yodasanders
All the other comments are swooning about how artistic and masterful the story telling is. For me its impossible to get past how slow, dull, and ultimately pointless this movie is. Very little happens in this film. What you read in the synopsis, that is it. There is no tension. There is no suspense. there is no action. The romantic elements are boring too. It really is hard to say anything good about this movie. The animation itself is dated and the colors are washed out. Some people can look past that, but it certainly is a flaw. Its not a painless thing to sit through either. The movie feels VERY VERY long. It seems to go on forever while you writhe in your seat and bare it as to not offend your weird friend who thinks its a masterpiece.If you don't like slow boring movies, this is not something you should spend your time on.
dhogstar
You have read the other comments so that should get you started. Great music. Great details. OK voiceovers. Didn't see the rape scene so i don't know about that. Slapstick humour works, as its not overdone everywhere in the film. Beauful sceneries and well animated for its time.But its the storyline that is the gem of this film, and the acknowledged ending. You need the slow buildup for the ending to work. Can you spot the parallel Einstein? I don't see this film as hugely religious either, but more humanist. The parallel universe development of humankind in the end shows us how we have all come to were we are today of our own efforts, and take pride in this. It shows the beauty of everyday life and the greatness of small things. Religion is a part of us as well as technology and above all humanity. The message is to us, in this world.Our launch to space, and as well the baby's first step is the key point. Although mass media and movies has made us blind to this. This film reexamines it and points this out. The makes of this film choose the narrow path and were brave.10/10 - A must see movie for anybody.
pta-frog
Do not listen to anybody bagging this movie, they do not have the experience with anime to appreciate it. Wings of Honeamise is a pinnacle in Japanese animation, it took anime to it's popularity. It made anime known.
markstedt
I think the posts above cover just about all important aspects of this remarkable film. I noted a lot of people seems quite upset about one certain attempted rape scene, after which the girl apologizes. At first I was quite confused since that particular scene was cut from my subbed vhs-copy. But I'll take the liberty of commenting anyway.It's pretty obvious that Shiro's world and society are quite patriarchic and generally male-dominated. There are no women in high places in society (none that we see at least) and all female characters are either girlfriends, widows or prostitutes. I my opinion, this is not very far from, say, Japanese society (even more so in the 80's, things have changed.) Even now, it is not uncommon for women to blame themselves for rapes or assaults, not just in Japan, but everywhere in the world. The general idea seems to be that, because the woman is attractive or seductive, the man couldn't "help" himself and was a victim of his own carnal desires. Many women too adopts this way of thought, and hence blames themselves, for having been "seductive."I believe this is why the girl were able to apologize to Shiro. Because that is what is expected from a good wife (or would-be wife.)
AD
