ModdedCentipede
Moderator
Only hired to satisfy the diversity quota
Posts: 285
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Post by ModdedCentipede on Mar 17, 2023 3:36:20 GMT
This week, it's more Japanese fairytale weirdness.
Year: 2004
Chosen by: @dschult2 Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki Written by: Hayao Miyazaki, Diana Wynne Jones Stars: Chieko Baisho, Takuya Kimura, Tatsuya Gashûin
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Balder
Supreme Overlord
Trying to cut down the amount of movies I watch
Posts: 6,822 
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Post by Balder on Mar 17, 2023 7:20:11 GMT
The most beautifully animated Studio Ghibli film, but the story is a mess 4/5.
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dschult3
CGR Undertow Groupie
The true heir to the Monado.
Posts: 2,768
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Post by dschult3 on Mar 17, 2023 13:16:18 GMT
Who is this dschult2 character?
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Cervantes
Off-Brand Transformable Robot
A former Incompetent Evil Commander (XP: 2423)
Posts: 2,819
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Post by Cervantes on Mar 18, 2023 3:20:39 GMT
The most beautifully animated Studio Ghibli film, but the story is a mess 4/5. That's what I think, too. It's such a mess that I've watched it many times and yet, if you ask me to give a rundown of the events, I can't quite tell how the story progresses. But it has grown on me lately and, despite the messy script, I appreciate it a lot nowadays. A 4/5 seems fair. |
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dschult3
CGR Undertow Groupie
The true heir to the Monado.
Posts: 2,768
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Post by dschult3 on Jul 13, 2023 14:47:39 GMT
I just watched this with my family, and Balder's assessment is spot on. I don't know what I watched. When the credits rolled, I felt happy. However, the plot was meant for a 10 part series, yet the points were all jammed into one movie. I guess I don't want to add spoilers to this thread, but what was up with the lack of information behind the war and the "missing prince?" I also hate it when baddies are "saved" so they can be bad again to push along the story. I found Sophie to be a great character, yet I hated how shallow her "I've never been pretty" nonsense only pops up when convenient to the story. Calcifer (the ball of fire) is a fun side kick of a character, but even his back story is stupid. Madam Suliman sprung up out of nowhere, and I didn't understand her true motivations. Howl, I liked the least, and the movie is named after him. His connection to Calcifer is dumb, and he is a colossal baby. I felt no interest in him succeeding in the end. I guess what annoys me the most is that the movie started out so intriguing. I wanted to know how Sophie would break the curse. The moving castle is so odd, yet the door that can travel to different kingdoms was worth learning more about. The backdrop of a war that reminded me of World War I was a great way to bash meaningless wars, yet it wasn't hashed out thoroughly. The first two acts had me hooked, but the 3rd act just felt like a writing assignment a high school kid rushed through the night before it was due. Studio Ghibli movies are usually more thought out than this. For the first time since diving into the world of Studio Ghibli, I will say that this movie is overrated. At this moment, IMDB has it rated at an 8.2, and that is better than Ponyo and My Neighbor Totoro. To me, that is a crime. |
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Balder
Supreme Overlord
Trying to cut down the amount of movies I watch
Posts: 6,822
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Post by Balder on Jul 15, 2023 8:19:58 GMT
dschult3 exactly! The story has so many plot points, and they are never properly explored, just hastily resolved. I honestly don't get why anyone has this as their favorite Ghibli film, however, this, along with Spirited Away of course, get the most mentions. I wouldn't even put this in my top 5.
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