Makoto Shinkai English Fan Forum and Site

Laz · Laz Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 1073

I knew going in to watching this that it was sad ... and I think I built up in my mind that this was going to be really really sad.

**** SPOILER ALERT *******

It was sad. I liked the story and I liked the characters. The brother (Seita) who looks after his sister (Setsuko) after they lose their mother and house in a bombing raid in the closing days of WW2. Their treatment and the sisters illness (malnutrition) definitely make you empathize with their plight. The brother's death at the start of the story and then the tale that leads you to that point ... are well told. I was surprised that they didn't go more into what happened to Seita between his sister's death and his own. I'm assuming that he just gave up once he had nothing left (no family, etc.).

I really liked the ending scene ... it reminded me of something from Shinkai ... the ghost "brother and sister" on the hill looking over the modern Japanese city. The juxtaposition of the new society with the pain/suffering of the old. Very powerful moment.

In the end, I was expecting it to be sadder ... but I was happy that it didn't try to go over the top. It's a simple sad story ... and a decent one.

Now for some Gundam.

Laz

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You're a woman, I'm a calf ... you're a window, I'm a knife ... we come together making chance into starlight ... - Jeff Buckley

ここにいるよ. - Voices of a Distant Star

Junpei · Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 3:19 am Post subject:

I don't know how many times I've said this, nor everyone else, but it is sad. Beautiful film.

Have you seen the live-action movie of this? It's narrated from their cousin.

Laz · Laz Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 1073

I haven't seen the live action ... I'll need to check it out.

Yeah .. it's definitely a moving story and sad.

Laz
_________________
You're a woman, I'm a calf ... you're a window, I'm a knife ... we come together making chance into starlight ... - Jeff Buckley

ここにいるよ. - Voices of a Distant Star

gleowine · Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:05 pm Post subject:

I only saw the last part of this on the Funimation channel once. I'll have to add the DVD to my list of future acquisitions.

Janny · Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:25 pm Post subject:

Heard it's the saddest film ever made, but I never got 'round at seeing it. Dammit, I think I've postponed seeing this since like... last year; I never get the chance to have a whole day to myself and see it without getting interrupted >_<
But I somehow doubt it'll move me more than 5cm...
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Laz · Laz Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 1073

It's definitely sad .... but also a good movie. I recommend it.

Laz
_________________
You're a woman, I'm a calf ... you're a window, I'm a knife ... we come together making chance into starlight ... - Jeff Buckley

ここにいるよ. - Voices of a Distant Star

IsUa · Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:47 pm Post subject:

First, a little intro:
Last night, I went to dinner to a friends (that I had borrow The Pianist), so after dinner we ended up talking about the war and the impression that this film caused them (this movie is based on real facts), my friend said, that finaly understand, The horror that war does with innocent people truly is.

I always thought that The war brings the worst of humanity.
To know the true personality of a person is not in good times, but in difficult times.

So he said to me, I really need now a happy movie...like a good friend (that I am), I told him, I can remember one "Grave of fireflies"...

Then I told him a little about the movie, and now he wants to see...

This is a movie that everyone really should see...

Is really painful to a father (like me), see children dying...I can't (don't want), say anything more, Just watch.

P.S.: Janny, I really believe this will move you more than 5cm...(happened to me)...
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Fiction · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 1:59 am Post subject:

WWII had plenty of bad things that happened. The fire bombings of Kobe was devastating. 331 B-29s, I'd hate to imagine that. There's another movie that's set in WWII, it's called Barefoot Gen, like Grave of the Fireflies, it shows the experiences from living in such an environment, however in Barefoot Gen, Gen went through the bombing of Hiroshima its aftermath.

Both movies are hard to watch for what had happened as a result of the attacks. Another part of the movie I loved, at least in US release by Central Park Media, the second disc of extras. It had an interview with Roger Ebert, Isao Takahata, and a retrospective from the author of the book. I had to admit, at times it was even hard to watch parts of that too.

Nick · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:14 am Post subject:

Hmm I might go rent it tonight. Dubs or subs?
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IsUa · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:55 am Post subject:

Dubs or subs...hmmm...maybe Kleenex Laughing

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