Kiki's Delivery Service
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Movie Reviews of Kiki's Delivery Service
Movie Review: BRILLIANT - BUT NOT IN ENGLISH
Summary: 5 Stars
Since no one has reviewed the DVD yet, I'll chime in and say that this film has instantly become one of my favorite animated films of all time. Hayao Mayazaki is the real deal - everything about this film shows how bankrupt Disney and other animated films have become. And the real proof of it is in the Disney English version - everything is made crass and obvious (the voice talent is fine - it's the adaptation that's the problem), every sequence where Mayazaki has let silence be as beautiful as his animation has been rescored by Paul Chihara (who should know better), they've added an insipid pop song and they've made cuts in the film. All the scenes where they've Americanized the onscreen text look like like tenth generation dupes. Phil Hartman was a very funny man, but what they've done to the cat in the American version is reprehensible - it's just typical Disney and not anything to do with Mayazaki. So, the trick is, watch the film in Japanese with English subtitles - you will be moved to tears by the end of it, you will be enthralled with its subtleties and you will be in awe of its gorgeous imagery. Then watch the Disney version and you will know exactly what I'm talking about. Anyone who has only seen the American version, doesn't have a clue about the wonders of this simple, heartfelt and wonderful film. Buy it, watch it, but first in Japanese. Trust me on this.Movie Review: A rare little film
Summary: 5 Stars
Kiki's Delivery Service is that rare species of film - a film that is happy, hopeful, "non-cynical", open-hearted and pretty to look at, without being twee, maudlin, dumb or sickly sentimental.
As with all Hayao Miyazaki's animated films, the characters are multi-dimensional and have some positive and negative qualities - Kiki is a mostly a positive, altruistic and focused young girl, but has great lapses of self doubt and occasional intolerance of boys - she acts aloof to hide her insecurities.
The look of the film is great and very high quality artwork (no CGI!) is all hand-painted.
The film tells the fanciful story of Kiki, a young apprentice witch, who leaves home and settles in a big town. There, she makes friends with various characters and starts to discover herself as a young woman. The Delivery angle comes when ....
Well, I'd better not spoil the story for you!
The music for this film is very attractive and two charming songs, sung by Sydney Forest, are featured - both relate closely to the story.
I've watched Kiki's Delivery Service many times now and I still get a kick out of it each time.
A carefree and delightful film with many, many good qualities and it's heart definitely in the right place!
Movie Review: Please watch in Japanese sound!
Summary: 5 Stars
In principle, this movie is fantastic as you can see in many other reviews.
I am a Japanese and I enjoyed watching this movie a lot in Japan. Now I am in Australia and watched this movie in English... and it was terrible!
The Japanese rarely say "I love you"! Jiji explains things too much!! A normal dog doesn't speak of course!!!
Japanese culture appreciates silence. Sometimes silence is a better expression than speech. The English voice version totally destroyed the Japanese culture that can be seen here and there in this movie.
One of the best things of Miyazaki's anime is "expression of nature". You will be easily amazed especially by the expression of clouds and winds in his movies. This also applies to this movie, and therefore the dog does not have humane growl!
Miyazaki's movies are designed for any viewers of older than 5 years old, I believe. The English voice version made it available only for viewers of younger than 10 years old.
So, people, please watch this movie in Japanese voice and English subtitles and appreciate Japanese culture as it is.
(I don't know how many English translations are available for this movie. Therefore I am sorry if my points do not apply to your copy.)
Movie Review: A great story, but watch it in Japanese, not English.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great story, but I definitely prefer to watch it in Japanese with English subtitles. There are subtle changes in the story between the two versions, and after watching the Japanese version, I find that I can't stand Phil Hartman's sarcastic Jiji. The English version has been "dumbed down" for American audiences, and Jiji is just one example. In the Japanese version, there is less "mood music" to tell the audience how they are supposed to feel, and the beauty of the animation is allowed to stand on its own. It's clear that American audiences have little tolerance for silence, but believe me, many scenes in this movie are much better without the added noise. The addition of English language credits (and text, as in the scene where Kiki's parents read her letter) to the DVD was poorly done, and these parts of the movie are noticeably fuzzy and lacking in contrast. It seems like Disney was in a rush to get this movie to American audiences, and did a mediocre job in everything. It's a good movie, and well worth watching in either version. Still, it would be generous to give the English language version 4 stars, but the original Japanese version easily deserves 5 stars.Movie Review: Kiki Delivers
Summary: 5 Stars
Face it: any kids' video you buy will be watched over and over, mostly in your presence. You want to choose carefully, since you will be spending so much quality time with this video. Kiki's Delivery Service won't disappoint you. This sweet, gentle movie is a coming-of-age story about Kiki, a 13-year-old witch-in-training. As part of said training, she is required to spend a year away from home practicing her craft. Her subsequent adventures are the subject of this endearing film by Japanese anime director Hayao Miyazaki. The animation is splendid, the casting mostly inspired (Kirsten Dunst, Janeane Garofalo, Debbie Reynolds, and even the late Phil Hartman as the voice of Kiki's companion cat). Unlike the standard Disney fare, this movie has no violence, no sex, no profanity, and not even a dysfunctional family.The themes of Kiki's Delivery Service are noble ones. There are far worse ways to spend a few hours (or a few dozen) than watching a young girl make friends and gain self-confidence, especially one as appealing as Kiki. Buy yourself an extra copy of this video. When you wear the first one out watching it by yourself, you'll need the spare to placate the kids.