Ponyo will steal your heart, and hold it capitivated.
I will be using the American title and voice actors for the review.
Ponyo
voiced by Cate Blanchett, Noah Lindsey Cyrus, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Frankie Jonas, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin, Betty White
directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki has more than made himself famous in Japan with numerous classic films such as Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, and the Academy Award Winning Spirited Away. The man is a household name in his home country, and rightfully so. Sadly, however, he is little known among the Western world. Sure, there’s pockets of us that have known his work for years and even the Academy acknowledges his genius, but it is truly sad that not more people in America know the man and his life’s work. At times, his animation portrays more about emotion and love than any real actor I’ve ever seen.
Ponyo is his newest creation, and we are lucky enough to have a semi-wide release here in America. It is a Japanese spin on the classic myth of the Little Mermaid. Little Ponyo (Cyrus) is a fish with a human face that lives in the sea with her protective father Fujimoto (Leeson). Fugimoto is a post-human and has been assigned with caring for the ocean and its inhabitants. He despises humans for polluting the ocean enviroment, which for the record, is a running Miyazaki theme. Ponyo tires of living in her bubble, so with some help, she escapes to the surface world only to be scooped up in a pale by little 5 year old Sosuke (Jonas). They form a bond, and Ponyo decides to use magic to become human so that she can be with Sosuke forever. However, her transformation causes a typhoon that leaves half the island underwater and the moon increasing closer to the Earth. Her transformation isn’t permanent either, yet Fujimoto and Ponyo’s mother Gran Mamare (Blanchett), the goddess of the sea, decide to test Sosuke’s love for Ponyo. If he passes, she will be permanently human, and balance will be restored to the world. Its way, way less complicated than it sounds.
This is nothing more and nothing less than a modern age fairy tale. Some might complain that this isn’t as adult oriented as some of Miyazaki’s more recent work, and though that is true it makes the story no less beautiful. Miyazaki loves to tell an epic story full of magic and awe that alwasy comes home to the simple concept that love conqueors all. And it is never portrayed more beautifully than a anime sequence by this talented and legendary director. The opening scene is ten minutes of score, no dialogue, while the audience is introduced to the sea and it’s inhabitants. Trust me, you will see nothing more detailed that is rendered by hand. It is simply awe inspiring to watch what Miyazaki and his animators are capable of with a little time and ink. Makes you think that perhaps Disney is after all leaning to heavily on Pixar computer animation, hmmm?
The American voice acting is spectacular, too. I am of the belief that to truly get the sense of a film you must watch it at least once in its original language. None the less, a good Dub never hurt anyone, and these voice actors really brought emotion and feeling to the parts. You wouldn’t recognize Tina Fey’s motherly voice, and Cate Blanchett certainly comes across as a god. Liam Neeson successfully achieves a cross between the characters of Aslan and the father from Taken in the concern for his land and children. Even young Noah Lindsey Cyrus can’t be overlooked for the exuberance she voiced in her role as the lead. Well done, all around.
If you have never had the oppurtionity to see a Miyazaki masterpiece on the big screen, this may be your one and only chance. And I highly suggest it. Just remember going in that it is a fairy tale, and its not important that some things may or may not make sense. Its about the theme, and that is true love. I’ll be buying this for sure on blu-ray, and for that matter, when all the other Miyazaki classics are released on Blu, I’ll be buying them too.
Ponyo kicks Ariel’s butt. Go see this movie, and definitely take your kids.
Ponyo: Another Miyazaki Masterpiece
Ponyo will steal your heart, and hold it capitivated.
I will be using the American title and voice actors for the review.
Ponyo
voiced by Cate Blanchett, Noah Lindsey Cyrus, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Frankie Jonas, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin, Betty White
directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki has more than made himself famous in Japan with numerous classic films such as Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, and the Academy Award Winning Spirited Away. The man is a household name in his home country, and rightfully so. Sadly, however, he is little known among the Western world. Sure, there’s pockets of us that have known his work for years and even the Academy acknowledges his genius, but it is truly sad that not more people in America know the man and his life’s work. At times, his animation portrays more about emotion and love than any real actor I’ve ever seen.
Ponyo is his newest creation, and we are lucky enough to have a semi-wide release here in America. It is a Japanese spin on the classic myth of the Little Mermaid. Little Ponyo (Cyrus) is a fish with a human face that lives in the sea with her protective father Fujimoto (Leeson). Fugimoto is a post-human and has been assigned with caring for the ocean and its inhabitants. He despises humans for polluting the ocean enviroment, which for the record, is a running Miyazaki theme. Ponyo tires of living in her bubble, so with some help, she escapes to the surface world only to be scooped up in a pale by little 5 year old Sosuke (Jonas). They form a bond, and Ponyo decides to use magic to become human so that she can be with Sosuke forever. However, her transformation causes a typhoon that leaves half the island underwater and the moon increasing closer to the Earth. Her transformation isn’t permanent either, yet Fujimoto and Ponyo’s mother Gran Mamare (Blanchett), the goddess of the sea, decide to test Sosuke’s love for Ponyo. If he passes, she will be permanently human, and balance will be restored to the world. Its way, way less complicated than it sounds.
This is nothing more and nothing less than a modern age fairy tale. Some might complain that this isn’t as adult oriented as some of Miyazaki’s more recent work, and though that is true it makes the story no less beautiful. Miyazaki loves to tell an epic story full of magic and awe that alwasy comes home to the simple concept that love conqueors all. And it is never portrayed more beautifully than a anime sequence by this talented and legendary director. The opening scene is ten minutes of score, no dialogue, while the audience is introduced to the sea and it’s inhabitants. Trust me, you will see nothing more detailed that is rendered by hand. It is simply awe inspiring to watch what Miyazaki and his animators are capable of with a little time and ink. Makes you think that perhaps Disney is after all leaning to heavily on Pixar computer animation, hmmm?
The American voice acting is spectacular, too. I am of the belief that to truly get the sense of a film you must watch it at least once in its original language. None the less, a good Dub never hurt anyone, and these voice actors really brought emotion and feeling to the parts. You wouldn’t recognize Tina Fey’s motherly voice, and Cate Blanchett certainly comes across as a god. Liam Neeson successfully achieves a cross between the characters of Aslan and the father from Taken in the concern for his land and children. Even young Noah Lindsey Cyrus can’t be overlooked for the exuberance she voiced in her role as the lead. Well done, all around.
If you have never had the oppurtionity to see a Miyazaki masterpiece on the big screen, this may be your one and only chance. And I highly suggest it. Just remember going in that it is a fairy tale, and its not important that some things may or may not make sense. Its about the theme, and that is true love. I’ll be buying this for sure on blu-ray, and for that matter, when all the other Miyazaki classics are released on Blu, I’ll be buying them too.
Ponyo kicks Ariel’s butt. Go see this movie, and definitely take your kids.