My Neighbor Totoro [VHS]
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VHS Movie Reviews of My Neighbor Totoro [VHS]
Movie Review: A truly sublime film from the master of animation.
Summary: 5 Stars
In recent years, many "family films" have not been enjoyable for the whole family. Instead of making them so that both the kids and the parents can enjoy them, they are often made so only the kiddies will enjoy them (I'm lookin' at YOU Nickelodeon). These films are loud, obnoxious, rude and simply unbearable. However, there are also a few family films that have been enjoyable for all ages. The most prominent examples being the films of Pixar and Studio Ghibli. Out of all of these films, this little gem, "My Neighbor Totoro", may just be the finest family film of all. The premise is simple: Two little girls with a sick mother move out to the country with their father, exploring the surrounding forest and interacting with the spirits that inhabit it, such as the big furry Totoro. That's pretty much it. While it doesn't sound like engaging cinema, it has a warm, touching atmosphere with an emphasis on the importance of family togetherness. While it is a fine family film, it is also a wonderfully experimental art film. Instead of relying on a conventional plot, it explores it's world with a childlike sense of wonder, taking life one step at a time. The human characters have surprisingly real personalities, and are somehow able to get along with each other for the most part. The spirits also fit surprisingly well into the realistic world, as if they really did exist. This film also has the most detailed and beautiful backgrounds you'll ever see in a film. The beautifully crafted plants make you want to go outside and explore nature (after you're done watching the movie, of course). One thing that really irks me however, is that many fans give this wonderful film one measly star, simply because they didn't like Disney's dub. Many people seem to prefer Fox's dub from the early nineties, but I don't see why. I haven't seen the whole film with the Fox dub, but all I know is this: The girls are voiced by adults (adults never sound like authentic children), the father has a deep, scratchy voice (COMPLETELY out of character), and Totoro and Catbus don't even have voices (SERIOUSLY?!? They had voices in the Japanese version, why don't they have them in the Fox dub?!?). Also, the cover art makes it look like one of those Disney musical rip-offs that were so common in the nineties. These are my opinions, anyway. One reason why I would say that Disney's dub is a better buy, is that it includes the original Japanese audio track, while the Fox dub does not. That way, if you really do dislike Disney's dub, or just hate dubbing in general, you can watch the film in it's original language without having to buy an overpriced import from Japan. Also, I don't think Disney's dub is as bad as anime snobs let on. This really is one of Hayao Miyazaki's best works. Movie Review: DVD has a different script and actors from VHS version
Summary: 4 Stars
My family has loved Totoro since our children were small. We have watched the VHS version of it for over ten years, and have become familiar with the voices of those actors and can nearly recite the script. The DVD is a new translation with different actors. It is not the same as the VHS. The differences are small, but there are differences. Of course, my children say they prefer the old one, but it may be familiarity rather than critical preference. The characters do come across differently.
The colors on the DVD are beautiful and the motion is clear.
Movie Review: Better than the Disney dub, but missing some important stuff
Summary: 4 Stars
The voices and sound effects are better than the modern Disney dub (those Fanning kids just make my ears bleed with their accents, it doesn't make sense!), and thus I recommend the 20th Century Fox english dub over the Disney one. A side note, Totoro's voice was changed from the original Miyazaki film, but in my opinion it's better as it sounds more like a creature than just a guy moaning into a mic.
Because the DVD lacks the extras, Japanese audio track and crisp film quality one would expect from an imported foreign film DVD, it loses a star and a half. ***1/2 of 5
Of course, the film itself gets a 5 out of 5 ^_^
Movie Review: I love this movie!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am studying Japanese for work so we got this movie and several of the other Ghibli movies as well. Totoro is one of my favorites. Just to give you an understanding of my perspective, I generally don't like Anime but I like Ghibli.
In Totoro, I don't like the English voice overs very much but I think that is probably largely because I got used to hearing the Japanese version. It seems like they have a lot of uneccesary dialogue in the English version. Our small kids (1.5 and 3 yrs old) watch this movie all the time. Compared to a normal movie there actually isn't all that much going on in terms of storyline but it is so pleasant that I don't mind at all.
I think that another big selling point is how effectively they conveyed the feelings of the kids. I can see my own 2 girls in them. Another high point for me is that the music fits the movie perfectly. Our daughter is in a Japanese preschool right now and they play the theme song all the time (the kids march around the room while they are playing it since the song is about going for a walk). As a parent who finds many other children's movies agonizing I give this movie 3 thumbs up!
As for the other Ghibli movies, Totoro is definitely the #1 instant classic of them all but I also really like Porco Rosso (kids like it), Pom Poko (warning - very weird movie - but fun, our kids aren't interested in it at all), Howl's moving Castle (kids neutral on it), Cat's Return (kids like it), Kiki (kids LOVE it, maybe even more than Totoro), and Spirited Away (kids neutral on it). Laputa and Nausica were decent. I didn't like Grave of the Fireflies - it is just too much of a downer sad story for me, I like the happier stuff better.
Movie Review: Great movie!
Summary: 5 Stars
Our whole family loves this movie! The characters faces are so animated and they make my kids (ages 4 1/2 and 7) laugh! The movie talks about ghosts and magical creatures, but they don't scare my kids who are commonly scared of little things. I think they do a great job with the voices also! The family cares so much about each other and is a great model for kids. I'd definitely recommend this movie! Another great movie to check out like this one is "Kiki's Delivery Service." We love that one too!