Goose Egg Marathon Film #3Spirited Away(2001, Hayao Miyazaki) So THIS is what a masterpiece looks like!
I’m trying to think of an eloquent way to stretch “my jaw was in my lap for two hours” into 3-4 paragraphs! This film has rocked my foundation a bit! So THIS is what I’ve been missing? Why didn’t anybody tell me?! (Ok—yeah yeah you did). Ok I’m even further ruined for crappy movies.
Suffice to say, I LOVED this. I watched it twice today. Once by myself and one with the kids. And there are too many places to start, so let me just list some things off the top of my head:
1) The animation is jaw dropping. Just one incredible image after another. I let out a few “are you kidding me”s during the train sequence. Oy vay.
2) I started with subtitles, but soon gave up because I realized how much of the art I was missing. I started over with the dubs
3) Two all-time great scenes – the first the stink spirit bath scene and the scenes involving the train ride. I’m trying hard not to go on for three paragraphs on these alone. (I read online this evening that the Japanese words at the end of the bath are “It feels good”, but was translated to English as “well done”. It makes me want to learn Japanese just to pick up on all the nuance of Miyasaki’s language.
4) It also makes me want to pick up a book on the Shinto spirituality and culture. Clear are the themes of renewal and tradition, parenting, the vices of gluttony and the disconnective nature of modernization. So much great thematic content peppered throughout. For instance little details like the ironic line: “they must have been planning to put a river here”
5) All three kids of my watched this - the middle son was particularly keen on it and asked a million questions afterward. He especially loved the no face guy – All three of us laughed out loud through the tea and cake scene. Reminded me of something out of “Scary Movie”. They kept guessing wrong what was going to happen next. Loved that.
6) The score – was AMAZING – I could go on for three paragraphs on this alone.
The only downside – the only thing keeping me from putting this in my all time top ten is the esoteric over-hideousness of a bunch of the characters (and excessive puking etc). Yeah – I know that was the point – and for the most part I was on board, but…
Anyways – so it’s becoming apparent the picking out awards for this marathon is going to be a bit tricky. This is definitely going into my top 100. Probably top 25.
I’m further ruined for crappy movies.
Verdict:
One word: Masterpiece
Grade: A+