So, this Studio Ghibli has released some new special edition DVDs: - My Neighbor Totoro - Castle In The Sky - Kiki's Delivery Service - Ponyo Are any of these movies good? Like, worth buying? Or are they truly kids movies? For example, if Aladdin or The Lion King came out on DVD again, I would probably buy them, because they're great movies that I'd love to watch again and keep around to show my kids some day. Would these be like that, or am I going to be like "I spent 20 bucks on nonsense"?
if anything i would avoid Kiki's delivery service, i havn't seen Ponyo so can't comment but i hear its great My Neighbour Totoro (again i havn't seen it), i have heard alot about it, its main problem with people is it seems to be childish on the surface, however it is in fact regarded as one of Mirazakis most deep works (its about the fire bombing of Japan or the A-bomb i think) Castle in the Sky was pretty spectacular visually, takes a while to get going, but still decent, not the best Ghibli film i've seen, but alike the rest of them its worth it for the animation alone at times i'd recommend checking out Pom Poko though, blew my mind
Negative. Kiki's is a great movie for anybody of any age. Watch it again, TR!P. And My Neighbor Totoro--anyone who has any complaints about this movie is a soulless prick, so ignore them, too. And it is most definitely NOT about the bombing of Japan or the A-bomb in ANY way. Look for a trailer on Youtube or something. Castle in the Sky is a great movie, but not really my favorite Ghibli film (that would be Princess Mononoke.) Never saw Ponyo. I've heard that the English version is kinda... Not that good, though. And yeah, Pom Poko is a good movie. Porco Rosso and Spirited Away are also really good. As is Howl's Moving Castle, The Cat Returns, and The Castle of Cagliostro, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and Grave of the Fireflies. And My Neighbors the Yamadas was a charming little movie, too.
Kiki's is fucking awesome as long as you aren't using the dub. I heard there is a bunch of Ghibli blu rays on the horizon though.
Kiki and Totoro are great movies and suites people of all ages. It's just movies that makes you feel good. It's amazing how Miyazaki can make spectacular movies like that with such a simple story and so little drama.
You're thinking of Grave of the Fireflies, which is an incredible movie and one of the greatest animated films ever.
no no, i was told by my film history teacher about the connection between the bombings and My Neighbour Totoro its highlighted in the scene with the tree dance, it growing in the shape of an A-bombing exploding [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_73WJC4qYw"]YouTube- Totoro grow dance[/ame] but this is pretty extreme subtext, not something a a passive viewer/child is going to pick up on also, i just think Kiki's was really poor in comparison, and the i'm not a huge fan of The Cat Returns either
So ... would any/all of the four I mentioned in the OP be good buys? I don't seem to notice anyone saying that any of them is solely/mainly for children.
Just about anything Ghibli-related is worth getting. Castle in the Sky is my favorite from that list, though.
They're doing the Miyazaki ones chronologically supposedly. First one hits Japan this summer I think.
Totoro was my favorite movie when I was like 5, but I don't really have any interest in following Studio Ghibli's films today for the same reason that I don't jump at every new Disney release. I don't want to start a shitstorm, but I think it's disappointingly typical that Miyazaki's work is the only anime with mainstream acceptance in the West.
They're all great. Not my favorite Ghibli(Nausicaa, Mononoke, Spirited Away, and Howl's are the best IMO), but still excellent. No they're not just for kids, although my kids love them.
none of them are explicitly for kids, castle in the sky wasnt even marketed to kids either. id say they have more "adult" subtext, themes, and artistry than just about any disney film including alladin, lion king etc.
So? That doesn't take away from the fact that they're still great movies. And certainly better than any shit disney's put out in the past 10 years.
