In truth, I had no idea whether to put this here or the media forum.
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I'm excited for this movie and I hope that it does not bomb. 800 theaters is a big risk and without enough advertisements this movie could leave the box office with a bad mark.
omg that looks so cool and cute
HOLY SHIIIIIIIIIT
YES.
I love this movie so much I am so excited to see it in english <3 Holy crap yes <3
Gah, I can't wait! Everything I've seen looks amazing.
It's more in the vein of Totoro then his more recent epic movies, but it's adorable. Too adorable, I am obsessed with the cuteness >_>
I have more way Ponyo merch then OP that's kind of sad.
It's more in the vein of Totoro then his more recent epic movies, but it's adorable. Too adorable, I am obsessed with the cuteness >_>
I have more way Ponyo merch then OP that's kind of sad.
Considering Totoro was the love of my young life, I doubt that'll be a problem. Miyazaki has yet to disappoint.
The only real tragic flaw in this movie is there is a part where they just jump into a situation and give absolutely no explanation for it. This REALLY killed it for me and made me feel sort of empty inside the first time, but watching it again it was fine.
I won't spoil but that part was kind of meh, it ruined the flow.
I think the overall cuteness makes up for the plot honestly, it's like heart-melting goo-goo eyes making adorable <3
And from what I heard, I approve of the voices minus the sea goddess, she really does not have the soft, smooth voice of the japanese original.
Although this is not my kinda thing by a longshot, I do hope it does well. Might help the American anime business, who knows. Hoping it does, though.
That said, it seems my claim that all Miyazaki does in his movies is stick children in magical/fantasy lands and situations is startlingly accurate. Dude, it's been how many years? Try something different! Just give it a go, don't be scared!
Ponyo's kind of interesting and that its based off the original Little Mermaid novel, but you're totally right for the most part >_> Princess Mononoke and Howl's Moving Castle kind of pushed the borders on that a bit but overall, yeah.
I think Porco Rosso is the only exception to the kids in fantasy land statemind. Besides having a middle age main character, it was mostly realistic despite the fact that a sourpuss guy got a pig head and the fantasy element of sky pirates. Man I love that movie <3
Although this is not my kinda thing by a longshot, I do hope it does well. Might help the American anime business, who knows. Hoping it does, though.
That said, it seems my claim that all Miyazaki does in his movies is stick children in magical/fantasy lands and situations is startlingly accurate. Dude, it's been how many years? Try something different! Just give it a go, don't be scared!
Because god forbid you make a childrens' movie about children right? Saying that all he does is stick children in magical/fantasy situations isn't much of a criticism either considering the vast differences between said situations. Geez dude, what's the matter with you? Miyazaki's charmingly beautiful films not manly enough for Shmeckie McManlypants? 
[/rabid Ghibli fan rage]
So, yeah, I hope it does well too.
Because god forbid you make a childrens' movie about children right?
Back in my day, we had plenty of children's entertainment not starring children. And we enjoyed that entertainment!
Saying that all he does is stick children in magical/fantasy situations isn't much of a criticism either considering the vast differences between said situations. Geez dude, what's the matter with you? Miyazaki's charmingly beautiful films not manly enough for Shmeckie McManlypants?
Nope. And how the hell do you know my full name?!
But seriously, it bugs me because his movies are all s'damn similar. I mean, here's the forumula:
-Young'un is sent on an adventure in order to help or save someone
-Underaged protagonist wanders in fantastic setting
-Li'l hero goes to vastly different locations, often awed by the various crazy sheeit they come across
-Micro person is locked in a conflict that, while presented in a way that suggests it should be epic, is often simplistic or minor
-Mini-mate saves the day, often with the help of fantastical, Neverending Story-type friends.
The guy had one movie that didn't use that formula (Porco Rosso) that I can find. Miyazaki's just too style-over-substance for my taste.
So, yeah, I hope it does well too.
Me too! 
Back in my day, we had plenty of children's entertainment not starring children. And we enjoyed that entertainment!
Nope. And how the hell do you know my full name?!
But seriously, it bugs me because his movies are all s'damn similar. I mean, here's the forumula:
-Young'un is sent on an adventure in order to help or save someone
-Underaged protagonist wanders in fantastic setting
-Li'l hero goes to vastly different locations, often awed by the various crazy sheeit they come across
-Micro person is locked in a conflict that, while presented in a way that suggests it should be epic, is often simplistic or minor
-Mini-mate saves the day, often with the help of fantastical, Neverending Story-type friends.The guy had one movie that didn't use that formula (Porco Rosso) that I can find. Miyazaki's just too style-over-substance for my taste.
Me too!
Hm… protagonist sent on adventure...encounters conflict, resolves conflict...wait! Are you trying to describe every movie ever made?!
But seriously, plenty of his films don't follow that "formula." Take Nausicaa, Kiki and Totoro, which were more slice of life despite some fantastic elements, Mononoke, or Howl's Moving Castle. Actually, you know what, hardly any of them do.
And style-over-sustance? Miyazaki is all about the themes man, THE THEMES. How many of these have you watched exactly?
Mononoke was totally that formula. And preachy, too. What with the environmental stuff. Though it may have diverted at points, it held true. Then again, I will admit I didn't watch all of it, so if it diverted more than I thought, I'll concede.
And you skipped alot in that formula. ;)
As for your exceptions, lemme ask ya; how old were the protagonists? What were the settings like? Even if his films don't use the whole formula bit-by-bit, there's always chunks of it in there. It wouldn't even be an issue for me if his movies weren't so similar. Especially for a guy who gets as much accolades as he does.
I hope it does well in American theaters for obvious reasons (Miyazaki is cool, saving the anime industry, etc.), but I hated it when I saw it in Japan.
Without spoiling anything, I can say this: Totoro, even without "a point" was a terrific film. The art was beautiful, the characters were memorable, and it was "charming."
Ponyo was none of those things, for me. The art was purposely pared down to this "let's make it look like a child drew it with crayons" nonsense, the characters had no personality, and in an effort to make this movie nothing but a charm-fest, it just becomes sickeningly sweet and oversaturated with sugary goodness. (And I've compared Ponyo to Totoro because those two are the most closely-related, as far as the "little kid(s) meet magical creature(s) and encounter mild problems in everyday life" genre).
As we walked out of the theater last August, my Japanese homestay father said, in broken English, "This movie- for BABIES." And he's a fan of Miyazaki.
Mononoke was totally that formula. And preachy, too. What with the environmental stuff. Though it may have diverted at points, it held true. Then again, I will admit I didn't watch all of it, so if it diverted more than I thought, I'll concede.
And you skipped alot in that formula. ;)
As for your exceptions, lemme ask ya; how old were the protagonists? What were the settings like? Even if his films don't use the whole formula bit-by-bit, there's always chunks of it in there. It wouldn't even be an issue for me if his movies weren't so similar. Especially for a guy who gets as much accolades as he does.
Well let's go through that bit by bit shall we? Princess Mononoke…
So by young'un, you mean fully adult Ashitaka who goes on an adventure to save or help what exactly? Er, actually he's cursed to die and goes to find the discover the origin of the "curse" and see it with his own eyes...but I'm sure someone benefits somehow...right?
Anyway moving on... fully adult Ashitaka wanders in fantastic setting- which seems an awful lot like gritty, war-torn feudal Japan but hey, that could be fantastic depending on how ya look at it. There are those cute little Kodama to take your mind off it afterall.
Then Ashitaka is locked in a conflict between man and nature which we all know is hugely insignificant and minor by today's standards. As if crappy usage of resources and overly rapid progress is a serious issue. psh.
Ashitaka saves the da~oh wait, hundreds die, Tatara burns to the ground, and the forest god goes kersplat....but at least that whole curse thing is solved, phew! All thanks to his lovable pals: wolf girl, fat, dirty monk, and giant bloody boar god! High five!
Yeah, I guess you're right Captain, it DOES follow that formula!
...Okay, I'm just messing around with you, but I think Miyazaki's a lot more inventive than you're giving him credit for.
Wasn't the protagonist in Mononoke still a kid, though?! Teenager, or around that area, but definately not an adult. Now I didn't watch all of Mononoke, but again, kid in a fantasy setting. And the environmental issue was, let's face it, simplistic and unoriginal as hell. Especially in Japanese cinema. Having an anime touch on the environment is like having an American movie about thugs in the hood…
It's just too hard to give the guy credit when all he does in movies about people under the age of 18 in magic settings. If he does a few movies in the future that are not within this premise, then I can give him some credit.
One more thing, then I'll shut up. This isn't directed at anyone in particular, but I keep hearing how great Miyazaki's stuff is because it's "charming." Personally, that doesn't cut it. Charm and childlike wonder isn't a substitute for a compelling narrative, with interesting and entertaining characters (preferably with depth), a real sense of peril, and a few plot twists or two. I mean, damn, it's not like children in a fantasy setting can't make for a good storyline. Just look at Nadia! That series is awesome!
Figured I'd get that out there. I'll hush up, now.
One more thing, then I'll shut up. This isn't directed at anyone in particular, but I keep hearing how great Miyazaki's stuff is because it's "charming." Personally, that doesn't cut it. Charm and childlike wonder isn't a substitute for a compelling narrative, with interesting and entertaining characters (preferably with depth), a real sense of peril, and a few plot twists or two.
Figured I'd get that out there. I'll hush up, now.
Ghibli films have always had all those things PLUS charm, but yeah, you can hush up.
Well, that's about as bare bones a trailer as you can get, but whatev.
I've heard mixed reviews out of Japan myself, but I'll wait until I see it to give a verdict. Miyazaki will always get the benefit of the doubt with me.
@CCC:
Ponyo was none of those things, for me. The art was purposely pared down to this "let's make it look like a child drew it with crayons" nonsense, the characters had no personality, and in an effort to make this movie nothing but a charm-fest, it just becomes sickeningly sweet and oversaturated with sugary goodness. (And I've compared Ponyo to Totoro because those two are the most closely-related, as far as the "little kid(s) meet magical creature(s) and encounter mild problems in everyday life" genre).
As we walked out of the theater last August, my Japanese homestay father said, in broken English, "This movie- for BABIES." And he's a fan of Miyazaki.
Actually, Totoro had way more of a point then Ponyo.
I can't… really put my finger on a theme for Ponyo, I can't say why without spoilage but there is a massive contradiction that just gets thrown out the window to have a cute ending. I mean: (seriously do not click this is for the ones that have seen the movie, it will spoil a critical part:)
! They make Fujimoto to be the bad guy, even though he is the one who is trying to keep Ponyo in the sea and not cause armageddon.
! What I really didn't know the first time was that this was supposed to be based off of The Little Mermaid, and when I first watched it the thing with the retirement home being in the underwater bubble/healing powers and that suddnely they figure out that if Sosuke accepts Ponyo the world will be saved. It just jumps to all this stuff and you're like when the hell did this happen and why and what and wtf. But it all goes back to the true loves first kiss thing being the key to all and it totally makes sense. But if you didn't know that it was horribly confusing and dissapointing.
I think this movie is totally charm for me. It has nothing to do with it being a Miyazaki it's just plain cute. I am dissapointed however that all it really is is cute. But Ponyo is just adorable (the character herself) omfg <3
We've also become super complacent with his epic titles like Spirited Away and Howl, though he specifcally said he wanted to go back to his roots with this project.
And I wish people would stfu about the art. That is INCREDIBLY AMAZING for HAND ANIMATION. It's not cg. So used to perfect CG too, lol.
I'm really looking forward to the release of this movie. I'm gonna wait and see what kind of reviews it gets here, but I'm almost definitely going to see it in theaters, if only because I've never seen a Miyazaki film on the big screen.
And the lamb lies down on Broadway
Oh yeaaah I've been hearing since this went up that this is going to be in IMAX…. <3
I am fully prepared to hate this movie, so hopefully it'll surprise me. I liked Mononoke and I don't really understand hating on it for the environmental themes, if anything that was the epitome of Miyazaki's philosophy and Howl should have been the insult.
I am fully prepared to hate this movie, so hopefully it'll surprise me. I liked Mononoke and I don't really understand hating on it for the environmental themes, if anything that was the epitome of Miyazaki's philosophy and Howl should have been the insult.
I loved Princess Mononoke. I like it even more than Spirited Away. Never saw Howl though, but I heard it was pretty bad for a Miyazaki film.
I really liked Howl, I've only seen it once and I should totally see it again before making a good judgement, it usually takes seeing them twice before I really know if I like it or not.
I think I'm more partial to Howl and Porco are they are a little bit more historic in nature then epic fantasy.
And Spirited Away was <3333, can never get enough of that movie.
I finally saw Mononoke awhile back at a local showing and it really didn't strike with me. It was definitely not a bad movie, I need to watch it again because it could have been it was a very long movie and I was watching in during the wee hours of the morning after a busy day, it just felt too long to me.
this looks cute and adorable can't wait to see it in theatres
Actually, Totoro had way more of a point then Ponyo.
Well I definitely agree there. I was just scared of potential Totoro haters who could argue against that. And I totally agree with your comment on the strange theme/contradiction/wtf@ending.
Was Totoro totally done by hand or aided by cg? I can't recall…
I heard that this was one of Miyazaki's more underwhelming movies. From a review I read, it said that some of the plot wasn't even resolved by the end. I'll admit that Miyazaki has been running out of steam now, but I'll be fair and give it a chance when it comes to DVD.
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