barrow, Local Online News Community, Forums, Chats, For Sale, Classified, Offers, Film Reviews, Events, Motors Sale, Property For Sale Rent, Jobs, Hotels, Taxi, Restaurants, Pubs, Clubs, Pictures, Sports, Charities, Lost Found
  1. Published on: 20/04/2018 10:18 AMReported by: Film Critic
    Plot: A girl's discovery of a strange flower, cat and broomstick leads her to a journey to a mysterious and magical college with a dark agenda.

    Japanese animation studio 'Studio Ghibli' is special to many people. For the last 30 years or so, they have given us some of the most amazing animation films of all-time.

    Sadly, with many of long-serving film-makers including Hayao Miyazaki retiring, the studio is currently in a re-building state and have announced a couple of new possible projects.

    But in the meantime, a few former workers have made a studio of their own called 'Studio Ponoc'. This first feature of theirs certainly had that Ghibli look to it when I saw some its images, and the story felt fantasy-heavy which is what made Ghibli so successful with many demographics around the world.

    From the first frame, the animation is already as visually captivating as Ghibli's. I will never get tired of films that look this beautiful.

    As for the story, I was seeing some similarities with many previous films from Ghibli as well as other fantasy films such as Harry Potter or The Golden Compass. That left me at a bit of a crossroads, because due to the lack of creative writing and character development, I was battling with the strengths of the visuals and satisfactory nature of the plot to see where I would rate this feature.

    As well as the animation, another notable strengths was the score. It was very noticeable and had many strong moments when enhancing certain set-pieces. It had a recognisable themes that was used in various ways throughout the film.

    I could relate this strengths with its animation, but the level of imagination in its world building and character design was great to watch.

    Sadly, there were parts of this world where I was getting confused with some of its rules. They almost seemed either to contradict themselves or just make it up as they go along for dramatic purposes.

    So to summarise, while the animation and visuals is as strong and striking in its detail as you would expect, the story and characters is inferior. There's nothing wrong with it, it just felt safe, satisfactory and it just did not made me care much for any characters. Also, the title character did not seem to learn that much or make much decision for themselves.

    It almost felt like a greatest hits compilation of Ghibli's back catalogue. I noticed various scenes, character designs or ideas that felt like they had leapt out of previous Ghibli film. Also, the Harry Potter and even The Golden Compass comparisons were almost too much for me, and it started to not be its own thing.

    I think the better story came from the opening scene. It seemed to be a the end of one story that leads us to the beginning of the story of this film. Now after seeing it, I think I would have rather seen the whole of that previous story from the opening scene, and that seemed it would be more impactful and long-lasting.

    There is some magic in here from Studio Ponoc's debut. It's just not fully-fledged yet.

    Rating: 7/10
     

  2. Your Comments:



You are in: UK / Barrow / North West
Find any Town in the UK, or Use UK map
Local Google MAP for Barrow
Tide Predictions from NTSLF.ORG



User Control Panel

Not a Member? Sign Up!

Login or Register


Film Reviews, Last Cinema Movies, Movies, DVDs
barrowbarrow News


Stats: Qlocal over 500,000 page views a month (google analytics)
barrow Bathroom Suppliesbarrow Bathroom Tapsbarrow Bathroom Furniturebarrow Bathroom Showersbarrow Shower Enclosuresbarrow Bathsbarrow L Shaped Bathbarrow P Shaped Bathbarrow Wet Roomsbarrow Bath Screensbarrow Bath Mixer Tapbarrow Bidet Tapsbarrow Toilet Seatsbarrow Sanitarywarebarrow Combined Toilet Basinbarrow Stovesbarrow Wood Stovesbarrow Home Stovesbarrow Cooker Stovesbarrow Enamel Stovesbarrow Designer Stovesbarrow Contemporary Stovesbarrow Multi Fuel Stovesbarrow Accounts Softwarebarrow Sage Softwarebarrow Sage Line 50barrow Sage Line 200barrow Pegasus Accountsbarrow Access Accountsbarrow Car Servicingbarrow MOTgbarrow Tyresbarrow Car Batterybarrow Exhaustbarrow Journalist Jobsbarrow Reporter Jobsbarrow Writing Jobsbarrow Freelance Writerbarrow Self Employed Jobsbarrow Franchise Businessbarrow Franchise Opportunitiesbarrow Driving Schoolsbarrow Driving Lessonsbarrow Driving Testbarrow Driving Theory Testbarrow Driving Instruction, 0000 barrow Driving Instructor, 0000 barrow Insolvencybarrow Insolvency Servicebarrow Insolvency Servicesbarrow Liquidation Servicebarrow Business Recoverybarrow Insolvency Practitionerbarrow Bankruptcy Servicebarrow Winding Up Petitionbarrow Business Financebarrow Business Recoverybarrow Voluntary Arrangementbarrow Individual Voluntary Arrangementbarrow IVAbarrow Debt Advicebarrow Debt Managementbarrow Company Administrationbarrow Administrationbarrow Corporate Recoverybarrow Corporate Voluntary Arrangementbarrow CVAbarrow Corporate Insolvencybarrow Corporate Liquidationbarrow Members Voluntary Liquidationbarrow MVLbarrow Partnership Voluntary Arrangementbarrow PVAbarrow Tax Demandbarrow Invoice Financebarrow Bridging Financebarrow Vouchersbarrow Dealsbarrow Matalanbarrow Firewoodbarrow Fire Woodbarrow Kiln Dried Hardwoodbarrow Logs For Salebarrow Log Suppliesbarrow Logsbarrow Firewood Logsbarrow Seasoned Logsbarrow Hardwood Logsbarrow Firewood Suppliersbarrow Firewood Log Suppliersbarrow Firewood Dumpy Bagsbarrow Firewood Cratesbarrow Cheap Firewoodbarrow Homefire Logsbarrow Cheap Firewood Logsbarrow Kindle Conesbarrow Pizza Oven Logsbarrow Heating Oilbarrow Home Heating Oilbarrow Red Dieselbarrow White Dieselbarrow Keresenebarrow Commercial Fuelsbarrow Calor Gasbarrow Propane Gasbarrow Butane Gasbarrow Heating Gasbarrow Horse Trainingbarrow Horse Trainerbarrow Horse Whispererbarrow Equine Whispererbarrow Horse Whisperer Victoria Smithbarrow Rattan Garden Furniturebarrow Rattan Furniturebarrow Rattan Sofabarrow Rattan Dining Setbarrow Rattan Directbarrow Cheap Rattan Furniturebarrow Rattan Corner Sofasbarrow Rattan Day Bedsbarrow Rattan Sun Loungersbarrow Rattan Cube Setsbarrow Rattan Bistro Setsbarrow Chimeneasbarrow Firepitsbarrow Patio Heatersbarrow North West Bookkeeping Servicesbarrow Bookkeeping Servicesbarrow Bookkeeperbarrow Self Assessmentbarrow Small Business Helpbarrow Card Payments Processingbarrow Credit Card Processingbarrow Merchant Servicesbarrow Merchant Accountbarrow Merchant Paymentsbarrow Card Machinesbarrow Card Terminalsbarrow Online Paymentsbarrow Worldpaybarrow Bouncy Castlesbarrow Bouncy Castle Hirebarrow Garden Trampolinesbarrow Pramsbarrow Pushchairsbarrow Strollersbarrow Hauck Pramsbarrow Huackbarrow Childrens Trampolinesbarrow Baby Mobilesbarrow Baby Activity Matsbarrow Baby Bedroom Furniturebarrow Childrens Bedroom Furniturebarrow Hygiene Vendingbarrow Washroom Vendingbarrow Air Freshenersbarrow Air Carebarrow Aerosol Systemsbarrow Gel Systemsbarrow Water Savingbarrow Urinal Water Savingbarrow Eco Capsbarrow Sensaflushbarrow Water Managementbarrow Urinal Dosingbarrow Urinal V Screensbarrow Legionella Risk Assessmentbarrow Legionaires Bacterialbarrow Odour Controlbarrow Odour Eliminationbarrow Odour Removalbarrow Airsterilbarrow Hand Carebarrow Hand Creambarrow Hand Soapbarrow Hand Washingbarrow Hand Dryingbarrow Hand Dryersbarrow Electric Hand Dryersbarrow Fast Hand Dryersbarrow Commercial Hand Dryersbarrow Energy Efficient Hand Dryersbarrow Hand Dryer Rentalbarrow Hand Dryer Salesbarrow Paper Towelsbarrow Roller Towelsbarrow Cotton Roller Towelsbarrow Blue Roller Towelsbarrow White Roller Towelsbarrow Janitorial Suppliesbarrow Janitorialbarrow Cleaning Suppliesbarrow Cleaning Productsbarrow Cleaning Equipmentbarrow Office Cleaningbarrow Home Cleaningbarrow Accountantsbarrow Accountancybarrow Accountsbarrow Auditsbarrow Bookkeepingbarrow Management Accountsbarrow VAT Returnsbarrow Business Planningbarrow Cash Flow Planningbarrow Payrollbarrow Pension Reformbarrow Business Start Upbarrow Company Formationsbarrow Tax Advicebarrow Tax Investigationbarrow Company Lawbarrow Outsource FDdbarrow Debt Recovery Helpbarrow CIS Subcontractor Servicebarrow Software Selectionbarrow Sage Accountsbarrow Debt Recovery Servicesbarrow Debt Recoverybarrow Debt Collectionbarrow Outsource Credit Controlbarrow Collection Agencybarrow Debt Collection Agencybarrow Commercial Canopybarrow Steel Canopybarrow Bike Shedsbarrow Bike Storagebarrow Bicycle Storebarrow Bicycle Storagebarrow Bikes Storebarrow Bike Storebarrow Outdoor Canopybarrow Cycle Sheltersbarrow Cycle Shedbarrow Cycle Storagebarrow Cycle Rackbarrow Cycle Compoundbarrow Cycle Solutionsbarrow Scooter Storagebarrow Scooter Shelterbarrow Canopiesbarrow Canopybarrow Play Area Canopybarrow Entrance Canopiesbarrow Entrance Canopybarrow Waiting Shelterbarrow Smoking Shelterbarrow Parent Waiting Shelterbarrow Parent Shelterbarrow Teen Shelterbarrow Nursery Canopybarrow School Canopybarrow Play Canopybarrow Envirolawnbarrow Astroturfbarrow Cheap Astroturfbarrow Artificial Grassbarrow Cheap Artificial Grassbarrow Astro Turfbarrow Artificial Lawnbarrow Fake Grassbarrow Fake Lawnbarrow Fire Stove Glassbarrow Heat Resistant Glassbarrow Fire Glassbarrow Stove Glassbarrow Fire Resistant Glassbarrow Replacement Stove Glassbarrow Glass For Stovesbarrow Spill Kitsbarrow Spill Control Kitsbarrow Spill Kit Refillsbarrow Spill Kit Refill GK6barrow Chemical Spill Kitsbarrow Oil Spill Kitsbarrow Solar Panelsbarrow Solar Panels Costbarrow Solar Heatingbarrow Solar PVbarrow Commercial Solarbarrow Photovoltaicbarrow Dust Matsbarrow Entrance Matsbarrow Reception Matsbarrow Anti Fatigue Matsbarrow Floor Matsbarrow Logo Matsbarrow Washroom Servicesbarrow Principal Washroomsbarrow Washrooms Suppliesbarrow Washrooms Solutionsbarrow Sanitary Disposalbarrow Sanitary Binsbarrow Sani Binsbarrow Lady Binsbarrow Feminine Hygiene Unitsbarrow Sanitary Waste Disposalbarrow Sanitary Wastebarrow Sanitary Unitsbarrow Feminine Unitsbarrow Hygiene Servicesbarrow Sanitary Bin Supplierbarrow Sanitary Bin Rentalbarrow Sanitary Bin Rental Servicesbarrow General Wastebarrow Trade Wastebarrow Commercial Wastebarrow Business Wastebarrow Waste Managementbarrow Waste Collectionbarrow Cardboard Wastebarrow Paper Wastebarrow Plastic Wastebarrow Glass Wastebarrow Biomass Wastebarrow Metal Wastebarrow Confidential Wastebarrow Confidential Waste Servicebarrow On Site Shreddingbarrow Off Site Shreddingbarrow One Off Shreddingbarrow Contract Shreddingbarrow Dental Wastebarrow Dental Waste Disposalbarrow Dental Waste Legislationbarrow Dental Waste Compliancebarrow Accupuncture Wastebarrow Accupuncture Waste Disposalbarrow Accupuncture Waste Collectionbarrow Tattoo Wastebarrow Tattoo Waste Disposalbarrow Sharps Binbarrow Sharps Collectionbarrow Hazardous Sharpsbarrow Non Hazardous Sharpsbarrow Cytotoxic Sharpsbarrow Cytostatic Sharpsbarrow Ink Blockbarrow Wet_Wastebarrow Tattoo Inkbarrow Drug Destructionbarrow Drug Disposalbarrow Drug Denaturingbarrow Unwanted Drugsbarrow Out Of Date Drugsbarrow Pest Controlbarrow Rodent Controlbarrow Bird Controlbarrow Bird Proofingbarrow Guano Controlbarrow Pest Call Outbarrow Pest Preventionbarrow Pest Deterrentbarrow Nursery Wastebarrow Nappy Wastebarrow Nappy Binbarrow Nappy Disposalbarrow Nappy Wheelie Binbarrow Nursery Waste Disposalbarrow Nursery Waste Collectionbarrow Incontinence Padsbarrow Offensive Wastebarrow Human Wastebarrow Nursing Home Wastebarrow Care Home Wastebarrow Hazardous Wastebarrow Infectous Wastebarrow Pharmaceutical Wastebarrow Medicinal Wastebarrow Medicine Wastebarrow Infection Controlbarrow Hand Sanitisersbarrow Clinical Waste Disposalbarrow Clinical Waste Managementbarrow Clinical Waste Policybarrow EA Registrationbarrow Hammocksbarrow Garden Hammocksbarrow Adult Hammocksbarrow Childrens Hammocksbarrow Baby Hammocks