Ponyo

I know some people will thumb me down for not giving this movie a 9 or 10 but I really did feel that this was not one of Miyazaki best. That dose not mean I didn't enjoyed this film and it's safe for your kids who will probably love it. It's just that it could of been better. The movie has very strong things going for it. For example its fun to look at. I really loved the opening scene ware we first meet Ponyo and her father in there underwater home. Every thing is bringtly colored and gives off a warm feeling to the movie. At first I thought I would not like the story because It striked me as a little mermaid ripoff but I found that it did a great job at standing on its own. Miyazaki truly is a great story teller and he rarly disappoints. Now the main reason why I felt that this is weak conpaird to his other movies was mainly because of the human adults. They came off as really unrealistic even by children story's standards to me. POSSIBAL SPOILERS! For example Ponyo basically destroys the boys home town causing hundreds or maybe thousands of people to lose there homes. Yet no one but Ponyo parents seem to really care. Which is odd since through out the movie her father is betrayed as the main antagonist of the story. I felt that Ponyo never really notice how her actions affected other people and never learned her lesson. Pluse it would have been better if the adults would of reacted a little more realistic in the face of disaster. I know some miyazaki fans will point out how the adults acted in My Neighbor Totoro but that was different. I thought it was obvious the parents thought Totoro was imaginary since they never did see him. This one's a different story since by the end of it all mom and dad get the message loud and clear that Ponyo is real. So why is no one mad at her for whipping out there homes? SPOILERS END HERE!! Now to be fair to the movie I admit I could be being a little nip picky here. The movie is still entertaining and worth watching for kids and animation fans. The voice acting is great, the story in spite of its flaws held my attention and overall I had fun with it. If your new to Miyasaki's movies I would recommend watching some of his older films first. Spirited Away, Vally Of The Wind, Castle In The Sky, Howls Moving Castle and Princess Mononke are all good choices to start.

I don't know why this movie is so highly rated. A movie is not only about the visuals. The movie does not have a story. There is no character development, no conflict, no nothing at all. Only good visuals are present. Even the voice acting in English is wooden. First the movie starts with a bit of promise. The audience get intrigued to know about the fantasy world, but soon it gets boring. A lot of unexplained things are there. In the end nobody gets the purpose of the movie. In the beginning it seems like the movie is about the imbalance of nature caused by humans. But soon it turns into an undigestable love story where a fish falls in love with a kid. And from then nothing really happens. This maybe enjoyable for kids but there is nothing to look for if you are an adult.

well, yet another Miyazaki's classic! like Spirited Away, like Mononoki Hime, like Totoro! Brought me back to my childhood, to the other world! -- Risa's a good mum, just like my mum - and coincidentally, I call my mum by her name. A good mum I perceive, gives the child the space and the freedom for what he/she wants. And watching the film, I felt that I'd like to be become Risa, being brave in any situation, and trusts his child - and most importantly, like everybody else, are truly kind to others, even the old lady who stood out at the beginning; even Ponyo's father! He was influenced and became good eventually and I was glad to see that. The romanticism between the red/fish and the human is the theme I suppose! Don't ever give up - the message I got, well I suppose! from what I saw about them supporting each other. After the disappointments of 'Howl's moving castle' and 'Tale from the Earth Sea', 'Gake no ue no Ponyo' rebuilt my confidence about Miyazaki's films, which brings surrealism and beautifulness to a realistic level! And the resemblance between Ponyo and Mei (in Totoro) ...