Swan Song Too Hawkish for Some Hayao Miyazaki’s Last Film, ‘The Wind Rises,’ Gets Complaints

NY Times ^ | November 5, 2013 | Brooks Barnes

[C19fan]

“The Wind Rises” is the type of art film that typically speeds into the Oscar race. Critics at film festivals have swooned over its nuance. It delivers messages about turbulent modern times by examining traumatic events of the past. The film’s 72-year-old director and writer, Hayao Miyazaki, a cinematic giant, has said the ambitious animated picture will be his last, a final bow.

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One explanation for the sensitivity? Although “The Wind Rises” has a strong pacifist message, it is essentially a biopic of Jiro Horikoshi, an aeronautical engineer whose contribution to the world was a killing machine. His designs led to the Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter, which was used to devastating effect during World War II.

[Mears]

bfl

[JoeFromSidney]

Maybe I'll go see it. It would be nice to see a movie in which the hero is an engineer.

[vladimir998]

I know some people will defend animation to the hilt, but these “films” look like cartoons to me. Yes, I know plenty of skill went into them, but to me they’re still just cartoons with some impressive backgrounds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkWWWKKA8jY

[PLMerite]

My favorite Caproni aircraft:

The Caproni-Campini N.1, jetting around over Rome, ~1940

[Fire_on_High]

Google the story of his reaction towards the original heavily cut version of Nausicaa. It’s quite amusing, and I suspect Disney will be exceptionally hands off as a result.

Also, most Japanese titles have selectable audio track with subtitles. I too prefer the Japanese seiyu, usually. Advent Children being a notable exception..

[rarestia]

They are absolutely cartoons, but that’s the point. Miyazaki is very good about making family-friendly movies with life lessons. While I’m not big on the whole environmental movement, Princess Mononoke is a story about being good stewards while on this planet to make it a better place. Spirited Away and Castle in the Sky are also excellent family stories.