Ponyo on the cliff by the sea...

[Kelly Tindall]

I, on the other hand, consider him to be the finest animation director of his generation. He's my absolute favorite filmmaker and every new film of his, regardless of whether or not it's Awesome or Totally Fucking Awesome (because that's the scale we're dealing with), is an event unto itself.

At the end of the day I'd much rather talk about what I like than what you hate.

[Elliotanimated]

I, on the other hand, consider him to be the finest animation director of his generation. He's my absolute favorite filmmaker and every new film of his, regardless of whether or not it's Awesome or Totally Fucking Awesome (because that's the scale we're dealing with), is an event unto itself.

At the end of the day I'd much rather talk about what I like than what you hate.

I like you.
I promise.

[Ashton]

Although your completely wrong about Totoro Ashton.

Whatever, I've provided more reasons it sucks than anyone's had for liking it.

[Moonman]

Although your completely wrong about Totoro Ashton.

Whatever, I've provided more reasons it sucks than anyone's had for liking it.

Reason #1: As Kelly has already mentioned, it's Totally Fucking Awesome.

Refer all other reasons to reason #1.

[Ashton]

Hello old thread.

I watched Ponyo this morning expecting to hate it, but I don't. It's the best Miyazaki film I've seen. Which isn't to say I liked it, the story was dumb and it was visually bland (even hideous frog-chicken-ponyo). But while Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, and Mononoke had elements that I liked, they got really boring in parts. Ponyo was entertaining through-out, so it wins.

Tina Fey's line reads were awful though.

Also Liam Neeson wtf.

[gau dog]

It's interesting to read what people like and don't like. Is it a genre preference? Identifying what kind of genre each Ghibli film are, I think one can probably anticipate their own liking. All Miyazaki/Takahata films pretty much have the same style so if that doesn't appeal to you, it never will.

Horus Prince of the sun - action fantasy
Panda Go Panda - kiddie movie
Goshu the Cellist - self discovery drama
Chie the Brat - comedy drama
Castle of Cagliostro - 70's action/comedy/romance
Nausicaa - fantasy drama
Laputa - flying adventure
My Neighbor Totoro - kid fantasy
Grave of the Fireflies - realist kid survival WWII drama
Kiki's Delivery Service - coming of age drama
Porco Rosso - light hearted period piece, flying romance
Only Yesterday - realist midlife crisis childhood flashback drama
Whisper of the Heart - tween romance
Pom Poko - raccoon comedy drama
Princess Mononoke - action feudal fantasy
My Neighbors the Yamadas - light hearted comedy vignettes
Spirited Away - weird fantasy
Cat's Return - teen fantasy romance
Howl's Moving Castle - weird fantasy romance
Ponyo - weird kid-fish romance

I personally don't like as much any Ghibli movie after Princess Mononoke. Though that's not to say I can't stand anything post Mononoke. Probably the increasing weird fantasy factor put me off. I think most Ghibli movies differ from American animated movies in that American animated movies are mostly focused on constructed entertainment, hitting gag points, and story points. Being less collaborative, Ghibli movies feel less forced, more genuinely down to earth, and subsequently more personal.

Ghibli haters should check out Castle of Cagliostro. Though technically not a Studio Ghibli made film, I know it gets overlooked because of that but it's a movie I can imagine comic book fans liking. It's almost like a James Bond movie. I would then recommend Porco Rosso, Laputa, Princess Mononoke.

[emceeONE]

I felt dirty after watching Ponyo.

[She-Thing]

I watched Ponyo with my sister a week ago. Probably the reason why I'm begininng to *like* Ghibli. There's something about Ghibli which makes me "meh" every time I watch one of their movies. (can't stand manga/anime much, either) But Ponyo could the exception, I enjoyed the random chicken legs, the crazy father, the sisters, pacing, and so on.

[She-Thing]

I felt dirty after watching Ponyo.

...Why?

[drugmassacre]

i think describing Spirited Away as a "weird fantasy" is extremely unfair. It's a pretty amazing coming of age story that greatly utilizes traditional Japanese folklore to get its point across. It's visually marvelous and full of extremely great character moments. It's quite possibly my favorite Joe Hisaishi score as well.

[emceeONE]

...Why?

Human-Animal romantic love makes it hard for me to take a movie seriously.

The bad dubbing didn't help much either. Felt like a porn with everything covered up.

I felt the same about The Little Mermaid.

[Moonman]

...Why?

Felt like a porn with everything covered up.

I felt the same about The Little Mermaid.

Yeah, except that one had boners in it...on people and buildings.

[She-Thing]

...Why?

Human-Animal romantic love makes it hard for me to take a movie seriously.

The bad dubbing didn't help much either. Felt like a porn with everything covered up.

I felt the same about The Little Mermaid.

Ha, ha Would Beauty and the Beast count too? Although you'd prefer TLM more because it's the girl who's in torso all the time Usually I can handle human animal love, what makes me feel dirty is "little kids" love. :S I know, Ponyo it's more about friendship, but it's just... isn't right. And yes, I can't stand dubbing too- probably it's the bad synchronization with lip moving, but, at least in spanish dub, they make the conversation dumber than it is.

[emceeONE]

Yes, the little kids love aspect made me cringe too.

Can't comment on B&B, haven't seen it for the same reason

I'm more interested in the films by Masaaki Yuasa than Miyazaki right now, however. While I loved his work up to and including Mononoke, everything after has been steadily downhill since.

I'm torn about the supposed Porco sequel because that's my favorite movie of his (despite the human-animal flirtations, perhaps because they felt like real characters than archetypes).