So, To me, I go with this film a 3 stars out of 5, Cute Anime film, great art, but, whiny characters, repetitive storyboard, and Long repetitive Transformation and Rescuing Sequence......... :/
I have to disagree, as my best friend Kim LOVES Ponyo - I bought her the Japanese DVD a month before it was released here in the US :) and it is her fave anime movie!
I admit that I don't care for kid's movies, but Studio Ghibli and Pixar can do no wrong when it comes down to these films. I bought this film and I really liked it. I agree with your review.
btw, have you heard of Tales From Earthsea? That will be the new Ghibli film released in the near future. It was made by his son Goro Miyazaki.
i didn't really like ponyo... i didn't really expect to. it was definitely a kid's movie, but it didn't cross over as well as some of his other ones have.
i agree, the story was too simple. but what really bugged me was that ponyo and sosuke didn't have enough time to BELIEVABLY fall in love. even though they are kids so it is hard to make it believable... but chihiro wasn't so old.
it just felt so rushed. it didn't have enough of those "aww" moments for me to like them as a couple.
I suppose I missed the deeper meaning you keep speaking of behind Totoro because I feel like the movies Miyazaki makes for small children, including Totoro are conflict free and the characters are as you said, static. I can see why someone would feel that is boring but I loved that the "test" was taking care of her and bringing her to the final scene and simply asking if he did love her even without the magic.
I'm actually kinda surprised that everyone liked Mini Cyrus and Mini Jonas' performance in the movie (and yes, that is what I call them). We all know that they got cast because of their older siblings. But I guess they do have some acting abilities.
I did feel some weakness in Ponyo's story. I was disoppointed but having no test because in the origanal story of the little mermaid the girl had to go through a 'test' to kill or not to kill her love.
Yugimoto was the most delevoped character. Each character reminds me of a different character from his previous films. In a interview with Hayao i believe he said he wanted to make a film (ponyo) that seemed like it came out of a childs mind or daydream. I believe it was something like that.
The only real problems I had with the movie is that the pacing. The first half of the movie was great, it built up a lot of potential, but the second half seemed to pointlessly drudge on forever until they reached the end where they decided to end it prematurely.
The climax itself was really bad. It was basically this -
"Hey kid do you like this magical fish thing?"
"Yep"
"Okay."
GOOD END
I'm was really disappointed with it, but the animation saved it.
Good observation. I completely agree. Kind of goes with the "no obstacles" thing I mentioned. There was no "test" as they said-- they just asked him if he loved her. xD
i saw it when it first came out in japan! weird, your review was really different from my first impression. i wonder if they changed a lot of things when they dubbed it into english? but that doesn't happen too much with ghibli movies, since miyazaki is usually involved in the english production as well... now i'm interested in how the english version is.
actually, i felt this film was half-done!? did you get that feeling? when i first watched it with my japanese friends, we felt there was a lot suggested backstory for a lot of the other characters. and we thought they would reveal stuff at the end but that never happened. so when it ended we were like, 'huuuuh?' also, the little boy changed to be a little more reliable. he didn't have much friends in his life, but when ponyo came around he kinda learned how to be responsible for someone else.
miyazaki likes to do a lot of 'coming of age' type stories. i think i agree with the later half of your review. and when we watched it we paid around $16 a person? if you go on a special day you can go for $10, maybe. i also think this was a weaker one out of all the ghibli films, but still worth the watch cause the animation is just WOW. oh man i'm gonna go search for the english theme song now...so curious..
So, To me, I go with this film a 3 stars out of 5, Cute Anime film, great art, but, whiny characters, repetitive storyboard, and Long repetitive Transformation and Rescuing Sequence......... :/
ONS3Tnow 6 months ago
I'll admit i just got the DVD, and as a mecha fan films like these usually dont appeal to me. but this one blew me out of the water it was good.
Raven236 1 year ago
I have to disagree, as my best friend Kim LOVES Ponyo - I bought her the Japanese DVD a month before it was released here in the US :) and it is her fave anime movie!
soflabob 1 year ago
I admit that I don't care for kid's movies, but Studio Ghibli and Pixar can do no wrong when it comes down to these films. I bought this film and I really liked it. I agree with your review.
btw, have you heard of Tales From Earthsea? That will be the new Ghibli film released in the near future. It was made by his son Goro Miyazaki.
puppetmaster1011 2 years ago
Yeah, but the reviews have given it a beating, and Miyazaki himself (elder) was supposedly not happy with the final film as well.
ngamer3k 2 years ago
Well, not all of the reviews were bad. Anime news network gave it a good review, but they said don't expect any Miyazaki magic.
puppetmaster1011 1 year ago
i didn't really like ponyo... i didn't really expect to. it was definitely a kid's movie, but it didn't cross over as well as some of his other ones have.
i agree, the story was too simple. but what really bugged me was that ponyo and sosuke didn't have enough time to BELIEVABLY fall in love. even though they are kids so it is hard to make it believable... but chihiro wasn't so old.
it just felt so rushed. it didn't have enough of those "aww" moments for me to like them as a couple.
superskh 2 years ago
lol howl was one of my favorites from him i watcvhed it like 7 times and thats alot for me. Ahahaha i love all the movies by him
animexxxloverxxxyay 2 years ago
idk what he means that nobody changed throughout the movie.. at least i didnt see it that way
chunktuff 2 years ago
i certainly got what he meant.
slurpie12poo 2 years ago
I suppose I missed the deeper meaning you keep speaking of behind Totoro because I feel like the movies Miyazaki makes for small children, including Totoro are conflict free and the characters are as you said, static. I can see why someone would feel that is boring but I loved that the "test" was taking care of her and bringing her to the final scene and simply asking if he did love her even without the magic.
Jebidisa 2 years ago
you most certainly missed the point.
sethisawesome 2 years ago
Then explain it to me.
Jebidisa 2 years ago
I'm actually kinda surprised that everyone liked Mini Cyrus and Mini Jonas' performance in the movie (and yes, that is what I call them). We all know that they got cast because of their older siblings. But I guess they do have some acting abilities.
GOODPLAYA20 2 years ago
I did feel some weakness in Ponyo's story. I was disoppointed but having no test because in the origanal story of the little mermaid the girl had to go through a 'test' to kill or not to kill her love.
Yugimoto was the most delevoped character. Each character reminds me of a different character from his previous films. In a interview with Hayao i believe he said he wanted to make a film (ponyo) that seemed like it came out of a childs mind or daydream. I believe it was something like that.
k12kyle 2 years ago
Miyazaki was the person who did Howle's moving castle, Spirited Away, and Princess Mononoke, among other anime, right?
sorry for the stupid question :[
doubtkiller25 2 years ago
Yeah. He has quite a variety going there.
AssholePatrol 2 years ago
he kiki's delivery service too, right? i love his stuff
doubtkiller25 2 years ago
Sounds really good time to check out the podcast. I'm Glad the english dub was good because i was also skeptical about some of the cast.
Dante87766988 2 years ago
The only real problems I had with the movie is that the pacing. The first half of the movie was great, it built up a lot of potential, but the second half seemed to pointlessly drudge on forever until they reached the end where they decided to end it prematurely.
The climax itself was really bad. It was basically this -
"Hey kid do you like this magical fish thing?"
"Yep"
"Okay."
GOOD END
I'm was really disappointed with it, but the animation saved it.
cowsforliyfe 2 years ago
*Spoilers*
Good observation. I completely agree. Kind of goes with the "no obstacles" thing I mentioned. There was no "test" as they said-- they just asked him if he loved her. xD
ngamer3k 2 years ago
i saw it when it first came out in japan! weird, your review was really different from my first impression. i wonder if they changed a lot of things when they dubbed it into english? but that doesn't happen too much with ghibli movies, since miyazaki is usually involved in the english production as well... now i'm interested in how the english version is.
shotamerican 2 years ago
Lucky! How much did it cost? (I hear movie going in Japan is pricier than it is here)
I nitpicked this, but only because his other films are so deep, and I can't wait to get the DVD so I can watch the Japanese version.
ngamer3k 2 years ago
actually, i felt this film was half-done!? did you get that feeling? when i first watched it with my japanese friends, we felt there was a lot suggested backstory for a lot of the other characters. and we thought they would reveal stuff at the end but that never happened. so when it ended we were like, 'huuuuh?' also, the little boy changed to be a little more reliable. he didn't have much friends in his life, but when ponyo came around he kinda learned how to be responsible for someone else.
shotamerican 2 years ago
miyazaki likes to do a lot of 'coming of age' type stories. i think i agree with the later half of your review. and when we watched it we paid around $16 a person? if you go on a special day you can go for $10, maybe. i also think this was a weaker one out of all the ghibli films, but still worth the watch cause the animation is just WOW. oh man i'm gonna go search for the english theme song now...so curious..
shotamerican 2 years ago
Good review i might go see it
windows2369 2 years ago
ponyo yeah the animation was freaking Amazing omfg i'd kill people for those skills .
biohazardx 2 years ago
Thanks for the review. I wish I had something to disagree with, but I felt your review was on point.
Any thoughts on the music?
Phillies64 2 years ago
Really good as expected. What else from Joe Hisaishi? Can't say how it compares with the other movies, got to see it again.
ngamer3k 2 years ago
Ghibli do some great animation
phone999 2 years ago