toddly6666

I'm just curious how everyone would grade the MIYAZAKI films that you have seen.


Here mine:
PRINCESS MONONOKE: A+
NAUSICA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WINDS: A
KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE: A
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO: A
POM POKO: A
HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE: A-
THE LITTLE NORSE PRINCE: A-
SPIRITED AWAY: A-
PORCO ROSSO: B+
CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO: B

Giles

my list:

NAUSICA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WINDS: A+
KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE: A+
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO: A+
SPIRITED AWAY: A
PRINCESS MONONOKE: A-
LAPUTA: CASTLE IN THE SKY: A-
PORCO ROSSO: B+
POM POKO: B+
CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO: B
HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE: B

illennium

Here's my question. I generally really like Miyazaki films, particularly Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Nausicaa. However, when I saw My Neighbor Totoro, it did nothing for me. Where the other films had a beauty and subtlety that adults could appreciate, Totoro just seemed like a kids' movie. Now, I think the problem may be that I watched the original Fox DVD of Totoro, which I've recently read did not include the original dialogue. Is this correct, and do you think I should rent the new DVD? Or is Totoro just a simpler movie that I may not appreciate no matter the DVD?

Giles

I dare say - yes.

As you pointed out, yes the film is very structured as a kid's movie, and I think that's how Miyazaki made the movie out to be - the story from their point of view. I might be pompous in saying this but Totoro, seems and feels like an homage to the film's of Ozu - contemplative, simple, yet multi-interpretive.

Giles

now about the question about dialogue. Both English dubs have their plusses and negatives - I generally prefer the Fox one - which was used and present on the Asian DVD editions of the film. The new dub with the Fanning sisters, is okay. However, I'm not a fan of Timothy Daly's voice work for the father.

Ralph Jenkins

Directed by Miyazaki:

Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro - A
Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind - A
Laputa: Castle in the Sky - B
My Neighbor Totoro - B
Kiki's Delivery Service - A
Porco Rosso - B+
On Your Mark (music video) - A
Princess Mononoke - A
Spirited Away - A-
Howl's Moving Castle - C+

Other Ghibli films:

Grave of the Fireflies - B+
Only Yesterday - A
Ocean Waves - A-
Pom Poko - B
Whisper of the Heart - A
The Cat Returns - C+
Ghiblis episode 2 - A

I haven't seen My Neighbors the Yamadas in its entirety yet.

Giles

might as well rate these as well:

Whisper of the Heart: A+
Ghiblis episode 2: A
My Neighbors the Yamadas: A-
Grave of the Fireflies: B+
Only Yesterday: B+
Pom Poko: B
The Cat Returns: C-

toddly6666

Here is my updated Miyazaki and Ghibli co. film grades after watching some new ones and watching some old ones over and over:

PRINCESS MONONOKE: A+
NAUSICA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WINDS: A
KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE: A
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO: A
GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES: A
PORCO ROSSO: A
POM POKO: A
WHISPER OF THE HEART: A
THE CAT RETURNS: A
ONLY YESTERDAY: A
CASTLE IN THE SKY: A-
HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE: A-
SPIRITED AWAY: A-
THE LITTLE NORSE PRINCE: A-
ON YOUR MARK: B+
CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO: B


I really have no understanding of how Ghibli films are masterpiece after masterpiece after masterpiece. The only one I haven't seen is My Neighbors the Yamadas. I have a feeling that is the only bad one, but I won't be surprised if I like it.

How can Miyazaki and his Ghibli team make 16 masterpieces? I have no comprehension of how they did it? Miyazaki and Ghibli team should be called the best contemporary filmmakers in the world. They are famous, but really not that well known and still pretty underrated since it's "animation." They should be doing the screenplays for regular Japanese movies as well. I can barely watch any other recent Japanese movie they have been so bad recently.

Frenzy

<- the best

eedoon

I haven't seen Miyazaki's film as much as the other did, but here are my opinions:

Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind: B
Laputa: Castle in the Sky: B+
My Neighbor Totoro: B+
Kiki's Delivery Service: B+
Princess Mononoke: A++
Spirited Away: A

The reason I have to give Miyazaki's earlier work B is not because they are bad, but Mononoke and Spirited Away is so much better than Miyazaki's other work that although they are good, Mononoke and Spirited Away dwarfs them all.

I have to admit though, given to my experience that some movies grow on me, I do really need to re-watch Totoro, Nausicaa and Kiki because I have only watched each of them once.

palebluedot

Totoro is all about the feeling you get when watching it. It's a nostalgia and memory inducing film that makes you think of your own childhood, which is especially true if you are middle aged Japanese. My wife is Japanese and we watch this film regularly because it is a reminder of her childhood growing up in a small country town in Hokkaido. After the film we always talk about our childhood and end the day on good feelings.

Totoro is not strong on story but that's the point I think. The genius of this movie is it's simplicity but strong emotional connection you get with it.

toddly6666

PALEBLUEDOT, you are exactly right about Totoro, but I would also apply the "simplicity but strong emotional connection" to most of his films. His films connect to the audience at such a deep level. I'm not Japanese, but his visuals/storyline/characters all appeal to something deep in my subconscious. It's hard to explain, but it's as if the Miyazaki/Ghibli films are spiritual films. Some people feel good after watching spiritual/metaphysical flicks like Passion of the Christ or What the Bleep Do we know. Not for me, I feel something at that level only after watching a Miyazaki/Ghibili film.

grim_tales

Here are the Miyazakis I have seen:

Spirited Away: A+
Princess Monoboke: A+
Castle In The Sky: A-
Nausicaa: B+

I've found all those films to thematically similar, they say "Nature = good, man messing with nature = bad".

RichC2

Spirited Away: A+
My Neighbor Totoro: A
Kiki's Delivery Service: A-
Princess Mononoke: B+
Nausica Of The Valley Of The Winds: B+
Laputa: Castle In The Sky: B+
Howl's Moving Castle: B+
Porco Rosso: B
Castle Of Cagliostro: B-

fortinbras

Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro - B+
Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind - A-
Laputa: Castle in the Sky - A
My Neighbor Totoro - A+
Kiki's Delivery Service - A
Porco Rosso - B+
On Your Mark (music video) - don't know it yet
Princess Mononoke - A+
Spirited Away - A+
Howl's Moving Castle - C+

Other Ghibli films:

Grave of the Fireflies - A+
Only Yesterday - B+
Ocean Waves - C
Pom Poko - C-
Whisper of the Heart - B+
The Cat Returns - B-
Ghiblis episode 2 - don't know it yet

Dalvin

I wanted to ask is there any chance they might release a nice box set of all of his films? I know he has a new movie scheduled for 2008, so maybe a box set in the future? Has there been any news or rumors of such a thing coming to fruition?

Maxflier

I've only seen 2, and intend to keep it that way. GotF was ok, although very overrated IMO, and I did not enjoy Spirited Away in the least. Miyazaki is just not my cup of tea I guess.

Grave of the Fireflies - C+
Spirited Away - D

Celpacius

Howl's Moving Castle: 8/10
Spirited Away: 9/10
Princess Mononoke: 8/10
Castle In the Sky: 9/10
My Neighbor Totoro: 9/10

Adam Tyner

Grave of the Fireflies is a Studio Ghibli film, but it's not by Miyazaki.

toddly6666

MAXFLIER: Try Princess Mononoke or Porco Rosso. They are a bit more adult-friendly. Spirited Away was the first one I saw too and I had no interest in seeing any more of Miyazaki movie's after watching it. But once I tried watching his other movies, I was hooked.

wildeny

To me, it's hard to understand. If you don't like Spirited Away, how can you like other Miyazaki's animations?

But I can understand someone commented that My Neighbor Tororo did nothing for him, since Tororo is more children-oriented.

Maxflier

Ok, i saw someone else rate it on their list so i did also. My bad.

Ok, I may try out Mononoke if I get a chance.

Dalvin

So I take it nobody has heard anything of a Region 1 release of a Miyazaki box set

toddly6666

Dalvin, the only ones I know of are the Miyazaki Box sets sold in the animated section NYC Chinatown. And I'm not sure if they are legit. Definitely English-subbed only and I'm not sure if they are anamorphic. If there was a Miyazaki boxset for USA Region 1 release, it would cost a fortune anyway.

fortinbras

There is an official R3 box set released by IVL. It does not include all films and it is oop.