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Porco Rosso Director: Hayao Miyazaki Number of Items: 2 Format: Color, Widescreen Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Running Time: 93 minutes Studio: Buena Vista Home Vid Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2005-02-22 Buy from Amazon |
 "Miyazaki's Autobiography---Even a Pig Can Fly"From a fan and student of Miyazaki-san: "Porco Rosso" is the master's most autobiographical work, for once he was not trying to impart any moral or environmental lessons to children or young girls or the Japanese society, as most of his other works did---but a heartfelt fantasy projection of himself (being an independent agent neither belonging to your typical Japanese Anime Industry or the Hollywood/Disney American Culture juggernaut, as symbolized by the brash American Pilot-Fighter, Curtis). It's also a celebration of his fellow frustrated romantic and idealistic adults (many tired Japanese salary men and animators) who have not completely surrendered their youthful dreams to the MAN/military industry. Set in Post WWI Europe, where Fascism was on the rise, the Continental world it captured was a last breath of fantastic and natural freedom before a long darkness set in... The genius stroke here is by turning the protagonist into a PIG, a whimsical yet literal mockery on those old-fashioned/outdated all-male/brotherhood chauvinist melodramatic adventure genre it so lovingly appropriates, and a gentle dig on "mankind" in general, all in good and slightly surreal fun. Yet, behind all the cartoony surface lies the touching elegiac sadness of a lost past and a yearning hope (placed esp. on a young female) for a better future, straight from Miyazaki-san's cynical/sentimental heart. Presented as a light-hearted lark only makes its immersing nostalgia and lyricism all the more spontaneously enchanting "Porco Rosso" is the "Casablanca" of cartoons with a touch of Roald Dahl, and the most under-rated and overlooked of Miyazaki's fabulous work. "Beyond charming"I am a fanatic for the works of Miyazaki, and this is my favorite among his works. There is no heavy-handed message other than his dislike of Fascism; there are no cute or bizarre animals other than the hero, and cute is just not the word for him; there are adventure, derring-do, light-hearted fight scenes, strong female figures, comic villains, romance, great achievements, a touch of magic, and the typically fanatical Miyazaki attention to detail. This is an atypical light adventure film and is suitable for children from 9 to 99. It's charming, fun, and simply wonderful. Please, buy it. I can only hope that Amazon will package this in a 3-pack with Nausicaa in the Valley of Wind and My Neighbor Totoro, all due (actually LONG overdue) for simultaneous release. (The official date of release is now Feb. 22, and it will be released with Nausicaa and The Cat Returns; Totoro is not currently scheduled. This is mistifying, as The Cat Returns is actually a sequel to another Ghibli [but not Miyazaki] film that has never been released in the U.S.) "6 years??????"Walter Disney must be spinning in his coffin. Release these DVDs. Porco Rosso, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and My Neighbor Totoro are on hold for 6 more Years, this is sad, very sad. Are these movies a threat to Disney's Cartoon Empire? "Beautiful and Poetic"This is one of my favorite movies of all time. Much of American animation, although good, is made for an audience with ADHD. Miyazaki has the courage, and talent, to take his time telling a story, without trying to "wow" you every second of the film. This movie has a subtle grace, beauty, and charm which is truly moving. This is a rare find in any medium. Think e.e. cummings, or The Mona Lisa, or snow falling past a street light, and you'll get the idea. This first time I saw this movie, I didn't immediately realize how much it affected me, but it stayed with me for days. I've seen it several times, and never grow tired of it. It's about time it became available in the US. "Miyazaki the hero"Miyazaki Hayao has devoted virtually his whole career--and every one of his master works--to encouraging the self-esteem of young girls everywhere through role models in his characters. Never has there been a more tireless champion of the ability, strength, and courage of women. If that was all he did, whether his work was successful or not, he'd be my hero. But as it turns out, his work is brilliant. Buy this DVD and all the rest. If you kow a young girl between the ages of 8 and 18, that dangerous time when young girls can so easily lose hope, buy them "Kiki's Delivery Service," and this one. |
