Today will be a movie review, but not a well planned out one. So don't get upset if I don't go into a great deal of detail on certain points. I only JUST saw the movie, so I'd need a second viewing to do it justice, but you can take my review for what it's worth.
Went to the theater today to see The Secret World of Arietty. For those who don't know what that movie is, it is a a Studio Ghibli film. If you don't know what Studio Ghibli is, it is the Japanese Animation studio of Hayao Miyazaki. If you don't know who that is, look him up. He has quite a body of work behind him, and a huge American fan base, which include John Lasseter of Pixar. In fact many of the films released here in the states from Studio Ghibli are distributed and re-dubbed with american actors through Disney.
As John Lasseter would say, "you'll love this movie. in fact you'll love all his movies, they're all great!" something to that effect anyway. Now the Secret world of Arietty is based on a book called The Borrowers by Mary Norton, in which a family of 3 inch or so tall people live under a house. Now I don't know the plot of the book, but I have seen the 97 movie with John Goodman, Jim Broadbent, Tom Felton, and a large cast of other famous (then and now) actors and actresses. That film was live action whereas Arietty is animated with the special Miyazaki style.
this movie centers on Arietty the only child of Pod and Homily Clock (Peagreen was her brother in the 97 live action, but is missing in this variant). There are no other "Borrowers" that she knows about, and as she's about to turn 14 she wants to go on her first "borrowing" with her father. Will Arnet(Arrested Development) and Amy Poehler (SNL), who are real life husband and wife, voice Pod and Homily. I thought that was a nice touch. Carol Burnett voices the housekeeper of the house where the Clock's live. She's there to take care of Shawn, the human teen who discovers the borrowers at one point. I know I'm not giving plot away by saying all this cause I think most people know, if they know anything about the Borrowers is that happens.
Anyway, I thought this was a great movie, and not just because I had my sister in law Jessine beating on my arm and tugging at my shoulder and such screaming just how awesome this movie was. It had a lot of heart, and even thought it did not move along at a pace that we as Americans would like, it still had a flow. We got to discover the family and their life a little at time, then go back to the Human's world and see how their lives, or in particular, Shawn's life is. The really cool part was switching back and forth between the perspectives in regards to sound. We'd have Shawn walking around and his footsteps are like we'd hear them on tile or wood, but then from Arietty's point of view it sounds more like thunder.
The story wasn't all too predictable either which was nice, because even though you knew what was probably going to end up happening, it played out beautifully and humorously. Any Miyazaki film I've seen really manages to pull at the emotional heartstrings. Plus, from an artistic point of view, the animation is just gorgeous. The music is also very nice; it kind of reminded of Celtic music. A bit of Irish Jig here or there, and softer country tones.
I'd seriously recommend going to see this movie before if leaves the theater, plus "watch all of Miyazaki's films. They're great!"
-Spoiled Mangoes
ALSO, ALSO, ALSO--
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--I'd like to point out the AMAZING amount of detail that went into all of the background work--not to mention this is the first time that I can recall a Miyazaki movie having oil painted backgrounds--which was interesting to see.
Double also, I think it's one of Studio Ghibli's better ones--in that most of Miyazaki's other movies have this tendency to go on random plot tangents and sort of forget about the main story and then stop making sense... but this one stayed really on track and was WAY easier to follow than some of his other ones!
"SEE ALL OF HIS MOVIES--THEY'RE ALL GREAT!!"