darthhomer said:

I've seen Porco Rosso, Nausicaa, Mononoke, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle. Favourite is probably Mononoke or Spirited. Nausicaa and Porco are fantastic, and I didn't dig Howl's.

I'm not too familiar with Lupin III, but is it worth watching Caligstoro regardless?

Lupin III is definitely different, but it's just genuinely fun, kind of like the best parts of old 80s cartoons.

gamingeek said:

You know doing this ranking is really hard, because with some movies you are splitting hairs between them.

When it comes to things like Nausicaa and Castle in the Sky or Porco Rosso, how do you choose?

That I can agree with.  As I said in my original post Ghost in the Shell is the only one I'd score less than 9/10.  Despite our disputes, I'm also undecided on The Cat Returns -- I'd still need to see it again to really decide (but I clearly like it a lot more than you ).

What I find even harder than ranking then, though, is explaining why they're so good.  It's really indescribable.

Yodariquo said:

darthhomer said:

I've seen Porco Rosso, Nausicaa, Mononoke, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle. Favourite is probably Mononoke or Spirited. Nausicaa and Porco are fantastic, and I didn't dig Howl's.

I'm not too familiar with Lupin III, but is it worth watching Caligstoro regardless?

Lupin III is definitely different, but it's just genuinely fun, kind of like the best parts of old 80s cartoons.

gamingeek said:

You know doing this ranking is really hard, because with some movies you are splitting hairs between them.

When it comes to things like Nausicaa and Castle in the Sky or Porco Rosso, how do you choose?

That I can agree with.  As I said in my original post Ghost in the Shell is the only one I'd score less than 9/10.  Despite our disputes, I'm also undecided on The Cat Returns -- I'd still need to see it again to really decide (but I clearly like it a lot more than you ).

What I find even harder than ranking then, though, is explaining why they're so good.  It's really indescribable.

It's so difficult to choose between them. I just realised that I was going to put Castle in the Sky next and that's got me thinking, hey Nausicaa is better right? But there are like 3 levels when it comes to Ghibli films, okay, very good and omg great.

The quality difference between individual films within those levels is barely perceptible to me.

darthhomer said:

I've seen Porco Rosso, Nausicaa, Mononoke, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle. Favourite is probably Mononoke or Spirited. Nausicaa and Porco are fantastic, and I didn't dig Howl's.

I'm not too familiar with Lupin III, but is it worth watching Caligstoro regardless?

 It's nothing like other Ghibli films, but it's still genuinly funny and enjoyable. Definitely check it out.

bugsonglass said:

gamingeek said:

Okay I changed my mind in rankings. I think Nausicca is better than Castle in the Sky so that is my next critique

Tales of Earthsea, then:

Castle in the Sky, unfortunately I only have the English dub of this film and the voice actor for Pazu grate. Plus Laputa is a Spanish word for... pussy? Anyhow, it's a film that's like a cartoon JRPG and builds and builds with old world technology. The problem is the payoff at the end when they reach the castle in the sky. There are no great story revelations and no decent payoff. It's generic RPG ending fare. Great atmosphere in the film, love the robot destroying stuff scenes.  

i think "la puta" means the whore, or something like that.  i agree that the ending is a little bit of an anticlimax but i really enjoyed the film on the whole.  and i just adore the song and the images during the starting credits.

also you must have like a really early dvd version of it.  i'm pretty sure all my ghibli DVDs have both japanese and english soundtrack options

Yeah the beggining with the music and that artwork I love. You are right it does mean whore, I forgot. Have you guys noticed a Kiki like character appears in a lot of Ghibli fare? Even in Ponyo the main woman looks like an adult kiki. The character designer has a hard on for that face.  

SteelAttack said:

I've only seen Grave of the Fireflies, Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away.

I liked Spirited, cried with Grave and got bored with Howl.

I'm suprised so many people dont take to Howl. Did you guys watch the english dub or original japanese? I've seen both and the english dub left a really bad taste.

Did your wife watch Grave too? Tears a flowing?

SteelAttack said:

gamingeek said:

SteelAttack said:

I've only seen Grave of the Fireflies, Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away.

I liked Spirited, cried with Grave and got bored with Howl.

I'm suprised so many people dont take to Howl. Did you guys watch the english dub or original japanese? I've seen both and the english dub left a really bad taste.

Did your wife watch Grave too? Tears a flowing?

I kind of forgot to keep harassing her to watch it.

I have the spanish edition, it has spanish, english and japanese dubbing. The spanish one is quite competent, I prefer them to english dubs, but it's not about the dubbing, there's something about the movie's pacing that doesn't click. I dunno. Fuck, I fell asleep during the movie. Twice.

It does feel long. So does Spirited away. Most Ghibli films have a lax pace. They mainly go from lulls to high points.

SteelAttack said:

gamingeek said:

It does feel long. So does Spirited away. Most Ghibli films have a lax pace. They mainly go from lulls to high points.

I never felt bored with Spirited, though. Maybe I found Chihiro to be a more endearing and interesting lead than the old hag from Howl. I need to give Howl a second (or third?) chance. After a good night rest, that is.

One thing I find that helps is having these movies running through a DTS or 5.1 sound system. Joe Hisashi's music is fantastic. I have many of the albums.

Oh. I wondered what was going on. There is no starving in Howl

Most people who have issues with Howl complain about how some things aren't explained, like the war or the symbolism. Stuff like that.