The Boy and the Heron Review - Saberspark
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- Опубліковано 15 гру 2023
- Hey folks! Trying to bring back this channel in a way where I can talk about movies and shows that I don't have the time to get around to on my main channel. Admittedly, this video is a bit rambly and I'm absolutely open to constructive feedback on how I can improve my vids on this channel. Thanks for watching and expect more uploads soon!
I’m glad I’m not the only person who thought it was weird that Mahito’s dad not only married but knocked up his dead wife’s sister. It was, uhhh, definitely a choice. /:S
Outdated custom of the Japanese when the sister of the spouse passes.
I know its an old custom in quite a few cultures across the world but they really did just kind of gloss over that.
With our modern mindset sure, but if you look at it with the old-timey sensibility, where marriage would have been most likely arranged as a legal contract between families moreso than individuals, it makes sense. Natsuko would have been either unmarried or also a widow and as Himi's widower after give or take ten year long marriage, their family would have known Shoichi to be a good and safe match from a get go.
My grandmother said that was quite common to do back then.
The Great Grand-uncle was definitely a stand-in for Miyazaki himself, with the ending of him and the world's he's created being a reflection of Miyazaki's own life coming to an end, and the end of any new movies/worlds.
The 13 blocks were representing Miyazaki's 13 movies (not counting Lupin).
Holy shit if this is true then it's honestly one of the worst endings to any animated film of all time, nothing but Miyazaki stroking his ego and lost in his pride over his accomplishments despite being a failed husband and father. Dude is deluded with Japenese cultural narcissism 1000%
@@thundark3736 It was for his grandson, I believe. As in _"Granpa is getting old and might die soon, and the stories and worlds you love will come to an end."._ A goodbye, not an egotistical _"Remember how great I am?"._
Yes I thought this too. It was very touching.
@@thundark3736 Well that's a cynically whingy bad faith take if I've ever seen one...
When an artist loves their graft so much they keep walking back on retiring from it just to come back and make more, there's absolutely nothing wrong with taking some pride in what you've created and looking back on it with some sentimentality and fondness.
I saw this movie as a love letter to the world of studio ghibli and the art they have created over the years (theres even a ton of references to other movies and works that Miyazaki has directed). And when i realized that it made me sad, because Miyazaki is getting close to that time of his life and he doesnt have a successor to fill his role when hes gone. But its ok, and Miyazaki knows this too. I think hes saying that even though he wont be here, even if studio ghibli ends, the art they created will still be here. Their art and stories wil live on and even inspire new artist to create their own art, "a new world free of malice". And in that context, I think its beautiful.
Yes, I noticed a lot of parallels too to Studio Ghibli and that was one of my main takeaways from the movie. Others noticed parallels to Miyasaki's life, but can't speak to that myself.
I've heard the film was written for his grandson. Maybe the great-granduncle is supposed to be Miyasaki - the uncle has 13 blocks to stack to keep the world balanced (Miyasaki's directed 12 films - does he have another planned?) and offers Mahito the chance to add his own blocks to "succeed" him. The parakeets gatekeep potential successors from running the world, which reminds me of the film industry wanting to protect Studio Ghibli's name from being tainted. But they try to build the world and fail, not understanding the magic that holds it together.
@@zippity010 yeah despite gluttonous CEO's and the hunger for that big box office money, Miyazaki (and by extension Studio Ghibli) still values the creation of art and story telling and encourages artists to create and share their work. As for the 13 blocks, the 13th actually references the first thing Miyazaki ever directed which was a Japanese show that conveniently ALSO stars a Japanese school boy with a bow and arrow in a mysterious world (but that won't stop Miyazaki from making movies anytime soon that man is a workaholic 😅). I really recommend watching some videos about the meaning behind The boy and the Heron (and any movie in general). Its really eye opening seeing others take on different peices of media and it just makes me appreciate art and movie making alot more. 💕
@@Ceira_OwOya I’ll have to be sure to check those out! Love hearing the different perspectives because that’s how we learn new things and gain a greater understanding of something than anyone could do by themselves. Glad there’s still some places on the Internet where different perspectives and opinions can be shared healthily 😆✌️
@@zippity010 ikr lmao 🤣👌
This was one of those films were once I left the cinema I knew there was a message, but it completely went over my head and felt maybe something was lost in translation for the dub. Christian Bales performance is unintentionally funny, but Robert Pattinson is unrecognisable.
I just saw this movie today and I agree with your interpretation about the boy learning to process his grief and accepting his aunt as his stepmother and his moms death. Great movie, definitely needs to be watched several times to get more out of it.
Mixed feelings about this film. The plot felt all over the place to me, too many elements crammed into it that blurred/distracted us from what I believe the film should have really honed in on: the boy overcoming the grief of his mother’s death and accepting his stepmother into his life. I was honestly so lost with this film. But hey, at least I honestly thought that the music and visuals were drop dead gorgeous.
I think that is exactly what he was doing.
The first time I watched The Boy and the Heron, I really noticed the theme of grief and grieving, as well as the afterlife and moving on. I could immerse myself in that lens pretty easily. The second time, I really got the theme of not running away from things that are painful and embracing a life that is chaotic but full of love instead of a dream-like, orderly world of death. There's just a lot there and I think it's a testament to Miyazaki and the studio's skill that they could blend many different themes together in a way that IS chaotic and dreamlike, but not unfocused.
I may not have understood a lot of the subtexts of the film, but what I DID understand was the sound design going on was gorgeous. If anything it's a very atmospheric film. I came out of it feeling rather rejuvenated.
I think the tower is a personification of grief; the main character's personal dante's inferno in a way.
The great uncle created this world because he suffered a terrible loss in his past. And instead of learning to grow past his grief, he made the tower to live his life in a twisted fantasy representing his grief. As he gets close to death, he discovers our lead character. Knowing he suffered a loss as well, he believed he could be his successor to oversee the world. Our lead decides to move on from his grief and let the world crumble. He keeps one piece of the tower however. Because grief never truly goes away, but he won't live in it.
Bro I straight up forgot I was still subscribed to this channel thats how long you didn't upload on this one 💀
I ain’t even subscribe to this channel
I thought it was decent. Had a great setup, beautiful animation and score, super fun cast of characters. Thought the plot was a bloated mess. I feel like this film would have been much stronger if it was twice the length, because none of the characters or plot points introduced in the second half had enough time to get developed because of the fast pace.
Just came back from the theatre after watching it. It is really great seeing Ghibli back after 9 freaking years (they didn’t release any other films, you cannot tell me they did I won’t believe you)
Not only was it refreshing to see a 2D movie on the big screen, but one with such beautiful backgrounds. It’s one of those films where every frame is a painting.
As for the film itself, it’s about as Miyazaki as it gets, and getting lost in his magnificent worlds is always pure cinematic magic. Definitely one you should check out in theatres.
I also like to pretend Earwig and the Witch does not exist, and it makes me happy others agree.
@@RangeReaper0406 hmm, what do you mean? They haven’t produced a movie since 2014, what is this Earwig film you are talking about, never heard of it.
@@a17yearoldonyoutubeluigiSounds like an interesting movie. Perhaps they can create a 2D film with such a title....
In the past 9 years, Ghibli released: The Wind Rises, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, When Marnie Was There, The Red Turtle, Zen - Grogu and Dust Bunnies, and Earwig and the Witch.
The woman that his father married was the boy’s aunt. They mentioned it a couple of times and he even says how much they looked alike.
Okay, but why did you delete the Spartacus review?? It was a good review!!
I wish we had more 2D movies in theatres nowadays, even just one or two big ones maybe, at the very, very least, every THREE or so years.
Traditionally 2D animated movies are incredibly hard to make, I understand, but that's what really sets Ghibli apart for me, their willingness to do the hard thing precisely because it is hard.
We all know where we were that one awful time when Ghibli was led astray to do the easy thing instead and make a *product* with an extra dimension involved. We do not speak of it. The only silver lining is that I'm now confident that they'll never ever go in such a direction ever again. 😊
Story was..... eh..... very all over the place.
Was standard GHIBLI film through and through.
Visually SUPERB.
It was nice seeing a 2D beautiful film. It was a 7.5 imo rating
I feel the movie has that distinct ghibli vibe. It’s simultaneously too fantastical to fully understand and introspective enough that it will affect everyone individually differently, but I think the movie dropped the ball a bit in the third act. Idk, I’m one of those people that if I leave the movies with more questions (and not like “I want to know more of this world” questions, but more like “that doesn’t make sense/why didn’t they do this”) than the film answers, I think it isn’t successful as a story. I feel like nothing changed over the course of the movie in terms of like, everything is the same when they go back home at the end. That feels like a miss to me.
I still don't get why nobody mentions that the new mother is also his aunt, I thought it was obvious as hell and it is eventually explicitly stated. I imagine that plays a huge factor in Mahito's discomfort with her.
Edit: Okay you mentioned it eventually
Also, it's not that they're from different universes so much as different time periods, Himi is his mother from when she disappearred way back and then at the end she and the young granny go back to their own time but in the same universe Mahito is from.
The passing of the torch aspect with the granduncle is relevant to Miyazaki's own life and legacy, as he grows old and gets ready to pass his animation studio to his son.
I'll be honest, I was hyped to see it, but I wanted my friend to not fall asleep because of subtitles so I saw it in English and really had a hard time following anything. Part of me wants to see it in Japanese on the off chance more of the dialog connects or fills in some gaps that might make the story progression make more sense, but I don't think it would.
It feels like a lot of it are private memories and introspection on Miyakzaki's part that he wanted to weave into a story using visual language we're familiar with. Like a bunch of set pieces and visual metaphors first and then story added to connect them after kinda thing.
Not my favourite, but not terrible by any means. Maybe the way to look at it is Miyazaki built an empire telling stories about the external world. This one was about his internal one.
Thanks for covering this Saber! Feels extra intimate on the second channel.
I just saw this film today. I felt so emotional because I grew up watching Miyazaki films and this will (probably) be the last new release of one I see in theaters. It’s truly the end of an era and I must say this did not disappoint.
when I saw this movie the first time I just fell in love with it and I feel like sometimes mystery makes it art better in some cases
The scene that really struck me was when the mother was being carried in the glass casket, it immediately brought to mind the glass for the fighter planes that the father builds in the factory that we’ve seen a few times before. In the moment I felt like it represented how the dad contributes to the war that ended up killing his wife. I’m not so sure she died because of any type of bombing now that I think about it, but I feel like at the very least it may represent how he’s ideologically working against her (with him contributing to the war and her helping people at the hospital).
I was like "oh I guess Saber has an anime movie channel now?" When I found this channel from your What to Expect post
I think it's important to analyze the film with the culture in mind as well... Family and respect are so much more important to the Japanese than Americans...
There's a lot to like about this movie, but I think what kept it from being a great film for me is that I couldn't understand why any of the characters were doing the things they did. Why did step-mom go to the tower? Why give birth in a meteor? Why does she hate Mihiro? Why does Mihiro hate the heron? I could go on and on.
I gotta be honest. I hate that I don't like this film more. The visuals and voices and sounds are great, but I do not care for the writing. Maybe it was made to be cryptic or abstract, but I was hoping to have an emotional journey with the kid and characters, but I never really got that. Sure, I don't need to know literally everything, but I was hoping to be able to understand more of what drove the characters. I don't get the boy nor why he suddenly just decides to call his adoptive mother his mother. It just kinda happens. Likewise when in that same scene she was yelling that she hated him. I don't understand why these characters say these things. The mom and kid never really had any conflict. Like, yeah, he was kinda distant, but he'd only just met her and with him being a kid that lost his biological mother to a bombing, I understand why h doesn't immediately open up and accept her. However, if that was an issue the adoptive mom had, it was never illustrated, despite how well the movie is literally illustrated. And while the kid understandably wants to do right and save her, it really felt like he was just doing what you expect of a protag-kun. Save the day, young man. There's no real connection set up between them. They don't relate to each other. They don't share any bonding moments. Sure, she saves him form the Heron at one point, but it doesn't steer him any closer to her on an emotional level. The scene just kinda plays like, yeah, parents protect their kids, adoptive or otherwise. And that is good, but that's all it appears to be, and nothing more between them. So when he finally gets to her and she yells her hated at him, it feels weird that he just suddenly calls her mother. No build up, just now he's ready to accept her. And nothing on the journey to her reflected on any part of their relationship nor how that might liken her to any qualities or traits that his original mother had. There's just not a lot to explain the characters' journeys which really kills the film for me.
I'm sorry, but I don't care if I ever see this again, and I hate to say that. I want to love this film and for more than its art, but at the end, that's all it really had going for me. Maybe I'd catch something more on another watch-through, but I just don't want to. I'd rather go watch Spirited Away or something else.
Honestly, Godzilla Minus One, I also saw and I feel like that's just this movie's themes done better with tighter writing.
Not trying to dis Hayao Miyazaki, but this just isn't something I care for beyond its art, and I want more. Really, I just want to be able to feel for and understand the characters, but I feel like they were lost among the grandeur of the places and ideas there, so much so that the writing forgot to really bring together the characters.
I mean, what drives the mom to leave for the other world in the 1st place?
What was with that gate the pelicans pushed the kid through that it required a whole ritual to back away from safely? Why did that whole scene matter? There was something about the dead rising from it, but we never see that nor do we ever come back to that gate ever again.
Why doesn't the old lady remember the boy since it was her younger self helping him, and why was she a talisman when the Boy and the Heron don't change at all?
They called his young mom a blacksmith, but despite her fire powers we never see her do any metalwork. Why?
Why did the stones have such a problem with people passing through them, but only once do they knock anyone out? Meanwhile the rest of the time they just seem to put on a crackly light show. Is this a security system? What's setting these rocks off and why?
Who is the Parakeet King and why does he only show up in the final quarter of the movie? What was his purpose? Why did the movie set things up like he was going to use the young mom as a bargaining chip only for him to just give her back?
The building blocks have malice and apparently the boy gave himself his scar out of malice.... okay, but what's that mean? What does it mean to the boy? What is malice to the boy? He hit himself with malice... okay, but why even hit himself at all if not to cover for the kids?
I mean, there's leaving things open to interpretation, sure, and being abstract can be fine, but I honestly done understand the characters of this movie nor how or why they relate to one another. Things just happen. It's pretty, but that's all it is to me.
I'd like to say I felt more for it, but I just don't, and that bothers a little. Oh well.
I'm glad others liked it, but I'm much more of a Spirited Away person, and if I want to see these themes better written and tied together, I'm going to Godzilla Minus One.
Sorry to say but The Boy and Heron was just underwhelming for me.
Sorry for the wall of text, but that's just how I feel, but hopefully this helps with the algorithm and UA-cam and all.
I'm so much here to be a butt as I am just venting, and leaving a comment while liking and subscribing. I just have my own frustrations with this movie. I don't hate it, but it's not my cup of tea.
Anyway, cool stuff.
I totally agree with you!
We need more brave people talking about what is really wrong with the movie instead of only praising it just because muh symbolism and Miyazaki career...
My fav is Princess Mononoke, btw.
Look at that beautiful face! Thought we were never going to see it front and centered in future content when you went full avatar on twitch.
Well, from what I've seen it's not only about grief, it is an elaborate metaphor about pre- and post-war Japan and personal lineage, ancestry and family. The grandfather is the "architect" of the old country, his reign was given from above(the meteor) the mother basically represents the "motherland" and the boy is the new generation. The birds are people perverted and made to be what they are not by the very structure of the "tower" - country, they eat young souls like the outdated system nips talents at the bud. The heron is a man who basically lives in both worlds - the old one and the new one, a neutral player ready to stand with one side or the other. There are also more layers, as the parrot king obviously a reference to Duce.
And the arch "those who seek my knowledge shall die" is obviously a reference to a well-known meme "he's already dead, he just doesn't know it yet..." (not really but would be funny tho).
the heron is meant to based on toshio suzuki, the producer of the ghibli movies, and hes the reason they decided to change the title
the whole tower reminded me of Encarta Mind Maze with its many twists and turns
Def legit forgot about this channel. I thought you changed the name of your main for a sec lol. Good to see you are making good use of the channel though! Also, I was the 69th like
The dub was wonderful. I hope you enjoy it!
I saw the movie today and it's unsurprisingly amazing! I'd rank it with Barbenheimer and Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse.
Saber keeps getting more handsome with the passing of years.
It feels like they wanted to make a Grave of the firefly movie ich first..Aka focus on how it is to live through W2 and the following years.
Were halfway through, they wanted to make a Spirited away style movie, by going in the direction of magical world with an heavy dose of Japanse folklore.
Not a bad film but certainly not the best Ghibli film.
Japan is having another GREAT year with anime series bangers, anime films like Suzume, Slam Dunk, & Slime, and to close this year with Boy and Heron and Gojira Minus One.
They mention that his new step mom is his aunt at the beginning of the film actually. They mention first that she's his aunt, and pregnant, and living with her now, and then soon after you put the pieces together when his dad comes home and they kiss.
Definitely loved this film. Would absolutely agree it may take multiple viewings to really understand but it was stunning, deep, and gorgeously animated. Spirited Away is probably my favorite of the studio ghibli films this is probably second or third on my list.
Why was everything on this channel wiped?
Imo Miyazaki's films have gotten less coherent over time. This one was over 2 hrs long, and yet there was so little communication or character development. He made a gorgeous film to look at as always, but it's full of typical Ghibli tropes without a solid script to support it.
We knew nothing about this going in.
We weren't too fussed on it to be honest. But both of us felt it was one of those symbolic movies.
I did love the set up , but it felt like another version of spirited away and I felt the ideas of the story could have been changed for flow purposes.
Abd that heron was creepy.
What is that shirt you’re wearing?
Please do review What the hell is The Giant King version of Robots about Ramayana.
Disney eat your heart out. This is how you do "7 Dwarves" with their 7 old ladies. Audience was laughing when they came on screen.
I've seen the film twice and may watch it a third time, and it just gets better for me. It was slow at first, very kinda felt drowsy the first time tbh, but watching it for the second time really helped and made me from liking to loving the film.
And don't get me started with Robert Patterson! All VOs were great, but unlike Patterson, I could distinctively hear key voices such as Mark Hamil and Dave Baptista. And while they all did great, Robert Patterson was a genuine surprise on how great he was! I hope he becomes like Mark Hamill and Christian Bale, and joins in more Ghibli projects in the future. And I say this because you just know this ain't their last film with Miyazaki!
YOOOO AYYLIEN CLOTHING I HAVE THAT SHIRT TOO HELL YEAH
Omg I literally just got home from seeing this movie xD
❤
Saberspeaks has been revived. 😇
But I saw the film on Tuesday. It was good
Bestie how did you forget about this
My aunt and uncle are taking me to watch this movie
What happened to your stream channel?
Everything and nothing happening at the same time is exactly like childhood.
I feel like the movie ended a little too abruptly. Also, I have questions about the father marrying the sister of his dead wife. Its definitely more of a reflective and metaphorical movie, and I definitely need to watch it more than once. But overall, it was beautiful.
Hey man can you please check out and review Scavenger's Reign? It's an amazing, beautiful show and more people need to see it. It could really use the boost from influential channels like your own
The boy's name is Mahito (MAH-hee-TOH), not Maito. :)
This movie was so damn good
Visually stunning and beautiful. The story was decent. Not SG best imo.
"It's confusing" Actually, it's Miyazaki making a movie about his own movies. It's abstract but it is about his life - losing his parents, creating these beloved worlds, and thinking about the future of his influence. I went to Japan this year and visited both Ghibli Park and Ghibli Museum. You can tell Miyazaki has a bit of a quirky imagination. This film is right in line with his thought processes. I feel like the movie is a reflection on life (I saw the film in un-subbed Japanese while in Japan, too) and my takeaway was that this world that Mahito enters is the afterlife. Ghibli is contemplating his own death, and he wants ALL OF US to continue his legacy (the 13 blocks represent Ghibli's 13 films, and he wants us to add to his pile of blocks to create our own magical worlds).
Hello what is this ❤
Yoy Spark can you review
Eleanor's Secret [French - Kerity La Maison Des Contes]
It's French-Italian animated feature film
Please notice me and make review video.
No
Please watch The Spine of Night
Unless Miyazaki handpoints Robert Pattinson to give the performance of his life, this is literally start talent work instead of professional dubbing with actual voice actors. It amazes me people wanting to watch Ghibli from all things like that.
I totally forgot about this channel. 💀
Hehe me too, I saw Godzilla minus 1 too and then I saw The boy and the heron 🤣🤣🤣😑
Hi
Sabersteve?
Isn't it "mee toh"?
No, his name is Mahito. MAH-hee-TOH. Tho Saberspark calls him Maito.
Can you make top 10 Cartoon not for kids
All this talk about your “main channel” yet you’ve got no links or anything to your main channel? Not even sure what you’re talking about as UA-cam recommended me THIS channel
This guy is so self unaware and full of himself. You can hear his arrogance in his voice.
Hella confused how you came to that conclusion based on the video. People are a trip
Nah does man actually know what SS means rofl
I dont know, but i hate this comments
... fk it, i'll say it --- I think ya'll are way too shy from actually critiquing anything Ghibli or Miyazaki. You've said a lot of points were confusing and seemingly meaningless but always followed by "but that's ok. But that's ok. but that's ok... etc" when other shows/movies don't get the same courtesy over the same points of criticism. When will it be not ok? Ghibli/Miyazaki are always put on a pedestal and above legit criticism and i'll never understand why. The movie is of course a visual masterpiece, and some piano musical scores tugged at my heart strings, but that's about it.
It's not a movie, it's an abstract idea in the most pretentious way possible. Everything here was already explored in past Ghibli movies. It was unnecessarily confusing, very disjointed in many parts (ex: at one point Mahito is talking to the old man in the open field a very normal conversation. I blink, and suddenly he is waking up kidnapped in a kitchen and the Heron is here to the rescue.... what? did I miss something?), and nothing of meaning was resolved at the end. The boy didn't hate his stepmother to begin with so later he learns to accept her (he went to her rescue!), he wasn't misbehaving or a brat (didn't start a fight & hit himself with a rock so not to blame anyone at school), he is very respectful of the elderly, and showed normal signs of grief that doesn't prevent him from moving on. What did he learn or achieve by the end? What was even the message here?
You say it's a personal story to Miyazaki to absolves it from any criticism. Why make a movie about something so deeply personal and abstract that only the author can understand and any criticism is unfounded? I'm sorry but it's just arrogant to think his work above criticism.
TL;DR it was a boring pretentious movie.
100% agree, it is ludicrous some people are saying they didn't understand anything, but it is a masterpiece because Miyazaki!
Or this deserves to win because this time is very personal I swear!
Like all the previous films were made just for fun or just for the sake of making a movie. Any long project is personal in any or other way, is not a shield to deflect criticism, neither his age (he had a producer and a whole studio working for the movie).
Another absurd defense is the "deep surrealism and symbolism" to justify all the plot holes and bad writing, like if all was a great plan from Miyazaki instead of incoherences in the script.
FOR ME, the worst Ghibli and Miyazaki film. 1/10.
First thought after end was WTF, and not in a good way. Millions of questions about almost every single aspect of the film.
And I love Ghibli, and don't mind mysterious and unexplained stuff. But you can't have the WHOLE film be unexplained.
Now I'm waiting for someone to call me stupid for not understanding. Bad movie, boring, long, way too cryptic, hard to follow, just blaargh.
Have you ever seen the cinematic masterpiece that is Earwig and the Witch
@@gdplayer8768 Actually not, that looked like such a trainwreck that I never checked on it.
Hence correction: *worst Miyazaki film.
Bro doesn't understand everything = absolute garbage
Edit: The whole place follows dream logic, explaining would just ruint it.
Truly awful movie, nothing makes sense. Godzilla was one of the best movies in the past years
Forgive me for thinking this sounds like sarcasm. 🤣
I've heard many good things about Godzilla Minus One!
There’s always that one guy
@gdplayer8768 there are people always "just want to turn [their] brain off" when watching any movie. I'll never understand it lol
It all gets explained. I was never confused for long. Pretty soon it's explained what had happened.
@@jameswilliamson3210then i don’t think those people should be watching ANY ghibli movies since almost all of them are like this