Pete's Dragon
2016 · Directed by David Lowery
Original language: English
- adventure
- family
- fantasy
The story
For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham has delighted local children with his tales of the fierce dragon that resides deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter, Grace, who works as a forest ranger, these stories are little more than tall tales... until she meets Pete, a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant, green dragon named Elliott. And from Pete's descriptions, Elliott seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr. Meacham's stories. With the help of Natalie, an 11-year-old girl whose father Jack owns the local lumber mill, Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this dragon.
What it’s like
Lush, saturated forest greens and soft golden-hour light filter through towering Pacific Northwest firs, with unhurried camera moves that linger on mossy trails, wooden cabins, and a sawmill town's warm, dusty streets. Elliott, the dragon, is rendered as a shaggy, expressive creature whose presence feels tactile rather than glossy, and a gentle orchestral score of strings and piano swells around the quiet moments between them. The vibe is wistful and cozy, with a touch of old-fashioned storybook wonder. It suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a family movie night, or a comfort rewatch on a rainy evening. The pacing is patient and warm, and the emotional register stays tender as a lonely boy and a wary ranger's daughter slowly come to trust one another. Intensity is mild: brief moments of peril, a car chase, and a few tense scenes around logging equipment, but no gore and little real cruelty. It is well suited to young viewers and to adults who want a sincere, low-stakes fantasy that treats kindness and belonging with care.
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