Forum - View topicREVIEW: Ponyo Blu-Ray
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Fronzel
Posts: 1906 |
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Miyazaki full into his "I don't give a shit, I do what I want" phase here.
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sunflower
 Posts: 1080 |
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I liked Ponyo a lot, and found it entrancing. And me on the downside of 40. It may have been written for five year olds, but found myself enjoying because it wasn't a straightforward narrative, but more impressions of color and movement and emotion playing off one another. That's it! For me it was visual jazz.
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Top Gun
 Posts: 4570 |
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This is pretty much how I feel as well. I'm on the tail end of "young" adulthood, but I greatly enjoyed it. Yes, the story was shaky at best, and the second half kind of limped to the finish, but the artistry and animation were so gorgeous and enchanting that I frankly didn't give a damn. I'm willing to forgive a lot in a work if it provides a visual feast, and Ponyo certainly does. |
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Jayhosh
 Posts: 972 Location: Millmont, Pennsylvania |
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What the hell does the reviewer have against Wolf Children? That film's beautiful, one of my all time favorites. The mother in that film was brilliantly realized, I have no idea what this person is referring to.
So I pretty much just found out about Ghibli films when Ponyo first released in Japan (yes, I didn't have the luxury of growing up with them. I grew up in a very patriotic 'murican family), and I'd say it was only like the third film of theirs that I saw? So maybe I have a bit of early nostalgia for it, but it's always been the kind of movie that can make me smile whenever I watch it. It of course doesn't have the intricate storytelling of, say, Princess Mononoke, but it's not really supposed to either. It's for five year olds, and also happens to bring the inner five year old out in many viewers as well. |
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Jayhosh
Posts: 972 Location: Millmont, Pennsylvania |
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You know, I see this type of assumption a lot. But Howl's actual audience reception is very positive. In many polls it regularly ranks near the top. And almost always in the top three, along with Mononoke and Spirited Away. So it's more the professional critics that were less favorable towards it. And even then it got great reviews still. 86% percent on Rotten Tomatoes I believe. And many people I know personally that have seen it also say it's their favorite Ghibli film. My sister told me that it's actually in her top five favorite films of all time. |
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kern
Posts: 4 |
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The review is in error as to the available English subtitles on the US Ponyo Blu-Ray release.
When one selects English audio, then the (only) English subtitle offered is "English for the Hearing Impaired" which consists of subtitles of the English dub, and other sound information in parentheses. When one selects Japanese audio, then the (only) English subtitle offered is "English" which consists of an English translation of the Japanese soundtrack (without additional soundtrack information). Although this adult likes Ponyo far more than the reviewer, his detailed and thoughtful Studio Ghibli film reviews are most commendable. |
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EricJ2
 Posts: 4016 |
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Namely, the only other two Ghibli films most mainstream audiences knew by name in 2005. 
"It's in the Top Three of the three Ghiblis I've ever heard of in my life!" (They might have known Kiki and Totoro from renting the videos for their kids, in those long-ago days before Spirited won the Oscar, but not by actually associating it with the name of a director.)
Although Roger Ebert, who was championing Totoro and Mononoke before it was cool, was one of the less favorable:
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Kikaioh
 Posts: 1205 Location: Antarctica |
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I really liked Ponyo. It's the sort of film you'd see as a kid and remember very strongly, like a children's watercolor book brought to life. For some of the people who dislike it, I sometimes wonder if having seen Miyazaki's other works sort of ruins the film a bit, since it's harder to like a film going in with high expectations, especially following on the heels of prior classics. I've also seen some negatives about it not being for adults, but I think that's part of what makes the film more endearing to me, since it reminds me of what it was like being a young kid. I imagine there's a young generation of children who've watched the film already, and I'm sure they'll look back very fondly on it.
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kevinx59
 Posts: 959 Location: In sunny California |
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Ponyo was nice (and one of he first Ghibli films I actually saw in its entirety) but yeah, it does seem very child-oriented. The plot seemed messy ( meet Ponyo, her adjusting to being human, then a flood and rescuing people) but the art was amazing. I remember the first time I saw my mind was blown by just how fluid everything was, especially compared to most anime. Ponyo's fish form was cute, but the mid form, with legs but not human yet, was just bizarre. I didn't have any problem with the dub though.
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Shippoyasha
Posts: 459 |
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Ponyo is one of the loveliest Ghibli flims to look at, but sadly, one of the WORST payoffs I have ever seen.
First off, it ends abruptly. As if there's a whole second half of the story that has been cut out. Secondly, the water-goddess whispers to the mom character far away. So we're literally taken out of the conversation altogether. Thirdly, the lore and the setting they are creating has absolutely no payoff or resolution. It's just left as a complete mystery, and not even in a cute way either. It's like they got lazy and decided to call it. |
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