Welcome Back everyone!
I know I usually say Ohayo on my anime reviews, but I've decided for this one to go a bit more mainstream *pushes up anti hipster spectacles* Anyway this time up it's the wonderful The Wind Rises. Hayao Miyazaki's Final movie (Or so he says)
This is one of the films up for Best animated film of the year, and oh man does it deserve the Nomination. (unlike the cave men and Twinkies)
anyway, before my offhand comments piss more people off, I'll launch the review! the last note is I was forced to sit through the American (Coughdisneycough) version. I'll try not to hold it against it.
- Possible spoilers ahead -
Pros:
Studio Ghibli has always made beautiful films, whether it's the fantastical like Ponyo, Spirited away or Princess Mononoke. Or the common place like From Up on Poppy Hill or Secret World of Arietty. The Wind Rises is an exquisite portrait of the life of Jiro Horikoshi. It's flight sequences are beautiful, like all Ghibli films and the animation is smooth and effortless.
I really liked Jiro as a character. I enjoyed how he was always very proper and poised. The animators made a concerted effort to keep him like that in public, he always has a perfectly straight back and a proper pose, yet when he's but himself he's frazzled and borderline Messy. He's a great character.
I really liked the deconstructions of the planes, like going inside the German bomber and seeing where they are inside the plane. then the way he can see faults in the various plane designs. I liked seeing just how complicated planes are and a glimpse into the mind of an inventor.
I enjoyed the point of view of the world. It's not often us here in America get a true view from an opposition's view. and seeing how Japan was so behind and hearing them casually remarking about bombing other countries was an interesting take.
oh and that Earthquake scene, holy hell.
Cons:
First off the Romance subplot seemed to distract the movie a bit. I understand it most likely happened like that in real life. but it was almost distracting to suddenly be up in a rural area with a potential love interest. I groaned a bit when she was reintroduced, I'm more interested in his job and the aviation than the love interest.
that subplot made the second half of the movie drag a bit. The constant reminders of her illness brought me out of the really engaging plot. not enough to make me not like it, but enough to make me a bit annoyed that they decided to spend so much time on it.
That's really the only big detractor I have. besides the 'voice actors' obviously talking in very fragmented lines at times, to attempt to match the mouth movements. It's a problem I always have with Dubbed anime. it feels slow and the voice actors sound uninterested in the slower scenes. but I bet the Disney check bought them something shiny.
and also, the sound effects were odd. they were almost all human noises pretending to be mechanical. it made for some really offputting scenes. Like when they start up an image and it goes "whooooooosh" I was wondering if I was watching Planes instead.
Final Notes:
The Wind Rises is an absolutely breathtaking Film. from start to finish it held my attention and I was amazed. It's one of Ghibli's most normal films and I highly suggest it to every anime fan, and all animation fan out there.
Final Verdict: 93
Amazing movie, slows in the last act.
so there's that, now only a couple days till the Oscars! got your ballots filled out?
I know I usually say Ohayo on my anime reviews, but I've decided for this one to go a bit more mainstream *pushes up anti hipster spectacles* Anyway this time up it's the wonderful The Wind Rises. Hayao Miyazaki's Final movie (Or so he says)
This is one of the films up for Best animated film of the year, and oh man does it deserve the Nomination. (unlike the cave men and Twinkies)
anyway, before my offhand comments piss more people off, I'll launch the review! the last note is I was forced to sit through the American (Coughdisneycough) version. I'll try not to hold it against it.
- Possible spoilers ahead -
MOVIE REVIEW: The Wind Rises
Studio Ghibli has always made beautiful films, whether it's the fantastical like Ponyo, Spirited away or Princess Mononoke. Or the common place like From Up on Poppy Hill or Secret World of Arietty. The Wind Rises is an exquisite portrait of the life of Jiro Horikoshi. It's flight sequences are beautiful, like all Ghibli films and the animation is smooth and effortless.
I really liked Jiro as a character. I enjoyed how he was always very proper and poised. The animators made a concerted effort to keep him like that in public, he always has a perfectly straight back and a proper pose, yet when he's but himself he's frazzled and borderline Messy. He's a great character.
I really liked the deconstructions of the planes, like going inside the German bomber and seeing where they are inside the plane. then the way he can see faults in the various plane designs. I liked seeing just how complicated planes are and a glimpse into the mind of an inventor.
I enjoyed the point of view of the world. It's not often us here in America get a true view from an opposition's view. and seeing how Japan was so behind and hearing them casually remarking about bombing other countries was an interesting take.
oh and that Earthquake scene, holy hell.
Cons:
First off the Romance subplot seemed to distract the movie a bit. I understand it most likely happened like that in real life. but it was almost distracting to suddenly be up in a rural area with a potential love interest. I groaned a bit when she was reintroduced, I'm more interested in his job and the aviation than the love interest.
that subplot made the second half of the movie drag a bit. The constant reminders of her illness brought me out of the really engaging plot. not enough to make me not like it, but enough to make me a bit annoyed that they decided to spend so much time on it.
That's really the only big detractor I have. besides the 'voice actors' obviously talking in very fragmented lines at times, to attempt to match the mouth movements. It's a problem I always have with Dubbed anime. it feels slow and the voice actors sound uninterested in the slower scenes. but I bet the Disney check bought them something shiny.
and also, the sound effects were odd. they were almost all human noises pretending to be mechanical. it made for some really offputting scenes. Like when they start up an image and it goes "whooooooosh" I was wondering if I was watching Planes instead.
Final Notes:
The Wind Rises is an absolutely breathtaking Film. from start to finish it held my attention and I was amazed. It's one of Ghibli's most normal films and I highly suggest it to every anime fan, and all animation fan out there.
Final Verdict: 93
Amazing movie, slows in the last act.
so there's that, now only a couple days till the Oscars! got your ballots filled out?
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