Ghost in the Shell (Live Action Movie)

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Name: Ghost in the Shell
Type: Live-action movie

Official Rating: PG-13

Director: Rupert Sanders
Genre: Action, drama, science fiction, thriller

Age Rating: 15+

Review:
In the future, Major is a human girl-cyborg, the only one of her kind created as a soldier. Her primary focus is stopping the world's most dangerous criminals. She has been uniquely shaped to fight against the new threat of terrorism that can hack into people's brains; along the way she learns that her live was stolen instead of saved.

I have to say that Scarlett Johansson outdid herself in this movie. Her acting as Major was masterful; the way she walked, talked, and held herself all portrayed what an actual cyborg might move. The special effects were glorious (the CGI was more artful than annoying), and the action kept you on the edge of your seat the entire time. While I haven't seen the anime this movie was based on, it could definitely be said that whether or not it followed the original story accurately it was a great stand-alone movie.

There was some language and violence concerns, and sometimes when Major was wearing her nude-colored outfit it almost seemed as if she were naked. In the previews, there was a kiss between two women, but that thankfully did not happen in the movie, which would have made things very awkward. (My girlfriend and I were pleasantly relieved). In all honesty I wasn't expecting to enjoy the movie as much as I did.

A few of the characters and images could be considered disturbing to younger viewers, such as Batou's synthetic eyes, and Kuze's mangled cyborg-body. Some of the themes and underlying ideas were also heavier for younger viewers, which I why I recommend a more mature audience in general. This movie got a lot of bad reviews and was named one of the worst movies of the year, but in all honesty I don't know why. It was entertaining and ended on an uplifting note, despite some trauma and suspense nearing the end. It's not my favorite movie or anything, but the idea behind it was good and I thought it was well-made. But I'm not a professional critic so it's whatever.

Mature Content: 

• Violence- Fights and other sci-fi violence 
• Nudity- Major wears a skin-tight, nude-colored outfit that makes her appear naked, but she is not.
• Profanity- Use of words such as "shit," "ass," and a middle finger is shown

Personal:
My friend got free tickets to this movie which is why we went to go see it in the first place.

Spirited Away (Movie)

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Name: Spirited Away
Type: Animation

Official Rating: PG

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Genre: Family, adventure, fantasy

Age Rating: 11+

Review:
Chichiro and her parents become captives of the spirit world by accident while on their way to their new home. It's up to Chihiro to free her parents and escape the supernatural beings that keep her there.

The characters in this film were all so imaginative, not surprising since it's another Ghibli film. Miyazaki is one of the most creative directors out there; he is the Jim Hensen of Anime! I loved all the different creatures involved in the movie. They gave the story an almost magical feeling instead of simply being drab. cliche ghosts from the spirit world. The sound effects were once again spot-on, and the art was absolutely stunning. One thing to appreciate with Miyazaki films is the genuine art he uses. 

I really appreciated the themes of greed and family in this anime. Chichiro never gave up on her parents, and was able to remember them while she was working in the bathhouse trying to figure out how to release them from their spell. When No-Face begins throwing money around, everyone but Chichiro is desperate to be given some money, even though No-Face tries several times to give her some. Chichiro's childlike innocence prevents her from focusing on things that are not important, and she helps the spirits around her realize that a lust for money can lead to many a downfall.

Some parts of this anime might be scarier to younger viewers, such as the sight of the spirit in charge of the bathhouse Yubaba, the spider-man Kamaji, and the character, No-Face. It also mentions the "spirit world" a lot, which is where the story takes place, and implies that everyone in the bathhouse are either spirits, or somehow trapped there. Humans who live there have forgotten their names and are "owned" by Yubaba, which could seem confusing to young believers. It is important that those watching it understand that while the spirit world is real, and there is a battle against the forces of good and evil, it is not as vividly real as it is portrayed in this film. 

Mature Content: 

• Violence- Haku is wounded during a battle while he is in his dragon state, and blood is shown
• Spiritual- The movie takes place in the spirit world, and many of the characters are spirits
• Magic- Some of the characters seem to posses some sort of magic

Personal:
This movie was first introduced to me by my friend, Marina.

Ponyo (Movie)

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Name: Ponyo
Type: Animation

Official Rating: G

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Genre: Family, adventure, drama, fantasy

Age Rating: n/a

Review:
A 5-year-old boy named Sosuke develops a relationship with Ponyo, a goldfish princess from the sea who longs to be human after falling in love with him.

This adaptation of the little mermaid story is equipped with stunning visuals and an all-star cast. The movie itself dragged on after a while, so it might be harder to watch with a restless child. The action, however, was reasonably paced throughout. The summary sounds more romantic than it actually is; Sosuke and Ponyo's relationship seems sweet and innocent rather than entirely romantic. It was also a bit strange how Ponyo was referred to as a "fish," when she possessed a human head, and what looked like little arms and legs.

The characters were all very charming and easy to fall in love with. Sosuke's mother, Lisa, and Ponyo's father, Fujimoto, are especially hilarious. Lisa was a crazy driver and took risks I never would with my child in a terrible storm, and got into a funny argument with her husband via Morse code. The long haired, bedazzled Fujimoto was portrayed by Liam Neeson, which is in its own right worthy of a laugh. This movie was really fun to watch with my brothers; we took a lot of delight out of the light-heartedness and crazy scenes. 

There were a lot of interesting and refreshing themes in Ponyo, including family and adoption, respect for elders, and the importance of staying young-at-heart. There was a scene that talked about breastfeeding a baby after Ponyo and Sasuke offer some food to a woman's baby, though it was never named directly. Overall, this was a great family-friendly movie that can be a delight for children of all ages and stages of life. It was so much fun watching it with my brothers!

Mature Content:

• Magic- Ponyo's father is a sea wizard and gathers magic from the ocean
• Ponyo transforms from a fish to a human via magic, and the transformation is a bit strange looking
• Spiritual- Ponyo's mother is the "goddess of mercy" and queen of the ocean
• "Wave Spirits" save take Ponyo back to the ocean

Personal Note: 
B-U-G-O-F-F-B-U-G-O-F-F

Beyond the Boundary: I'll Be Here- Mirai-hen (Movie)

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Name: Beyond the Boundary: I'll Be Here - Mirai-hen
Type: Animation

Official Rating: TV-PG

Director: Taichi Ishidate
Genre: Action, supernatural, fantasy, romance

Age Rating: 14+

Review:
Takes place a year after the anime ends. Mirai has forgotten everything that has happened and Ahkito struggles to find his place after last year's events.

This is actually a second-part to a first movie entitled" Beyond the Boundary: I'll Be Here - Kako-hen that combines all of the episodes of the anime into one movie. Feel free to watch the anime as a series--as I did-- or just watch both of the movies for the whole story.

The plot was good and did a good job of piquing the viewer's interest. However, they changed the ending of the original series in the beginning. In the beginning scene, there is a rewritten version of the ending scene in the last episode. When Mirai has returned to Ahkito from her battle, she has suffered amnesia and doesn't even remember who she is. This is a major theme in the movie and definitely churns a lot of suspense in the viewer, but it's still a bit annoying that they completely dismissed the original ending. On the flip side, the loose ends from the first act were tied up.

Although I wouldn't consider the battle scenes as completely graphically-intense, a lot of blood was shown, mostly due to the fact that Mai uses her blood as a weapon and fights with it. There were also a lot of violent-looking weapons such as machetes, a powerful spear/scepter/chainsaw object, and a sword made completely from Mai's blood. Because of this, I put a higher age-limit on the show as a reminder for parents to preview it before allowing their children to watch.There were some magical elements to the show as well, and Ahkito in his youmu-form was almost demon-like.

All in all, this was a great continuation of Beyond the Boundary. Surprisingly, there was a lot more romantic tension between Ahkito and Mirai. I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised; there was quite a bit of fluffy romance in the show. It was just more built up and emotional in the movie than in the first half. The relationship between Ahkito and Mirai was achingly sweet; it totally tugged on my heartstrings. 

For more on Beyond the Boundary, click here.

Mature Content:

• Sexual References- Ahkito has an  uncanny attraction to women wearing glasses
• Violence- A lot of blood is shown during fights
• Magic- Mai can manipulate her own blood
• Most of the characters possesses magical abilities
• Spiritual- Demon-like creatures
• Profanity- Use of the word "damn"

Personal Note: 
I love the way Ahkito's hands were drawn--so nice and strong.

My Neighbor Totoro (Movie)

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Name: My neighbor Totoro
Type: Animation

Official Rating: G

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Genre: Fantasy, family

Age Rating: n/a

Review:
Satsuki and her sister, Mei move into a new home and meet and befriend a forest spirit named Totoro.

This film was a very simple yet sweet and easy-to-grasp, family-friendly movie. It is definitely aimed more towards younger viewers, but it is a film that older children can enjoy as well (though probably not as much). However, I saw this flick with my brother and father, and my father pointed out during the movie that, "this movie is for little girls." And so, perhaps, it is, but both my brother and myself had a good time watching it together.

This story is lighthearted despite the mother's sickness, and has a good ending. The sound effects weren't as on point as they were in The Secret World of Arrietty, but the visual realistic positions the characters took on was very poignant. There was one scene that was surprising--Satsuki and Mei were taking a bath with their father. Nothing was shown, and it actually strengthened the already suggested bond the girls had with their dad.

Overall, this movie was touching and a sort of "coming-of-age" story for a family forced to move due to health problems in the family. The characters were believable, and even though a Totoro type creature isn't a realistic friend to have, the adventures they share are endearing. The plot is a bit slow, which may be frustrating to older viewers, but what it lacks in action, it makes up for in character.

Mature Content:

• Nudity- In one scene the father is bathing with his daughters; nothing but a fleeting view of a butt is shown
• Spiritual- Totoro and some of his friends are known as "forest spirits," and can do magical things, like growing trees and flying

Personal Note: 
Woo! Cat bus!

The Secret World of Arrietty (Movie)

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Name: The Secret World of Arrietty
Type: Animation

Official Rating: G

Director: Mitsubishi Toho
Genre: Adventure, fantasy, family

Age Rating: n/a

Review:

A retelling of the bestselling novel: "The Borrowers." Arrietty and full-size human Sho become unlikely friends in this tale of adventure and mystery.

This is such an endearing movie, I loved every minute of it! Not only were the characters sweet and well-developed, the art on a whole was absolutely breathtaking. It isn't very often anymore that you see a movie that uses actual hand-illustrated art in the place of computer animation. The sound effects were easily the best part: the ticking clock, the rain on the roof, their footsteps, doors opening and closing...the sound in this movie was a masterpiece in-and-of-itself, and deserves critical praise.

Apart from being a great stand-alone movie, "The Secret World of Arrietty" follows its inspiration, "The Borrowers" by Mary Norton, surprisingly well. I would say that it is a better representation of the book than the live action movie. That being said, this was my first time seeing an animated movie that is based on a book apart from manga. The character development was rich, and the dialogue was simple and sweet. It was a slow-paced movie, but what it lacked in action, it made up for in plot.

This film can be enjoyed together as a family, and has no offensive content giving it a specific age rating. I saw this with my friend and my younger brother, and we were all on the edge of our seats at the beginning when Arrietty and her father were out for sugar and tissue, and were very worried about Sho and his heart whenever he ran. I like to think he went on to live a great life after his surgery. I'll definitely be watching this with my kids!

Mature Content:

• n/a

Personal Note: 

If you are looking for an animated movie with great filmography, check out any of Studio Ghibli's flicks.

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (Movie)

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Name: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
Type: Animation

Official Rating: PG

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Genre: Adventure, science fantasy, drama

Age Rating: 11+

Review:

A movie set in a future where the world has been overrun with a toxic gas that has effects fatal to humans. A Valley where a young girl named Nausicaa lives, is protected from the gas by the ocean wind. Nausicaa is a girl with an uncanny knack for taming creatures.

This was a great movie! I really enjoyed watching it, and appreciated the lack of romance. It was a refreshing change of pace. The creatures were creative--I felt like I was in one of Jim Hensen's sets-- and Nausicaa herself was a very delightful, curious main character. I thoroughly enjoyed following her on her adventures and seeing how she interacted with the people, and creatures around her. The fact that there was no romance in this film was also quite refreshing. Romance is a major theme in many movies nowadays, even children's films, so it was nice to watch a movie that was strictly about adventure, courage, and friendship.

The art was interesting, though somewhat blurry in some parts. It fit the movie well, however, and I always appreciate Hayau Miyazaki's use of actual illustrations rather than pure animation. Each new beast or creature was fascinating and it was exciting to figure out the mystery behind the poisonous fog along with Nausicaa. It is never clarified when exactly the movie takes place, but the viewer does get the feeling that it takes place in the distant future. The plot flows very well, and it is easy to connect to all the different characters.

There were some scenes involving titans, or giants who destroyed much of the world before. In the end, a giant is created from a flesh-colored egg, and starts to melt, which created a sort of disturbing image, which may be scary for younger viewers. Nausicaa's father is killed, but no blood is shown, and it is quick. Other than the mild violence and the strange monster at the end, it is an enjoyable movie that you can enjoy as a family, or with a group of friends. I watched it by myself, and I regret not having someone there to appreciate this movie's greatness.

Mature Content: 

• Violence: There are some battle scenes, and a princess dies in an aircraft crash
• Several towns are seen as destroyed

Personal Note: 
Teto was the cutest! Where can I get one?!

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (Movie)

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Name: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Type: Animation

Official Rating: NR

Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Genre: Drama, romance, comedy, science fiction

Age Rating: 12+

Review:

A girl named Makoto suddenly obtains the power to go back in time and she decides to use it to her advantage (and to the disadvantage of others, at some extent), not realizing she can only use the power a certain number of times.

The art is a bit crude, but after you get past the simplicity of it, it is very fitting for the story. Loose themes such time being precious and the impossible dream to go back and change things are strung together on the "here-and-now," "live-in-the-moment-and-love-where-you-are" messages. Another positive aspect is the fact that there are not very many characters, making it easy to identify and recognize each one. I never became particularly attached to any of them, but they were enjoyable.

The slow-moving plot may get dull for people who enjoy more action, but the plot-line is easy to follow, and it isn't without a sense of humor. A particularly enjoyable scene was when Chiaki tries to ask her out, and she would rather stay friends with him. She goes back several times to try to change things, but to no avail. Makoto chooses other, very realistic circumstances to rewind time in; she replays many of the same things that I probably would.

This easy-to-understand stand-alone movie is a family friendly anime with a good message and a satisfying, albeit somewhat bittersweet, ending. Though the plot moved slowly at times, it never became boring, and I came to really enjoy the main character, who was very realistically displayed. I enjoyed watching it, and while I don't necessarily need to own it or see it again, it was worth the while and not a waste of time.

Mature Content: 

• Profanity-- "Damn" and "hell" 
• Sexual Content-- Mild joke about masturbation 
• Magic-- Makoto and Chiaki can time travel

Personal Note: 

I was a bit heartbroken at the ending. I want Makoto and Chiaki to find each other again!

From Up on Poppy Hill (Movie)

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Name: From Up on Poppy Hill
Type: Animation

Official Rating: PG

Director: Goro Miyazaki
Genre: Drama, romance, family

Age Rating: n/a

Review:
Umi and Shun become friends in the school's newspaper clubhouse. They start liking each other, but when Umi shows Shun a picture, things start to change. To top it all, the principal is threatening to shut down the clubhouse! 

A touching story with not too many plot twists. There wasn't too much of a point to this movie, other than for simple enjoyment. Because of this, I will probably never watch it again. Still, it was enjoyable and had a lot of endearing moments. The story, while a little slow, was easy to follow and it was easy to appreciate both Umi and Shun's characters. Their romance was fluffy and they never kissed. They held hands once, and I thought it was cute. I think if they had gotten any more serious, it would have been awkward and interfered with the script. 

There is implied incest when Shun believes he shares the same father with Umi. Later on, Umi tells him she "doesn't care" if they are related, because she loves him. Aside from her stubbornness, Shun decides not to pursue Umi any longer, and begins distancing himself from her. While it is a bit uncomfortable for older audiences who can understand what is going on, I appreciated that they frowned upon their feelings for each other based on the thought of being related to one another. If they had gone ahead and continued furthering the relationship in the direction it was going, it would not have been right. Thankfully they learned that they were not related, and got everything sorted out. 

This is a family-friendly movie that is suitable to watch together, because there isn't one group that it specifically tries to draw in. Younger kids might not like how slow it is, and might not understand all that is going on because of this. Despite this, it is entertaining, and while it can get boring at times, it is pretty unoffensive. I didn't love this movie, but I hardly disliked it either. If you are a die-hard anime fan, or love Studio Ghibli, then you should watch it. Otherwise, it can be skipped.

Mature Content: 

• Sexual References- Implied incest between the main characters, but it later turns out not to be true

Personal Note: 
I really enjoy Studio Ghibli.