Twitchfilm review

"The sort of simple, naturalistic story that Studio Ghibli hasn't really tackled since Whispers Of The Heart, From Up On Poppy Hill features all the gorgeous artwork that you would expect from a Studio Ghibli film. The sheer craftsmanship on display here is astounding and it is balanced with a careful attention to detail and character that grants as much importance to the quiet moments as it does to any of the plot events. It's an approach that has served Ghibli well in the past and it continues to deliver impressive results here, though Poppy Hill - like Whispers Of The Heart - seems destined to be viewed as a more secondary entry in a canon that includes classics like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro."

For full trailer, scroll down the thread

So supposed Ghibli fans, I say supposed because apparently you self confessed Ghibli fans can't even be bothered watching the latest movies, or commenting on the new trailers for their movies.

Or did you miss the new English Arrietty trailer?

Here is their next film post-Arrietty.

Every time Studio Ghibli releases a new film, it is an event. This time, the film is directed by Hayao Miyazaki's son Goro. Yes, it is true that Goro's directorial debut TALES FROM EARTHSEA was a disappointment for many, but not every great director is successful right from the beginning. Goro has at least continued to have the support of his father, who is a co-writer on the film.





The synopsis from IMDb says the film is about 'a group of Yokohama teens look to save their school's clubhouse from the wrecking ball in preparations for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics'. Looking at the trailer, it certainly looks pretty (as you would expect of a Studio Ghibli film) and the song is beautiful. I think it will be the story and the way it is told that will determine how good the film is.





KOKURIKO-ZAKA KARA will be released in Japan on July 16th.

Trailer here

it looks okay.

Full Trailer For Studio Ghibli's KOKURIKO-ZAKA KARA!

Studio Ghibli's new film KOKURIKO-ZAKA KARA opened in Japan on July 16th, the same day as the two new POKEMON films (released simultaneously). If you count the two POKEMON movies as one, which some Japanese websites have done, KOKURIKO-ZAKA KARA took second spot at the box office. Of course, this may not reflect much about the quality of KOKURIKO-ZAKA KARA itself, because it is up against 2 films after all, and as we all know, not all great films open (or finish) with big admission numbers.


Directed by the great man Hayao Miyazaki's son Goro, who seems to be constantly having disagreements with his father (Goro has even appeared on Japanese TV talking about this), KOKURIKO-ZAKA KARA is the follow-up to his disappointing directorial debut TALES FROM EARTHSEA.


Synopsis (via IMDb): A group of Yokohama teens look to save their school's clubhouse from the wrecking ball in preparations for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.


The full trailer has just been released, and shows more pretty footages and again the beautiful theme song.

Click the link for the video

Why does the music in the trailer sound like Nausicaa?

Poopy Hill?

What's down there?

Saw this movie, surprisingly good.

This is a Goro Miyazaki movie, Hayao's son who directed Tales from Earthsea. This movie is heartening and gives me a great feeling that Studio Ghibli's style can be continued and preserved once Miyazaki and Takahata retire. The movie has the humour and charm one might expect from a Ghibli movie. On the face of it this is one of those straight movies, with zero fantasy elements. It's more like Whisper of the Heart or more like the non-fantasy bits of Totoro.

The plot sounds dreadfully dull - the Olympics is coming to town and they are going to demolish the school club house which is an old French style building and the kids try to save it. In an american movie you would expect hijinks with the kids defending the place against diggers and whatnot - not here in a Japanese movie. Instead simple things like cleaning the place up and visiting the superindendant become highlights.

The inside of the clubhouse is like the intro sequence to the bathouse in Spirited Away, the place is a clustered, eclectic place filled with whimsy that brings a huge smile to your face.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, the one bad point is the melecholy at the end and sad song that overlays the last five minutes of the film which seems to ride rough shout against the films gentle humour. Still, good stuff and better than I thought based on Tales of Earthsea.

The music is brilliant too.