Common Thought of Sir Rantsalot

In America, we know it as simply Ponyo. Since this Miyazaki’s most recent, I figured I’d review this first.

I was a little sketchy about seeing this at first, but I remembered how good Miyazaki’s films are, and plus I thought it would be good to see it on-screen rather than on a TV.

My friend and I hopped into this after seeing GI Joe and it was worth it. Besides, I knew if I had purchased a ticket, 10% would have gone straight to Michael Eisner’s pocket. Tickets are about $10 these days, so screw that.

The ocean is very mysterious and is one of my personal favorite wonders of the earth. The life that can spawn from it is a mystery all it’s own, and who knows what it shall bring next. Miyazaki definitely did an interesting job of fusing the wonders of the ocean shore with what I believe was mild re-telling of the Little Mermaid.

Ponyo (P-oh-nyo is how it’s correctly pronounced) is a straight to the point story about a fish who escapes the spirit of the ocean’s domain and causes a great unbalance to the ocean. The fish swims to the shore of a boys house and the boy takes care of the fish and pledges his undying devotion to taking care of her. Without realization of the situation, the fish can actually speak and falls head over heels for the boy. 

Like I said in the previous blog, Miyazaki’s films are weird, but they do not scar, there’s plenty of parts where stuff like that happens.

A very intriguing element was introduced in this film, the way a young mother would act. Risa (the mother) is shown doing normal things that a mother would, angry that the father’s away, asking and taking bites out of her child’s ice cream, and cracking open a beer. It’s odd how this is displayed in an animated film that’s aimed at kids, but it works just because they are believable actions. In the english dubbed version, she was voiced by Tina Fey and she did a good job. 

A love story between two 5-year old’s is questionable, but it works. I am totally ashamed but glad to say that this movie is too damn cute. I enjoyed it very much but I have to let that go because I am not that age anymore . I didn’t even mind the fact that the demon spawn of Cyrus and Jonas helped voice this, although 100% of the time the original Japanese/Subtitled versions are better.

I give it 4.6 out 5 stars, I love movies about the ocean.

It’s good for kids, I guarantee they’ll enjoy it.

Coming soon: Castle of Cagliostro

Catch ya on the flipside 

When most people think animation, they automatically think kid’s stuff and can’t seem to move past the fact that a lot of animated features have amazing stories.

In Japan, anime (Japanese animation) is key. Among one of the best hailed animators is Hayao Miyazaki, and his Studio Ghibli.

Miyazaki (even though he doesn’t like it), is recognized as the Walt Disney of Japan. His film’s are masterpieces and I can’t think of one in particular that sucks. The lot of his films contain a magical background with hardly any explanation as well as a very imaginative plot.

Take note that his films are weird, but they do not scar, and don’t make you feel uncomfortable about certain scenes.

Even though his films nowadays are released in America by Disney they push past the Disney barrier, it’s hard to fathom by the likes of one that the Disney corporation would even touch something like these.

Key elements in his films contain children in trouble, an epic disaster, as well as random magic. A certain trademark of his includes flight, the way the air reflects off of the hair of a character, the flapping of the clothes, it’s actually quite interesting.

For the next few blogs, I shall be reviewing his works, for they aren’t recognized enough since mostly everybody is thinking that since it’s released by Disney, it’s kid’s stuff. His most recent film was aimed towards children, but that didn’t stop it from being good. To market stuff to children, one should think like a child, and no one captures that as skillfully as Miyazaki-sama. Bravo!

Catch ya on the flipside

Next 5 or 6 blogs will be reviews of my favorite films by him

PS For the record, Walt Disney himself was a genuine P.O.S.