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Anyone else think Miyazaki films are overrated?
- Thread starter Oblivion
- Start date
Kiki is super sweet but I did not like the third act (talking about maaaaany years ago)
Porco Rosso is beautiful compared to any other anime, yet not on par with Miyazaki's best. It's very personal, probably I did not get it too.
My personal top3 is very unoriginal: Totoro, Mononoke and the Oscar winner.
Makkuro Korosuke is probably my most beloved guest-star in Miyazaki's work
Hayao might agree with the second half of that sentence.
killatopak
Member
fuck no.
they're masterpieces.
they're masterpieces.
Liking Howl's Moving Castle (or Marvel movies or even Stanley fucking Kubrick) is as serious of a judgment not liking it.
I think we all understand that when someone says that a movie is good/bad it's just like their opinion, man.
I feel it is often more accurate to say you did not like it or do not understand why something is acclaimed or popular (what these threads should really say IMO) instead of saying something is a bad movie.
Also leave my Kubrick out of this!
Boss Doggie
all my loli wolf companions are so moe
Not overrated. What I do hate however is the automatic lauding. Ponyo is the studio's The Good Dinosaur.
^
lol, no. Ponyo is far from Miyazaki's best and maybe a little too flat and simple for many adults. The Good Dinosaur is a boring and unimaginative clusterfuck of a movie with a terrible script. If you want to compare it to a Ghibli film "Tales from Earthsea" is the obvious choice.
lol, no. Ponyo is far from Miyazaki's best and maybe a little too flat and simple for many adults. The Good Dinosaur is a boring and unimaginative clusterfuck of a movie with a terrible script. If you want to compare it to a Ghibli film "Tales from Earthsea" is the obvious choice.
thepenguin55
Member
I'm going through a number of Miyazaki films for the first time via a special thing happening at Cinemark. Previously, I had only seen Princess Mononoke which I wasn't really a fan of. I missed Ki Ki's Delivery Service at Cinemark but I saw My Neighbor Totoro at Cinemark. I can see the appeal of My Neighbor Totoro but... it maybe didn't grab me the way it probably would have if I weren't in my 30s. Having said that, I just saw Castle in the Sky yesterday and that movie is incredible. So so good. It left me really excited to see Nausicaa, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle over the next few months.
I was going to say I haven't seen all of them to make a definitive statement, but I actually have seen them all (the feature length films not his shorts, which I will check out now). No criticism from me for the guy. He's great. His movies are just fantastic.
FinaruDensetsu
Member
I think they're underrated.
I've only seen two so far. Spirited Away which I loved, and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind...which I kind of hated.
It's been a few years since I watched it, and I've been thinking I should give it another go at some point to see if it clicks on a rewatch, but it seemed like an extremely simple story that heavily relies on its visuals tbh. The characters weren't particularly interesting, and Nausicaa herself was a total mary sue. Always in the right, and always 100% adept at everything. Hell, it felt like many of the other characters would make bad decisions just so that Nausicaa could come out looking even better. I really disliked that about the film. Felt very heavy handed with its pro-Nature message too.
I really should watch the others though. I've heard good things about Mononoke.
It's been a few years since I watched it, and I've been thinking I should give it another go at some point to see if it clicks on a rewatch, but it seemed like an extremely simple story that heavily relies on its visuals tbh. The characters weren't particularly interesting, and Nausicaa herself was a total mary sue. Always in the right, and always 100% adept at everything. Hell, it felt like many of the other characters would make bad decisions just so that Nausicaa could come out looking even better. I really disliked that about the film. Felt very heavy handed with its pro-Nature message too.
I really should watch the others though. I've heard good things about Mononoke.
Miyazaki's own manga. It's much more complex than the film.
I'll have to check it out one of these days. I'm not really a manga guy, but I'd be curious about that one.
Ponyo was the first movie that made truly question rottentomatoes tomato meter. It was like that Al Pacino movie where he plays a director that sets out to make the worst movie ever, but he was so popular at the time with critics that everyone thought it was artsy and gave him a standing ovation.
https://youtu.be/qzVKmjWLq_o
https://youtu.be/qzVKmjWLq_o
I dig Ponyo, but mostly because of how much my daughter digs it. We always laugh at the scene where Ponyo goes after the ham in the sandwich.
I have to admit that some of the animation in it is damn gorgeous, though. Love the pencil-crayon look of the scenes by the house near the beginning. The storm driving scene is super fluid and fun too. There's enough for me to recommend the movie, but it's easily the most childish thing Miyazaki has done for Ghibli.
I have to admit that some of the animation in it is damn gorgeous, though. Love the pencil-crayon look of the scenes by the house near the beginning. The storm driving scene is super fluid and fun too. There's enough for me to recommend the movie, but it's easily the most childish thing Miyazaki has done for Ghibli.
What's there to question? I mean, do you have a fundamental misunderstanding of how Rotten Tomatoes works?
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ponyo/
TOMATOMETER: 92%
Average Rating: 7.6/10
Reviews Counted: 160
Fresh: 147
Rotten: 13
So let's unpack this. 160 reviewers reviewed this film. 147 of them thought the film was at least a 6/10, or 3/5. Which means it didn't suck. 13 reviewers thought the film was average or below average. The average rating is 7.6/10, which means the majority of reviewers clearly did not think the movie was great or fantastic. It was simply not a bad film.
Do you feel this is an inaccurate read on the film? Ponyo is a kid's cartoon about a fishboy and a girl. It's very well animated, has lush production values, lots of color, entertaining set pieces, and might be a little too long. It's inoffensive and cute.
It would actually be unusual for such a movie to have a low RT percentage because there isn't anything in it to get upset over. There is nothing there that suggests critics thought it was particularly arty, nor is there any indication that it is so well regarded that anyone would give it a standing ovation.
ForsakenLotus
Member
Name one Disney animated movie that is as good as Spirited Away. I don't think you can.
What should I be watching if I like most of the Ghibli stuff, but generally am not the biggest anime fan (can't stand a lot of the in vogue tropes)?
I did see Your Name, which I liked. Assume that I haven't watched feature-length anime outside of that and Ghibli in 15 or so years.
I did see Your Name, which I liked. Assume that I haven't watched feature-length anime outside of that and Ghibli in 15 or so years.
Anything by Satoshi Kon.
Edit: Although they got a lot of tropes, the non-franchise (i.e. not One Piece or Digimon) films by Mamoru Hosoda could be up your ally too. Try Wolf Children first.
Seconded on Satoshi Kon (he's been a big influence on Christopher Nolan and Darren Aronofsky), also maybe check out Tekkonkinkreet and Mind Game.
Thanks for the suggestions. I will see if I can find any of those on one of the Canadian streaming services, or as a digital rental.
Disney doesn't really make that sort of film, especially now. Allowing for the fact that the animation is over 75 years old, Pinocchio is up there.
Wolf Children
Is In This Corner Of The World still screening anywhere in Canada? That was great.
Millennium Actress is a must. Wolf Children is Hosoda's best film. Jin Roh and Wings of Honneamise are both classics but might be hard to find digitally.
Sword of the Stranger is the best animated action film of all time.
I've seen all Miyazaki's movies, and while I have an appreciation for a number of them (Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and Kiki's Delivery Service), I completely understand where the OP is coming from.
Miyazaki movies have a whimsical and unpredictable quirkiness to them that I've found you either love or hate. It also doesn't help that the characters in his movies are largely unrelatable, through a combination of hidden motives and outwardly bizarre, unorthodox desires. I always assumed that this was a cultural thing that I didn't get but many other people that I've spoken to (who aren't Japanese) don't have this issue.
Miyazaki movies have a whimsical and unpredictable quirkiness to them that I've found you either love or hate. It also doesn't help that the characters in his movies are largely unrelatable, through a combination of hidden motives and outwardly bizarre, unorthodox desires. I always assumed that this was a cultural thing that I didn't get but many other people that I've spoken to (who aren't Japanese) don't have this issue.
DieNgamers
Member
Ponyo is a wonderful little gem of a movie. The display of that childlike wonder puts it in my top 5 Miyazaki movies. Also it's really great to watch with your kids!
Professional Enthusiast
Member
If OP was on gaming side, he'd make a 'I don't understand the appeal of PUBG' thread.
I find X challenging therefore X is overrated.
thatsnothowanyofthisworks.gif
Also the "Japanese Disney" is an applied moniker from outside and should have no. bearing on your appraisal.
As for overrated no I'd say they're not and you'd need to give a far better analysis than some vague "they're not as simply constructed as Disney films" to even get me considering otherwise.
thatsnothowanyofthisworks.gif
Also the "Japanese Disney" is an applied moniker from outside and should have no. bearing on your appraisal.
As for overrated no I'd say they're not and you'd need to give a far better analysis than some vague "they're not as simply constructed as Disney films" to even get me considering otherwise.
I think saying "if you don't like a movie that I like it must be because it's too challenging for you" is rather obnoxious in general, but it's damn right silly if we're talking about Miyazaki.
I think one of the greatest strengths of his work is its accessibility, which is reflected in his wide commercial success.
NHarmonic.
Member
Totoro is overrated, probably the entire catalog of disney's animation (with a few exceptions) is better. Beautiful art and OST, but that field is covered in excellence with disney films.
OP is on Gaming Side, but is a Nintendo fanboy who only makes 50000000000 threads with "Does anyone think..." or "Am I the only one who..." in the title, and they're all about Nintendo stuff like Zelda, Mario, Smash, etc. Lmao.
How can anybody say that Totoro is overrated? It's probably the most pleasent movie I have ever seen in my life and a beautiful contemplation of childlike wonder and nature - it's about how you experience the very moment around you, but also how you remember spending your childhood.
There doesn't need to be conflict to create something thought provoking and that's why this is my Number 1 movie that I watch, when I'm sick in bed.
There doesn't need to be conflict to create something thought provoking and that's why this is my Number 1 movie that I watch, when I'm sick in bed.
Wow, first time I've heard this opinion. Most people would agree Shinkai is an incredible background artist, and Your Name was very successful, but his movies are usually deemed far from perfect, especially on the plot and writing fronts. What makes you like them more than Miyazaki's works?
345triangle
Member
OP: you don't know how i "rate" miyazaki films or what they mean to me or anyone else. to call them "overrated" is wildly presumptious.
what you mean, i think, is "they are not my cup of tea."
which is fine! but to call them "overrated" is to come off as a low-key edgelord who thinks they've figured out something that no-one else has.
now.
i love studio ghibli movies. not all or even most of my favourites are by miyazaki, and he's made a couple of movies that i don't like much at all, but most of his work certainly contains the capability to move me in ways that few other artists can. even something as simple and spare as kiki's delivery service is elevated to a masterpiece by miyazaki's direction — the sound, the facial animations, the unconventional ending.
movies about teenage witches and cats are not for everyone, no. but if you enter the discussion from the point of view where you are right and everyone else is wrong, you'll never truly be open to the matter.
what you mean, i think, is "they are not my cup of tea."
which is fine! but to call them "overrated" is to come off as a low-key edgelord who thinks they've figured out something that no-one else has.
now.
i love studio ghibli movies. not all or even most of my favourites are by miyazaki, and he's made a couple of movies that i don't like much at all, but most of his work certainly contains the capability to move me in ways that few other artists can. even something as simple and spare as kiki's delivery service is elevated to a masterpiece by miyazaki's direction — the sound, the facial animations, the unconventional ending.
movies about teenage witches and cats are not for everyone, no. but if you enter the discussion from the point of view where you are right and everyone else is wrong, you'll never truly be open to the matter.
Great post.
His films seem to meander in the second act and resolve kind of terribly--like Paul Thomas Anderson movies. But the non-resolution of plot threads is less interesting than it is in a PTA film because Miyazaki doesn't create believable characters-he creates feelings. This (feelings as characters) is why people seem to compare his films with Disney films. Disney films however, understand that feelings usually need resolution. A fleshed out and believable character may or may not. Note the end of Magnolia, the frog rain provides a sort of closure with regards to feeling, even if all of the characters themselves don't truly get resolution. That worked.
Miyazaki still makes decent to good films and I own some of them but they're overrated as a whole IMO. Mostly because of third act problems.
Edit: Oh I guess we're not allowed to say anything is "overrated" anymore because people will get offended.
Miyazaki still makes decent to good films and I own some of them but they're overrated as a whole IMO. Mostly because of third act problems.
Edit: Oh I guess we're not allowed to say anything is "overrated" anymore because people will get offended.
Someone who has influenced so many artists and movie directors can only be called overrated by a random person on the internet. It's like asking if Kubrick, Kurosawa, Lynch, Ozu or Wong Kar Wai (just to name a few) are overrated.
I don't think an unresolved plot is a valid criticism, life itself is unresolved.
I don't think an unresolved plot is a valid criticism, life itself is unresolved.
Boss Doggie
all my loli wolf companions are so moe
I guess it is a harsh comparison. Yeah I guess Ponyo isn't trash and empty like The Good Dinosaur.
Still, I find that it is rather divisive. It is not for me - it has great visuals (if a bit too focused on round/curved shapes) but the plot leaves a little for my tastes.