Ponyo: A Review

April 5th 2010 06:20

Thanks to the folks at Treeet (www.treeet.com.au) for giving me Ponyo’s DVD to review. The DVD itself arrived two days after I ordered online (Sydney Metropolitan area) so I guess if you are worried about waiting around for anything from them, don’t be, most if not all of my interactions with them have been positive if not surprisingly efficient for an online store. Guess they want to be around for some time! Thanks Treeet!

“Ponyo” is an animation from the great Hayao Miyazaki which brought us titles like “My Neighbour Totoro”, “Spirited Away” and “Howl’s Moving Castle”. “Ponyo” starts off with Miyazaki’s trademark drawings; animated, real and ethereal all at the same time. The basic physics of the natural elements (water movements, hair movements, sounds) featured in the movie are what you would expect in the ‘real world’ so when it’s coupled with even the slightest hint of a fantasy element, it takes you convincingly and easily in. Much like Miyazaki’s previous movies, you seem to lose count of time when you’re watching the movie.

The story follows a boy, Sosuke, which discovers a ‘goldfish’ which speaks and has its own primitive thoughts, at first. After a series of magical/fantasy events, the goldfish (Ponyo) forms a relationship with Sosuke. Again, like most of Miyazaki’s movies, parents, grandparents and adults of the ‘real world’ are portrayed as unnecessarily strict or uptight. Sosuke and Ponyo then embark on their own journey after a huge flood comes upon them.

The whole movie sort of left me discombobulated and confused because of the seamless interaction between real-world physics and fantasy/magic elements. Like highlighted in the first few paragraphs, time seems to have no bearing when you’re immersed in Miyazaki’s made-up world. Snippets of real life coupled with a great soundtrack help romanticize the movie as it eases you in to Sosuke and Ponyo’s world.

Although I was very much aware of what Miyazaki would set out to do in his movies, still I cannot help but be totally sucked in and left wondering what can else can his imagination hold. The voice over’s of Noah Cyrus (Ponyo), Frankie Jonas (Sosuke), Tina Fey, Matt Damon and Cate Blanchett do a good job of matching up with the original drawings. Convincing and never once missing a beat, you wouldn’t even realize it was voiced over.

I tried to look for adult undertones in the movie but was hard-pressed to find one. However, in my opinion if you were to bring the little ones to watch it, they would not necessarily understand what was going on except for the colourful and fast-moving pictures. Like “Spirited Away” and “Howl’s Moving Castle” I would personally rate the movie a PG-13 just because the real-world elements and fantasy elements are so closely knitted together. But then again who am I to say anything? But I daresay if a 7 or 8 year old watches the movie without parental guidance/explanation, they would probably be having weird dreams for at least a few nights (I know I did after watching “Spirited Away”!)

Yet another great movie from Hayao Miyazaki and very true to his roots I must say. Watch it if you want to make a couple of hours dissappear and if you are already a fan. If you are not yet one, you are sure to be left wanting more! And we all know where to get those DVDs