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About Me Premium Member Shadow Deviant neonxaosMale/Denmark Recent Activity Deviant for 5 Years
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by =bcatt

I think the shot is generally great, but is let down by a few technical issues. The flash in the top right leaf is quite dominating, an...

Ponyo!

Journal Entry: Sun Nov 15, 2009, 8:28 AM
I watched Miyazaki's latest movie, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, with my girlfriend yesterday. I had seen some review headlines saying that the film, although great, is too simple and not really up to Studio Ghibli's normal standards. Nothing could be further from the truth, as far as i see it. The visual style is indeed a little simpler, looser and less "realistic" than, say, Spirited Away or Howl's, but it really works in the movie's favour, delivering a clean, entertaining slightly childish look, which is often very funny. I think this is entirely intentional, since the movie is about small kids, and it just shows the world as they see and imagine it.

Miyazaki already perfected this viewpoint in My Neighbour Totoro, but Ponyo's visual style makes it fresh again. The pacing and internal logic of the story are also very different from Miyazaki's previous efforts. Some of the sequences in the movie are hilariously nonsensical, and I get the feeling that some of the events that take place simply do so because it would be funny if they did. A bit like the bus stop scene in Totoro or the mad shenanigans in Castle in the Sky, only a lot more of it. It also helps that the main characters are absolutely adorable in the best way possible - Ponyo herself obviously steals the show, but I must say that Sosuke and his tomboy mom Risa are among the very best characters Studio Ghibli has ever come up with as well.

And as for the simplicity - yes, the main story is very rudimentary, but that is a huge plus, because it gives the movie time to include all these fantastic little details and side stories, some of which are very subtle. And I love the way that many of the supernatural (imaginary?) events in the movie are never explained, they just happen. And as in all of Miyazaki's movies, the main story often takes a back seat, letting the characters interact with each other and their environment. And just look at that environment... some of the underwater scenes are so well imagined and realized that I could just eat them all up. And look at the way all the man-made objects have hand-drawn wavy lines, seemingly mimicking the water motif everywhere... You get the picture. I love this movie. It is crazy, endearing, clever, childish and proud as hell of it.

I would rank Ponyo right up there with Totoro and Kiki, which remain my favourite works by Miyazaki. That is the highest praise I can give.

  • Mood: Amazed
  • Listening to: Ram-Zet - Intra
  • Reading: Lankhmar
  • Watching: Stargate: Atlantis season 1
  • Playing: Tekken 6
  • Eating: Fatanyéros
  • Drinking: Suntory Kakubin whisky
Skin by =moonfreak (modified by *neonxaos)

Best Miyazaki movie of my top three picks? (See my journal for an explanation.) 

75%
6 deviants said Totoro!
25%
2 deviants said Kiki!
0%
No deviants said Ponyo!

Journal History

deviantID

I can write stuff here now. I can't wait until we can write stuff inside stuff.

Devious Info

  • Current Residence: The present
  • deviantWEAR sizing preference: Irreverence
  • Print preference: I am dead inside, why doesn't it show?
  • Interests: Pests.
  • Favourite movie: Planet Terror
  • Favourite band or musician: Tori Amos
  • Favourite genre of music: Alternative, metal... and almost anything else
  • Favourite artist: Joe Mad!, Hyung-Tae Kim.
  • Favourite poet or writer: Neil Gaiman, Ursula Le Guin, Heather Bell
  • Favourite photographer: Mistah Kurtz
  • Favourite style of art: Smart
  • Operating System: Brains
  • MP3 player of choice: iTunes and iPod 20 GB (yes, ironic, isn't it?)
  • Shell of choice: Rolls-Royce
  • Wallpaper of choice: Yellow wallpaper...arrrrgrhgr
  • Skin of choice: My voice
  • Favourite game: Dead or Alive 4
  • Favourite gaming platform: Outside the norm
  • Favourite cartoon character: Totoro, Zoidberg, Fry, Homer
  • Personal Quote: Lost in a boat?
  • Tools of the Trade: Your Mom

Friends

:iconcrimson-regret: :iconxadhoom: :icon1perna1: :iconabdiel: :icontoriamos: :icontegnebordet: :iconsmileyundercover: :icontehphish: :iconsatyrja: :iconqueenhrosie: :iconnalster73: :iconbcatt: :iconhollowsins: :icontheobviouschild: :iconblueskye27: :iconthefavoritesproject: :iconvolvi1: :iconottersandsky: :iconscarlettletters: :iconestallidos: :iconpoetryplease: :icontangled-up-in-blue: :iconyouinventedme: :iconwinterhill: :icontaylorsaville: :iconsortvind: :iconmoondrunk: :icondailylitdeviations: :icondistinctpoetry: :iconcades2k4: :iconohsostarryeyed: :iconbekkia: :iconproject-improve: :iconmegsmad: :iconfllnthblnk: :iconmaggiexmalarkey: :iconcyantre: :icondailydeviants:

Comments


:iconcsbhagya:
Thank you for the watch! :hug:

--
Energy is eternal delight.
- William Blake
Remember you must live.
-Ali Smith
:iconneonxaos:
Most welcome!

--
[link] Unreality flickerS [link]
:iconalecbell:
Thanks very much for the :+devwatch:.

I hope you find something to interest you.

--
There's always a better poem just out of reach.

Words create situations [link]

The roots of the future run deep [link]
:iconneonxaos:
I'm sure I will. I am also always fascinated by the very insightful comments you give to so many people here. I make it a point to read them whenever I see your icon down there in the comment fields.

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[link] Unreality flickerS [link]
:iconalecbell:
Thank you.You're very generous.

--
There's always a better poem just out of reach.

Words create situations [link]

The roots of the future run deep [link]
:iconmegsmad:
thanks for faving my tummy! :D

--
Remember Hannah. news article --> [link] TV program --> [link] Depression should never be fought alone.
:iconneonxaos:
Out of context, this looks very strange.

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[link] Unreality flickerS [link]
:iconmegsmad:
hahahahahha it really does!

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Remember Hannah. news article --> [link] TV program --> [link] Depression should never be fought alone.
:iconyouinventedme:
thanks for the :+fav: on Dr. Moses recommends 2 tablets daily, mi amigo


xo!

--
an antique arms and armor expert
:iconneonxaos:
Hola hombre, that poem's been in my cabeza todo esta tarde!

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[link] Unreality flickerS [link]
:iconaa-moss:
thanks very much for the watch! i'll have to peruse your gallery properly at some point, i just read 'seven days of delirium' and really enjoyed it.

--
Here it is, your moment of Zen.
:iconneonxaos:
Thanks, you're welcome back any time.

--
[link] Unreality flickerS [link]
:iconscarlettletters:
Thank-you very much for faving my work. It is appreciated.

--
An Irishman has an abiding sense of tragedy that sustains him through temporary bouts of joy.
:iconyouinventedme:
thanks for the :+fav: on This figment is fragmented..., good sir


xo!

--
an antique arms and armor expert
:iconneonxaos:
:manhug: heh...

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[link] Unreality flickerS [link]
:iconmegsmad:
thanks so much for the fav lovely man ;)

--
Remember Hannah. news article --> [link] TV program --> [link] Depression should never be fought alone.
:iconmegsmad:
:D

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Remember Hannah. news article --> [link] TV program --> [link] Depression should never be fought alone.
:iconyouinventedme:
just goes to show
you can fool some of
the people some of the time

haha

thanks!

--
an antique arms and armor expert
:iconneonxaos:
No need to fool
when you're the
real deal, bro.

:D

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[link] Unreality flickerS [link]
:iconyouinventedme:
featured you here!

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an antique arms and armor expert
:iconneonxaos:
Thank you, good man! :)

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[link] Unreality flickerS [link]
:iconmegsmad:
thanks so much for the fav lovely man! :aww:

--
Remember Hannah. news article --> [link] TV program --> [link] Depression should never be fought alone.

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