Seven more of Ghibli's twenty one movies had done.
I really enjoyed the watching, but not so much the ranking because seriously, it's difficult! Sometimes just several minutes into the start of the movie I'd be like, "okay, I know where to put this one on the list".
And then when the movie's over I'd be like, "fudge, that ranking is not just enough -- but then I don't want to reorder the other ranks because I'm sure the other movies deserve that spot!" lol see how I tasted my own medicine...
Anyways, let's have a little review on the recently-watched seven pieces.
Porco Rosso | 1992
When I watched a glimpse of its random cut in Netflix's preview, I thought this was going to be a weird, old-like, full fantasy thing that I wouldn't enjoy -- well I was given the scene of a pig dressed like a pilot, living in a normal world of human, of course my first impression was going that way!? But apparently Porco Rosso exceeded my initial expectation and turned out to be surprisingly light and bright! I really love the European vibe - although setting wise it looked more like Ventimiglia than other lovely European cities - but even love more the Mediterranean coastal scenes! Its touch of historical World War setting also helped enriching the story, and that hidden cove where the pig resides, well, that really was my favorite part.
From Up on Poppy Hill | 2011
I'm not sure where to start because... I really REALLY enjoyed this movie! Although it didn't boast Ghibli's signature magical element, it really stole my all with its heartwarming teenage school-and-family story and incredible up-and-down-making twists. And don't get me started with the movie's amazing atmosphere of old 60s Japan, Tokyo during Olympics 1964 euphoria, and typical Japanese school life. Argh, there's just nothing going wrong with this one!
And I'm not trying to be corny here - but I guess I am - but I must say I really ship Umi and Shun's relationship I mean... I'm obviously no longer a teenager like, I'm around 12 years older than a high school teenager, but somehow the thing that these two had felt super relatable, and the whole plot was not-too-much romantic with freaking cute gimmicks here and there making me feel like a teenage girl! Overall you won't be getting actions and/or supernatural stuff like Ghibli's other pieces, but I guess that's the beauty of this movie.
Castle in the Sky | 1986
Out of Ghibli’s three, famous and most-loved old epic-fantasy films, "Laputa" is personally bearable and surprisingly enjoyable to me. You know how I always got eerie vibes from watching dark, creepy old films like "Princess Mononoke" and "Nausicaa"? Well, I didn't feel it here. I loved it, in fact. The fights was great, the floating castle was magical, and the short life in Dola’s ship was probably the best part. Overall setting was still relatable, and the music, though equally eerie, was of a moderate level. And I guess, it’s also the side characters that made this movie fun. You know, those "villains" which started as foes then turned out to become allies.
The Cat Returns | 2002
First of all, this movie is about cats. So I knew anything wouldn't go wrong with this one. Then the rest is just perfection: a combo of real Japan life and Ghibli’s magical touch, light plot but comes with some actions as well. I also enjoyed the warm twists, which honestly I could guess way before it was revealed because, again, this movie has a light plot. One downfall though: duration's not long enough!
My Neighbor Totoro | 1988
Well, should I actually make a review of "My Neighbor Totoro"? We all love this Ghibli's iconic masterpiece. It's heartwarming, it's whimsical in a beautiful way, it has Ghibli's top-ranked favorite characters so of course we can't look down on it, and when you really really realize, there's just nothing dark and heavy about this movie: everything's child-friendly, fun and games, even the conflicts seemed mood-lifting instead of emotion-destructing, and watching this made me feel like a kid again! Although the first time I watched this movie was when I was 20-ish.
Pom Poko | 1994
Along with "My Neighbor Totoro", this was among five Ghibli films I had watched before. In fact, Pom Poko was the third one, just several days after "Ponyo". So yea perhaps I was like... ten? I remember back then I wasn't quiet enjoying the film because I thought it was boring. Now that I watched this again with more mature perspective, it turns out that the reason why I didn't enjoy "Pom Poko" as a kid was because the cause highlighted in this movie was quiet "heavy" in a way. It showed another issue of human exploiting nature, but through animals’ perspective so it hits a bit harder than "Princess Mononoke" or "Nausicaa" to me. Plus it seemed much more bearable than those Ghibli human/nature type of movies because the setting is of actual Japan. Overall, actually, with such deep message and ironic reflection of what's really happening in the real world that "Pom Poko" conveyed, I'd really rank this movie higher than "My Neighbor Totoro".
What held me back from doing so is how this film, though seemingly fun and light and kid-friendly with cartoonish characters, is actually really dark. And I just don’t like how human eventually won and the raccoons had to give in, to move away or settle in sewers, or opted to live a fake, non-desirable life as human; while some of them who couldn't transform and failed to find a new place to live even had to DIE!? A realistic situation, actually, but I just don’t fancy it. I wish the ending was just not so depressing. Well it doesn't change the fact that racoons and other woodland creatures are actually losing their homes thanks to fucking human's greed but, at least... well... ugh I hate this :(
The Wind Rises | 2013
Another dark story covered in bright and light vibe - Ghibli's just so good at it! When enjoyed just from its setting of old 1930s Japan, summer feeling with cheerful scores, greeneries and breezes, and overall “I have to achieve my dream” mood, it’s a very pleasing film. The over-detailed aeronautical stuff isn’t quiet enjoyable for me, though, obviously it's a fetish to Miyazaki. But I didn't find it too annoying that it ruined my whole impression of the movie. Well, so, what's so dark about it?
The fact that the aircraft designs Jiro and his comrades were fighting to create was to be used in wars, and how none of the planes return home, well, that's really dark, isn't it? That's just not about it. On top of those "professional problems", the movie's "personal problem" which highlights this dying lover who patiently wait for the protagonist to fulfill his dream, and the fact that she left home so she could die without her family having to deal with the fuss - fudgeee that ending was so crazy!!! - made this film just so devastatingly heart-breaking. But I guess that’s simply the beauty of it.
Well.
It's fourteen already, in addition to the first batch of rank I made weeks ago. and I'm seriously having a hard time putting my preferences haha well let's just say it goes like this for now:
- Howl’s Moving Castle
- Arrietty
- The Tale of Princess Kaguya
- Spirited Away*
- From Up On Poppy Hill
- The Wind Rises
- Castle In The Sky
- Grave of the Fireflies*
- My Neighbor Totoro
- The Cat Returns
- Pom Poko
- Princess Mononoke
- Porco Rosso
- Ponyo*
- Ocean Waves
- My Neighbors the Yamadas
- Nausicaa
Again, it's temporary. I still have seven to go, including "Spirited Away" and "Ponyo" I've yet to rewatch to see if this rank still fits. I haven't rewatched "Grave of the Fireflies" yet either but I think I'm gonna skip that one because the traumatic imagery still actually stay vividly in my head.
Woof! Can't wait to finish this thing and wrap up my list!
But actually, I wish it doesn't have to end.
I can't get enough of Ghibli's magic
