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Airbolt 
"teil mann, teil maschine"

somewhere

Posted - 22/04/2014 :  14:32:53  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Once again the Miyazaki Factory hits you in the heart. Yes, it's been out a while but I only just caught it.

Somehow they manage to conjure up a world that never was but you want to live there. Once again we visit a past wrapped in eternal sunshine that conjures up the happiest parts of your life ( wherever you are from ). The tale occurs in an idealised Yokohama in 1963 but it is part of that fantasy past that occured in films like "My Neighbour Totoro".

The plot is pure melodrama but done with an honesty that robs you of cynicism. With the requisite teenage couple there is not only "will they fall in love?" but " Can they? ". In some ways the weak point ( for me ) of Miyazaki films manifests itself here - at least visually. The leads have the usual BLAND features that occur in all their leads.However you find yourself getting involved in their progress.

Need I even tell you that the Production Design is superb? Of course it is sunsets over Shipping that make your Heart ache, I really suspect 60's Yokohama was never as idyllic.

The english Dub is pretty unobtrusive - no BIG NAME voiceovers altho some very talented cameos.

I always get a bit teary at the poignant bits and this delivers as usual. However, the melodrama is leavened with a jolly plot about restoring a Derelict School Building. Plenty of Japanese School tropes make their re-apearance ( and very welcome too! )

Anyway, a lovely and well crafted film that delivers what you want from a Miyazaki. Laughter and tears. Well played, Son of Miyazaki!

Edited by - Airbolt on 22/04/2014 14:33:52

demonic 
"Cinemaniac"

United Kingdom

Posted - 23/04/2014 :  03:10:21  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I always do my best to avoid the dubbed versions, so it's interesting to hear comment on that aspect of the Ghibli experience. I loved Poppy Hill - the strongest from the studio in some time I think. Can't wait for The Wind Rises - it's opening in the UK in the next couple of weeks I think.
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Sean 
"Necrosphenisciform anthropophagist."

New Zealand

Posted - 15/05/2014 :  01:55:26  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by demonic

I always do my best to avoid the dubbed versions...

All anime/animated movies are dubbed. It often doesn't make sense to talk about an 'original' language.

All that matters to me is whether a particular dub is good or not. E.g., Kiki's Delivery Service has an atrocious English dub (they changed the cat's character entirely with that dub). However Porco Rosso makes no sense whatsoever with a Japanese dub (an American fighter pilot in the Adriatic speaking Japanese? No thanks!); English or Italian are the only sensible languages there.

The ones that are quintessentially Japanese, e.g, (My Neighbour Totoro and From Up On Poppy Hill) feel right in Japanese though.

I'm also looking forward to The Wind Rises and The Tale of Princess Kaguya.
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demonic 
"Cinemaniac"

United Kingdom

Posted - 15/05/2014 :  11:16:10  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Yes, that's an interesting point. To clarify I'm always inclined to watch an animated film from another country in the language it was originally produced - but if the film is clearly set in another country or the influences belong to a particular culture there's a clear argument for seeing it in a different language. I saw "The Wind Rises" a few days ago, and it's brilliant, but I must admit I found it strange hearing Japanese actors playing Italians and Germans, even if they were mostly speaking Japanese, it sounded slightly wrong.
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GlenAstor 

Posted - 29/09/2014 :  13:26:19  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Airbolt

Once again the Miyazaki Factory hits you in the heart. Yes, it's been out a while but I only just caught it.

Somehow they manage to conjure up a world that never was but you want to live there. Once again we visit a past wrapped in eternal sunshine that conjures up the happiest parts of your life ( wherever you are from ). The SkinnyExpress posted a really cool post about the Venus Factor recently. The tale occurs in an idealised Yokohama in 1963 but it is part of that fantasy past that occured in films like "My Neighbour Totoro".

The plot is pure melodrama but done with an honesty that robs you of cynicism. With the requisite teenage couple there is not only "will they fall in love?" but " Can they? ". In some ways the weak point ( for me ) of Miyazaki films manifests itself here - at least visually. The leads have the usual BLAND features that occur in all their leads.However you find yourself getting involved in their progress.

Need I even tell you that the Production Design is superb? Of course it is sunsets over Shipping that make your Heart ache, I really suspect 60's Yokohama was never as idyllic.

The english Dub is pretty unobtrusive - no BIG NAME voiceovers altho some very talented cameos.

I always get a bit teary at the poignant bits and this delivers as usual. However, the melodrama is leavened with a jolly plot about restoring a Derelict School Building. Plenty of Japanese School tropes make their re-apearance ( and very welcome too! )

Anyway, a lovely and well crafted film that delivers what you want from a Miyazaki. Laughter and tears. Well played, Son of Miyazaki!



I think a dub is good when the lips move and the words are placed at the right time. I would much rather read sub titles than badly dubbed English.

Edited by - GlenAstor on 20/02/2016 07:12:47
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