Wednesday 7 July 2010

Splice's Greatest Films Ever Made To Come Out In The 90's (The 1990's)

#9: Porco Rosso (Hayao Miyazaki, 1992)

Preamble

So I went and explained myself here as to why this took so bloody long and why I didn't go with the films I'd initially promised. Anyway on with Porco Rosso, one of Mayazaki's lesser known films. After watching Ponyo I got in the mood to go rewatch something else by the great man.

40 Words Or So

Cursed, pig-like pilot does battle over the skies of war period Italy with air pirates and a dashing nemesis who may be able to steal the heart of his true love.

Review

Much like many of Miyazaki's films it's not really about the plot. Like Ponyo and My Neighbour Totoro, Porco Rosso is just happy to spend time in the world of the film with the fantastic characters. Hell, the reason Rosso is now a pig is never actually explained. The difference with this one in relation to those two is that this is Miyazaki making a film for grown ups, not because it's full of violence or profanity but purely because it's about aeroplanes and love and all those things kids aren't quite interested in yet. I suppose you could say this is the one for dad.

As such it's become a bit of an underrated gem in the Miyazaki canon. It has less magic than Totoro but also less action than Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind. In fact apart from the pig shenanigans and air pirates it's probably the great man's most grounded (pardon the pun) work. The world is a lot more real than in, say, Spirited Away and yet still feels wonderful. Indeed it's a beautiful place and animation wise it ranks as one of Studio Ghibli's finest. Sadly it seems the things that make it so special are also what have left it ignored, even amongst fans of the director and studio. Even if you're not, or have never seen any, give Porco Rosso a go.

This isn't only the best scene in the movie, it may be the most beautiful and wonderful to appear in any of Miyazaki's:



The English dub that's available features Michael Keaton and Cary Elwes amongst others an they do a pretty good job. That's the one that's on the Studio Ghibli Collection DVD released by Optimum.

The 100 List (in chronological order)

1. Grosse Pointe Blank
2. Hudsucker Proxy
3. Galaxy Quest
4. White Men Can't Jump
5. Cube
6. Braindead
7. Tremors
8. Groundhog Day
9. Porco Rosso

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