Grave of The Fireflies (1989)

The Boy and the Heron (2023) 

During the Pacific War, a part of WWII, Mahito tragically loses his mother in a hospital fire. When his father finds new love in the arms of his late wife’s sister, Mahito struggles to accept the replacement of his mother, as well as the change in scenery and birth of his younger brother. While exploring his mothers old estate and his own personal struggles regarding the grief he feels toward his mother, Mahito encounters a tower and ventures through portals to different worlds along with his heron guide.

Art style:

Each and every detail was like something out of a dream. From the oversized human-devouring parakeets to the abstract multiverse depiction, the bright colors and action-filled scenes entirely entranced us.

Context/ Overview:  Set in Japan during the WWII era, a young teenager, Seita, and his younger sister, Setsuko struggle to survive without their deceased parents caused by war. Left homeless after their aunt didn’t care for their needs, they took shelter elsewhere. Seita has to steal in order to provide for himself and Setsuko, even though she is growing sick. 

Art style: 

For 1988, I love the attention to detail of the contrasting color palette in order to separate the spirits of the siblings in the movie to their past selves. The concept was a little confusing but as I was watching the movie, I realized the importance of the color differences played a role in the movie.

Porco Rosso (1994) 

Context/ Overview:  Set in Italy in world war two, the film revolves around a WWI veteran named Porco Rosso, who turns into a pig between WWI and WWII. He pilots an airship with the help of Fio Piccolo and Madame Gina to fight off a notorious group of sky pirates who caused trouble for Italy. 

Art style: 

The animation in the movie was very warm and comical in a way. It reminded me of the films that I would watch with my mom. The color palette was large and although it wasn’t as detailed as other films, it was fun to watch.

Princess Mononoke (1997)

Context/ Overview:  

Studio Ghibli’s absolutely captivated their audience with this beautiful visual representation of earthly issues like pollution and the impact of humans on the environment through the creative visual interpretation of war and destruction. Infected by a demon after conquering a rabid boar, Ashitaka is banished from his tribe and ventures out on his own in search of something to cure his progressing demon possession. Along his journey, Ashitaka meets Princess Mononoke, daughter of the wolf god, who is fighting her own war against a nearly impenetrable fortress in order to save the spirit of the forest. 

Art style:

This action filled representation of human environmental destruction sketches a gorgeous scene of mountains and valleys, using both dark and light palettes to demonstrate the contrast between and healthy environment and the beautiful destruction of war.

Nausicaa of the Valley

Context/ Overview:  

In a post-apocalyptic world, Princess Nausicaa lives in a stable village. The opposing side is an alien-bug race which destroys villages and makes the spaces as part of their growing jungle kingdom. Nausicaa goes on to try to resolve the issues of the two sides as they are on the brink of war.

Art style:

For an older film, I love the creativity of the apocalyptic world that is presented and how it is introduced. The alien-like creatures of the film are well detailed throughout the movie and well as the corrupted forest scenes are amazing to look at.

Howl’s Moving Castle (2005)

Context/ Overview:  

Howl’s Moving Castle used its bright colors and explosions to depict the fear and shock of the 2003 Iraq war. In the middle of a war the protagonist, Sophie, is cursed by the witch of the east and after leaving her village to hide her newfound old age. While trekking up the brutal mountains, Sophie is accommodated by Howl, a sorcerer, and his moving castle powered by a magical fire demon, Calcifer. In an attempt to escape her own life, Sophie devotes the majority of her attention to supporting Howl, who is also avoiding his own problems.

Art style:

The vivid colors used in the animation of Howl’s Moving Castle entrance the viewers, leaving them stunned by the beauty of the rolling hills and valleys Sophie journeys through on her mission to find Howl.

Wincing at Wonka

With today’s release of the new wonka movie, crier reviews past ‘willy wonka’ actors

Timothee Chalamet

Personality

Young Willy Wonka, played by Timothee Chalamet, seems to be less weird in a deranged sort of way, but rather weird in a cringe way.

At first, watching Timothee felt like watching his other characters: a trust fund boy from the 1860s who falls in love with two girls from the same family, or he is a closeted 17 year old in the Italian countryside, but he was not Wonka. After rewatching a couple times he has transformed a bit more into the well known and loved character, but it still might not be his best role.

Overall

Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka storyline is an odd and unique case that is out of the ordinary. Growing up watching the eccentric Willy Wonka movies, I’m looking forward to watching a movie on his fascinating and peculiar lore.

  The movie looks well done. The trailer gives enough content to draw the viewer in, making them wonder why these things are happening, while also leaving you confused and hoping the movie comes out soon so the viewer can figure out the answers to their questions.

Acting

At first I could not bear to watch the trailer after the bit where Timothee says “Listen up and quiet down. No– Scratch that, reverse it,” because it made me embarrassed for him. Now after watching the original Wonka, I see he is just impersonating the characteristics of the Gene Wilder Wonka character. To me, this is great acting. It brings the acting full circle.

Timothee is a good actor. He has yet to disappoint in his films and movies thus far, but this just does not seem like his best role. Since it hasn’t come out yet, it’s hard to tell, but you can count on Timothee to do the best with what he is given.

Costumes

Wonka’s apparel in the trailer seems very sophisticated and dapper. This may make the audience perceive Wonka in a kind manner

The costume that Willy wears takes inspiration from the Johnny Depp version of the movie. It makes Willy look more connected with society because he wears a sleek red coat and traditional undergarments for the time, so unless you’ve interacted with Willy you might not understand that he is quite a character.

Loompa Land

Johnny Depp

Personality:

Johnny Depp is someone who chooses weirder roles and makes weirder decisions in real life, and it goes with Wonka’s personality and eccentricity.

Overview:

Overall, while it may not be as good as the original, it holds its own. The actors and actresses cast bring a sense of familiarity because a few of them were in a wide variety of movies and shows during the early 2000s and 2010s. The music and acting are also done well, the choreography was made and executed well and it adds to the overall comedy aspect of the film.

Acting:

There is no question as to whether or not the skill is good, especially when it comes to Johnny Depp. He is able to encompass any character he performs as, no matter how different they are from each other.

A Wilder Wonka

Gene Wilder

Personality:

Funny, unhinged, psycho…? This is how I viewed the original Gene Wilder Wonka character as a kid. As much as he is deranged, I now understand he simply got rid of the “bad eggs” of the world to search for the one kid truly worthy of taking his throne: Charlie Bucket.

Overall:

For a movie one year into the 70s, this is an excellent movie. The whole vibe and graphics are so of the time that it definitely could not be replicated today. Although not a Christmas movie, Willy Wonka is definitely a staple to come back to every year. A bittersweet and eerie beginning turns into a happy ending. What more can you hope for in a movie?

Acting:

Gene Wilder did a tremendous job acting as Willy Wonka. Wonka says a lot of wacko things in this movie that it amazes me how Wilder kept a straight face through some of these nutty lines. In a sarcastic voice he cries, “Stop. Don’t. Come back.” as one of the kids goes to shrink himself into a billion little pieces. Besides letting kids die, I’d say Gene Wilder as Wonka is a silly guy.