My Neighbor Totoro
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Movie Reviews of My Neighbor Totoro
Movie Review: A wonderful, magical, movie
Summary: 5 Stars
CAVEAT:
As a first-time watcher, I can't compare the 2 English dubs. The 2006 release with Dakota Fanning seemed perfectly natural to me. I have no complaints, which I know is unpopular these days. Now with that out of the way...
REVIEW:
This is a wonderful, magical movie. My Neighbor Totoro (MNT) shows life in Japan in the 1950's from the perspective of 2 likable sisters, ages 10 and 4. Their Mother is in the hospital, and the whole family harbor silent fears that they'll lose her, so they show those fears in different ways. The portrayal of this family is believable, and multi-dimentional.
The magical element to this film is added when forest spirits (soot sprites, Totoro and his family) are discovered by the girls. What amazed me the most about this movie is it's portrayal of magic: How 'un-Disney" it is. There's no Pixie Dust, no chimes playing on the soundtrack, only a display of wonder or awe in the faces of Satsuki (the older sister) and Mei (the younger one) when they see something that's fantastical.
In addidtion, the timing of the magic is: Few and Far Between. While that may seem like the scenes without magic would be boring, it only serves to heighten the girls' (and the audience's) wonder and excitment when magic does occur. It is similar in pace to Kiki's Delivery Service.
I give this film my highest recommendation.
NOTE:
This movie is rated G, but American audiences will be surprised to see the family bathing (yes, nude) together. It's a completely innocuous scene, done with an eye to authenticity in Japanese family life in the 1950's.
Movie Review: A lyric expression of a simpler time
Summary: 5 Stars
Miyazaki's lyric film is a beautiful evocation of time gone by. Not so much in its depiction of a shimmering and placid Japanese countryside but in that it is a film that takes its time with its setting and its characters. Before you have finished you will feel that you know this place and the family that is at the center of this story. The film's feeling for nature and of the nature of human relationships is so sure that you will truly feel that you are a part of this scene whether or not you are Japanese.
There is no great drama here, Just a family with a sick mother and two little girls. The slow unwinding of the story of their joys and sorrows is a beautiful evocation of the Japanese film makers who went before Miyazaki. When the delightuflly over the top Totoro and his cast of forest spirits arrive on the scene we do not hesitate for a minute to see them the manifestation of the transcendant nature that surrounds them. When the father and his daughters go to the giant camphor tree where Totoro lives and father asks the tree for its protection for his family we know that we have entered a different realm. But this realm is seperated from our own only by the thinest of tissues. The film is constantly, gently reminding of us of that transcendent world that exists just over the crest of our everday lives.
That "Totoro" does all of this and has a good time in the process makes a real joy to watch. As the story winds down to its subtle and satisfying end, you will wish that it would go on forever and that you would never leave this place.
Movie Review: Cute and Cuddly Miyazaki Goodness
Summary: 5 Stars
Miyazaki has proven time and time again that he is, and probably always will be, the greatest animator ever to live. No animator, not even the "great" Walt Disney, can boast such a massive amount of utterly amazing work. From Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind to Spirited Away, Miyazaki's movies have transcended time to become some of the best works of art ever conceived. No one knows how to tell a story quite like Miyazaki, and he proves it with every movie he makes.
My Neighbor Totoro is just further proof of this mans guineas. Take the characters from Grave of the Fireflies (Collector's Edition), make them both girls, and place them in a fun, fantasy movie and this is what you get. Totoro is pretty much a lighthearted, fun, and magical Grave of the Fireflies (both movies were made at the same time). The characters are so much alike it's stunning.
This is just one of those movies that almost anyone and everyone can enjoy, from a four year old kid to a ninety year old grandma. There's nothing not to like about this movie, it's just too cute to hate. This movie could melt any heart of stone, and send even the most cynical of us into fits of laughter. See this movie, I promise you won't regret it.
Re-watch value; very high.
Movie Review: We kept this movie from Netflix for 2 months before buying!
Summary: 5 Stars
My children who love this movie are 4 1/2 and 6 1/2. This is most likely their most favorite Studio Ghibli movie. They love how the children interact, and love to see Totoro in all of his glory.
My husband and I liked it from the first viewing; however as we watched it again and again, we found ourselves stopping whatever we were doing, sitting down and watching it with our kids. And each time we found something intriguing, endearing or something that we had not noticed yet.
I have found that with two loud children, I use subtitles a lot in order to get the gist of the movie. In doing so, I have come across 3 different English subtitles on this movie, and each will give you a different meaning. My husband and I have enjoyed the English subtitles that belong to the Japanese audio immensely, as you get a better idea of what the original intentions were of the film maker (So we use the English Audio with subtitle track 3).
As for the voice overs, we have not had an issue with it, as we have not heard the previous English version. I have listened to the Japanese audio, and it's enough.
Most important about this movie is the story. Don't let the nay-sayers sway you. This is a wonderful family movie. There is one scene that freaked us out a bit the first time, which is the bath scene. It has a bit of nudity, but it's harmless. We were just your typical uptight American parents!
:D
I hope you enjoy this movie as much as we did.
Movie Review: A delightful family film. (Volume 1: Part 3)
Summary: 5 Stars
In the history of animation all the way until today Disney has shined above the rest with the brining to life of classic stories. While there are other companies out there that try to succeed most of them seem to fade into the background. 'An American Tale', 'The Land Before Time' and 'The Iron Giant' are just a few.
In 1988 in the peak of American animation Miyazaki created 'My Neighbor Totoro'. It is the story of two sisters that move into a new house that they feel is being watched by spirits. Being the adventurous girls they are, they find that there is a something there and it's big! Once they find it an incredible world of wonderous adventures begin and their lives will never be the same.
' My Neighbor Totoro' was such a wonderful film. I was captivated by the complexity of the characters in such a simple story. It really stands up there along with some of the great Dinsey classics, which is no surprise that Disney got their hands on it. Still, in my opinion try and get your hands on the origional english dubbed film from Fox family animation. The voices are much better especially with Cheryl Chase (voice of Rugrats Angelica) as the voice of the adorable and spunky Mae. You will laugh until it hurts and just stare in amazment of all the fantastic moments that will captivate you in this adorable family film. It will probably end up on your top 10 list if you're not careful.