Was anyone not expecting Hayao Miyazaki to direct another masterpiece? Also I need Robert Pattinson to do more animated roles because he's incredibly unrecognizable as the Grey Heron. Very well done!

@hunternicholson9953

5 ай бұрын

In an interview he talked about how is heron voice was an impression of William Dafoe from the lighthouse.

@Joecbg100

5 ай бұрын

For a second i thought was tripping looking at the cast list and maybe Dafoe was voicing him, but nope. He's incredible

@themoviecritic1092

5 ай бұрын

He did SO GOOD

@benwasserman8223

5 ай бұрын

@@Joecbg100 Little disappointed that Dafoe only had one scene. That was my lone criticism of the movie.

@SCharlesDennicon

5 ай бұрын

Since his previous movie was pretty bad, expecting a masterpiece from 85 year old Hayao was a bit risky. I'm glad I didn't, it's everything BUT a masterpiece.

For years, I only watched Studio Ghibli films on TV at home. It was quite a treat to finally see one of their films on the big screen

@TheLadsFilmThing

4 ай бұрын

Yeah, it’s been such a long wait!!

@tubeyou89119

4 ай бұрын

My friends and I went to watch Spirited Away in the theater many years ago in the USA, there are only us and a father with 5,6 grade school kids behind us. I still remember at many points I heard the kids say "I am scared..." I think they were all expecting a Disney type movie.

@Kayametra

4 ай бұрын

If you live in the US, Fathom Events regularly shows the older Ghibli films in theaters. You might check it out

@spectralmuffin6487

4 ай бұрын

Man, imagine this being the first one you see on the big screen. What a big disappointment. This story was so bad and disjointed I can't imagine thinking this was good. It looks amazing but the story is appalling.

@myIGbin24h

3 ай бұрын

i thought the movie was pointless. It also registers badly for me as the family of boy was war profiteering. As a person a frok a country attacked by Japan, this movie is quite ugly

When the movie finished 1/4 of the audience clapped and walked right out and the rest of the 3/4 just sat there in the dark trying to process it all, sitting through the credits.

@pruthvi2304

5 ай бұрын

I'm part of the 3/4 of the audience.

@_tsuki_

4 ай бұрын

I was doing that but the staff fella made me leave cause he had to clean the hall

@spectralmuffin6487

4 ай бұрын

Yeah I'm in that 3/4 disappointed and confused

@Johnmoments

3 ай бұрын

Please to me. Coz im that 3/4 as well huhu

@andrewwalsh2755

2 ай бұрын

... and listen to the credit music, watching subtitled lyrics... Spinning Globe, by Kenshi Yonezu... 🌎

Some of this movie’s imagery reminded me of Satoshi Kon’s films like Paprika and Perfect Blue, like this morphing of reality where you can’t tell what’s real or not. When Mahito’s mother melts in front of him or the frogs start crawling around him, it felt very weird and dream-like, I loved it!

@tomlewis4205

5 ай бұрын

I love Paprika so much!❤

@arcaris9399

5 ай бұрын

So many crazy beautiful images 🤩🍿👌

@Shivam-vr6eh

5 ай бұрын

That morphed reality thing has been very overdone in most tv shows , so its not very creative in today's times.But ig most films will feel like that when u hv watched too many movies😂😂😂 Still creativity never dies, once a decade unique concepts keep poppin

@mario98730

5 ай бұрын

I said the same thing halfway through I’m glad someone else thought that!

@oslidd

4 ай бұрын

SAAAAAME SAAAAME​@@tomlewis4205

The most tragic part of the US name change is that "How Do You LIve" is basically the thesis statement for the whole movie. It reminds me of Princess Mononoke, where every character has a purpose and no one is "bad." It all about how do we deal with loss. Loss of of a mother, a sister, the world as we know it, or even tobacco lol. The more I think about this movie and its themes, the more I love it and want to watch it again. It's so deeply complex that you really need multiple watches to get it, but also you want to live with it.

@adenfayt5433

5 ай бұрын

I'm pretty mixed on the name change. On one hand, I think it's good that it isn't the same name as the book that inspired it; I actually read the book before seeing the movie, and it is NOTHING alike story-wise, just thematically inspired, and so it just seems better to me to have a different name. On the other hand, "How Do You Live?" is a pretty kickass title name.

You cannot deny how visually stunning this movie looks. There are so many scenes that I just want screenshots of. I think this really grew on me as I thought about it more. IMO it might not be my favorite of his, but I can't deny the quality and meaning behind it.

@taaviv4185

5 ай бұрын

This is what you get when you combine Hayao Miyazaki with the highest budget of all time (Japan).

@peridotrideaux

5 ай бұрын

Movie was boring and trash. It looked amazing as usual 😢

@gevoian

5 ай бұрын

i dont think it was trash, it was beautiful and a masterpiece in terms of art, animation, voice acting, and music, but yeah it got boring often. but everyone seems to love it. @@peridotrideaux

@YorgosL1

5 ай бұрын

@@peridotrideauxthat’s your only criticism ? Boring and trash ? Seriously

@petergrossi6605

5 ай бұрын

Movie was incredible

The scene where Mahito is coming home from school is what really set the tone for me. "Oh, its THAT kind of Miyazaki movie". I was not prepared either, definitely due for a rewatch soon.

@nickdifranceisco1458

5 ай бұрын

grave of the fireflies vibe

@quynhthu716

5 ай бұрын

​@@nickdifranceisco1458 grave of fireflies was not directed by Miyazaki

definitely Miyazaki’s most esoteric movie. i can totally understand why Ghibli fans might hate it, as a Ghibli fan who’s rewatched Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Porco Rosso endless times, this movie is just absolutely DIFFERENT, there’s no other way to describe it. i enjoyed it but it took a day or two for me to think about it lmao

@TheOdMan

5 ай бұрын

You could describe it as not very good.

@knightmare5097

5 ай бұрын

@@TheOdMan Because it made you think?

@jeffreyali3644

5 ай бұрын

@@TheOdManor not because it is very good?

@lilo19951995

5 ай бұрын

@@TheOdMan Yes, you could do that my good fellow

@Stephens-Cinema

5 ай бұрын

This was my first Ghibli movie and I really think it’s in my top 5 favorite films this year. I loved it

This movie more than any previous shows Miyazakis love/ distaste for whimsical magical elements. Which is why i think a lot of people might struggle with it. Miyazaki uses magic to teach lessons to young protagonists, but he has always made it clear the magic MUST go eventually. And we have to accept the reality of things. This movie hammers that point home and leaves an even more melancholic taste than his others. Its a tough pill to swallow but its a powerful one

Was such an unbelievably special experience seeing a brand new Miyazaki film in a theater in the year 2023. Felt genuinely surreal

I definitely don’t want to be “that guy,” but this is a film that needs to be seen at least twice. A first watch is enthralling, but perplexing and maybe overstimulating. Upon a 2nd watch it was immediately so much more apparent to me how Miyazaki was setting thematic through lines that carried through each scene of the film and how subtle character moments speak volumes toward their actions in the latter half of the film. If you have the time and energy to see this film twice I highly recommend it. This is upper echelon Miyazaki, something only he could have made.

@scooterjones303

5 ай бұрын

Ive seen it 4 times so far lol

@NathanSmith-jl7zm

5 ай бұрын

You basically just said exactly what I came down here to comment! First time watching it I was kind of like “ehhh it was pretty good.” But man, the second time through it just really clicked into place for me and just became so much more. And the soundtrack. just wow!!

@amirgarcia547

5 ай бұрын

I’ve seen it once and am definitely planning on doing so again, probably this time in sub. Since it has so much symbolism and thematic significance that I doubt a single viewing can do it justice.

@arcaris9399

5 ай бұрын

Totally agree! Saw it in Imax and I really enjoyed it! The score, the handrawn art❤, the actong. It is a little complex but thats why multiple viewing are recomended. I regret not seeing this twice on Imax before they took it out of Imax 😢

@samuel.jpg.1080p

5 ай бұрын

100% agree. This is the kind of film that stays with you for a long time and has many layers to it so multiple viewings is a must

I thought for sure that voice for the Grey Heron was definitely Willem Dafoe playing him. Not only was I surprised to see he was only given a brief appearance but still noteworthy to the film’s message, I was impressed and TOTALLY shocked afterward to find Robert Pattinson take on this part, and I am SO ready to have this guy do more animated roles in the future! He’s really come a long way from Twilight, and I couldn’t be more excited with everyone else to see where this path takes him🙌🏻

You’re right about this not being at all what you think it is. While watching this for the first act, almost a full 30 minutes before we get to the mystical spirit world, I was surprised at the maturity and the very slow build of mystery. And when you actually get to the spiritual aspects, it may have a simple goal that’s easy to follow, but the dream logic and celebration of madness and randomness reminded me of Alice in Wonderland. Yet it was all so damn meticulous, clearly meaning so much to Miyazaki yet never beating you over the head with its message. It’s a profoundly sad tale of the inevitability of death but the beauty of creation. I can’t stop thinking about it, and I think it may be one of his best.

@androognoix1685

5 ай бұрын

It felt like an hour of build up imo

@elduderino4936

5 ай бұрын

yea the storyboard and script was rewritten and changed completely almost halfway after the passing of isao takahata, miyazakis friend and coworker at ghibli

@spectralmuffin6487

4 ай бұрын

Cap AF! This movie has uninteresting characters, a terrible plot that makes no sense and has major plot points that aren't even explained until the last 10 minutes of the movie. The movie does look good. It's a great looking movie but all his movies are great looking. I'm not going to give this a pass. It's not a very good movie.

Pattinson as the Heron is like Mark Hamill Joker levels of unrecognizable. It's so crazy.

Without even starting, i'm glad to see Miyazaki getting back to being scary. Mononoke, Naussica, Spirited away, all were something that could scare you as a kid. they had edgier elements and the shock of it would make you think. Ever since he did ponyo and some others, he stopped being scary. even Howl's moving castle didn't quite get to that old feeling, so i'm looking forward to seeing it, and in theaters no less.

@SCharlesDennicon

5 ай бұрын

Scary? That dreadful mess of a film wasn't scary at all, it doesn't hold a candle to the classics you've mentioned.

@tjjordan4207

5 ай бұрын

It did help in providing more variety in his films. It also kinda represents the time period of what he was going through. From the early days of his career to the late 90s, he was in this serious and dark tone for his films. But the early 2000s to 2013, he went with a softer and lighthearted tone with his films. This movie felt like a mix of the two eras in one, like he was playing with his best hits for his outing (unless if he comes back for one more).

@Kentama

5 ай бұрын

I'm confused by some of the discussion here. Totoro, Castle in the Sky, Kiki's Delivery Service and Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro were all relatively lighter / adventurous mainstream sorts of films that appealed to children, and those came out in the late 70s through the late 80s, at the beginning of Miyazaki's feature film directorial career. The Wind Rises, on the flip side, was a fairly mature, serious piece, and was his last major film prior to The Boy and The Heron. Miyazaki has had a variety of tones to his movies over the years, the majority of which haven't been particularly scary. That's not even taking into consideration all of the TV shows and movies he directed or contributed to over the 20 years prior to the formation of Studio Ghibli (e.g. Sherlock Hound, Future Boy Conan, Anne of Green Gables, Horus: Prince of the Sun, etc.)

@knightmare5097

5 ай бұрын

@@SCharlesDennicon Stop with the hyperbole, please

Saw it last night and we sat and unpacked it over dumplings for a solid two hours. Deep stuff, very few punches pulled, and of course beautiful, beautiful animation. Miyazaki is irreplaceable.

@Nicholasmcmath-cr1xl

5 ай бұрын

I seeing it Saturday

@orijimi

5 ай бұрын

>deep stuff, very few punches pulled This is the most inane statement I've seen someone make about this jumbled mess of a movie.

@peekaboopeekaboo1165

5 ай бұрын

​@@orijimi Yup ... over hyped.

@socratese5

5 ай бұрын

Can you delve into some of the deep stuff you talked about for hours and what punches were not pulled? I’m interested

@PhuongHoang-gm6xx

4 ай бұрын

@@socratese5I think this movie is very deep considering what the main character went through: lost his mom in the war fire, gets a new mom “without even knowing” before his dad introduces new mom to him, and surprisingly, his new mom is even “ehem” his mom’s sister. He has to go to a new school, gets bullied by new kids. And if you pay close attention at the beginning, when his dad told him to stay home and didn’t follow, he followed still which proves he pretty much is a stubborn boy. But now, with all these new things came to him, a stubborn boy like him acted in such a “calm, and composed”. Not a single time you see him shed tears, even what he gone through can break many ppl heart. That’s why the moment he took the stone and hit himself, I just felt so touched, and so bad for him. He used and call that act to be his “malicious” act, malicious because maybe outside he just want to drop off from school, but also to vent his anger, vent his emotions: emotions of losing his mom, emotions of having to move places, and emotions of having to accept this “stranger” as his new mom, all those that he was not able to express. That’s why when he finally reconcile with his new mom knowing that the reason she there is because she wants to sacrifice her new born son for his sake, so he will not be “chosen” as the next on to inherit the greatuncle work, he finally called her to be mom. It very touching to me seeing those trains of emotions and thoughts

That dad moved into his sister in laws dms so fast.

I burst into tears as the credits began to roll and I couldn’t understand why. The Boy and the Heron just felt so human. I felt like I had just witnessed someone completely baring their soul, naked, vulnerable, almost sacrificial. It was cosmic and scary and comforting all at once, much like life itself. Such a strange and beautiful existence we live. I really appreciate that this film also felt like an act of expression-what art should be-rather than a cash grab or studio quota we see so much of today. It feels like art for art’s sake without being pretentious. It’s honest, sincere, and reflective. It was made by a man with many years behind him. I’m so grateful to be alive at the same time as Miyazaki. He’ll go down in history as a legendary artist.

I'm Japanese. I'm not good at English. Sorry my bad grammar. There are pros and cons in Japan. I was surprised that Suzume was nominated for the Golden Globe Awards. Thank you for featuring Japanese anime. Studio Ghibli is Japanese pride. I am glad to be recognized in the world. Thank you so much!!

@johnnydang4397

5 ай бұрын

Good grammar 👍🏻

@LuisSierra42

5 ай бұрын

@@johnnydang4397 I like your pfp TATAKAE!!

A new Hayao Miyazaki film was number one at the American box office this past weekend. Maybe things really are looking up in the world.

@spectralmuffin6487

4 ай бұрын

If you think this is an indication that things are going well in the world, you need to reevaluate your life.

@Kmartsmart

2 ай бұрын

@@spectralmuffin6487the man is just trying to live his life give him a rest

@spectralmuffin6487

2 ай бұрын

@@Kmartsmart absolutely not

The movie hits the nostalgia nerve big time for me. As a man in my 40s, I found myself reflecting on some adult-themed “kids” stories from my childhood: The Last Unicorn, The Secret of Nimh, Neverending Story. Is it me or are these types of films rare to find in the past 20 years? This was my first Miyazaki film and I will be sure to check out the rest of his works. I came away very impressed with the story, animation, and just overall aesthetic of the entire production.

This was my first Studio Ghibli film, watched it a couple of months ago, went in blind and was completely devastated, blown away and utterly impressed. Tonally it felt like a Haruki Murakami story, and I’m now compelled to check out all the other stuff from the studio.

@rpena0899

5 ай бұрын

Princess Mononoke might be up your alley the most for your next Ghibli film. That was the 1st one I'd ever seen and it's probably the most adult one out of them all (tho I haven't seen this one yet).

@caseyclausen2627

5 ай бұрын

​@@rpena0899Grave of the Fireflies and Only Yesterday are, I think, a little more oriented toward adults. All spectacular movies.

@rpena0899

5 ай бұрын

@@caseyclausen2627 I'd argue PM is definitely adult oriented as well with not only it's themes but it's really violent as well. Definitely the most out of any Ghibli movie. Fireflies is fantastic as well. Saw it in Japanese class in middle school and man it hits hard.

@TheSaladin777

5 ай бұрын

congrats because this is his worst

@YorgosL1

5 ай бұрын

@@TheSaladin777congrat you are a dbass

I had so much excitement going into this movie and for good reason. Miyazaki's return from a 10 year hiatus, the praise the movie got from the festivals, the fact that I myself am now a 2d animator. Naturally my expectations were high. And they were met...eventually. When I came out from the movie, I wasn't sure if I liked it or not. The story and the way it plays out wasn't how I expected it to be (It never does btw and that's a good thing). I had trouble feeling for the main character at times because for most of the story, he doesn't express his emotions very much. But it stayed with me and the more I think about it the more I truly love this film. I realize I see myself in Mahito more than I initially thought. This way of depicting grief, as a silent, ever lasting presence is so true to how I dealt with it in the past I can't help but put myself in the protagonist's place here. Even more, this movie reflects very well the way I imagine Hayao Miyazaki sees himself and his career as both Mahito and the great uncle. A lot of mirrroring moments from every film in his catalog but with a somber approach that reflects the themes of the story. I don't want to spend to much time on details or exemple but I assure they're there if you look. In the end, maybe my initial reaction to the movie is the same one I have to death or partings especially knowing this might be the director's last movie (I know he's working on another one already but he's still not getting any younger). Just a silent, lingering thought in the back of my brain saying "That was it. Now what?" Might be going too far in my reflection but I like it that way.

I was very fortunate to attend a back to back screening of this film. Watched it first in Japanese followed by the English dub. Although I applaud the dub performances (particularly Pattinson; who should consider doing more voice work in the future), the Japanese version made the complex themes more compelling and richer. Either way, the double experience made me appreciate the film more. Second time round got me in awe of the animation that I even got tear eyed. I miss hand drawn animation so much. I wish we could get more. One of my favourite films of the year!

We watched the movie last night, and it was truly incredible. In contrast to some of the director's previous works, where symbolic elements are integrated into the storyline, this film takes a different approach by seamlessly weaving the story into its symbolism. The result is a stunning, untamed, and emotionally poignant journey.

Gonna echo other people here, and urge anyone who didn't totally enjoy it the first time and are kinda bummed out, to absolutely see it again. I'm about to see it for the 3rd time tomorrow, and I still haven't totally wrapped my head around everything -- however, the second time was when it REALLY clicked and i fell in love.

@willb9259

5 ай бұрын

No thanks, once was definitely enough

@vyli1

3 ай бұрын

I don't understand why people praise it. Yes, the animation looks pretty, but otherwise it's completely incoherent story, things happen on screen randomly, there's no connecting thread between the scenes and the themes, the movie just throws it all up at once on you, just like that fish that Mahito was cutting in the movie. There's no reason for any of the things that are happening to be happening, they're just happening. I don't understand what is so likeable beyond the animation in this movie.

The movie was incredible. Especially the animation for Himi's flames was phenomenal. Both The Boy and the Heron and Suzume have been amazing films this year, and in both movies the animation and music have been just *chef's kiss*🤌. However, if I had to pick between those two, I'd choose Suzume.

@spectralmuffin6487

4 ай бұрын

🧢

@swaroop7021

Ай бұрын

Bruh Spiderverse animation was 10 times better than this

Quite possibly my favorite movie of the year! A masterpiece that leaves room for both the artist and audience’s imagination to blossom. Leaving behind a message that invokes the next generation that they don’t have to choose the same path as the ones who came before.

The movie was a bit too much of a metaphor dream like story. It was visually stunning though

I took my wife, 13 y/o daughter, and 9 y/o son to see this film. I was concerned that my kids would struggle with the lack of constant slapstick action (ie: Minions) to keep their attention. To my delight, they were entranced the entire film. The surreal nature of the story and beautiful animation was an experience. I was so proud when my daughter whispered into my ear and correctly guessed the twist ending reveal.

Man I wish this one did it for me. Like yeah it's pretty but it's the same level of pretty that all of Miyazaki's movies are. And it just felt like he was throwing ideas/images at the wall instead of creating a rhyme/reason/world to everything. I think it uses ambiguity to make you think it's significant and thought-through, but it's just more concerned with coming off as deep/significant without actually being deep/significant.

@bartholen

5 ай бұрын

Agreed. It was like Howl's Moving Castle: whole lot of pretty colors, beautiful sights and creative concepts haphazardly strung together by an incoherent mess of a plot. I enjoyed it overall, but it's a far cry from the truly great Miyazaki movies.

This movie felt like a mess to me. Left the theatre confused and underwhelmed

@kanhaiya9680

17 күн бұрын

Try watching it again

I actually found the film to be one of Miyazaki's most straightforward, and that's what troubled me. The film was visually gorgeous, with some real innovations and refinement of the Ghibli style. The soundtrack was also entirely engrossing and I found it to be one of the funnier Ghibli films. However, there was little discernible emotional growth or grappling from the main character - unlike that of, say, Chihiro or Sophie - and this made his final decision feel somewhat anticlimactic. I'm assuming those watching the video have seen the film but SPOILER ALERT: There was never any real sense that Mahito would leave his world behind to succeed his great-great uncle and become the ruler of the tower world. There were also moments in the film that I think fell flat and took away from the film's impact - for example, when Mahito accidentally moves one of his guardian dolls after being warned against it, nothing happens to endanger him subsequently. When Mahito has his dream encounter with great-great uncle and they discuss the maliciousness of the building blocks, it doesn't really lead anywhere or make their final discussion more meaningful. To the contrary, it makes it feel repetitive. And the heron's proclamations of hostility are never followed up by anything but friendly gestures. I also felt there was too much to hint at Himi being Mahito's mother, which made their final goodbye feel less emotional. I think I need to mull this one over and probably watch it again - past Ghibli films needed to grow on me and this might be the case with TBATH. There was lots to like, but I left the cinema feeling somewhat deflated.

@AmiableSheep

4 ай бұрын

I felt the same as you after I watched it, my immediate thought was it needs a further edit

@vyli1

3 ай бұрын

it was incoherent. completely random thoughts that as you say, lead nowhere. There was no connecting thread to any of it.

I was anticipating Chris's review as much as the movie! Really glad to hear his take. Happy Holidays everyone!

It's always a pleasure watching your reviews and I appreciate listening to your insight about the film industry as a whole. So thank you. I too went to see the film blind in Japan. I wanted to re-experience that feeling I had as a child of going to see a movie when the only thing you could get excited about was a poster and that was it. You had to trust your instinct. Sitting in the theater waiting for the movie to start was a feeling I had not experienced in a long long time. I forgot how much I missed that feeling. Even though I enjoyed the movie very much, the excitement I got to re-experience was worth the ticket price. I know no execs would nod to the idea but I wish more films would do this kind of promotion or lack thereof.

My personal favorite movie of the year. Went in blind and left the theater really blown away. Masterpiece

I saw this and knew afterwards this isn't a movie you watch once. There's a lot going on there and I truly believe hayao is asking "who will take over after I'm gone?". The hand drawn animation, the sound, the score, and even the story is amazing. The English dub's cast....they pulled the stops out on that budget. I did notice little nods to other Ghibli films, but I'm gonna guess most of those are coincidence.

This movie and the anime Death Parade are the only stories to ever really touch my soul. It’s indescribable how this movie had my feelings going. It really is one of if not Miyazaki’s best work. It is a little incoherent but not much and that feeling of incoherence goes away quickly. The animation and music just absolute *chef’s kiss* amazing.

My fan heart wanted a more accessible cathartic, triumphant send off to cap an incredible career of film that I cherish deeply. So I was at times dismayed by the moody, confusing but contemplative nature of this film. I too, felt the title was slightly misleading and implied an image of a different kind of story. However, I think this is significantly more rewarding and am very pleased with its complexity and its deeply personal nature. Visually gorgeous, as expected; the animation covers all the hallmarks--greatest hits if you will--of a Miyazaki film. I think this film will age gracefully as fans ponder on it for years to come and its legacy will be, as a yet, another masterpiece from Hayao Miyazaki.

I actually liked the movie, the story was really deep and complex, and ofc the soundtrack was amazing. But I think this is definitely not Miyazaki at his best. I felt like the characters lacked some personality, and it was a bit confusing

@jordandwiggins1026

5 ай бұрын

Ghibli characters not having personality is not exactly uncommon tbh.

@REDMKnight

5 ай бұрын

I Agree. Also, I saw it in Japanese and didn't like the VA. The soundtrack was beautiful, but it didn't fit some scenes tempo.

@losgryfog

5 ай бұрын

That's debatable ​@@jordandwiggins1026

@losgryfog

5 ай бұрын

I'm glad someone wasn't afraid to say it lol I saw this last night. I'm a big Ghibli fan, with huge respect for Miyazaki, but this isn't the top of the mountain. I believe the reception benefited (as it usually does) from being his "last film ever", that's really all the marketing it needs 😅 I will trust Chris in that I've only seen the dubbed version. My excitement to watch this again subbed in the theater speaks to how much I enjoyed it. Even if I felt a few characters didn't have the impact the movie wanted me to believe they did, the glee of seeing a new Ghibli film in theaters was more than the price of admission.

at first I wasnt sure when you shifted your channel and stopped grading films but now ( and for a while), i've realized your reviews are the purest form of film commentary and critique out there. You dont degrade a film to an arbitrary letter grade or number out of 10. You speak your mind as vividly as you can and we can derive its score ourselves. it's better that way. Films are created with nuance and hardwork, as should a review of such films. i think it paid off. To really seperate yourself from the others

I watched this movie in theaters here in Japan when it came out… absolutely stunning visuals and music. But holy cow was the story hard to follow what was actually happening midway through. But I still had a good time.

@TheLadsFilmThing

4 ай бұрын

That was our thought as well, obviously it’s an incredible film to watch, but the story is a little muddy mid way through

I'd say this was probably my most anticipated review from Chris for the rest of the year, I've never been more interested to hear his thoughts on a movie more than this one. I also agree that The English title The Boy and the Heron sounds very misleading to audiences, as it makes it sound like a kids movie in a way. With a title like How Do You Live? I think more people would have been able to better understand what kind of a movie they were about to see. Nevertheless, this is my favorite movie of 2023, thank you for everything Miyazaki!

i personally didnt like it as the relationship with his step-mom, who was also his aunt...never felt earned and while it was beautiful i believe this movie would do better with a rewrite.

Went to see The Boy and The Heron on opening day in Finland few weeks ago. A fantastic movie! Enjoyed it a lot. It felt like a Studio Ghibli movie through and through!

I saw the movie twice and at the end of both showings, people wonder what does it all mean and it doesn't make sense. On the surface, it's a mix of spirited away and princess mononoke. Imo, this movie is the deepest Miyazaki movie. The story is a bout a boy processing his grief and trying to live in a new life that his father has thrusted him in. It has a similar theme to The Wind Rises but a lot less obvious. It's a love letter from Miyazaki to us and the future generation. Minor spoiler alert: Also there's so much references to older Ghibli films, like the flight of the warawara, the Mitsubishi Zero canopies, the look of the maids ect. To an extent, it's a metaphor to Miyazaki's career. At the end, he's telling us and the future generation to "create beautiful worlds untainted by malice." That block that Mahito kept at the end is a symbol that represents the movie itself, a powerful reminder that we have the power to create something beautiful.

I saw the dubbed version on Saturday, it is hauntingly beautiful. I think it’s about how we process the death of a loved-one and how their memory also can be haunting to the bereaved. I was shocked when I found out Robert Pattinson played the Heron. He needs to do more voice work stat!

As someone who is a fan of thoughtful analytical media and loves animation, to see a work that is so mature and well done in an animated format is so refreshing especially since it’s hand drawn too. I think once the themes hit for me by the second watch I b just was bawling afterwards because a it was so visualy stunning, b it was an emotional roller coaster and c it was an absolutely beautiful movie about balancing life. You cannot have life without death and pain without healing. You cannot have decisions without consequences. You cannot live in pure bliss as someone who is destined to be human and flawed.

@spectralmuffin6487

4 ай бұрын

We get it. You're like 19 and you just got out of a philosophy class Jesus. It's just a movie and not a very good one.

just wanna say the score Joe Hisaishi wrote when the boy opened the book is so precisely beautiful.

“Going in with the wrong mindset” is a great way to describe the experience compared to people outright saying it sucks. I always watch your reviews after seeing a movie to hear your take on it. It’s definitely a more abstract film. And while it had beautiful animation the storyline wasn’t my cup of tea.

The film premiered here in Greece during a Film Festival called "Premiere Nights" back in October and it will get its "normal" and wide release in cinemas in February. Can't wait!

I was waiting for you to do a video on this!

I feel like no matter what people thought are, you gotta admit the animation is breathtaking

@jackcool897

5 ай бұрын

yes, the story not so much

@cafe.atlantis

5 ай бұрын

yeah you can admit some things are good but I've seen people try to make some things out of nothing. doesn't matter if it's Miyazaki. you can't always make something great and it's fine, just my opinion tho. this was good but not as great as his other stuff

I loved this film. I agree the title change was not a good move- it’s really weird because I picked up “How Do You Live?” at a little lending library a few months ago, and had no idea The Boy and The Heron was associated with it. (Apparently the book is super good-haven’t cracked it open yet.) I related a lot to Mahito having to grow up very quickly as a child of trauma, and I think the film does a wonderful job of dissecting the nuance of what lies beyond death, but also the nuance of what exists in the here and now, the grief, and all the complex emotions that exist wherever there is life. The melding of these two worlds, a melding of thousands of emotions and lives, should be just as confusing, heartwarming, angering, and hopeful as this film was. If this truly is his final film, he’s leaving with a bang.

I loved this film apart from the ending. It just felt very rushed but otherwise it was lovely getting to see a Ghibli film as it comes out on the big screen for the first time. Man it's gorgeous

I loved the central theme being learning to let go and making peace (SPOILERS AHEAD) The granduncle learnt to accept his perfect but fragile (and dying) fantasy world he built would end and his own life (so he didn't force Mahito to take over because he didn't want him to suffer with such a heavy and possibly lonely responsibility as he did) On the other hand, Mahito himself learnt to accept the death of his (birth) mother and open up to his new mom. He came to terms that she passed on and was able to let her (the younger version of his mom) back to her own time despite both knowing she would die in the fire in the future. Afterwards, he also finally calls Natsuko “mom”.

@mjjjuly

4 ай бұрын

It was Miyazaki basically telling that he will let Studio Ghibli die with him, instead of forcing anyone to inherit it and maintain it's glory.

I’ve been looking forward to this movie forever! Been watching his movies since childhood. I really appreciate the way that you covered the movie without spoiling anything!

Great review. This was the first Miyazki film that invited me to think. Not just a feeling that feigns thinking, but cold and dispassionate thought.

Loved the video and I'm excited to see this one, Chris! I'd also be interested to hear your thoughts on Hi Nanna, which I haven't seen yet but has an 8.4 on IMDB.

Your review definitely made me feel better on how I felt, I left the theater having soooo many questions and wanting to search for answers now...

The art style and soundtracks are always a hit for me. The voice acting is always strong. The stories do miss sometimes. The movie looked OK. Spirited Away is considered the best by most Studio Ghibli fans. Still going to check it out. Thanks for the honest take.

@Gadget-Walkmen

5 ай бұрын

The movie looks VASTLY more than just “ok”, the movie looks PHENOMENAL in IMAX and definitely one of the best looking Ghibli movies!

@thewhoosh5072

5 ай бұрын

@@Gadget-Walkmen Ghibli is probably the last remaining mainstream traditional 2d studio. Calling it "OK-looking" is an insane take. That one Shinya Ohira cut absolutely floored me.

@Gadget-Walkmen

5 ай бұрын

@@thewhoosh5072 wouldn’t call Ghibli the “last 2D mainstream studio” at all as you have shows like Invincible and Genndy’s Primal still doing 2D animation, as well as other anime studios using 2D animations unless if you mean ONLY with mainly paper, pencils, and pen inks and not any digital tablets to draw them on than I can’t speak on that at all.

@TheSaladin777

5 ай бұрын

@@Gadget-Walkmenit actually didn’t look phenomenal at all, so much liminal blank space. This had NOTHING on spirited away, howls, mononke

@thewhoosh5072

5 ай бұрын

@@Gadget-Walkmen Ghibli's pipeline for animation is less-digital than all the other modern studios out there. It's more akin to old disney.

Some parts were a bit confusing for me. I especially thought that the introduction of the world inside the tower be ng introduced about halfway through was a bit off, but I really enjoyed it! So happy to finally get to see a Miyazaki film in theaters!

The visuals were stunning, as usual. The storyline was just a bit all over the place. Could have cut 20min and tighten things up a bit.

As someone who’s favpurite Miyazaki movie to date is Mononoke I very much appreciated the tone, the maturity, the animation and the sometimes gorey/frightening visuals. I love Ghibli’s more whimsical works too, but these kinds of movies just resonate with me on a whole other level

The biggest disappointment of the year. The movie becomes slightly interesting after 40 minutes but not by much.

@gevoian

5 ай бұрын

yeah , this was my biggest movie theater purchase regret, i barely even laughed during the whole 2 hours, wish the comedy worked for me.

Despite having issues with the story and how it is told, I do like this movie and see that it is a masterpiece, just in a different way. I do prefer Miyazaki's other films that are easier to understand. In a way, you could look at The Wind Rises as Miyazaki's final film doing a realistic tale and Ponyo as his final fantasy tale. And this movie is more of a mix of the two, while mainly being a story about his life and a "goodbye" to the audience. If this is his final film, it may not be the best film to end on, but it's still a good one to end on and that's satisfying enough for me.

Chris, the fact that you referenced ANGEL’S EGG in your review has me cheering! :)

Thank you. Your review helped open more meaning of this movie for me. When I watched it, I was not expecting it to challenge me like it did.

This movie was much more difficult to understand than previous Ghibli movies. It was difficult, not like an animated movie, but like a French movie. This is a must-see for anyone who likes thinking or interpreting art, but I don't recommend watching it like you're going to see a Marvel movie with your family.

Glad this was Miyazaki’s first #1 film in the U.S…..overdue but much deserved

What I like about your reviews (above other reviewer I watch) , is that you still have a wonderment and joy of art and film, and don't seem as cynical as your contemporaries!

Saw this a couple of days ago and walked out of the theater mesmerized and trying to contemplate the enigmatic film I had just witnessed. Amazing film. Thanks for the video Chris!

I loved this movie, every frames a painting and there's so much to unpack in the dream like world, within the first 20-30 mins of the movie I realized I will be watching it again as soon as possible cause this has to one of the most complex Ghibli movies ever with so many themes going on, it's definitely not a kids movie but I still think kids can enjoy it as well, so longs theres someone to explain the more complex parts to them

I was waiting for this review because of how much Chris loves Ghibli

Great review. This is not a simple film. Possible Spoilers: I lived in Japan for several years. I am older - past midlife. I lost my father and son and studied Hayao Miyazaki some. Much of this film just made sense. The connections to his life in this film seem pretty clear. The struggle with grief and loss, and reconnecting to family that changes through the loss is pretty clear. What caught me off guard was how powerful the grand-uncle's desire to pass on his legacy was. It left me touched for Miyazaki. He has created so much... It was also interesting and poignant to see Mahito leave with a piece of the world with him. Miyazaki will not lose what he created over a life time. We will carry part of it with us. Excellent movie.

I've seen all of Miyazaki's films and I'm really looking forward to it, especially because of how deep and different the storyline sounds compared to the rest of his filmography.

The man I’ve been dying to hear talk about a new Studio Ghibli movie is finally here.

This was a disatisfying movie to watch. It felt like a mashup of all other movies they made but the pieces didnt click (it felt like Miyazaki is the Parrot King and when he forces all the pieces on each other). Everyone in the audience was left confused in their seats. Really disappointing.

Visually stunning of course, although will probably need a rewatch to let it all sink in, and great that a more challenging movie like this has had the success it’s had. It did remind me a lot of Angels Egg, or Satoshi Kon movies in particular with both the visuals and reality/fantasy blurring, and while don’t think this movie is as well executed as Kon’s movies (or Angels Egg) it’s likely to heavily overshadow them - and they remain relatively underwatched - given Ghibli and Miyazaki’s profile and commercial success.

I saw this movie at the New York Film Festival this year. Another excellent work from Hayao Miyazaki.

I didnt like this movie , i was one of like 4 people in the theater so i got to sit and relax it but the story was too jumbled and confusing . This movie feels like you need to be on some nuclar shrooms but still wont understand it . I expected it to get dark and deep but it 🤷

The strip club scene was really out there

i had just watched this the other night and was almost a little upset to see chris hadnt reviewed this believing he didn't like the movie, but still stayed a little optimistic hoping for a late upload. thank goodness that was the case v happy to see everyone enjoying the film as much as i did.

Amazing analysis of the movie. As usual ! One thing that i Feel you left out, maybe because it made sense to me but isnt entirely obvious, is that Miyazaki kinda touches on his father, yes, but also passes a message to his son along the way. I kinda see miyazaki as the tower Guardian and his son as the boy, live in your own messy world, no need to take up my mantle if thats not what you want to do with your life. Maybe i read too much into it but i get the feeling im not too far off

@tobishiraku

5 ай бұрын

This is the problem with this movie its too vague to the point it doesn't make sense and some of the material can be cut. The guardian didn't explain why he needed to take up for him yes we know what happens now but the boy didn't know. Your Miyazaki explanation would make sense but his son is working in animated movies already.

Very good but clunky, imo. It’s one of Miyazaki’s weaker films but having said that it’s still at the least decent.

When I saw The Wind Rises in theaters I was deeply underwhelmed, especially given (at the time) it was Miyazaki's last film. For me it landed with a thud and it broke my heart that his career would end like that for me. The Boy and the Heron gave me the exact opposite sentiment. Unlike the former film, this one felt like a culmination of his previous works. You could see shades of Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howls, etc in the subtle callbacks. Since this film is also set in the same time period (WWII) there is that similarity of personal experience but while Wind Rises only scratched the surface of that personal connection this one really dug much deeper and his life truly reflecting in his art. I can say with certainty if this film is truly the last one Miyazaki will make I think it is much more of an exclamation point to his career than the previous film was and I am so glad for it. No one talks about the Wind RIses but EVERYONE will be talking about this one.

@4shlynl

5 ай бұрын

what was so underwhelming about the wind rises for you? i feel the opposite, and found the wind rises to be much more profound than the boy and the heron. i thought it overreached to connect all his previous films and left me with questions all throughout the movie, not deep introspective questions but something like - why did the scene just jump from him looking at the tower of blocks to him about to be cooked?

Waiting for someone to really dive into the sound in this film. It’s the best sounding animated film I’ve ever seen-the amount of detail is extraordinary.

I watched this movie earlier today, and I have very polarizing feelings about it. I can't say I hated this film, or that it was bad, or even among the "worst" Ghibli films. I like it, and I like how profound and mature it is, but it felt utterly anti-climactic, and absolutely not as full [filled with memorable and awe-inspiring characters, music, moods, moments] as it should've been. Maybe that was part of the point of the film, but I can't help but feel that way. I know Miyazaki is past his prime, but I feel like the only way to end a career like his is either with something extremely climactic, or an ultimate showstopper that's dense to the atom with everything great and beloved about his career. I think the only realm in which this film absolutely surpasses the other Ghibli films is in its polish and themes/personalness/cerebralness. And arguably, it's animation (the animation obviously has far more passion, drive, and skill than probably all other Ghibli films, but is frequently of less interesting or immersive subjects or scenes, so it sort of balances out). I don't like rewatching films, but I feel like I might have to do it to better form an opinion on this one.

Was it all an allegory of his life ?

Who knew that 10 years later, the brilliant Hayao Miyazaki would return to the animated world??! And it’s pretty cool to see some veteran English voices like Christian Bale, Mark Hamill, and Willem Dafoe returning to voice in one of these movies.

@TheSaladin777

5 ай бұрын

Everybody knew

I was stunned when I learned that voice was Robert Pattinson, I watched the trailer thinking that was Defoe and wondering if Pattinson was the boy because I didn’t hear him anywhere. Incredible work that might get me to pick the dub version

Can't wait for this film, seeing it next week. Off-topic: That shirt is awesome, where can I get it?

To me this is the most visually stunning and beautiful film Miyazaki has ever done, its such an achievement.

@Blacklodge_Willy

5 ай бұрын

Wow that's a bold statement! I can't wait to check this out!

I went to the cinema with much anticipation. Probably the last movie from this famous guy. My verdict? WTF... No matter how good a movie is, it has to make sense. It was like a drug trip.. or a 1980s police-gangster low grade HK movie..entertaining to watch but lacks logical sense

Definitely going to watch Miyazaki's last or latest film tomorrow here in NZ hehe!

Great review and I think you really hit the nail on the head , we just came back from the theatre and where left a bit disjointed. Our expectations where deffinately much more leaning to a whimsical Ghibli movie and where not ready for a movie or this complexity and think it will take a second watch to really get the most out of it

Truly a masterpiece. Thought provoking and yes, the animation is astounding. I like that the movie is complex and makes you think.

@NextGenAvatar

5 ай бұрын

The movie made no sense at all. It might take a second watch to fully understand it but my first thoughts are negative.

@i2pjd6hRw5P

5 ай бұрын

​@@NextGenAvatarme too. I heard other people in the theater say "That was so confusing" after the credits rolled. I was disappointed.

This was a very different Studio Ghibli movie. I didn’t like it so much as I appreciated it. I loved the way fire, heat, and wind were animated.

I read somewhere that this actually "isn't" his last movie. After its release, it was reported that he's already in the works on his next production. 🤷

Im so glad I got to see this day 1 in Japan. I was just randomly looking through twitter the night before and I saw the poster and I instantly bought the tickets.