This is true, but they also said nothing else. Book stores here were even pushing the original book as everyone assumed they were connected. It would be like someone naming a movie Moby Dick and then not elaborating on it...of course everyone assumes it'll be based on the source that shares the same name. I think it's just a by-product of the marketing strategy to stay silent that many people went in thinking it was a form of adaptation.
When people say something is weird, it usually means they lack understanding or have had their preconceptions confounded. So unless speaking about Faerie, people should just leave the word weird unused. Even to westerners, and especially to people who have read a lot of fantasy, there should be nothing "weird" in any of Miyazaki's works, or Ghibli in general.
I'm not sure if you actually watched the video to see in what context I used the word 'weird' but if you're under the impression I used it negatively, that's not the case. There are aspects of the movie (and a lot of fantastical media at that) that are objectively odd and strange but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Oh my goodness these types of comments completely make my day!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it 🥰✨ Howl’s is so whimsical and fun…I hope you like it just as much!
I think Miyazaki himself is the young boy and the other world inside the tower is his the journey he took throughout the years and the movies he made . There where many scenes that resembled his past movies . Another example is the 13 blocks ,the boy was needed to balanced on one each other.if you count all of Miyazaki’s movies it’s the same number. The old guy in the castle was looking for a Successor,similar to Miyazaki wondering who will continue his work after he retired. This is how I interpreted the movie.
Just stumbled accross your channel! You seem so eloquent and thoughtful with books, so glad I can watch some more vids!! Im such a ghibli gal, I was so excited for this film, but a little sad that it seems sort of... Lacking a bit of depth and coherency! Atleast we can enjoy the art and music. 😂❤ x
Oh my thank you so much! :) I hope you find some other content here to enjoy! Happy to have you 🥰 I think that's a good way to put it...definitely agree that the art and music are a thing of beauty! As is the case with almost all Ghibli. I hope you end up enjoying it more than I did when you get to see it!
Personally, I love movies that can be difficult to understand upon first viewing but can unravel and make more sense the more you watch and think about it. I I'm Thinking of Ending Things, Synecdoche NY and It's Such a Beautiful Day are some of my favorite movies ever. They leave room open for interpretation and different people can get something different from it, or get nothing. So this movie sounds right up my ally, I absolutely can't wait to watch it.
This is true, though I wish they had disseminated that information before the release! Most people here were expecting a connection/adaptation since we only had the title and poster to go of off before the release. I hope the English audience can go in with mor prepared expectations.
@@MaedBetweenthePages I can understand how that would be disappointing for fans of the novel. It took me a while to understand how the “adaption” works. Because if anything it just sounds like it was inspired by the book but they kept the title which means association with the novel and expectation for creating an adaption.
Oh nooo!!!!! I was afraid of that. Although I didn’t really like his last few movies (that he wrote), I do love his movies for the atmosphere, so regardless of the lack of plot line I think I’ll still like it…probably 😅 I really need to pick up How Do You Live asap.
I went in so full of confidence that Ghibli had this in the bag 😩🫠 The atmosphere is very on par with other Ghibli stuff though so I do think you’ll enjoy that aspect at least👍🏼 Yesss!! Please do!! It’s my life mission to get others to read it 🤩
I still need to read this book!! It's been on my radar ever since i first heard you talk about it. Ghibli never misses usually so that's a shame about the movie but ngl it does sound weirdly interesting 🤔
I would love to hear your thoughts on it :) I think you'd like it! It may be a hit for some, but so far a lot fo the reviews (in Japanese as wel) are like "well that was...something 😂" The more I think about it, "all vibes no plot" really seems to apply here so maybe it'll be your vibe!
They clearly stated numerous times that this movie was not meant to be an adaptation of the book. I believe the Parakeets are a metaphor for consumerism, not a direct attack on the bird itself. I think many of the elements in this movie are designed to be metaphorical.
Before the English release, yes. Before the Japanese release? No. The only press they put out was a poster and the name. Book stores here were even re-printing/translating the original work because everyone thought they were connected. I can see your interpretation of consumerism though!
@@MaedBetweenthePagesNo worries, but there isn’t a North American wide release yet. That’s not happening till December 8-9th I think. Bookstores promoting the book had nothing to do with Ghibli. The only promotion the studio did was the poster. However, there was an article circulating before the Japanese release with an interview, from Miyazaki himself, clarifying that the movie wasn’t an adaptation but instead a different story with shared themes. I think you should give the film a second chance. Go in with an open mind. The story asks “ How Do You Live” in a beautiful way I think. Challenging the protagonist and the audience to take the parts of their life they find beautiful and make something with them. Also in your review you never mentioned, I don’t know maybe you forgot, but the book “ How Do You Live “ is a featured story point in the film. It’s a gift his mom meant to give to him when he was older…and he spends a montage reading it. So I guess it’s cool right?!? You and the protagonist have read the book and are moved by it’s message. Also, it seems to me, a lot of the characters in the spirit world serve as exaggerated metaphors for our modern world; Climate Change, Consumerism, Politics etc. It may be that Miyazaki was hoping to say to a younger generation that this world is loud, distorted, and riddled with malice, but hidden in the cracks there is beauty. It’s easy to forget what’s beautiful when there is so much noise. Don’t forget and share it with the world.
Great explanation and video Taylor. I’ve not read the book and I’m still behind in catching up on the Ghibli films (glad you’ve pronounced it JIBBLY since I’ve been saying GIBBLY and I will easily assume you’re correct! 😅). I will have a watch of this in the future and remember your comments. Maybe this is a book I need to purchase?..
Thank you! 🥰 I think everyone can get something out of the book so I would highly recommend it! If it peaks your interest I’d say go for it :) It is pronounced “Jibbly” but it’s not obvious at all from the spelling so no worries there 😉 Would love to hear your thoughts on it when you get to it!
@@theenglishbornable I've personally never heard that but I can say, with 100% confidence, that I have never heard anyone in Japan say "Gibbly" in my 8 years of living here.
So glad you're excited! I hope it works better for you than it did me. I think it comes out really soon in English so you shouldn't have to wait long :)
Thank you so much :) I also ordered the book, because your video made me excited for the movie and the book! But I will keep in mind that both stories are different! 😅 Love from Berlin!
Oh wow !!! I’m so glad i finally got an HONEST review!!!! A lot of the people either didn’t know anything about the book itself … Or completely ignored the fact. There was one reviewer that definitely didn’t enjoy compared to previously loving other movies from the director. I’ve read Howls Castle and couple other books that the story was spiritually quietly there. I’m curious to see this movie … so best read the book afterwards 😅
I'm so glad my review was helpful for you! :) I think the Western audience probably won't make the connection most of the time as How Do You Live? is a classic that only recently got a translation. Especially since they're changing the English name of the movie now too. But the book is absolutely worth your time after you watch the film! I think this is the most inaccessible movie Miyazaki has made. I've seen some people say that it seems to closely parallel his life story, but unless you've read his biography that would be really hard to pick up on...either way, I hope it works better for you than it did for me :)
Ooof, I am so bummed for you that this wasn't the adaptation you were hoping for. Well, at least we'll always have the original story in book format to keep on loving, haha. I have been saving this read for 'the perfect moment' (am I the only one who does that with books they think will become all-time faves?), but I am very eager to get to it! Thanks for sharing your thoughts 💕💕
You and me both 😩😭 Ghibli so rarely misses! Oh I definitely do that! There are some books where it just has to feel right...take your time getting to it 💕💕
I just watched the movie yesterday and left scratching my head. I usually love most movies directed by Miyazaki. However this one felt like a confusing mess of interesting visuals but populated with an uninteresting story or characters. I personally have 2 major problems with this movie, pacing and an unlikable/unrelatable protagonist. He straight up has the main character complex where he seem like nothing he does will kill him. Walking into it I had no idea this was "adapted" from a book. Thanks for sharing your opinions
I need to check out the book, your review, and maybe watch the movie with different expectations. I tend to love the right combination of whimsy and weird. I appreciated hearing your thoughts!
All of that sounds like a good course of action to me! The book is so wonderful...I hope you love it as much as I did if you end up getting to it :) And I think if you go in to the movie with the correct expectations, it may be a better experience for you! I usually love the Ghibli balance of whimsy and weird! But I also usually care for the characters just as much...it was strange for me not to this time.
The Japanese marketing before the release was almost non-existent (by design by Ghibli) so all people had to go on was the title and a movie poster; both with the exact same name as the book. Understandably almost everyone assumed the movie would be connected to the book, but after the release it's been made clear that was not the case. Quite confusing but at least people watching it a bit later can go in with clearer expectations.
@@MaedBetweenthePages yes, I understand, the title is the same, the quite no exsting marketing does not help.. how strange they decided to now make marketing..
Obviously I haven't seen the film yet, and I don't want to speculate too much, but I do wonder given that they kept that book title (for the Japanese audience) and how you mentioned that you cared more about the Heron, if that actually is one point? What I mean is, 'How do you live?' has two implications to it: 1. It could be seen as a warning (ie: How do you live [with yourself]?) and a criticism, implying humanity and its negative actions impacting nature/the planet and/or as a neutral conversation starter that simply prompts us to think about other living beings and how they live/survive, so that we gain perspective and change to be better... So perhaps the focus wasn't actually always the boy's perspective, but The Heron's? Maybe it should of been called, The Heron and the Boy?! About the parrots: The beaks actually look more like parakeet or "love-bird" beaks to me -- and are you sure that he hates these birds, because from one image I saw, it looks like he went out of the way to give them markings on their chests similar to the full grown Totoro and that makes me think there is some coded symbolism there? But maybe not, LOL! Anyways, sorry you walked away not really feeling like you could embrace it or understand it. I still am looking forward to it whenever it gets released in the US this fall.
If those were the themes that Miyazaki set out to explore, they didn't come across for me...but maybe they will for others! The role that he had the birds play in the movie is what gave me that impression. I didn't pick up on the totoro markings...there were quite a few references to his other works throughout the movie though so that may very well be the case!
I really would like an adaptation for one of my fave books, but I'm pretty sure they would butcher it. 😹 Daddy Long Legs is such a nostalgic story for me and noone could make the adaptation as good. I think there is an old move, but i haven't gotten the hold of it. Its so disappointing to not enjoy something you've been so looking forward to.
I understand that so well! It's like we want to see a story we love represented to a wider audience but we don't trust them to handle it with care/do it well 😩
It's not specifically based on it, it takes from the book but it's not a book attached entirely to it. So if you went there expecting to find an adaptation f it, you went with the wrong mindset and probably ruined your experience.
Unfortunately I don't think I was the only one here who had that experience. We have new information now, but before the movie came out, the only details given were that it was "inspired by" the original book. The bookstores here were even pushing the original book as everyone assumed they were connected. It would be like someone naming a movie "Moby Dick" and then not elaborating any further. Of course people assume it's connected to the source material with the same name. It's a consequence of the marketing strategy Ghibli chose to employ, which worked really well in some aspects! Just not so well in others.
I know their marketing scheme was to say nothing beforehand, but I kind of wish they had clarified a bit more before as "inspired by" still implies a basis in the source material, but it is what it is!
@@MaedBetweenthePages I agree 100%, the no marketing strategy was neat but they sort of hinted it was an adapatation and only more recently they said it wasn’t in a press release. I’m guessing originally Miyazaki intended it to be more faithful and as his process usually goes he ended up making something radically different. They should have been a bit clearer on that. (It’s also funny that penguin and other publishers finally translated the book because of this, so hey, that was an upside in miscommunication) I’m curious to see the film when it comes out in the west. I’ve been seeing a lot of reactions of confusion compared to other ghibli movies, while the more “core” artists and film critics seem to like it. I’ll probably have to watch it more than once to understand it it seems.
It very much is :(((( I was so ready to have a new favorite Ghibli film… Yes!! Please do!! It’s so wonderful. The review is in the description box if you want to hear more about it :)
it seems that you are the experts in making of animation films. well every bodies think that they are the experts in everything like yourself in today! This film is about Miyazaki saying good by to his audiences and thank them for watching all his movie. Lastly how do you live?
I watched half this review and as much as you’re saying this movie isn’t an adaptation of the book… this review isn’t a review of the movie lol it’s just you saying over and over that it’s not the book🤷♂️
If you’d watched the whole thing you’d know the first half is about it’s connection, or lack thereof, with the book, and the second half is just about the movie itself.
