Cool News
Quint looks at PRINCESS MONONOKE
Hey folks, Harry here. Quint saw this at the same time I did, but I'm holding my opinion and review till after I tape my next appearance on Roger Ebert's show... No way am I giving advance word one way or another on this film. But... here's our scurvy seaman, Quint for the time being.... amazing that he chimed in before Robogeek... hmmmm....
Ahoy, Constant Readers, Quint here again with a review of Princess Mononoke.
I would have included it with the other report of flicks seen at the Austin
Film Festival, but I thought it would already have abundant coverage on the
site. I haven't had access to my computer in a while. It was hooked up to my
radio on the Orca... at least until me and Brody got into a fight. I'm
certifiable. Anyway, I just saw that there hasn't been one review of
Mononoke on the site, at least in the last week or two. So, I thought I'd
give you my impressions of the film.
I had heard of Mononoke many, many, many times. I had never seen it until
the screening at the Paramount, though. I didn't even know what it was
about. For those that want to know, Princess Mononoke is about a warrior
that defends his village from a demon. He saves his village, but in doing so
was touched by the demon's evil, which causes an infection that is bound to
kill him. The village elders commend him for his bravery, but since he is
now a host to evil, he must go on a quest to either find a cure for himself
or die. It's while on this quest he meets the title character and all hell
breaks loose.
What a cool film! Now, I'm not exactly the world's biggest anime fan. In
fact the only other anime film I've seen is Ghost in the Shell, which I
liked, but didn't love. I love Princess Mononoke and I look forward to
taking my little brother to see it when it's released. One of the things
that most impressed me about the film was it's use of violence. It goes from
tender, touching moment with the our hero to an arrow that takes off a bad
guy's head. It's just graphic enough for the hardcore geeks in the audience
to go, "Cooooool," while not being so graphic it makes kids have nightmares
for the rest of their lives.
Most people that have seen the film could give less of a shit about what I
said above. They want to know how well the English dub on the film is. In a
word: outstanding. It's not Pokeman or early '90s Nickelodeon Japanimation
wacky, high pitched voices, but well timed and never out of place acting.
They brought real actors on, not just voice talents and it helps. Even
though the majority of the actor's voices dissapear in the characters, it's
still fairly easy to pick up Billy Bob Thornton's voice. But, if anything,
that only raises the enjoyability factor up a notch. For me, at least. Neil
Gaiman, of Sandman fame, was asked to write a script of the translations of
the dialogue for American audiences and he did a tremendous job. Every
effort was put to having the dialogue match up with the lip movements of the
on screen characters, so you don't end up with the stereotypical "Godzilla
is attacking the city!!!" trying to fit into one or two spoken words on
screen. He also ran every change to the dialogue by Myazaki (forgive the
possible misspelling), the director of the film, for approval, so there is
no change in the spirit or tone of the original work.
All in all, I was impressed and I can't wait to see it again. I applaud
everyone involved with this project. You guys and gals brought an amazing
movie to the American public and didn't cheapen it through translation. If
anything, it could only possibly be improved.
-Quint
-
+ Expand All
-
Oct 26, 1999 1:48:20 AM CDT
"Anime" is NOT a bloody "genre"! And I saw the DUB... here's my
by zathras2
>> Ok? Got that? As the term is used here, it simply refers to anything animated coming from Japan. Period. As the French (originally a French word... it's a Japanese "loan" word so it isn't *really* a Japanese word, ok?) and Japanese use it, it means anything animated, however animated (cel, CG, stop-motion), from anywhere. Now Japanese animated films are made by a diverse group of studios and talent, and cover virtually ALL genres that Film can cover -- that means drama, comedy, tragedy, action, adventure, romance, etc. (lacking maybe documentaries) >> Now the news is: Mononoke Hime is good, very good... but how much you'll like it is subjective. Period. People will have widely varying opinons... it's that kind of film. What everyone can agree on is that it looks *quite* beautiful. Personally, I liked it better than Nausicaa, but it, for me, lacked a defining emotional moment, like at the end of Nausicaa. The ending is *very* Deus Ex Machinistic, so that might throw you off. But there are those moments of quiet beauty there, oh yes. And they are really something. Though nothing got to me quite the way the "trail of planes flying to heaven" moment did in Porco Rosso. Oh well. Again, I was talking about the theatrical DUB now. >> As for the DUB, well, it's good, but they do leave out some explanations of the Japanese mythos used which I thought were key for understanding the significance of some things... and I'm sorry, but as good as the voice actors are (compared to most any dub out there), they just don't stack up. Period. They try... but often a lot of lines are left flat, are inflected wrong, or just sound funny. Billy Bob Thornton's accent is REALLY wrong. Claire Danes just doesn't quite sound right. A few lines are "padded" with explanation and now sound artificial. The leper's speech now sounds too much like a formal "Lady Eboshi for President" (or whatever) speech rather than a heartfelt plea. Gillian Anderson tries, but can't help sounding female (listen to the original, you'll see what I mean). etc. Ashitaka and Lady Eboshi sound nice for most of it though, and deliver lines pretty much on key. Keith David strains too much but sounds great anyway. Sorry Neil, but no, the dub is NOT good enough to trick you into thinking that this film was originally in english. >> And a lot of the somewhat exaggerrated violence is pretty black-humored... let's just say that the samurai that get arms and heads lopped and shot off don't elicit a lot of sympathy (versus when Ashitaka gets hurt)... actually the audience was often laughing quite a lot (myself included), esp. when the Samurai don't stop pursuing Ashitaka until he lops one of their head's off, *then* the other turns around (a classic moment). Those of you who have seen other Miyazaki films before will find this a bit surprising... perhaps disturbing (the look on that 7-year-olds face was precious when that first guy got his arms taken off)
-
Oct 26, 1999 2:13:57 AM CDT
I saw the DUB, here's my report (continued): Sorry about that,
by zathras2
was classic. (that's sick, I know). Just to let you know about the "moral use of violence thing". I would have prefered if it was used to emphasize the harshness of war more like Nausicaa (the book), but it was funny... and it lessens the effect (oh wait... that's the opposite effect from what's wanted). There are harsh moments for other characters that elicit our sympathy, however... NO ONE was laughing when Ashitaka or San got hurt, nor Lady Eboshi for that matter >> No, I haven't seen "Angel's Egg", but I will eventually (I can find it easily). >> And I agree with you totally on the Akira thing... about the SUB vs. the DUB... but I find it odd how many people ONLY saw the DUB and still think it's the greatest! Nani?! And even the SUB still isn't the greatest thing. The plot is still a mess with barely a trace of motive and reason. And we don't have any reasons to care about the characters, until the half-hearted attempt at the end. If you read the book, then the rationale for things are actually explained, and you appreciate it more. And yes, they are somewhat comparible for 2 reasons: Both look *really* good, and both are animated *very* well. That's what people want to know, plot and story aside. Akira had a few moments where the animation wasn't up too snuff (can't blame the animators for not wanting to animate a crumbling building in perfect detail). Mononoke has none of that. Mononoke looks better. Period. Though it's CG integration could have been better. >> Anyway, to wrap it up, it's what you like in films that determines what you like in different "anime"... some people like it for the pure action, some for the drama, etc. I liked "Battle Angel" because they did the emotional "tragic love" bit really well, though they screwed up a lot of important plot points (from the book). The music was great! It brings a tear to my eye. The action was ok... I just don't care as much about that. And of course I LOVED "Grave of the Fireflies!" It had beautiful artistic touches and was beautifully tragic. I also loved "Wings of Honneamiese" too. You can guess why. And Macross Plus had a really *beautiful* song... that's what I remember best, long after the action has faded. >> So why do YOU want to see Mononoke? Well, if you want action mostly, then you'll think it got slow near the end. I appreciated it's beautiful, quiet moments most. I only wish there were more of them.
-
saw this one a couple of days ago in Dallas. don't care much for anime, or animated feature films for that matter, but "Mononoke" was wonderful. perhaps i just needed something besides the typical US animated cheesy crap to bring me around. also, this movie has an amazing ending: no one gets any revenge against anyone! what a beautiful concept....
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Whitney Houston 1963 - 2012 -- 419 total posts 209 posts
- WTF HOLLYWOOD: SOLARBABIES -- 131 total posts 129 posts
- Herc’s Seen Tonight’s Return Of THE WALKING DEAD!! Discuss Also DOWNTON ABBEY, FEAR FACTOR, PAN AM, ONCE, SIMPSONS, DYNAMITE, LUCK, SHAMELESS, BAIT CAR, THE GRAMMYS And More!! Sunday Is Sweeps Day 11!! -- 123 total posts 122 posts
- New JUDGE DREDD post production footage pops up -- 124 total posts 58 posts
- There's a STAR TREK video game that is going to lead into JJ's STAR TREK 2 apparently... -- 191 total posts 47 posts
- Avid Comic Reader Hercules Does Battle With Tedium During Kevin Smith’s COMIC BOOK MEN! -- 43 total posts 43 posts
- If the Behind the Scenes Pics of the Day drops her pen, pick it up, but don’t look at her legs or else it will be on your record. -- 60 total posts 42 posts
- I am The Behind the Scenes Pics of the Day! No, I’m the Behind the Scenes Pic of the Day! -- 27 total posts 27 posts
- To Commemorate The 3D Release Of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, George Lucas Wants You To Know...Greedo Shoots First!! -- 506 total posts 26 posts
- HANNA's Saoirse Ronan to boss around seven little people -- 77 total posts 24 posts