Steam Boy (2004), Otomo's Steam Punk bravery

Directed by: Katsuhiro Otomo | Written by: Sadayuki Murai, Katsuhiro Otomo
Produced by: Sunrise

Award(s)

• Best Animated Feature Film; 37th Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival

"The movie has intriguing ideas about human lives ruled by machines, which is why the technology in "Steamboy" seems promising. Otomo has reportedly been working on the film for 10 years, drawing countless animation cels by hand and also using computer resources; why, with all the effort he put into the film's construction, did he neglect to go anywhere interesting with the plot?  - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Steam Boy, the result of my irresponsible negligence of curfew (to quote a few) and my obsession with 10-11 PM blockbusters. One movie which is embedded in my childhood as the one reminder that cartoon violence is indeed real... in japan. The joint screenplay of both Akira fame writer/director Katsuhiro Otomo & Sadayuki Murai, known for his excellent screenplay in Satoshi Kon-directed films, is remarkably blank though...

SteamBoy is an animated Steam-punk by the book spiced up by anime violence and Katsuhiro Otomo's radical touch which bears similarities to it's predecessor Metropolis in terms of chaos and the characters inept ability to cope with it in times of need and plot twists, which isn't necessarily a positive thing.

Premise

The story of a young impulsive boy James Ray Steam (Anne Suzuki) with gifted knowledge about steam-technology on a genius scale is hunted down by strange men after receiving a package from his presumed deceased father in an accident. The boy find himself caught in a conflict as he finds out the package is the most advanced energy source in the fictional 19th century. Which is in fact, the story in a nutshell. This movie fails to show a significant amount of debt and logic; you are left puzzled with the character's decisions and state of mind. Especially James' father and grandfather who are in conflict with each other. You are expected to draw your excitement out of the countless well animated and thought through escape scenes in the beginning of the movie and the Epic outcome & background battles, did I mention the top-notch quality already?

I was gradually disappointed when the flaws from it's 2001 successors where taken over instead of discarded for deeper plot and build-up. After watching both movies  I was overwhelmed by indecision as to the movie actually ended properly and weather I enjoyed it or mildly liked it. You'd think that screenplay brought forth by the same mind of the well received stories of Perfect blue (1998) & Millennium Actress (2001) would have the means to get the job done with the help of Katsuhiro Otomo no-less, Or is that too much to ask?

Despite all that, I still enjoyed the film. The escape scenes where well thought, the enormous scale of this film could only be described as breath-taking mixed with the insane visuals, the character design was corny yet fitting. The revelation of the secret that started with one Steamball, an immense steam source was well planned and captivating despite the fact that it floated on a somewhat flat story. For what it counts, You could really feel the 19th century which was well portrayed.

Rating

7,9 -  Imperfect steam-punk story
This movie is something I'll remember from my childhood for it's creative concept and sharp-visuals. But the blank going-nowhere plot (which I did not mind back then) drags this animated wonder down with it. I still urges anyone to see this movie because despite it's flaws,  It's still a good time If you do not over think it... or think logically in general. 
If you did see it,  feel free to comment and leave your thoughts




M.

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Ponyo on the cliff (2008), The not so credibly sea adventure.

Directed | Written by: Hayao Miyazaki
Produced by: Studio Ghibli

Awards

• Best Composer; 3rd Asian Film Awards
• Animation Of The Year - Best Film Score; 32nd Japanese Academy Prize
• Ofuji Noburo Award;  63rd Mainichi Film Concours
• Future Film Festival Digital Award - Special Mention |Mimmo Rotella Foundation Award; 65th Venice Film Festival

""Gake no Ue no Ponyo (Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea)," exceeds even "Totoro" in simplicity, with a core target audience about as old as its hero — 5. This is not to say that those who have mastered hiragana (or the alphabet) will be bored, as long as they leave their expectations for the usual Miyazaki film at the door."- Mark Shilling, The Japan Times

The surprising turn of the Ghibli-signed animated Epics filled with young heroes and brave tales to joyful eye-popping adventure was quite well-received in 2008 among critics and younger audiences. Ponyo sure came unexpected to the core-fans of the Miyazaki titles, well at least the  female role is present.


The joyful successor of films like Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind (1984) The award showered Princess Mononoke (1999) ,the Oscar winning Spirited Away (2001), The oscar nominated Howls Moving Castle (2004) all spawned from Hayao Miyazaki's mind does not fail to please an audience. However, even if it became Anime of the year at the prestigious Japanese Academy Awards in 2009 I still think it failed to reach that level we are all acquainted to.

Despite the aforementioned reflection on this film. I would like to clarify the fact that this isn't a bad film. Better yet I was quite fond of it and the clear and vivid visuals are the greatest I've ever seen in terms of simplistic shading, it is hard to loose interest with the waves dancing on the screen with a constant tone of blue. There is nothing wrong with this movie...except for it's lowered target demography which tends to downplay potential story and credible conscientious choices. Keep in mind that I am way to old for this movie, I wish I would have known before hand, should've taken the hint from the trailer...

Story

When a humanoid goldfish like creature escapes from some kind of magical captivity cast upon her and her many dozen siblings by her father , wizard Fujimoto (Jôji Tokoro) to strand on seashore were her life is saved from dehydration by a 5 year old boy Sôsuke (Hiroki Doi).
Realizing the dangerous of human explore to little Ponyo and the consequences of it Fujimoto takes her back suppressing the human DNA she was exposed to which is making her human while unleashing a concentrated power deep beneath the sea that will awaken the next Devonian age with her second break-out attempt and her successful change to a human toddler.
The magical bond between a two beings to young to be determined as love is the center of this film and the core that drives this stories and it's lush visuals. It strikes me as impressive how complicated choices are dealt with such care and simplicity without undermining the estimated intelligent of it's viewers unlike western animation. Like when Sôsuke has to either truly "love" her and make her fully human or leaving her to become sea foam. The destruction and flood of the planet is very present and lively drawn (Fun fact: Hayao Miyazaki himself took the task of drawing the waves in this film. Worked out quite good believe me).

However, when the serious intentions of the movies are downplayed to fit the demographic expectation it took the dramatic punch out of it. I am always used to fully developed content from blood to full-blown heroism, this movie however, does not share these qualities. Sure, I enjoyed the adventures and the amazing escape when the flood was unleashed both underwater and above water (mostly underwater...that was magical). But the overall importance was lost when the pure-hearted decision was milked ad pushed to the foreground too many times. That is all good and sweet for children but it pushed so many amazing things to the background like the kind protective independent mom and the father at sea stuck with many other boots on unknown sea right after he failed to make it to see his family <--- interesting stuff right there, didn't become that interesting in my opinion.

Rating
7,5 - Children's sea adventure
This rating might be unfair mainly because I far exceed the expected age for this movie. But I still think that this movie is good and that a younger audience will fully enjoy it and so will a more sentimental one. The visuals and character are truly great especially the bold mother and her crazy driving skills. But, -and i can't say it enough- it still doesn't reach the Hayao Miyazaki standards that captivated me at an amazing rate.I'm pretty sure that my past self would have rated this 8,9 though. But right now, I don't think I will watch it again...so soon. Will you?



M.

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Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), The un-credited Ghibli breakthrough

Directed | Written by: Hayao Miyazaki
Produced by: Toei Animation

Awards

• Best Short Film; Fantafestival
• Reader's Choice Awards; Kinema Junpo Awards
• Ofuji Noburo Award; Mainichi Film Concours
• Anime Of The Year; 7th Anual Animage Anime Grand Prix 

"The smaller lines are no longer blurry or gray but thin like hairs and jet black. Details pop out where there previously weren't any, especially in the meticulously painted forest backgrounds and immense aeroplanes. And when you watch closely you can actually spot signs of the animation craftsmanship itself. "-Ard Vijn, TwitchFilm

The movie considered as the building stone of Studio Ghibli based of Hayao Miyazaki's own early 7 volumes of the same name.  The story of Nausicaä is one enchanting story to remember and to captivate. A fantasy filled epic that stood for the beginning of an amazing animation studio.


Nausicaä is a pleasant mix of kindness, complex (but very comprehensible) morals and physical conflicts. Attributes shared by great works like Princess Mononoke (1999) , Metropolis (2001)  and many more. The tale of Nausicaä (Sumi Shimamoto) are enchanting and rich with adventure and compassion.

Story

The story takes place in a time that can only be described as a world build from the remnants of a former one. there is a constant reminder of the overall pollution which is slowly taking ground and wittering vegetation and civilization alike while making the air unbreakable (It is noted in the movie itself that breathing the air would rot your longs in minutes.) known as "the sea of decay". The general struggle to prevent the hostile eradication of biodiversity and humanity with it. Our protagonist Nausicaä, the - kind-hearted -bright and brave beyond reason- girl who is princess of  a peaceful village living in the valley of the wind stands in the middle of the mystery of the sea of decay and it's grotesque  dangerous creatures and the meddling of outside forces. Al-thought the emphasize of the concerns of the sea gradually decreases it is still relevant and a major importance to the story.

What more to say? The characters are credible and the oh-so cliché barrier of good and evil is left to the imaginations of it's viewer. An aspect I also found in Princess Mononoke, most wrong doings and violent act are made out of self-preservation or an act of good for its own party. From ideas to invade a peaceful village to burning the sea of decay without knowing its consequences; either way from their perspective it was the logic thing in such times. Though you might not sympathize with it, you can still find the hint of reason behind it.


Rating
9,5 - A captivating Fantasy-epic!
I loved this movie from beginning to end. Even when the few quiet scenes kicked in I could not help but to be pulled back in by the following scenes and plot structure. The visuals are stunning and authentically cel animated enhancing the drawn manga by it's director magnificently. This animated film is a reminder of a great time of animation and innovative features.  I can honestly say that I feel bad for the generation that doesn't know about the existence of such animated genius

And with this I finally end this post, and apologize for the delay. 

M.

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Delayed...

I Seriously hoped to post Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind this saturday but I failed to do so. I'm already working on the post right now and I should be done by Sunday. Please stay tuned by frequently visiting the Hayao Miyazaki Film Hub or Subscribe.
Also, Expect more Hayao Miyazaki films these few weeks.

Check On that page. Don't be shy!

Feel free to comment and give suggestions !

Akira (1988), Cyber Punk mayhem.

Directed by: Katsuhiro Otomo | Written by: Katsuhiro Otomo, Izo Hashimoto
Produced by: TMS entertainment Ltd.

Awards

• Silver Scream Award; 3rd Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival

"What makes it work is the astounding animation, 160,000 cells worth. The detail is exceptionally realistic, fluid and multidimensional, suggesting both a futuristic world and ancient quests. Otomoto's neon-lit Neo-Tokyo is a marvel of post-apocalyptic tension and desires. "Akira" is equally astounding for its color design, whether in the brightness of Neo-Tokyo, the damp darkness of its underground or the steely edge of its scientific outposts and military hardware. It's a complete world sprung from Otomoto's pen and imagination, and realized in 327 colors." - Richard Harrington, Washington Post

During the successful manga that met its end in 1990 after 6 successful volumes, an anime adaptation was made directed and written in 1988. Now I know what you're thinking: An Anime adaptation Directed and written by the same artist? What could go wrong? Well nothing, until you realize that he crammed almost 2 volumes worth of story into two hours with additional plot structure worth two more volumes... The franchise that heavily influenced modern science fiction and had the media impact of an atomic bomb in it's time ladies and gentlemen. A great manga. But is it a great movie?

The story of Akira is a well known one which tells the story of a post apocalyptic neo-tokyo set near the ruin's of the original Tokyo which was destroyed in an explosion 32 years ago during world war III. You live the moments of Kaneda the leader of the biker gang "capsule" and his frustrated best friend Tetsuo before an unfortunate bike accident caused by a supernatural events which is the first of mysteries to cause a raft between kaneda and Tetsuo who grows insane with his awakened powers after the accident due to a military proof which could potentially revive Akira, the man hinted to be behind World War III. As good and overwhelming as that story was in the manga. Yes, It is still the very same movie that shook the anime fandom in the 90's and inspired many more like minded artist and I do acknowledge this movie and it's director as brilliant, but the filtering between the manga and anime was rather thin maybe due to a short coming of material leaving only the feel to entertain its viewers into a state of constant interest due to this animated wonder and the cyber-punk gore that has been shown to it's fullest which was quite nice. Yet not for me.
The visuals are stunning for it's time and well made, exactly like the manga if I may add with the exception of shading. Neo-tokyo was captured beautifully enhancing the negative feel and desolated mood. I was constantly amazed by the futuristic view this work possessed, especially in the beginning of the movie during the gang battles that seemed familiar somehow. Despite the few changes to the story it turned out to be a good time and a well made adaptation.Until the complications kicked in....


 The main issue of this movie is that Katsuhiro Otomo was fully aware that he had to bring his unfinished work into the picture to all it's glory even if it meant bringing some elements that would only work with the continuation of the next volumes which he altered in the process,but in vain.
The battles felt rushed and half the times I was thrown off by all the explosions that formed the final battles which needed to be stretched to at least an hour. I seriously wondered what happened after major building exploded and antagonists faces were taken over with surprise and fear, every time I had to pick of after the said events, it also felt like the story had to do the same . I sincerely tried to enjoy this movie and I did when the story kicked in but I was annoyed by the constant attempts of the military units to stop Tetsuo to the point that the city had to suffer under it. Wouldn't it have been better if the movie was split into two individual parts to give it some breading space? The subtle but brutal violence is an Akira trademark that -if done well- expresses the sense of realism and dystopian taste that can worsen anytime to a full scale war, which was ruined...


The other thing that suffered because of  aforementioned aspects was character development which wasn't gradually delivered as the word "development" suggest but placed out of convenience. The movie didn't have a lot of time to meddle inside the soft spots to create a lasting sense of understanding and compassion nor did the two volumes this was based on. The repercussions of this are huge. Not only is there low to none credibility of their friendship (unless if you read the manga) but their is also no urge to understand the struggle that goes through this movie.
If only the characters where as nice as the way they were intended too.You only saw the brave Kaneda leader of the capsule gang, a true failure of a womanizer against the frustrated Tetsuo which inferiority towards his best friend fueled his insanity. Great personalities that could have been greater, to bad.

Click to enlarge

Rating
7,0 -  Post-Apocalyptic nutshell

Yes a 7, I may get a lot of hate for this but I got my reasons!Despite the innovative and the -in its time- groundbreaking story it did not succeed to bring it's full potential to the big screen.Given the fact that the manga adaptation was directed and written by no other than it's creator . You are left  wondering if this movie stood a chance as the animated equal of a well-drawn cyber punk epic. My guess is that he should've waited after the 5th volume to make this animation. What do you think? Did you like the movie? Please leave your impressions below.

• This animated film is not suited for children due to excessive violence, please remember that.

M.

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Millennium Actress (2001), An animation within a play.

Directed by: Satoshi Kon | Written by: Sadayuki Murai
Produced by Madhouse Inc.

Awards

• Best Animation Film & Fantassia Ground-Breaker Award; 5th Fant-Asia Film Festival
• Ofuji Noburo Award; 56th Mainichi Film Awards
• Orient Express Award; 34thSitges - Catalonian International Film Festival

"The film's matter-of-fact, realistic animation style makes a fitting contrast to the topsy-turvy nature of its narration. Though the moments of drama have an inescapable corniness, as a piece of visual legerdemain as well as a rumination on the place movies have in our personal and collective subconscious, "Millennium Actress" fascinatingly goes where films have not often gone before." - Kenneth Turan, Los Angelese Times

Millennium Actress (Sennen Joyū), the second work of the late Satoshi Kon which takes a turn from the illusion-indulged thriller violence to a fictional biography based on the life of real veteran actress Setsuko Hara. The movie that sets out to be a biography of an old secluded former actress rapidly turns into a vivid adventure filled with passion and drama as old memories are remembered and portrayed with the use of her early movie scenes as memory-recollection medium's. This brilliant display of "a play in a play" meant to set you of guard from the beginning truly is a Satoshi Kon signed feature.


When long time fan Genya Tachibana (Shôzô Îzuka) and his young jovial cameraman set off to document the  aged former actress Chiyoko Fujiwara (Miyoko Shôji), they find themselves reliving more than an old star's biography/Filmography. Chiyoko's love for film was at start a mere mascaraed for her love for a mysterious activist she fell in love with. The story entrusts us with the delicate story of how her feelings and stubbornness kept her searching for this man for decades in a time of national oppression and war in 1930-1940.


The clear and sharp color were slightly polished and uplifted from it's predecessor Perfect Blue becoming -in my humble opinion- more keen to the eye which could be joyful and quite dark  undertoned in dramatic entries.The Shadows are soft implementing the clear shading I so admire in this Animated Film.

Chiyoko's life told through her various scenes and character incarnations

The movie didn't have a wide variety of main characters but many recurring ones that cleverly substituted unknown antagonists in her film scenes to form the row of collage-like memories such as the man with the scar that hunts down the mysterious activist throughout the film . The characters that it did posses (even if they had very little character development) were the ones I LOVED. Not once did I think that Genya or his easy-going cameraman where an annoyance or in the way of a particular film scene of the actress' past, on the contrary they filled the position of spectators and main duo of this film, the ones that where in her plays and in Genya's case: the one that played a roles in her film scene-memories he watched and cried to. Genya's interrest and respect for Chiyoko is also explained and exploited and comes together in this -what can only be described as- satisfying closure.

Click to enlarge

Rating
9,8 - True Drama!

I loved this movie from beginning t'ill the last frame. The moving story and misfortunes in her lives illustrated by her own film scenes is a a clever concept in which her life is shown true fragments of her best moments and career. Every scene has its feel and moment that has been carefully portrayed through well written screenplay. I can only hope others enjoy it as much as I did even after the movie ended. Do comment if you saw this movie already and if you liked it as much as I did.

M.

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Yea , something went wrong...

My computer died on me a few days ago, apparently my over charged hard drive wasn't able to support my near-death motherboard. Well that's fixed (...hopefully). Sorry for the Inconvenience. I will review a Satoshi Kon movie soon!
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