James Andrews

I’ve been a fan of Ghibli films for a long time. I have most of the ones released on DVD in my collection, and have enjoyed watching them over and over. The artwork is always incredible, the stories are always interesting, and this usually keeps me coming back for more.

“Karigurashi no Arrietti” is the story of a family of tiny people who live under a house somewhere in Japan, and a young boy who is staying in the house to recuperate from an illness he has just recovered from. The family survives by foraging around the house. Using secret passageways in the house, and taking what they can. A cube of sugar here, a tissue or two there. Arrietti the daughter of the family goes out with her father, their primary forager for the first time. He shows her around the house, and where to get stuff.

Their “borrowing” though hasn’t gone un-noticed. The boy see’s Arrietti in the garden when he first arrives at the house. The old woman who serves as the Maid at the house has thought to have seen them as well.

Visually the movie is stunning. The watercolor like backgrounds are beautiful to look at. The attention to the little details like the droplet of water that rolls down the leaf when Arrietti pushes the leaf aside is what sets Ghibli apart.
The sounds are made custom for the movie as I saw on a Japanese television show, which showed them being made, are awesome, and that is where it leaves off.

The thing that I have liked about Ghibli movies in the past is the sense of adventure. I felt in Ponyo that sense of adventure was missing, and the movie just kind of went nowhere. I get the same feeling with “Karigurashi no Arrietti”. There’s a lot of character build up, but the story just kind of dullens out. Where’s the epic chase? It’s non-existant.

If you watch Ghibli movies for the art, it’s great for the theater, but I think you’re better off renting the DVD if you want to see this movie.

Tonight I ventured over to Movie Stop and grabbed a disc I have been waiting to be released for months. It is the latest Hayao Miyazaki’s Chibli studios film “Ponyo”. A story inspired by “The little mermaid” (or so Disney has put on the outside box) of a little sea creature who is found by Sasuke a 5 year old boy who mistakes her for a gold fish, and takes her home. Ponyo however is the daughter of the sea goddess, and once she gets the taste of human food she uses her magic to transform herself into a human. With her transformation brings on strange events and their adventure begins.

Much like many of Miyazaki’s other films it is hard not to fall in love with the characters. Ponyo’s innocent playful manner. Sasuke’s serious undertaking of the job that he’s set out to do, along with the incredible character design and story makes for great family fun. Highly recommended.

On my flight back from Japan I decided to take in a foreign film. The one I chose was from Korea, and is called. “My Girfriend is an Agent.” This is a tale of love Soo-ji (Female Lead) is an undercover NIS agent (South Korea’s version of the CIA/FBI) she is in love with Jae-joon (male lead) who also happens to be an undercover NIS agent. Both working for different sectors, and neither knowing of each other’s profession. Their relationship is in danger, and at the beginning of the movie Jae-joon calls everything off and leaves the country. Fate would have them meet again 3 years later where they would once again try to rekindle their love with their work constantly getting in the way. Will their love survive or will it perish in the midst of their secret lives?

This movie is fun, intelligent and action packed. I totally enjoyed the random instances where the 2 agents would find each other each while working on their NIS cases. It keeps you laughing constantly. If you like foreign asian films you’ll enjoy “My girlfriend is an agent”.

5 for 5 stars.

Tonight I decided to get away from the Wedding planning insanity and take a break and see a movie. The movie “9″. I had seen the trailers and loved the animation. From the trailer I expected this movie to be really good. Unfortunately that was not the case.

While the animation was indeed excellent the thing that really disappointed me in this movie was the lack of character development. From beginning to end the characters were very stagnant. The story didn’t really go anywhere that Terminator hadn’t taken us before.

I was truly disappointed.

1 out of 5 popcorn boxes.

Earlier this year when Coraline came out in theaters I was mezmerized by the 3D animation and the captivating story. It was all I thought it could be.

Today Coraline was released on DVD. After work I stopped by the Target in Framingham and snatched up the $15 edition, as I see no need in the “special” edition. Now a friend earlier had asked me if I had planned on getting the version with the 3D glasses. To my surprise all the available versions came with the green and purple 3D glasses.

When he first asked me, I couldn’t have cared less. 3D TV has not hit primetime, and I highly doubted that blue and red (or in this case green and purple) glases would match the awesoeness of today’s 3D studio. Though so far I am pleasantly surprised. The 3D is actually quite close to what I remember in the theater. Not exactly the same, but it is quite enjoyable. And here I thought I wouldn’t get to see it again in 3D any time soon.

I guess the best way to describe it is, today in the theater it actually seems like you can reach out and grab something on front of you. While it seem like I can reach out and grab things, things do seem to pop out of the screen a little, making them a bit realistic.

Anyway, you should buy it, it’s a great movie in 3D or in 2D…