Raymond Karago
I was in love for the first two thirds of this film.Never has a film had me so engaged and so curious as to where it was going. Even the film's opening had me, it starts with dragons fighting and then we find out that dragons don't fight and then a King is murdered by his own son. WOW !!!! That is how you start a film. You have all this talk about impending doom and a great imbalance, and it keeps you curious.The characters are awesome. My favorite was Timothy Dalton's character, his voice is one of the coolest I've ever heard and I think is a combination of Ian McKellen, James Earl Jones and James Spader. He's warm and fatherly but he sounds like he knows what he's doing and how to stand his ground. The main character and his love interest are also likable and have their fair share of quiet movements to just be characters. Willem Dafoe is incredible for most of the film as the villain, Cobb. He's so shady and just whispers a lot of his lines, it's so unsettling. He never gets mad or intimidated and he always looks like he's got everything planned.When we got to the final act, I was very disappointed and confused. The final battle is very small and very quick. Willem Dafoe goes from that scary voice to something that sounded like the Green Goblin on helium, his plan is also incredibly weak. Also, I didn't understand the ending at all, without giving too much away, there is something about a dragon that just seems to happen that I just didn't understand. It's like, they forgot about the ending and shoe horned it all in.I enjoyed the film, I like stories where people from normal lives are thrown into something grand, for example I actually enjoyed Appocalypto. I just wish they made more light of the climax and the villain's motivation.I know this review is all over the place, definitely go watch the film and make your own conclusion.
harrylosborne
Considering that the majority of reviews for this film have been comparing it to other Studio Ghibli films, this debut from the great Hayao Miyazaki's son Goro is an extremely strong start, and bodes well for his future in film (albeit without the presence of the Studio, now that it no longer exists). The story is a solid one, with a good plot and characters who you feel for throughout the film. The soundtrack on the film is one of the best I have heard from a Studio Ghibli production, and the visuals are extremely rich and vibrant, as illustrated by the frequent landscape shots of sprawling cities and rolling countryside.However, as a 16 year old who has not read the novels this film was based on, I cannot comment on the accuracy of the portrayal, nor if it lived up to the expectations that may have been set. Admittedly, this film is not one with a deep and serious message hidden within it, as is so common with films of its kin by Studio Ghibli; rather, it is a film purely enjoyable for its face value, and one I believe the younger generation will feel has potential re-watch value. Consequently, I would see this film as one recommendable to both those who love Studio Ghibli and those who don't - its absence of a subtle undertone means it is enjoyable without requiring the ability to see nuances that other Miyazaki films possess. Overall, I believe that this (especially for a débutant) is a very good film, one worth the watch for the story itself, as well as the ever-beautiful visuals and musical accompaniments.
Amrit Tamang
I was very excited to see this anime as I like most productions of Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki. The plot centers around a boy who really doesn't like or even hates his father. Well, and that's it. There is no tension build up. The omission of background information does not produce an intriguing sense of mystery but rather poses an annoyance. The characters motivation and development are unclear. The story doesn't flow at all and feels like patchwork. There may be something to the story but the director did not manage to deliver.The three-star rating is due to the solid quality of the drawing. Does the film reflect the reality between Goro Miyazaki and his father? Who knows.
kylehaynes31
Tales from Earthsea was the first Ghibli movie to be directed by Hayao Miyazaki's son, Goro Miyazaki. It ended up being an alright (if somewhat pedestrian) movie, especially considering that Hayao did not consider Goro ready for the responsibility of directing a Ghibli feature film. The story follows a boy named Arren who killed his father and stole his sword. Arren ends up getting caught in the crossfire of an age-old war that had been going on between a powerful wizard and a powerful witch. The story more or less plods aimlessly along throughout the movie, especially so when compared to Hayao's masterpieces. This movie didn't even hit North America until 2011, and then only on DVD in spite of Disney's recent Bluray distribution craze, which kind of shows that even they acknowledge this movie's mediocrity. With that said, Tales from Earthsea is still worth the watch, if only to see Studio Ghibli's beautiful art and to appreciate how far Goro Miyazaki has come as a director.
AD
