'Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans' Review: Arcadian tales end with death and a cliffhanger
Spoilers ahead for 'Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans'
Netflix's 'Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans' is an epic adventure right from the word go. For the final battle, the OG band of heroes unite one last time to stop the Titans from wreaking havoc on Earth. There's a sense of irresistible fun and imminent danger as they set out on an exhausting journey of retrieving the Kronisphere.
It's hard to imagine that after all the unbreakable spells, powerful totems, and portal-opening staff, the fate of mankind would rest on a blinged-out Magic 8-Ball. But, who's complaining? The search for that very orb gave us a few hours of unadulterated entertainment.
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If you have not watched the film yet, we'd recommend you stop here and take some time off to binge on what else Netflix has to offer. You may begin with, '3Below', 'Wizards' and 'How to Train Your Dragon'.
Jim Lake (Emile Hirsch) and his superhero friends from Earth and beyond have joined forces to defeat the rising Titans whose only agenda is to crush humanity. Collectively called the Arcane Order, the trio of primordial demigods must convene in Arcadia to acquire the Heartstone, which will then help unleash raw magic and wipe out the world. As they set out on their journey, the now-feeble trollhunter and his team of mightiest heroes conjure up elaborate plans to stop the end.
What follows are CGI-heavy scenes, some well-executed and laced with thrill, others borrowed from 'Pacific Rim' (Remember the Bellroc Vs Gun Robot ocean fight?). But can you really blame anyone for it, given that both the films were created by Guillermo del Toro, who loves gigantic monsters and larger-than-life fight sequences. The narrative was restless and it was not a surprise. How do you retrieve a valuable gemstone without fast car chases, endless treasure hunts, or daredevil action stunts?
'Rise of the Titans' achieves its purpose but leaves us with a major cliffhanger and death. Jim, who struggles to get back into his troll hunting ways, is finally able to wield the Excalibur. The powerful sword left behind by King Arthur helps him not only save the world but also break open the Kronisphere, and from it the Time Stone. On an ideal day, he would be advised against using it but BFF Tobias 'Toby' Domzalski's (Charlie Saxton) death leaves him without a choice.
The ending is bittersweet but leaves Jim with a hope of a tomorrow where Toby lives and us in anticipation of a sequel.
'Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans' is currently streaming on Netflix.
