![]() ![]() In case you are wondering why would I expect all that from a family movie, just head back in the older Ghibli films to find out why. What about Shou’s illness? What about the Borrowers moving away to safety? What about that granny capturing them for unknown reasons? What about an entire new civilization in the brink of extinction being suddenly revealed to the world? What about their hostile relationships? None of those cool things happen and the most exciting part was seeing a frail sick boy trying to unstuck a crow from a window for over ten minutes. All that mean nothing in the longrun since the most core themes of the movie are left hanging to dry. There is a battle scene of sorts with a crow, and some annoying cat running around, and some granny capturing some little people for awhile. It’s not like there is nothing going on in the story but it sure as hell is not exciting. By the time their background is established, the movie is almost over. And that is pretty much all you get from the plot, as most of it is about the human boy Shou becoming a friend with Borrower girl Arrietty. And seriously, of all the myriads of things they could have shown from the civilization of the little people, they only focused on a single family living in the middle of nowhere, while it has two big people (our kind that is) coming for a visit in the house they are living in for years. Well sorry to say this but those earlier versions were better because the older, the better… Err, I meant those had more plot. I happened to have seen the cartoon series from the 80’s when I was a kid, as well as the live action movie they made some years back, both of which were based on the same book. It takes talent and attention something of which his successors (his own son included) have no idea of. Thank goodness he realized that making quality family movies is not something everybody can do. It is indeed not a complete travesty like those two, only because the supposed-retired super awesome director Hayao Miyazaki ran back to supervise most of whatever they were doing. The designs are ace, and the world of the borrowers and the human beans merge beautifully.The Borrower Arrietty is yet another mediocre Ghibli film, which was adored by thousands of people only because they were completely disappointed with their previous works, Tales From Earthsea and Ponyo in the Cliff. Being Ghibli we get a lovely little cat character, Niya. Her heart is in the right place, but she doesn't get into a ridiculous amount of trouble. ![]() Arriety is adventurous, but never annoying. Ghibli have taken everything great about the story, and toned down the designs and motives, making this a realistic and engaging fantasy. I'd already seen the excellent TV Mini-series and the over-the-top American film with Goodman. I was very familiar with The Borrowers, and was a bit disappointed I was getting something original from Ghibli. ![]() First time director Yonebayashi shows that Ghibli has much more life and talent to give. The quiet nature of Arriety is so relaxing, with gorgeous music from Cecile Corbel. What Ghibli understand, more than anyone, is that kids don't need bright/crass/non stop films. A shot lingers just long enough for a ladybird to take flight, or the mother to stir her tea after a conversation. Luckily for us, the details are all present. Subtle moments of life and nature, that the animators could have saved time and money by not including them. ![]() There are moments here that you wouldn't even get in a live action movie. Arriety is the exact cure needed for such loud and obnoxious 3D CGI movies that come out every other week. I'm glad since I loathed the last Ghibli film I saw (Pom Poko). I saw it just days after going to the Ghibli Museum in Japan, and it was breathtaking. ![]()
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