Customer Reviews

Miyazaki's Tales From Earthsea: Double Disc Edition

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In all respect to the other reviews here, I think it is time to clear up some misconceptions or questions about this movie, including: How to navigate the menus? is it bootleg? how to get it to play in English? why doesn't it say Disney on the label? why isn't it like Spirited Away?.... etc.
First let's address the bootleg issue. The version on the page I am writing this review for is a "Region 3" disc, not made for USA DVD players which are Region 1 unless you own a region free player. Region 3 is S.Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, parts of South East Asia. Japan is Region 2 by the way. The copy sold on this page is probably Korean or Taiwan, and I do not think it is bootleg. Studio Ghibli has to have a local distribution company in each country they release in, and Inter Continental is a distribution company in the Asian market. The real issue is that it has not been released in an official US version yet, but has been in the Asian market for a long time.
My copy is a single disc copy I ordered on the web a year ago for about $25, it is made in Taiwan by Bonzai Media, is a Region 1 disc, but is not bootleg. The menus on mine are not in English either, but are in several Asian languages and I suspect the menu is identical to the disc sold on this page. The menu languages seem to be Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. After figuring out the menu by trial and error, I was able to play the movie in English audio voices, well done I might add, by clicking the third icon on the menu page, taking me to another menu page where I clicked the third icon again, then clicked the icon on the far and lower right of that page to start playing in English. That's it.
The Disney thing - Disney has not released in the USA everything that Hayao Miyazaki has made. Also, his Studio Ghibli releases films from other directors at the studio, not just the famous Hayao and they have not even released all of their stuff either. Which brings me to my next point. This film is a project directed by the son of the famous Hayao Myazaki, his name is Goro Miyazaki. So we need not hold this first time effort up to the standards you expect of the more recent films by Hayao, and we need to give his son time to build up his skills/experience to the current level of his father. I believe that if you measure it against Hayao's early films it holds up.
As for the movie, I believe they adapted it from a Japanese set of comics or graphic novels, which were in turn based on Ursula K LeGuin's books of Earthsea. I have read the original books and do love them, but I would suggest forgetting them when you watch this as they have little to do with each other. Movie adaptions of books are far from following the source book the majority of the time, this is not the first. There is also a live action Earthsea, and it is pretty bad. I tried to approach this film as a fresh story and pushed out of my mind what I know of Earthsea, and here is what is GOOD about it as an animated feature. I found the character development to be well done and believable, and I was caring what happened to them by the end. The animation was very fluid, great sound, great character and background design. The real weakness from most viewers is in the plot/script and how slowly it progresses. But it seems to me the director was taking intentional pauses, slowing us down to the time and culture of the people in the story. I suggest if you find this movie, give it a chance with an open mind and do not hold it up to such a high standard as Spirited Away.

This one had mixed reviews from critics and that included me! I really loved nearly all the works of Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki-san (or Mr. Miyazaki's son rather!) but this one is a bit of a let down. The plot started with good and interesting scenes, until the mid-plot came...it kind of dragged, festered with unnecessary and boring scenes that could have been replaced with exciting signature "Miyazaki climax" that we know and love.
The music had the consistency of a blinking old bulb from your basement. I thought they lacked on this department as well since you will barely recall that it had musical scores after watching this piece..meh.
To end my rant, I'd say this one is a must rent not own movie from Studio Ghibli.

My family and I have read and re-read the Earthsea Quartet and most of Ursula Le Guin's literary work for many years, so when I found this film I was hopeful. The landscapes were beautiful and picturesque but that is the extent of the film for me. We were horrified to see that the writers scrambled all four books into an incoherent mess. Confusing and removing most of what made these novels such timeless classics. No coherent explanation justified Arren's murder of his father let alone giving him the shadow. Unforgivable. I feel for Ursula.

While I can accept and enjoy a film which has been adapted (properly), this was not worth my time.

I really like this movie! I am both a fan of Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea books, but of also of Hayao Miyazaki's films. I was intrigued to find that his son Goro was making this film and found a copy to watch. I am in love. His style is very much like his father's! I can't wait to see more of his work!

About the film
It is based off of the Ursula K. Le Guin book by the same name and is a story based latter in the series of the Earthsea books.
The movie's story does move slowly but it is in keeping with the pace of the Earthsea books. So it should be expected by those who have also read any number of them. The movie's British cast did an excellent job and I was very pleased and impressed. When licensing allows for a full American release there would be no need for voices so it should have direct release I would hope.

Overall it is an excellent movie and played out well. Even after several rejected film scripts by Le Guin. I have to laugh at this because she sounds like myself. Always looking out for ones own art and protecting what's most valuable.
I also must confess I have not read this book because it was written latter than the others in this series and I haven't had the chance to pick it up. So a person who has read the book may have a different opinion on the film than my own. I give it four stars because it has been awhile since I first saw this and have not read the book plus as said the movie is a bit slow paced. None the less it is an excellent anime film and is worth seeing.

*edited* 12/25/11 for spelling errors. Appoligies ;) - nettie1180

The movie is lovely, though all the menus are in Chinese and were thusly impossible to navigate. I'm also a little baffled by the full length pencils version being touted as an extra. If you buy this version of the discs and need English subtitles you'll likely have to access them directly through your media player.

I love Miyazaki, and I never imagined I would have to say this... This film sucks. The fun rollercoaster dynamic style and pace you are used to will not be found here. I can't believe people would take the time to review this and then send other fans after this film with ratings that are above 2 stars. If you are a huge Miyazaki fan like me, you most definitely will be disappointed by how lacking this one is compared to his other films. You will get no action, and then very little, for over 70 minutes. If you have to have it for collection purposes, then make room on your shelf, cause it ain't moving but once. If you are about to spring for what you hope to be another Ponyo, Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, etc., then you need to either borrow it first or rent it. I am trying to save you some green so heed my warning as a fellow fan. Love Miyazaki, but I'm calling this one how it really is.