Ponyo

The S.O. and I went to the movies this evening. We went to see the English version of the Hayao Miyazaki film, Gake no ue no Ponyo. (Ponyo of above the cliff (by the sea)). The Disney title is simpler: Ponyo.

If you only see one "G" rated movie this year-this is the one.

Now I am slightly biased as the S.O. introduced me to Miyazaki in Japan when we first met-and I have been captivated by his animation ever since. Even though its just a cartoon-all of Miayzaki’s cartoons are best seen on the big screen. They are that good. I’m on a quest now to get the Japanese version-the last four of his movies I’ve seen in both languages.

In this movie, I was happy to see Miyazaki return to a movie subject that is less intense than the ones he covered in Howl’s Moving Castle ( Horu no ugoku shiro) and Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi). I truly thought those movies were not really children’s movies-in fact, I thought they would be quite scary for young children. This movie goes back to a kind of innocence that is present in his earlier films. Like my personal favorite-Kiki’s Delivery Service ( Majo no Takubin).

Like all of his films-there is magic and very vivid imagery of that magic. See for yourself:

 

 

Its a good movie-even if you don’t have kids to take to it.