a charming and diverse cast which made the film even more enjoyable. The relationship between robot and boy was very endearing, especially after the loss of Hiro’s brother.
10. Sarbjot Singh 06.19.15 / 8pm

    I enjoyed learning about the history behind the movie. Like getting the idea from a comic book and turning it to a film as other marvels. Also you telling us that it was adjusted to the american audience is very interesting, not knowing how the movie may have been altered. Also the movie, having different ethnic characters makes the film very open to the audience to view. This movie shows a positive outcome with so many different ethnic backgrounds, like in recent events happening this may influence little children to not think so badly about other races. I thought the review was okay not really critiquing the movie or telling us what you liked. It would have been nice, but overall a good review.
11. Jenna McDonough 07.16.15 / 10am

    First of all, I had no idea it was part of the Marvel comic universe! Your description of the plot is very well written. I loved your point of Stan Lee’s heroes, they always have a purpose of existing. Disney did it once again with this film, something everyone can enjoy and understand. The new film Inside out, does that as well. Slowly introduces the characters so you begin to love them and then their story unfolds and every adult and child are transfixed by the plot, colors, and use of puns.
12. Catalina Laughrin 07.16.15 / 3pm

    I loved this movie! I thought that this movie was hilarious, to which you prove in your review that is mainly in part of the comical robot Baymax. Your review is well thought-out and I agree with you when you mention how the film is much like the friendship in “The Iron Giant.” I never thought of that, but looking at it now, I can certainly see how “Big Hero” contains similar aspects to Brad Bird’s timeless movie. I think “Big Hero “ is so important to children, especially in times like these, because it’s one of the few animated movies in the past couple years that centers on STEM related topics and is so inspiring to many. Nice commentary!
13. Katherine_Alcalde 07.18.15 / 8pm

    When Big Hero 6 first came out, I was not interested at all in it. I was still on the Frozen hype train and had no interest in seeing Disney’s latest movie. My friends finally forced me to sit down and watch it. And it was a pretty decent movie. I loved the dynamic between Baymax and Hiro. And I loved how the movie emphasis on family values and friendship. However, the plot of the movie was predictable in my opinion. After the death of Hiro’s brother, I immediately knew who was the bad guy and why he was doing what he was doing. I had never read the comics or read anything about the movie, but here I was guessing the end of the movie not even halfway in. That was the one thing that really bugged me about Big Hero 6. But that aside, I think it was a pretty good movie and I enjoyed all the characters in it.
14. Jiayi Lyu 07.18.15 / 11pm

    I really like this movie and the main character robot becomes so popular in Asian countries. This robot is really cute and when I look at him, it makes me feel so fully loved and happy. Nowadays, there are so many similar type of films which uses the fiction characters, such as Ted Bear. Because they don’t exist in real life, that’s why the audience are more expect to see them in the films. The story of this film has a pretty good organization and it follows the Disneyland Standard quality for youth audience. Nowadays, because of the story settings, not only the youth will watch the animation films, but also the adult will like it. After every child watch the film, I believe they all want a robot in the film.
15. beatrice amador 10.17.15 / 12am

    What a film! I was not expecting the antagonist to be the professor everyone wanted to root for! We were set up to think it was Krei who stole Tadashi’s idea and Professor Callaghan really did a good job manipulating everyone and fooling the audience. Baymax was a wonderful character and I’m sure a lot of people cried in the theater with me when they were in the portal and Baymax was trying to make sure Tadashi was all right before he let him go. The ending was particularly heartwarming as Tadashi ended up recreating Baymax with his brother as inspiration and he even used the same memory card and it was like Baymax never even left!
16. Rowen Fields 11.05.15 / 11am

    I really enjoyed this film, especially the way this group of people worked together, dealing with hardships and loss and becoming a unified front to help. I love The relationship between Baymax and Tadashi, how he was a protective source from his brother, who he at first rejected. The relationship between the loss, gain and change of life was very much a Disney movie, but it is enjoyable either way.
17. Morgan Cameron 07.06.16 / 9am

    When I first saw that Disney was releasing an animated movie about a team of kids turned superheroes in a Marvel-esque fashion, I was very excited. The prospect of an animated movie with high quality graphics and an interesting plot was appealing to me. Little did I know that this movie would be so heart wrenchingly beautiful, and study and display the spectrum of human emotions in such an engaging way. I agree that the motivations of each character adds to who they are as an individual, and that just makes the group dynamic more interesting as they transform from a group of friends to a team trying to fight evil.
18. Alec Minkow 07.12.16 / 8am

    I watched this film and absolutely loved it! These type of younger targeted movies usually are not my favorite productions, but this one was amazing. I love how much in depth you spoke on the charters importance to the animation. I believe the characters truly made this movie special and allowed the audience to connect with the film in such way that so many other films struggle to connect. I remember the inflatable robot and the main roll he took in the film even without much expression from him at all! Disney truly did a great job with their production of Big Hero 6!
19. Ron Preuss 07.12.16 / 2pm

    I had alway been curious about what Big Hero 6 was about and how it related to all the other disney animated movies. I had finally seen it about a month ago and honestly I believe it was one of the best I’ve seen. With the concept of family and brotherhood the theme to this film just over powered myself and made me truly enjoy watching the film. I honestly believe that it was something new to the Disney production and I really enjoyed watching that kind of film. Hopefully in the future disney will be making more of these films.
20. Katlyn Villalobos 10.12.16 / 1pm

    I haven’t seen this movie till a couple months ago and I really enjoyed it! I love how the film’s set is inspired by the streets of Tokyo, Japan and how the protagonist is Japanese American. This was surprising to me because most Disney films have a caucasian feel to it. So I was very happy to see a dramatic change in Big Hero 6. Hopefully in the future we can see more diversity in Disney films. Hiro’s brother, Tadashi was probably my favorite character and the fact that he died was really surprising to me as well. Disney films usually don’t kill protagonists. Overall, I appreciate this film as it is.
21. nylene mather 10.14.16 / 8pm

    I saw this movie back when it came out and I was not very sure if I was going to like it. It seems to me that the movies Disney has been making recently have not caught my eye the way they did when movies such as, Finding Nemo came out. Never the less, I absolutely loved this movie! I thought it had so much character and heart behind it. The anime fashion is why I thought that I would not like it too much, but it ended up adding so much more to the movie! Overall, it was a great film and I loved the message it sent. Great review!
22. Kristian Rolland 03.10.17 / 11pm

    Hi,

    I appreciate the attention you give to the movie’s mise-en-scene in the beginning of your review. The animators’ bright, colorful, and creative depiction of the utopian Sanfrantokyo is one of the most unique settings I have seen in a children’s movie for quite some time. The visually stimulating and saturated setting helps push energy into each of the scenes; helping the (potentially younger) audience members overcome sad parts of the story, and instilling excitement during the more uplifting sections.

    I’m uncertain whether or not I agree with your comment that Disney is typically ‘in favor of science’ and that they frequently depict the ‘eternal struggle against capitalism’. I can’t recall many other Disney movies that have placed such a strong emphasis on science, technology, and innovation – so I’m a little confused about what you mean. Although I agree that there have been a few cases that involve conflicts somehow related to capitalism, I’m on the edge whether or not I can agree that Disney movies discuss this kind of conflict often.

    Another aspect that I particularly appreciated was the film’s non-violent theme. The creators accomplished this very well, both by choosing to humanize the villain at the end (by explaining that he was ‘evil’ because he wanted his daughter back), and be choosing for Hero to not seek revenge for Tadashi’s death. I find this particularly important in a children’s story, as we need to train the next generation to discover alternative solutions to our conflicts.

    – Kristian
23. Nathan Solano 04.19.17 / 11pm

    I went into this film not really knowing what to expect, and I have to say I absolutely love it. I thought it nailed every aspect it set out to do. Create and show an emotion attachment between two brothers in 30 minutes? Done. Provide a unique and charismatic group of friends that play of each other well? Done. And we need a voiceless but full of life character that I dare say revivals R2-D2? Done. I agree with you that Baymax was the heart and soul of the film and I think they did a brilliant job on giving a robot that inflates (and deflates) such depth and growth in the film. By the end of the film I had as much emotional attachment to Baymax then I do to most other actual people in films. As you said, it was very similar to The Iron Giant in that respect. Overall, a fantastic film and a great review as well!
24. Oscar Gutierrez 06.04.17 / 7pm

    For a Disney movie it was palatable, I don’t mean it in a derogatory sense, what I mean is Disney’s Pixar division added unexpected depth for a viewer of any age.

    Particularly what is nice about this movie is it’s depiction of future tech and robotics. It’s not beyond the scope of reality. Soft robots are becoming a new norm. Moving from research universities to advance places like Boston Dynamics or DARPA stuff.

    This film makes is a nice one to enjoy with the children, and it’s an interesting look as to how people will interrelate with new tech.

    As fantastical as it is it gets a thumbs up.
25. jpschori 03.11.19 / 10pm

    Marvel/Disney once again did an impeccable job at releasing an animated film that can yield to an audience which is filled with both children and adults. Stan Lee has always been known for giving his character’s purpose and also gives lots of explicit meaning throughout the film to leave the audience with a final thought or lesson learned. Classic to a Disney film, the end of the movie hits in the heart as the directors made it seem like Hiro would never see Baymax again, however they managed to figure out a plot line that keeps the audience excited and also keeps one of their favorite characters alive. Great review! I forgot how much I loved this movie!
26. Connie Huynh 04.19.19 / 7pm

    I had no idea it was part of the marvel universe. Generally movies from marvel are live action films, so this surprised me. The fact that the animation was based off of a Japanese manga makes it better. The animation is beautiful and really colorful. I love how diverse each character is and how they have powers that pertain to their strength. The story created sympathy for Hiro, as he witnessed his brother being killed in a fire that was right in front of him, but he couldn’t do anything about it. Hiro looks up to his brother a lot, so that was a devastating loss for him. The film reminded of another Disney film, Meet the Robinson’s since both protagonists have brilliant minds and they enter a science fair to show off their creation. It’s a really great film that showcases the tight bond between family and friendship.
27. Kathy Ramirez - Varela 10.16.20 / 3pm

    I enjoyed watching Big Hero 6 when it first appeared in theatres and I agree that Baymax is the soul of the movie. It’s interesting to learn that the characters originated from Marvel Comics. Having the story settled in San Francisco which is a hectic city in California seems appropriate since Hiro’s life develops into chaos throughout the film. Graduating high school from a very young age puts pressures onto him to continue with success. He went on to prove that he is worthy to attend a prestigious college then face emotional trauma when he lost his older brother in a large fire. However, behind all the drama, the theme of friendship managed to maintain throughout the film because Hiro’s relationships with his brothers friends/colleagues and his robotic legacy Baymax allowed him to pull through the other side in the end.
28. Jennifer Wiljen 03.03.21 / 8am

    I really enjoyed this movie when I saw it. I really liked how the characters grew and evolved into the superheroes they wanted to be. This film really evokes feelings and I think I experienced every emotion there is when I watched it. I think they did a great job with conveying emotion and a sort of understanding, especially for the younger audience. I work in grade school and we talked about this film and they picked up on important things they were trying to “teach” in this film.
29. Brianna Heng 03.28.21 / 7pm

    This movie is great I really think there is no way someone could not like it. I enjoyed reading your review and I like how you mentioned the mixed aesthetic between American and Japanese culture. I also think that it is just movie that really gets you into it and attached to the characters, like most Disney films, and they really did portray each character and their different personalities really well. We also just got to get close to the main character and went along with him in his adventure and saw his character development.
30. Arely Lopez 10.30.21 / 10pm

    I think that this film is definitely one of my favorite childhood films. The mise-en-scene of the city portraying both San Francisco and Tokyo which is San Frantokyo is a unique and great visual place for the film to take place in. We get to see so many connections and bonds throughout the film. The misI feel like Baymax is just what Hiro Hamada needed in his life and vise versa. The beautiful bond that we see between this inflatable robot which has feelings and an amazing heart and Hiro who has trouble coming his way is admirable. Not to mention that Hiro’s older brother Tadashi, created Baymax with the intention to make him a medical companion. We follow Hiro’s journey of success and sadness when he sees his older brother burn in an explosive fire. After his brother’s death things start to go downhill but it’s nothing that love and teamwork can’t defeat.
31. laura chacon 03.05.22 / 11pm

    I like the movie Big hero 6. It is one of my favorites even though it’s very sad. I agree with the article talking about the characters’ personalities. They are good Characters. I also think Fred is a funny character in the movie. I also saw how they combine San Francisco and Tokyo together in the movie. I agree with the article Talk about the friendship between hiro and bayman. It is very similar to the movie the Iron giant. I also like the movie’s focus on hiro growth as a character. Learning to heal over his brother’s death.
32. laura chacon 03.05.22 / 11pm

    I like the movie Big hero 6. It is one of my favorites even though it’s very sad. I agree with the article talking about the characters’ personalities. They are good Characters. I also think Fred is a funny character in the movie. I also saw how they combine San Francisco and Tokyo together in the movie. I agree with the article Talk about the friendship between hiro and bayman. It is very similar to the movie the Iron giant. I also like the movie’s focus on hiro growth as a character. Learning to heal over his brother’s death. it a good movie it kind of sad but you learn lot
33. Kylie Hanson 03.07.22 / 5pm

    I enjoyed watching Big Hero 6 when I was younger, and also enjoy it now. I feel as if the author of this review did a great job of encapsulating the morals of the main characters, specifically Fred. Using the phrase “Clueless hearted” depicts his personality and intentions well. Looking at the narrative of the film itself the elements are clear and create a fantastic film. For example, the timeline in this film jumps around showing when Tadashi was alive versus when he had passed. Space is shown through the frame of this film. There are times when the viewer can see the antagonist sneaking up on the protagonists. The causality of this film is a huge and essential element. When Tadashi dies it causes Hiro to become depressed and hopeless. This is what forms his “group.” There are several examples of cause and effect in this film. There is an obvious conflict in this film being Big Hero 6 versus the man in the mask. However, there is more than one conflict. Another conflict is Hiro learning to cope with the passing of his brother. Overall, I think this was a great review!
34. Rebeca Matehuala 03.24.22 / 11pm

    Big Hero Six is a great film for all age groups. When watching this film it is a “roller coaster” of emotions. It shares the grief, the start of new friendships, and the strong bond in family dynamics. Although Baymax is only a robot he is the “soul” of the movie. I loved that we got to see the growth of the bond between Baymax and Hiro. I liked that this review mentions Stan Lee. I love that they always manage to include his cameos’ in MCU films but I didn’t realize he made an appearance on animated ones as well.
35. Isabella Marquez-Klein 07.16.22 / 9pm

    I very much agree with the fact that there is a mix of Aesthetics within this film. This makes it stand out, and be far more fascinating, due to the fact that imagery is a large component of what hooks an audience. This film follows somewhat of the classical Hollywood structure, in the way that the characters are goal-oriented, and the film comes to a conclusion in which people have figured themselves out. I think its classical Hollywood ending is very common within movies targeted towards a younger crowd, because it gives youth hope. I have watched this movie many times and remember being super excited when it first came out in theaters. One thing I love about this film is that it is something that truly all ages can enjoy.
36. Anita Avila 10.21.22 / 12pm

    I watched Big Hero 6 and I really enjoyed the movie because it has a rollercoaster of emotions. I enjoyed how descriptive and accurate this movie review is. The mise-en-scene is described as having both elements of San Francisco and Japan. The movie has to introduce all characters from the movie individually for the fact that the audience can bond with each one of them. I liked how it was described that Baymax is seen as the soul of the movie. You watch this inflatable robot develop throughout the movie along with Hiro. Ultimately, you leave having seen this movie feeling light-hearted and inspired.
37. Anita Avila 10.21.22 / 1pm

    I’m not sure if my comment was sent so this is just in case it didn’t:
    I watched Big Hero 6 and I really enjoyed the movie because it has a rollercoaster of emotions. I enjoyed how descriptive and accurate this movie review is. The mise-en-scene is described as having both elements of San Francisco and Japan. The movie has to introduce all characters from the movie individually for the fact that the audience can bond with each one of them. I liked how it was described that Baymax is seen as the soul of the movie. You watch this inflatable robot develop throughout the movie along with Hiro. Ultimately, you leave having seen this movie feeling light-hearted and inspired.
38. Alyssa Best 10.29.22 / 6pm

    Big Hero 6 was one of my favorite movies growing up because of the action and fascinating characters. The mise-en-scene was a perfect combination of San Francisco and Tokyo, implied by the obvious name and the elements. The streets and town life resembled San Francisco and Japan, as well as the Golden Gate Bridge that had the same design as the actual bridge and structures in Japan. This movie was definitely following more of a Hollywood design due to the plot and characters being more dramatic, and having a clear bad guy who ends up “losing”. I enjoyed this film a lot growing up and my reaction was pretty pleasant throughout the film. A recurring pattern I found that was important for the overall film was Baymax and his caring nature when someone was hurting. This showed how pivotal he was to the movie as a whole and could help anyone with any problem, which is exactly what he was designed for.
39. Michelle Sun 03.17.23 / 9pm

    I watched Big Hero 6 when it came out, and I loved the story line! I do agree that this film captures a lot of action along with captivating the purity of each character.Throughout the film, it shows the progression of building a bond between Hiro and BayMax. I feel like these 2 main characters are goal oriented and have a purpose in conveying the message from the director. It represents a classical Hollywood narrative that is confronted by conflict and resolved at the end of the film. There were a lot of emotional scenes and it showed the eternal struggle against capitalism.
40. Eva Hoffmann 03.25.23 / 7pm

    I personally loved the movie “Big Hero 6” and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a nice, feel-good movie. Something I found especially wonderful about your review was your mention of the collaboration between the American and Japanese cultures. Many watchers understand American culture which gives the movie a recognizable feeling, but the aspects of Japanese culture that were also included added so much more depth to the artistic nature of the film’s scenes. As you mentioned, the colors, robots, and cultural monsters were aspects of Japanese culture that greatly added to the movie’s overall tone and feel. They were pivotal to the plot and story line and it was really cool to see that mix of culture in one film.
41. Umanda Perera 03.25.23 / 7pm

    I haven’t watched this movie in so long but I remember the first time I did I thought it was so cool! I liked reading your review and you mentioned how it was adapted to the American style is so true. This movie definitely showed what a good influence can do to someone, like the older brother. The director did a great job conveying the message throughout the film. I also liked how the whole group was diverse and working together makes everything great in the end. Another thing I liked about the film was how a robot was able to show the audience emotional feelings even thought he doesn’t have any, it really captivated the audience’s attention and made them feel things as well.
42. Antonio Ascencio 06.26.23 / 10am

    This was an excellent review for a really awesome movie. I love all the characters inside it and seeing how they develop throughout the story, especially the relationship between Hiro and Baymax. This movie had a pretty long Act 1 compared to other films. Still, it gives it a stronger foundation and a better introduction to our characters as we learn about them. I love how you mentioned how charismatic Baymax is; he becomes your favorite character throughout the film. We think very similarly about this movie, and it is a good one how Disney described the story of these Zeros to Heros. Honestly this movie would be a good way to analyze the way animated movies have elements and other characteristics of movies for our film class and how they are different to real films but still very similar.

Home | SBCC | Class Schedule | Film and Media Studies

Contact: Prof. Nico MaestuCopyright 2007-23 Log in