Tales from Earthsea [DVD]

`Tales from Earthsea' is one Ghibli movie that is notorious for its mixed reception, but after having watched it three times I believe this is a criminally misunderstood and underappreciated film. As flawed as it is, I deem it gorgeous with its art, animation, music (the songs especially), characters, as well as its low-key and deceptively simple story. For that I give it 5 stars to counterbalance the more negative reviews.What needs to be realized is that this was directed by Goro Miyazaki, son of Hayao Miyazaki, who had no prior filmmaking experience. When taking that into consideration, he actually pulled off making a finer achievement than most first-timers, and full kudos to him for writing the two beautiful songs in the movie. But since this was his first film, it does come with its imperfections.The one major flaw to it that may turn off most people is that it is incredibly slow-paced, almost to the point where it feels like it is testing the audience, and it drags especially during the climax. But I'm used to slow-paced Ghibli movies, because more often than not I can get absorbed enough into the story that I don't care, and `Tales from Earthsea' is no exception.Another flaw is that many of the story elements come across a little vague, the characters talking about things like the `Dry Lands' and one of the characters turning into a dragon without any real explanation. Admittedly I never read the original books, but out of curiosity I read a quick synopsis of them on Wikipedia. Not only were the vague story elements made clearer to me, but it also helped me discover that Goro Miyazaki took selected story elements and characters from the different books, staying faithful to them while commingling them to create his own standalone tale.As for the DVD itself, I do have some complaints. This movie is famous for its notoriety, and I can't help but feel it's reflected in Disney's awkward DVD release of this title. As far as special features go, we get a four-minute making-of featurette, and that's it. No 'Behind the Microphone,' no second disc with a storyboard version of the film or anything similar on prior domestically-released Ghibli DVD's. It's like the people of Disney watched it, realized it would be the least well-received Ghibli film, and didn't even try with its presentation here. Aside from the brief featurette, the DVD is laced with trailers for Disney movies, none of which belong on this disc. Considering `Tales from Earthsea' is a two-hour long slow-paced human drama with some morbid moments (I really wouldn't call it family-friendly), what in heck are trailers for `Cars 2' and `Tangled' doing on there? Reminds me of the `Veggie Tales' movie trailers I remember seeing on my `Ghostbusters' VHS.So all in all, maybe `Tales from Earthsea' is technically the least best Ghibli movie, but for all its flaws it is still a good film and I would so far as call it my personal favorite Ghibli film. Do not go in expecting an action movie, for it is a straight-up character drama that's not about the action at all. And in the meanwhile, I look forward to Goro's next movie coming out in Japan--after all, to keep filmmaking is the only way he can get better!

First of all, DVD-wise... the lack of special features, interviews and commentary is pretty disappointing. However, I found the subtitles to be accurate and of top quality, while the dubbing was probably the best Disney can realistically do with such a non-American tale. I found the dubbing almost as good as Spirited Away, although some of the acting was periodically lacking.In terms of some less-than-kind reviews, negative Ghibli fans I believe are looking through a biased lens and over-reacting. Take off the goggles and compare this fine movie to any animation coming out of Hollywood today, and I challenge you to find anything even remotely close to Earthsea's creative mythology, and deep emotional and spiritual context, not to mention stunning animation. No, this is not a clear-cut, button-up-every-detail in a perfect little bow story, like a happy little Full House episode. This movie leaves you to ponder (like Laputa) exactly who the characters are and what their past entails. That is not a flaw in the plot, it is simply a different kind of story-telling. Anime fans and non-fans alike who may not necessarily follow Miyazaki may find themselves much less averse to these plot 'challenges'. Anime and manga is often ripe with such loose-ends, story prequels and unanswered questions. That's simply story-telling that's foreign, which American audiences are just not used to. It's no wonder to me that some of the greatest foreign films and stories ever told fly over the heads of the majority of today's thrill-seeking audiences looking for the latest eye-candy.Don't pass up the opportunity to see this film. It's a deep psychological journey that probes the very real problems of deep depression and sadness, and attempts to illustrate that the high value of life is taken for granted through our incredible selfishness.

Great movie. I haven't read the books, so am not judging the movie against them, but I must say I enjoyed it. An entertaining fantasy movie, but as it says in the product description and right on the back of the DVD box, it is rated PG, and not for young children due to some scenes that may be frightening to them. There is also more violence than your 'typical' Studio Ghibli film, though probably less than in Princess Mononoke. Neither of which bothered me in the least, but some reviewers seemed upset by that.I personally only watch the Japanese language with English subtitled versions of Studio Ghibli films, as for me the voice actors capture the emotions and personalities of the characters far better than the English dubs. Even though this particular movie is set in and features European characters.As always, the Studio Ghibli artwork and animation are incredible, and somehow makes the characters seem more alive to me than the more famous, purely CGI animated movies out of Hollywood.

I saw this film before I read the books and as many have already mentioned the books certainly are better, though that is often the case for any adaptation from book to film. The inevitable dilemma faced is that whilst a book aims to capture ones imagination and use that as the engaging mechanism to carry the reader through the story, a film does not have this luxury and has to provide the visual stimulus to engross the audience; a much more difficult task. For this reason alone I think one always has to take into consideration the difficulties faced as peoples unique imaginations may not live up to that of the film-makers, and as such they are already battling against the odds.Yet when I saw the film, without any prior knowledge of the books or of potential misgivings the film might encounter, I saw it with fresh eyes as it were, new to a world and the stories embroiled within and I was engrossed. The film explores the precarious equilibrium of Earthsea, as a balancing act of the powers of man, magic and dragon come into even more peril at the hands of the power-hungry mage Cob, whose only real opposition is the Archmage Ged and his ostensibly conflicted and much troubled wandering companion, Arren. The ambiguities of the protagonists very nature and actions imbue the film with an ever-present darkness - which is certainly a key tenet of the novels - which is also expressed by the dark underworlds and underhand practices that permeate the beautiful and captivating facade of a rich civilisation. This hidden darkness is off-set by the more open, though sometimes stark and uncompromising wilderness and the other-times green and pleasant undulating scenery, which essentially represent the more honest natural landscape and its accompanying characters Therru and Tenar, the strong yet equally vulnerable and mysterious heroines of the story. While the story is somewhat limited in scope comparatively to the novels, the imagery and artistry is truly captivating and there are moments where you feel you could be swept away on the wings of a dragon or into the oppressive darkness between worlds and as such, the story is more than enough to sustain interest and involvement throughout. If anything, too much story and reference to the novels, might simply have clouded and obscured the overriding sentiments and values of the film in the brief time it is allowed, having not the luxury of time and space that books so comfortably enjoy.In hindsight, I can understand how many were disappointed that some major issues were perhaps ignored/unexplained or simply told poorly or that the story was not `true' to the books, but I also appreciate an element of mystery as well as approaching things from an alternate perspective on events and imaginations. This film inspired me to read the books and for that I can only be grateful, and through reading the books my mind is now full of the beautiful imagery and animation portrayed in the film. I really look forward to any new offerings by Goro Miyazaki, especially considering the troubles he went through to make the film and the initial responses he had, as in light of these factors I'm certain he'll be a stronger and greater film maker and he's shown great skill and great potential in his tricky debut. One of the greatest testaments to Goro and Tales From Earthsea, is the fact that, for me at least, my enjoyment of the film increases with each viewing and I feel ever more satisfied having watched it again recently.The tale of Earthsea is essentially about balance, the balance of light and dark, life and death, good and evil, all of which are explored effectively and astutely to make a most enjoyable feature. In a way, this balance is somewhat prophetic, as Goro had the dire task of trying to balance the fans of the novels, the author (Ursula Le Guin), his father (Hayao), and the studio, in the making of his debut, yet I think he found a welcome enough balance such that Ged himself would be proud. For the completionist, this is a welcome addition to their Studio Ghibli collection, one to rival some of the darker themes presented by the Studio, and perhaps film in general. To the avid Earthsea fan however, this may be a disappointment. Though not without its flaws, I thoroughly enjoyed the film and consider myself both of the above. So if you can untangle that contradiction, I wish you as much pleasure in doing so as I hope you derive from this film.PS: Somewhat unclearly, the Studio Ghibli Collection 2 Disc Special Edition of  Tales From Earthsea  shares a virtually identical listing on Amazon to the standard edition. So to purchase the two disc edition, you can simply click on the link in this post script, or scroll down to the product details page and check if 'Number of discs' is listed as 1 or 2. The extras on the 2 Disc Special Edition are quite informative and highlight many interesting points in the making of the film and its journey from the novel to the big screen, well worth the extra money. Tales From Earthsea

I have to say that this is a decent effort from a debut director - the story is well handled and the animation is as spectular as you would expect from Studio Ghibli.If you were to compare this to previous Ghibli films, you will find there are some plusses - the script translation is much better handled so not all of the voices are as rushed as before (although I can understand if people might like the quick, breathless delivery of Howl's Moving Castle or Laputa). Personally, I found the slower delivery allows the story to flow at a much more even pace. The right voices were employed as well - in particular, Willem Defoe's softly spoken delivery is spot-on (if a little quiet) and made Cob all the more creepy. This film is a lot darker in subject matter than other Ghibli movies and for this alone it should be checked out.One drawback however is that the visual charm of Spirited Away, Laputa and Howl's Moving Castle is at times replaced by a far more intense style, particularly noticable in the hero (his facial expressions are occassionally a bit "Pokemon") - but given it is a darker piece, perhaps it was inevitable that some charm would be lost. Secondly, the inventiveness was not there - perhaps there was no need for it but I do like the peculiarities of Hayao Miyazaki's worlds (particularly the spiritual beings and the mechanical pieces of past films).Although this isn't a Hayao Miyazaki masterpiece it is a Goro Miyazaki start - there is better to come from this guy no doubt but this is an assured enough piece to pass the test at many other animation studios. Don't mark it down just because it's Ghibli, but don't expect another Oscar contender.

So. They went and made an Ursula Le Guin anime. I have to say, having been a big Earthsea fan since early childhood, I was dreading the anime counterpart. Part of me was disappointed, most of me enjoyed it.As a representation of the book, it does the original text no justice. A lot of the grander themes have been dismissed, and the threat of violence, always prensent in the original text, is certainly missing here. Cob is no longer the tragic figure of the book, merely an archetypal anti-Wizard. Insufficient emphasis is placed on Ged and Tenar (you have no idea why on Earth[sea] they're so important) and the final representation of Therru becomes just plain random. And Arren... Well. Let's say he was 'rejuvenated,' and leave it there.It's a pale shadow of the book, but that doesn't mean it's necessarily a bad shadow. It's not the book, but then it's not meant to be. It has been transformed into a light family film. The darkness of so much of the original Earthsea has been glossed over for a reason, and I'm sure that's what makes it able to appeal to such a massive audience. The tales of Earthsea are generation-spanning, and this is a great film for every type of person (unless you're not a fan of the anime genre.)I would like to have seen more character depth, but perhaps this can be saved for another film, some other time. Overall though, I still gave this film four stars. It's a very good film, but the book is just overwhelmingly better.

*Das war mein erster Gedanke als der Abspann begann!Allerdings muß ich dem Film zugute halten, daß ich die Romanvorlage von Ursula Le Guin genauso merkwürdig finde. Insofern ist das neueste Ghibli-Werk als VERFILMUNG selber gar nicht so abwegig ... auch wenn es eigentlich eine Mischung aus allen Büchern ist ( der Hauptplot stammt aus dem dritten Band "Das ferne Ufer" und teilweise dem vierten Band "Tehanu" ).Als Leser ist man klar im Vorteil, aber für die anderen Zuschauer ist "Die Chroniken von Erdsee" meist verwirrend. Warum?Nun, erstmal werden im Verlauf der Handlung so einige Fragen aufgeworfen, die jedoch unbeantwortet bleiben ( z.B. Wieso genau ist Prinz Arren "schizophren" geworden? Warum hasst Magier Cob den Erzmagier Sperber so sehr? Und so weiter. ) Der Zuschauer muß da leider selber draufkommen ... oder die Bücher lesen!Zweitens erscheinen viele Szenarien völlig aus dem Zusammenhang gerissen, da sie eigentlich nicht wirklich zum Fortgang der Story beitragen ( z.B. dieses ganze Bauernhofgetue stiehlt irgendwie wertvolle Filmzeit ... hätte man kürzer fassen können )Das lies mich als Zuschauer etwas unbefriedigt zurück.Die Welt Erdsee selber wird nur wenig vorgestellt ( ist auch schwer bei nur 115 Minuten ). Was deren Bewohner betrifft, wird zumindest ein recht nüchterner und unschöner Einblick gewährt ... Sklavenhandel, Drogenkonsum und Betrug der soweit geht, daß die Leute sogar echte Magier als Scharlatane betrachten. Der kulturelle und soziale Verfall kommt jedenfalls überzeugend rüber.Das beste an der HANDLUNG überhaupt ist, daß sie ( den Nicht-Leser natürlich ) stellenweise sehr verblüfft durch Aufdeckungen der wahren Identität zum Beispiel. Gut ist auch die Tatsache, daß es kein 100%-ig eindeutiges Gut & Böse Schema gibt.Trotz einiger spannender Momente plätschert die Geschichte grösstenteils nur so vor sich hin. Die vielen ruhigen Szenen werden ein wenig durch bildgewaltige Schauwerte aufgepeppt ... die Stärke dieses Anime!Wie man von Ghibli nicht anders gewohnt ist, ist die Bildersprache einfach famos. Die extrem detailliert gezeichneten Hintergründe sind prächtig wie noch nie. Besonders bei der Stadt Hort haben sich die Zeichner selbst übertroffen. Ganz grosse Klasse!Dies und die mittelalterlich-fremdartige Kleidung unterstützen das Fantasy-Feeling, wie man es von "Herr der Ringe" gewohnt ist.Schade nur, daß die Bilderpracht das einzig wirklich Beeindruckende an dem Anime bleibt!Was das Bonusmaterial betrifft:Den kann man getrost vergessen! Das Storyboard ( welches den Film nochmal skizziert durchlaufen lässt ) ist sowas von unnötig. Die restlichen Extras sind ziemlich uninteressant ( v.a. da hauptsächlich auf dem Soundtrack und den Synchronsprechern herumgeritten wird ). Einzig die Trailer zu einigen Ghibli-Filmen ( inklusive diesem hier ) betrachte ich als sehenswert. Man könnte noch die Sammelkarten dazunehmen ( sind recht hübsch ). Aber ansonsten kann ich nur sagen, daß es sich nicht lohnt, die Special-Edition zu kaufen ... die Einzel-DVD reicht völlig!FAZIT:Trotz der überwältigenden Bilder und einigen überraschenden, sowie sozialkritischen Momenten, wirkt der Anime "Die Chroniken von Erdsee" unausgereift. So bleibt das Fantasy-Werk nach einer berühmten Vorlage im Endeffekt nur durchschnittlich gut.PS:Ich halte die Altersfreigabe "ab 6" ebenfalls für zu niedrig. Abgesehen von den gruseligen & blutigen Momenten, dürfte die Handlung für die Jüngsten viel zu unverständlich ( und dadurch auch langweilig ) ausfallen.RAT AN DIE ELTERN: Für die Kleinen empfehle ich stattdessen "Mein Nachbar Totoro", sowie "Kikis fliegender Lieferservice" und "Chihiros Reise ins Zauberland".

この映画、結構悪評が多いですが、アタシは好きです。分かりやすく生きること、死ぬことが描かれています。この映画でアタシは沢山名言を見つけました。「死ぬ」ことは恐いけど、「死」を恐れるということは、「生」から逃げること･･･。　重いテーマだけど、どんよりした重さじゃない。でも、胸に何か考えされられたものがありました。あえて言うならば、原作とは比べることはないと思います。コレで１つのお話として成り立ってると思うからです。原作は原作の面白さはもちろんありますが、映画として、あの時間で収めたわけで、良いと思います。賛否両論が激しいけど、私は嫌いじゃないです。もちろん宮崎駿監督の作品と比べたら、色が違うと思うから、これまでのジブリ作品と比べたらまた違うわけで･･･。コレはコレ。ソレはソレ、って感じで見たら良いんじゃないかなと。