The Equation, My Equation:
Action (x/3) + Acting (x/2) + Direction (x/2) + Script (x/1) + Special Effects (x/1) + Spectacle (x/1) = x/10
INTRODUCTION
The world is certainly enamored with Pixar, and the quality films they have given us like Toy Story. Pixar is more centered on pure computer generated animation and that’s okay. The great flicks they regularly produce, such as Wall-E, deserve their place and fan base.
Across the ocean in Japan is Studio Ghibli, who had the amazing Hayao Miyazaki’s story-telling behind their films. With a rich history that includes Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro they seem to produce intelligent, heart-felt fables beyond compare. Thus, a re-telling of the Little Mermaid in a modern, small seaside town in Japan introduces us to Ponyo and Sosuke, a magical girl from the sea and a five-year old son of a sea captain and a school teacher.
PONYO ON THE CLIFF BY THE SEA (2008)
Action: 3/3
The mischievous Brumhilde, who isn’t too attached to that name (she becomes Ponyo) or her protective father, let’s her curiosity get the best of her. When she washes ashore, she is found and put in a small plastic bucket by Sosuke. He cuts his finger and Brumhilde licks it and heals it. Sosuke is amazed and declares his love for her. But, is it really for her or her magic? The human blood corrupts her DNA, and she rants to her father that she wants hands and feet!
Her father, who was once human, hides under the sea and stirs magic potions. We’re never quite sure what all he is doing, but he can be seen adding and removing colors from sea life as well as protecting his daughters from the terrible human world. The sea transforms at times and hunts Sosuke and Ponyo. In the background of each scene are various species of sea-life crawling and swimming around. The mixture of all the elements is simply amazing. Last, watching Ponyo run atop giant fish to try and find her beloved Sosuke is fantastic! Ingrained throughout each segment is the innocence found only in children. It’s gentle, inconsequential to a fault, and utterly fun to watch!
ACTING: 1/2
This modern retelling of the Little Mermaid weaves the characters lives together more than well. Lisa is a frustrated teacher who wants her sea-bearing husband home more. When he is late one can feel the all too familiar frustration of dinner getting cold. “We’re eating out!” she raves at Sosuke. Then, the younger main characters reflect their parents “mistakes”. Ponyo is from the sea and Sosuke runs about wearing a captain’s hat like his father. Even the older ladies in the rest-home warn him of love. We’ll never make our parents mistakes! Yeah, right?
On the downside comes the rush of love. While Ponyo and Sosuke’s challenge of love is endearing, it is a little rushed. In Spirited Away, the characters were very strongly developed and the story took its time (nearly 3 hours). Ponyo could have benefited from the same treatment, but this one is geared towards innocence and not the selfishness of adult movie reviewers.
DIRECTION: 2/2
Hayao Miyazaki takes an all too familiar story made famous by Disney and makes it better than Disney’s. Directors like Spielberg have at times hit the nail on the family theme’s head, as with ET, and Miyazaki certainly finds it here. The script-writer for ET, Melissa Matheson even adapted the script for its US release, which makes the film a rare gem for both adults and children.
SCRIPT: 1/1
Ponyo and her sea kin, when they get close to land, are always disgusted and hesitant of the human world. When the film culminates and the town is living under-water for a time everyone is happy. The joints of the elderly don’t ache and the undiscovered mysteries of the deep seem to be a precious secret that’s wasting away. As a result, the environmental arguments amongst the features of child-hood love and magic are excellent and not over-bearing!
SPECIAL EFFECTS: 1/1
The features of art match the main characters. More specifically, the lines are almost child-like. The younger characters resemble uneasy doodles we all did in class, while the adults are at times solid and strong and then fluctuating. The art reflects the moods, and the blending of naivety with the adults doubtfulness is a fun mix!
SPECTACLE: 1/1
Ponyo must abandon her magic and parents for a boy. Sound familiar? Making nearly every country song interlaced with magic and themes of global responsibility seems daunting. However, Studio Ghibli pulls it off. After the credits role, the overall themes and especially the naive innocence of the small town are very difficult to shrug off.
OVERALL: 9/10, 90%
Every child and family should see Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea. It is dominant when compared to recent Disney offerings like The Princess & The Frog. Both adults and kids will enjoy it and the rare brilliance of innocence is related through fascinating characters, both with and without magic, in a modern setting. This one is a must-see, so rent it or download it today. 90% is an “A”!
