I enjoyed Ponyo, particularly the mom's ludicrous, Lupin-esque driving.
At one point my brain actually minorly freaked out when she almost went off a cliff. I made the sound that moms make when they see a kid fall down or hit their head. My brother laughed at me. -_-
Since Ponyo's release, Best Buy and many other places have many of Miyazaki's movies for sale. At Best Buy I saw them go for around $15 and at Costco they were on sale for $12.99. It's probably a good time to buy them, if you haven't already.
I really didn't like the plot. It just seemed so contrived and simple, compared to other Miyazaki movies. I mean, Totoro is a kids' movie, and I enjoyed it much more than this.
I think the mom and Prospero (what I'm calling Ponyo's dad) were actually interesting characters, though. I'd like to see a movie that follows their two lives, in a sort of WKW Chungking Express kind of way.
A NOTE ON PROSPERO: I kind of constructed a parallel to the Tempest as I was watching this movie. Ponyo's dad became Prospero (the mad sorcerer on his island), Ponyo was of course Miranda, her mom was Sycorax, and the excesses of humanity was Caliban. It made the movie a lot more interesting. The idea of the love-story-consumerist-easy-endings-plot was Setebos, many handed as a cuttlefish.
I thought the plot was simplistic, but that seemed intentional as it was focused to appeal to a very young audience. In comparison to Totoro, I thought Ponyo had a firmer, more consistent plot to prop up its cuteness. This doesn't mean that I dislike Totoro, just that Ponyo's plot was more complete and directed.
I actually haven't seen Totoro, but the notion of Ponyo having a firmer plot seems laughable to me. I kept thinking about how so many people must have died in the flood that Ponyo caused. I realize she's too young to know what she's doing, but the inconsistency still made me laugh. It didn't help that (A) my friends were making snide comments throughout the film, and (B) I was completely geeking out over all the ocean life (I love the sea with a passion). When Ponyo and Sosuke were getting ready to look for Sosuke's mom and that octopus snuck into the house, I about lost it. All told, it was an entertaining movie. And then District 9 happened.
I actually haven't seen Totoro, but the notion of Ponyo having a firmer plot seems laughable to me.
Believe it. Totoro and plot never really meet up. They seem to notice each other across the room once or twice, but it is the awkward distant meeting of eyes between acquaintances that have no interest in becoming friends. Regardless, Totoro is a lovely romp.
It was definitely Miyasaki's more straightforward movie.
see:
Totoro and plot never really meet up. They seem to notice each other across the room once or twice, but it is the awkward distant meeting of eyes between acquaintances that have no interest in becoming friends. Regardless, Totoro is a lovely romp.
I don't see how anything could be more straightforward than Totoro.
Totoro and plot never really meet up. They seem to notice each other across the room once or twice, but it is the awkward distant meeting of eyes between acquaintances that have no interest in becoming friends. Regardless, Totoro is a lovely romp.
I don't see how anything could be more straightforward than Totoro.
As I recall (and I haven't seen it in years) the set up of the plot is that the girls and their father move into a house to be closer to their ill mother's hospital. The plot then progresses as the girls then meet dust sprites and Totoro which distracts them from their mother's illness and their father's absence as he visits her. The mother is then recovered. That isn't really a plot since the events are so disconnected and nothing really happens in the film.
Believe it. Totoro and plot never really meet up. They seem to notice each other across the room once or twice, but it is the awkward distant meeting of eyes between acquaintances that have no interest in becoming friends.
That's a lovely way of putting it. Totoro really doesn't have a plot, but it doesn't need it. You just let its Totoroness wash over you.
That isn't really a plot since the events are so disconnected and nothing really happens in the film.
Which is why the two aren't really comparable in this context. I'm talking about, in his sea of twisty fantasy stories, Ponyo was among the easiest to follow. I get what you're saying about Totoro, though.
Ponyo was definitely a cute, creative movie. I haven't watched much Miyazaki, but man was it a fun movie. I was rather impressed with the voice acting too. I saw the names Cyrus and Jonas in the title, making me groan, but they rather surprised me and fit well into the movie. My favorite was probably Liam Neeson though as David Bowie Fujimoto. As a negative, I can only think of three or so scenes that yanked me out of the movie.
I kind of look at it like The Little Mermaid if it were cuter and made more sense.
Ponyo was definitely a cute, creative movie. I haven't watched much Miyazaki, but man was it a fun movie. I was rather impressed with the voice acting too. I saw the names Cyrus and Jonas in the title, making me groan, but they rather surprised me and fit well into the movie. My favorite was probably Liam Neeson though asDavid BowieFujimoto. As a negative, I can only think of three or so scenes that yanked me out of the movie.
I kind of look at it like The Little Mermaid if it were cuter and made more sense.
I really suggest you see every single one of Miyazaki's movies. If you are an anime fan, that is required viewing to further and enrichen your fandom. If you aren't a fan, see them anyway as they are fun movies by themselves.
That's a good start. I think that might have been one of the first anime subtitled movies I've seen in a theater. It was of course a limited viewing being in only one theater in Seattle, but it was an awesome time.
Was I the only one that was really impressed at the way Sosuke was animated? Maybe it's just me, but I thought the way they portrayed his movements (like when he was carrying the green bucket around) were incredibly genuine and DAMN adorable. Also, the whole scene with Sosuke sailing on the enlarged boat...that just about killed me. The cuteness overload was hard to handle.
Agree with many of the comments for Ponyo, just saw it a few hours ago. It was a cuteness overload and simple but not in a derogatory sense of the word. Animation was spectacular all the characters were done quite excellently.
I do have to say Lisa was the badass in the movie, a Mum that can drift a car and short shift is awesome!
One thing I didn't get was why Sosuke called his parents by there first names.
... This has been known on these forums for quite a long time already. Been posted several times in the TotD thread at least.
Due to the re-posted nature of that link: Do not feel any kind of excitement or happiness in relation to any content associated with it. Asume the party escort submission position and await further notice.
Some time ago I watched all Pixar movies I hadn't watched before because after seeing WALL-E I came of the opinion that it was one of the great animation studios of modern day. I wasn't disappointed with the experience. Now I started doing the same with Studio Ghibli and looking back on it I have no clue why I hadn't done so before. I watched Castle of Cagliostro, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle before, all of which are excellent movies (though admittedly, Spirited Away is very weird). Yesterday I watched Porco Rosso and today I watched My Neighbor Totoro. Just everything about these movies is fantastic.
Some time ago I watched all Pixar movies I hadn't watched before because after seeing WALL-E I came of the opinion that it was one of the great animation studios of modern day. I wasn't disappointed with the experience. Now I started doing the same with Studio Ghibli and looking back on it I have no glue why I hadn't done so before. I watched Castle of Cagliostro, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle before, all of which are excellent movies (though admittedly, Spirited Away is very weird). Yesterday I watched Porco Rosso and today I watched My Neighbor Totoro. Just everything about these movies is fantastic.
Fantastic! You've made a wise decision. Next, I'd recommend Princess Mononoke, Laputa: Castle in the Sky, and Naussicaa of the Valley of the Wind.
I watched Grave of the Fireflies tonight. Fantastic movie, but also extremely sad and depressing. And I know it's not directed or written by Miyazaki, but I guess this thread might as well include talk about any Ghibli movie. However, I have absolutely no clue what made the people at Ghibli think it would be a good idea to show Grave of the Fireflies in a double feature with My Neighbor Totoro as the original release. It's like two polar opposites in the spectrum of storytelling.
However, I have absolutely no clue what made the people at Ghibli think it would be a good idea to show Grave of the Fireflies in a double feature with My Neighbor Totoro as the original release. It's like two polar opposites in the spectrum of storytelling.
I'd guess that it's like how Noh is accompanied by Kyogen in Japanese theater. You have one sad, moving, and--most importantly--incredibly meaningful piece, which is then followed by more lighthearted and comedic fare.
Comments
I think the mom and Prospero (what I'm calling Ponyo's dad) were actually interesting characters, though. I'd like to see a movie that follows their two lives, in a sort of WKW Chungking Express kind of way.
A NOTE ON PROSPERO: I kind of constructed a parallel to the Tempest as I was watching this movie. Ponyo's dad became Prospero (the mad sorcerer on his island), Ponyo was of course Miranda, her mom was Sycorax, and the excesses of humanity was Caliban. It made the movie a lot more interesting. The idea of the love-story-consumerist-easy-endings-plot was Setebos, many handed as a cuttlefish.
I kind of look at it like The Little Mermaid if it were cuter and made more sense.
It was a cuteness overload and simple but not in a derogatory sense of the word. Animation was spectacular all the characters were done quite excellently.
I do have to say Lisa was the badass in the movie, a Mum that can drift a car and short shift is awesome!
One thing I didn't get was why Sosuke called his parents by there first names.
Fuck, I'm still crying T_T