Ponyo On A Cliff (Jp 2008) Discussion & Trailers

[Luke]

Sorry, I don't really understand what you're saying. I think I do, but I just want to be sure. So no chances of past Ghibli films on Blu-ray?

No, I'm sure they'll come to Blu-ray at some point. I just meant we probably won't get separate 1-disc and 2-disc DVD releases for <i>Ponyo</i>; either one or the other.

[o0Andy0o]

I hope Disney releases this on DVD and Bluray before Christmas with Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle on Bluray as well. (I'm sure Disney would push the Academy Award winning movie first but the second I have no clue at all as to which one will be chosen. But that is if they decide to have two Ghibli releases when Ponyo releases.)

[goofystitch]

I would actually expect them to save Spirited Away for later. Because it won the Oscar, it has a bigger following, so if they wait and release that with two lesser-known Ghibli films, it would highlight those better. I wouldn't be surprised if Ponyo was paired with two older Myazaki films, like Nausicaa, Totoro, Kiki, or Porco Roso.

[dvdjunkie]

Went to a Special Advanced Screening of Ponyo and nearly walked out of it. The animation is second rate and I wonder how John Laseter allowed Disney to even put their name on this piece of crap.

I have seen better animation on the Saturday morning cartoon shows, which I abhor. I know we are seeing the dubbed version, and it irks me that the mouth movements don't match the voice-overs.

The constant motion, and the characters all looking alike just drove me bananas. This has got to be the worst film since "Howl's Moving Castle", another film that did not impress me much, but I would watch again before suffering through another viewing of "Ponyo".

My favorite film "Spirited Away" has never been topped with its story, animation and art form. I hold this movie as the top of the list, and so far no one has come close to it in the Anime' field.

[magicalwands]

I'm really sorry you didn't enjoy it dvdjunkie. Unlike every other Studio Ghibli film, I had to watch this one twice to like it. But you have to understand, everything Miyazaki did in Ponyo, he did on purpose. It was not a mistake he went for "second rate" animation. (Actually I wouldn't even consider it second rate as it is animated well, but just not push the look to "full beauty" of previous works.) He drew Ponyo as if a child drew them. It adds a feeling of child-like wonder and you never forget it throughout the movie. I really think it's awesome he used absolutely no CGI at all to make Ponyo.

The first time around I did not get Ponyo at all. But then the second time, Sosuke and Ponyo's characters both jumped out at me and I love the movie now. (What really got me was Ponyo's sighs of happiness and surprises in the Japanese version.)

So maybe try it in Japanese with subtitles. Maybe rent it when it comes out?

[dvdjunkie]

I will definitely rent it when it comes to DVD, because we should get the Japanese soundtrack with the English subtitles, which I probably will switch off. One of the biggest reasons I like "Spirited Away" is you don't have to read the subtitles to understand the story.

My "Ponyo" review was just a first impression, and hopefully the DVD experience will wipe that out.

The animation is still just not that good, but now that you mention I should watch it from a child's point of view that may enhance my viewing of it.

I will rent it and then give another review at that time.

[ajmrowland]

So exactly what is hard to get about Ponyo.

[buffalobill]

Just got back and I loved it. One of the best Summer movies of 2009 for sure. I didn't read any reviews before but just finished Eberts (4 stars). His review is spot on. And as for dubbing he nails it. ALL animated movies are "dubbed". Little Nemo can't really speak. If you've got one of the 800 or so screens showing it don't miss it. I'm definitely looking forward to it on dvd but the theatrical experience was awesome. Miyazaki keeps getting it right. Lasseter helped bring America a superb film.

70 reviews at RottenTomatoes and 68 are positive. Not Miyazaki's best movie but definitely right up there.

[goofystitch]

So exactly what is hard to get about Ponyo.

I didn't think anything was difficult to understand about the story. As with any foreign films, there will be some aspect of the culture that will no doubt confuse you because it is foreign to you, but the plot is fairly simplistic. I went to see it again today and I liked it just as much as before. This is my 3rd favorite Ghibli film.

[blackcauldron85]

Jim Hill has basically a review of the film:

http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/ ... h-ham.aspx

I think the film looks really cute. I haven't seen any other Studio Ghibli films, and I don't have money to see it at the theater (unless I see it at the second-run theater in a few months), but it's definitely one I would like to see at some point.

[ajmrowland]

It's not playing in my area.

Hopefully, I can find it in Chicago tomorrow.

[xxhplinkxx]

I'll hopefully be seeing this tomorrow at Downtown Disney. I can't wait! I'm so looking forward to the voice cast! Betty White, Lily Tomlin... love it!

[The_Iceflash]

Eh...not a fan of anime...


Glad you're all enjoying it though!

[magicalwands]

Is it possible for Joe Hisaishi, the composer, to be nominated for an Oscar for his music from Ponyo?

[goofystitch]

Is it possible for Joe Hisaishi, the composer, to be nominated for an Oscar for his music from Ponyo?

It is, but there have been so many amazing scores this year that I doubt it will get one. I'm hoping that Michael Giaccino is nominated for both Up and Star Trek. I think both of those films had the best scores of the year so far.

[Disney's Divinity]

I finally saw this movie yesterday. I know it sounds harsh, but I only planned to see this on pay-per-view. If I had a job, I would definitely add this to my collection. But...ah well.

Anyway, I haven't had time to watch it again, but my thoughts:

The movie was very boring. It seemed to parade all the props and tropes of a Miyazaki film (strong and/or elderly women, fantastical elements from Japanese folktale, pollution, etc.) with little to any coherence of plot. I also lacked an emotional tie to any of the characters, except maybe Ponyo and Sasuke--and they were bland at best, running around in "love" for no reason but the movie says so. Ugh.

The dub was absolutely terrible. I had high hopes: Betty White, Cloris Leachman, Lily Tomlin, Cate Blanchett, the guy from Kinsey, Clash of the Titans, and Taken. In the end, the only good voices for me (well, decent), surprisingly, were Noah Cyrus and Frankie Jonas, the ones I had the least expectation for. At first, Ponyo's voice was jarring, but it seemed to work really well for a child. The guy from Taken was totally miscast, not because he's done serious movies, but because his voice just didn't work at all. The character was far beyond overdone. Cate Blanchett (another actress I love) did something weird with her voice and--since I haven't heard the original voice work and don't know if that's just what they were going for--all I can say is it came across kind of stupid and weird. White, Leachman, and Tomlin were also fairly interchangeable.

The positive: animation, of course, was phenomenal. I have no idea what dvdjunkie was talking about--I honestly think he's confusing character design with animation. And, yes, the characters of Miyazaki's films are usually ugly and bland (also thought Ponyo's father's design was way too distracting--did Sophie dress up in drag for a cameo?) But the animation was beautiful. Ponyo's mother, in particular, was breathtaking, and I loved the way they did the waves. Earlier in the film, when the camera backs off to Ponyo sleeping on a jelly fish--the underwater world looked glorious (definitely on par with the feeling of seeing Triton's palace in Mermaid). I think, as far as the ocean goes, this quality of detail and animation is what I might've expected if Walt had ever done The Little Mermaid (I'm glad he didn't, because I love the 1989 movie the way it is, but I do wonder).

Overall, it is my least favorite of the Miyazaki films I've seen (except for maybe Castle in the Sky). But the animation was worth it.

Oh, and Noah Cyrus was doing the song over the credits? Definitely better than Miley...but that's not saying much, I guess.

[Sky Syndrome]

I can't help thinking about parents complaining about the questionable small child supervision in this movie.

Spoilers:
For example, Sosuke's mom Lisa leaves Sosuke and Ponyo at her and Sosuke's house to go to the senior care center. Sosuke and Ponyo are 5-year-olds. Between the distance of the house on the cliff out on the water to the shore and the shore to the care center, Lisa's a heck of a long distance away in case of an emergency. Lisa doesn't know Ponyo can solve problems with magic. The movie doesn't elaborate on whom she wants Sosuke to call in an emergency that could reach him faster if she's at the care center. The town residents don't even care that Sosuke and Ponyo were left at home unsupervised and traveling unsupervised to the care center.

[Disney's Divinity]

When I was watching the film, I was actually more worried about the children when they were with Lisa. All over the road and driving to their house during the 'tsunami' for...why? It was nice in the movie, but that would be really crazy.

[Sky Syndrome]

When I was watching the film, I was actually more worried about the children when they were with Lisa. All over the road and driving to their house during the 'tsunami' for...why? It was nice in the movie, but that would be really crazy.

I hope Sosuke doesn't end up driving like her. Being in the middle of the road while rounding bends along rock walls that block her view of anyone coming the other way is a disaster waiting to happen.

[Polizzi]

To tell you the truth, I could not stop thinking about, "Ponyo." I give that movie the same grade for Disney's, "The Princess and the Frog," infinite A+. I got to tell you, that Hayao Miyazaki has done it again, ever since, "Spirited Away." I actually have no problem with the voice acting, the story of it, the animation of it, I just...well...love it. It makes me want to say about that movie: Why can't Disney do something like that (just to get an idea, but not do it literally) for their 50th animated movie, "Rapunzel (Tangled)," besides changing the name to impress the boys? Maybe then, Disney will become as successful as Hayao Miyazaki. By the way, I would find it racism to call Hayao Miyazaki a Japanese version of Walt Disney. It may look like the way Disney did it, but he does his movies differently.