basildon, 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 / Basildon / East of England
Find any Town in the UK, or Use UK map
Local Google MAP for Basildon



User Control Panel

Not a Member? Sign Up!

Login or Register


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


Stats: Qlocal over 500,000 page views a month (google analytics)
basildon Bathroom Suppliesbasildon Bathroom Tapsbasildon Bathroom Furniturebasildon Bathroom Showersbasildon Shower Enclosuresbasildon Bathsbasildon L Shaped Bathbasildon P Shaped Bathbasildon Wet Roomsbasildon Bath Screensbasildon Bath Mixer Tapbasildon Bidet Tapsbasildon Toilet Seatsbasildon Sanitarywarebasildon Combined Toilet Basinbasildon Stovesbasildon Wood Stovesbasildon Home Stovesbasildon Cooker Stovesbasildon Enamel Stovesbasildon Designer Stovesbasildon Contemporary Stovesbasildon Multi Fuel Stovesbasildon Accounts Softwarebasildon Sage Softwarebasildon Sage Line 50basildon Sage Line 200basildon Pegasus Accountsbasildon Access Accountsbasildon Car Servicingbasildon MOTgbasildon Tyresbasildon Car Batterybasildon Exhaustbasildon Journalist Jobsbasildon Reporter Jobsbasildon Writing Jobsbasildon Freelance Writerbasildon Self Employed Jobsbasildon Franchise Businessbasildon Franchise Opportunitiesbasildon Driving Schoolsbasildon Driving Lessonsbasildon Driving Testbasildon Driving Theory Testbasildon Driving Instruction, 0000 basildon Driving Instructor, 0000 basildon Insolvencybasildon Insolvency Servicebasildon Insolvency Servicesbasildon Liquidation Servicebasildon Business Recoverybasildon Insolvency Practitionerbasildon Bankruptcy Servicebasildon Winding Up Petitionbasildon Business Financebasildon Business Recoverybasildon Voluntary Arrangementbasildon Individual Voluntary Arrangementbasildon IVAbasildon Debt Advicebasildon Debt Managementbasildon Company Administrationbasildon Administrationbasildon Corporate Recoverybasildon Corporate Voluntary Arrangementbasildon CVAbasildon Corporate Insolvencybasildon Corporate Liquidationbasildon Members Voluntary Liquidationbasildon MVLbasildon Partnership Voluntary Arrangementbasildon PVAbasildon Tax Demandbasildon Invoice Financebasildon Bridging Financebasildon Vouchersbasildon Dealsbasildon Matalanbasildon Firewoodbasildon Fire Woodbasildon Kiln Dried Hardwoodbasildon Logs For Salebasildon Log Suppliesbasildon Logsbasildon Firewood Logsbasildon Seasoned Logsbasildon Hardwood Logsbasildon Firewood Suppliersbasildon Firewood Log Suppliersbasildon Firewood Dumpy Bagsbasildon Firewood Cratesbasildon Cheap Firewoodbasildon Homefire Logsbasildon Cheap Firewood Logsbasildon Kindle Conesbasildon Pizza Oven Logsbasildon Heating Oilbasildon Home Heating Oilbasildon Red Dieselbasildon White Dieselbasildon Keresenebasildon Commercial Fuelsbasildon Calor Gasbasildon Propane Gasbasildon Butane Gasbasildon Heating Gasbasildon Horse Trainingbasildon Horse Trainerbasildon Horse Whispererbasildon Equine Whispererbasildon Horse Whisperer Victoria Smithbasildon Rattan Garden Furniturebasildon Rattan Furniturebasildon Rattan Sofabasildon Rattan Dining Setbasildon Rattan Directbasildon Cheap Rattan Furniturebasildon Rattan Corner Sofasbasildon Rattan Day Bedsbasildon Rattan Sun Loungersbasildon Rattan Cube Setsbasildon Rattan Bistro Setsbasildon Chimeneasbasildon Firepitsbasildon Patio Heatersbasildon Card Payments Processingbasildon Credit Card Processingbasildon Merchant Servicesbasildon Merchant Accountbasildon Merchant Paymentsbasildon Card Machinesbasildon Card Terminalsbasildon Online Paymentsbasildon Worldpaybasildon Bouncy Castlesbasildon Bouncy Castle Hirebasildon Garden Trampolinesbasildon Pramsbasildon Pushchairsbasildon Strollersbasildon Hauck Pramsbasildon Huackbasildon Childrens Trampolinesbasildon Baby Mobilesbasildon Baby Activity Matsbasildon Baby Bedroom Furniturebasildon Childrens Bedroom Furniturebasildon Hygiene Vendingbasildon Washroom Vendingbasildon Air Freshenersbasildon Air Carebasildon Aerosol Systemsbasildon Gel Systemsbasildon Water Savingbasildon Urinal Water Savingbasildon Eco Capsbasildon Sensaflushbasildon Water Managementbasildon Urinal Dosingbasildon Urinal V Screensbasildon Legionella Risk Assessmentbasildon Legionaires Bacterialbasildon Odour Controlbasildon Odour Eliminationbasildon Odour Removalbasildon Airsterilbasildon Hand Carebasildon Hand Creambasildon Hand Soapbasildon Hand Washingbasildon Hand Dryingbasildon Hand Dryersbasildon Electric Hand Dryersbasildon Fast Hand Dryersbasildon Commercial Hand Dryersbasildon Energy Efficient Hand Dryersbasildon Hand Dryer Rentalbasildon Hand Dryer Salesbasildon Paper Towelsbasildon Roller Towelsbasildon Cotton Roller Towelsbasildon Blue Roller Towelsbasildon White Roller Towelsbasildon Janitorial Suppliesbasildon Janitorialbasildon Cleaning Suppliesbasildon Cleaning Productsbasildon Cleaning Equipmentbasildon Office Cleaningbasildon Home Cleaningbasildon Debt Recovery Servicesbasildon Debt Recoverybasildon Debt Collectionbasildon Outsource Credit Controlbasildon Collection Agencybasildon Debt Collection Agencybasildon Commercial Canopybasildon Steel Canopybasildon Bike Shedsbasildon Bike Storagebasildon Bicycle Storebasildon Bicycle Storagebasildon Bikes Storebasildon Bike Storebasildon Outdoor Canopybasildon Cycle Sheltersbasildon Cycle Shedbasildon Cycle Storagebasildon Cycle Rackbasildon Cycle Compoundbasildon Cycle Solutionsbasildon Scooter Storagebasildon Scooter Shelterbasildon Canopiesbasildon Canopybasildon Play Area Canopybasildon Entrance Canopiesbasildon Entrance Canopybasildon Waiting Shelterbasildon Smoking Shelterbasildon Parent Waiting Shelterbasildon Parent Shelterbasildon Teen Shelterbasildon Nursery Canopybasildon School Canopybasildon Play Canopybasildon Envirolawnbasildon Astroturfbasildon Cheap Astroturfbasildon Artificial Grassbasildon Cheap Artificial Grassbasildon Astro Turfbasildon Artificial Lawnbasildon Fake Grassbasildon Fake Lawnbasildon Fire Stove Glassbasildon Heat Resistant Glassbasildon Fire Glassbasildon Stove Glassbasildon Fire Resistant Glassbasildon Replacement Stove Glassbasildon Glass For Stovesbasildon Spill Kitsbasildon Spill Control Kitsbasildon Spill Kit Refillsbasildon Spill Kit Refill GK6basildon Chemical Spill Kitsbasildon Oil Spill Kitsbasildon Solar Panelsbasildon Solar Panels Costbasildon Solar Heatingbasildon Solar PVbasildon Commercial Solarbasildon Photovoltaicbasildon Dust Matsbasildon Entrance Matsbasildon Reception Matsbasildon Anti Fatigue Matsbasildon Floor Matsbasildon Logo Matsbasildon Washroom Servicesbasildon Principal Washroomsbasildon Washrooms Suppliesbasildon Washrooms Solutionsbasildon Sanitary Disposalbasildon Sanitary Binsbasildon Sani Binsbasildon Lady Binsbasildon Feminine Hygiene Unitsbasildon Sanitary Waste Disposalbasildon Sanitary Wastebasildon Sanitary Unitsbasildon Feminine Unitsbasildon Hygiene Servicesbasildon Sanitary Bin Supplierbasildon Sanitary Bin Rentalbasildon Sanitary Bin Rental Servicesbasildon General Wastebasildon Trade Wastebasildon Commercial Wastebasildon Business Wastebasildon Waste Managementbasildon Waste Collectionbasildon Cardboard Wastebasildon Paper Wastebasildon Plastic Wastebasildon Glass Wastebasildon Biomass Wastebasildon Metal Wastebasildon Confidential Wastebasildon Confidential Waste Servicebasildon On Site Shreddingbasildon Off Site Shreddingbasildon One Off Shreddingbasildon Contract Shreddingbasildon Dental Wastebasildon Dental Waste Disposalbasildon Dental Waste Legislationbasildon Dental Waste Compliancebasildon Accupuncture Wastebasildon Accupuncture Waste Disposalbasildon Accupuncture Waste Collectionbasildon Tattoo Wastebasildon Tattoo Waste Disposalbasildon Sharps Binbasildon Sharps Collectionbasildon Hazardous Sharpsbasildon Non Hazardous Sharpsbasildon Cytotoxic Sharpsbasildon Cytostatic Sharpsbasildon Ink Blockbasildon Wet_Wastebasildon Tattoo Inkbasildon Drug Destructionbasildon Drug Disposalbasildon Drug Denaturingbasildon Unwanted Drugsbasildon Out Of Date Drugsbasildon Pest Controlbasildon Rodent Controlbasildon Bird Controlbasildon Bird Proofingbasildon Guano Controlbasildon Pest Call Outbasildon Pest Preventionbasildon Pest Deterrentbasildon Nursery Wastebasildon Nappy Wastebasildon Nappy Binbasildon Nappy Disposalbasildon Nappy Wheelie Binbasildon Nursery Waste Disposalbasildon Nursery Waste Collectionbasildon Incontinence Padsbasildon Offensive Wastebasildon Human Wastebasildon Nursing Home Wastebasildon Care Home Wastebasildon Hazardous Wastebasildon Infectous Wastebasildon Pharmaceutical Wastebasildon Medicinal Wastebasildon Medicine Wastebasildon Infection Controlbasildon Hand Sanitisersbasildon Clinical Waste Disposalbasildon Clinical Waste Managementbasildon Clinical Waste Policybasildon EA Registrationbasildon Hammocksbasildon Garden Hammocksbasildon Adult Hammocksbasildon Childrens Hammocksbasildon Baby Hammocks