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| A slow start with some awkward exposition that doesn't even go anywhere, but some of the stuff on the farm was pretty good. Arren's difficulties in figuring himself out are actually fairly interesting when this kind of thing is usually overblown or mopey. The highpoint of the whole movie has to be Arren coming upon Therru singing in the pasture. Here would usually be a puppy-love moment but instead her song makes Arren terribly sad. Her hatred for him was interesting because it was based on an accurate perception of his character and he can't disagree, and it's equally interesting when she stops hating him because she can sympathize with feeling alone. This love story has a lot stronger base than most that appear in adventure movies. Unfortunately, it just collapses in the last half-hour. There's so much leaden exposition and bland, uninspired plotting here, not to mention inexplicable stuff like Therru turning into a dragon. It really drags the movie down. After the pasture scene set such a high bar for the romance, the scene in the castle bedroom totally let it down. As usual, a Ghibli movie is beautiful to look at. The ancient Mediterranean feeling of Hort Town (although apparently not as warm since people wear more clothes) was a interesting, and the way the physical structure was crumbling but the city was still vibrant was a rarely nuanced sight. Usually fictional cities are either gleaming and perfect or wrecks. Seeing a city which in some sense is past its prime but is still very much alive gives a great sense of a larger world and history being there even if we don't get to see much of it. |
| Nice art, excelent animation and good music but the movie itself felt really empty, too slow and boring. And I'm saying this as reader of the books that were great. But sadly the story didn't translate well into this movie. 4/10 Very forgettable movie. I am glad Goro improved and build up on this mistake in his next movies. |
| Ghibli's art never fails, there were many moments that were visually stunning to the point that I wouldn't mind pausing the screen just to be fascinated by the scenery more. While the art is somewhat simplistic at times, it can also be very sophisticated, as the roads, buildings, trees were really detailed. Sometimes without the need to pause as some scenes are extended. The music (especially early on) was simply outstanding all-round. I, too, found the adventure aspect of the show much more mesmerizing than the said story at the end. Yet the theme of "balance" is pretty strong throughout the entire film. Having to lose something, to gain something in return. Using laziness as an example, by being not "lazy", we gain the act of not being lazy, while we lose the act of being lazy. Like for the town, if it was all new-looking, the liveliness wouldn't match the town at all, especially the "poorer" people living there. I did appreciate how "death" is what makes life worth living. Taking things for granted, while we can still perceive it as good and bad, it is no longer special. I did like how Arren's shadow was actually his light all along. How the good can easily be judged as evil, due to how blindly some justifications are, or how cowardice impacts us. It really is nothing out of the extraordinary, the theme, that is. But I just really liked it for some reason, the simple discoveries of life in a sense portrayed in a fantasy setting. The magic, the dragon, it really was far from great, but it still delivered. The gradual acceptance of Arren as Therru and Arren got to spend time together. It really is quite natural in the sense how people are complex, yet so straightforward and simple at times. Being forced to understand and start liking and appreciating the other person's companionship even if they aren't the best of the people. How we all fly alone, yet walk together. Wanting to speak, yet there are things we can't talk about, the song sang by Therru really "grasped" the essence of the film. As always, this really was a feast to the eyes. |
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| I'm surprised at how decent this film was considering all the negative things I'd read about it beforehand. I haven't read the books though so I suppose I'm not comparing it to anything (some parts did feel rushed and missing plot points though). It didn't have the normal Studio Ghibli 'feel' to it and was fairly dark in places. Overall 7/10. |
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| "Meh", This isn't my least favorite Ghibli film but it's certainly not one I'd be all that willing to rewatch, I felt like it had a lot of good ideas just adapted awkwardly. It felt like playing an average JRPG, throwing around random terms without much explaining, and man that villain was lame, like he whispered all the time that just screams evil wizard. |
| Very sad that this was adapted so poorly. :L Movie was visually stunning, no doubt the art was top notch! Just like the OST. Studio Ghibli never fails on that. And just because of that, I can't rate this very low. |
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| I think that someone that has read the books should reallly comment here and give all the missing explanations that remain unsaid in the movie. At least that's what I was looking for in the discussion post (: |
| Other than being very beautiful visually, this movie basically sucked. |
"At some point, I stopped hoping." |
| Wanted to like this but it was just boring ... I didn't care for any of the characters really and the world had so much potential but was left so unexplored to follow a really dumb plot. Arren was basically useless for the entire movie and I only really thought Sparrowhawk was cool. I wanted to see more of the world and the history of what happened! How did he meet Cob and Tenar? There was basically no explanation for the ending at all, I mean Therru just randomly turns into a dragon at sunrise WTF?! I swear I've seen many of these character designs before too, or at least they seemed really familiar. I even thought the art and music weren't as engaging as always :( Oh well, I guess they can't all be good ... 5/10 |
| It will be the fourth or fifth time I've seen it, and I must say that I liked it even more than last time. Since I missed my comment here on MAL, I saw this film again and I appreciated even more certain aspects that previously escaped me. Although many say that Ursula K. Le Guin's novel is much better than this animated adaptation, I maintain the opinion that the film is still beautiful. Narration with many events, but with tones of compassion and with an unchecked rhythm as in the best dilm of Studio Ghibli. The backgrounds have a medieval flavor, and the style can be misleading, but they are really well done. The soundtrack is very catchy. |
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| I ran into the final scene of this movies on TV two years ago. I didn't know the name of the movie or how to get to it. It came on my mind a few days ago but I had no clue how to reach it. It came to me on its own. It seems I have the power to summon movies I want. |
If you are going to disagree with me, don't bother talking to me. I will seriously hurt you! |
| I still don't understand Therru's backstory well, and it didn't make sense for Arren to stab his father! But I'm glad he had to pay for his sin. This movie wasn't that good but it was okay in my taste, although I didn't like Arren. Sparrowhawk was my favorite character and he was given little platform in the end, unfortunately. 6/10. |
How I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb --- Dr Strangelove  |
| Interesting enough, I liked it slightly more than Princess Mononoke. The backgrounds were really good and I liked the animation as well. The story wasn't that bad, though not that amazing either I guess. I loved Therru's song part the most, felt natural and heartfelt; have loved that song for a while thanks to nana app and it was totally worth it. Also when they were working. Shame it didn't do the original books justice as the author n people have said, I personally haven't read them but I can understand the disappointment. Personally, I rather liked it. |
OrangeCloudsMar 7, 2019 12:18 PM
| Films that I consider really beautiful, not so much as a graphic quality (however very high, but not like in other Ghibli films) or for plot, not even for the richness or finesse of costume design and prop design. The fact remains that although an apparent simplicity in props and environments, there is a sort of beauty that seems made for this story, as well as the soundtrack; so catchy. Going back to what I saw as pleasant and interesting in this movie, it is the dialogues and concepts that are the basis of the narrative: Albert Pine and Victor Hugo could be mentioned in certain contexts. The film, in all the vision, is permeated with moments that refer to important themes that it is impossible for me to say that it is not worth looking at it, but rather seeing it more than once. Certainly it does not live up to its paper namesake, the work of U.K. Le Guin is much more, but for those who haven't read the books and manage to have a detached eye, you'll find this film beautiful. 8.8/10 |
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| As someone who hasn't read the book, I'm not sure how good of an adaptation this is but as a standalone movie, it sucked. Uninteresting characters and a lot of unexplained events and some matters that just don't make sense. The main character especially has no redeemable points and the villain is menacingly boring. Started off pretty good tbh but just fell apart. One of the worst Ghibli films I've watched. |
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| this wasn't very good. maybe because my expectations for anything ghibli are really high, but, meh, not lost time, but not that good either. |
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| It was a good movie and visually stunning (Though had many problems in plot as many other Ghibli movies). My biggest problem was ged was supposed to be a arc mage, but he felt so useless. I feel like u should have prior knowledge of the original novels for things that happen in the movie to make sense because their are are many scenes in movie whose explanation are present in novel and not in movie (like dragon girl, tenar situation, even ged losing power etc felt like recalls of original rather than in story explanation) Anyways still a nice movie to watch, enjoyable in it own way (definitely not the worst Ghibli film for me) |
AdampkFeb 26, 2021 8:16 AM
  Click for a anime mashup! Still not gone bandwagon u, keep crying. Here u are welcome to CRINGE at my EXISTENCE |
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| The plot is plain stupid. I don't know even how to start. This is my impression of the movie. If in the source everything do more sense, so it is even worse to THE MOVIE. This entry is not about books. - The sword Boy killing his father for... nothing. This subplot of his "dark fears of death" or anything is totally nonsense. Why kill him? Just leave home you shitty psycho teenager. The Shadow... what? - Tehanu is a f* dragon? WAT? She just discovered that by dying? Her abusive parents were the dragons? Come on. - Tenar and Ged "the powerful archmage" are so useless and over stupid. The evil minion come to your home by command of a EVIL SORCERER. Then he leaves basically saying "I'LL BE BACK TO ARREST YOU OR EVEN WORSE, WAIT FOR IT!" Tenar knows they want to harm Ged. Ged knows Cob is seeking for him. So how can he act like this... "hey, im leaving to find the sword the stupid psycho leave behind, even knowing you are defenseless, so good luck!" Then she gets kiddnaped and he "oh Cob, how could you?" WTF Also his dialogue with Cob is cringe stupid omg. "Ged, you almost killed me, so ill revenge" ... "Cob i did it because you are SUPER EVIL and did SUPER EVIL stuff... but how can you kidnap the innocent Tenar? Are you evil like this? Release her immediatelly" This plot is 3/10 being respectful. But i gave 7/10 since aside the story, the movie and a complete GEM of art and direction, wasted sadly. |
Rob7Apr 30, 2021 8:17 PM
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| I actually loved this movie, though the books are definitely better. A lot of people are complaining that it was too long, but honestly the slow pacing and more thoughtful, philosophical style is a large part of what makes Earthsea such a great series. |
  "Truth is always a cruel thing." |
| I went into the movie only knowing that 'Hayao Miyazaki' was not pleased with his son's work on the movie. Plus that it didn't follow all the details from the original "Earthsea" books according to what I heard. Personally, I really liked the movie and I think it was a gorgeous debut directed by 'Goro Miyazaki'. |
| this was a really really long ass movie o.o with lackluster little action and is still too quiet o.o to the point where i fell asleep or kinda stop paying attention. i guess is not for everyone i see, because some really enjoyed it o.o what really baffled me was the unnatural responses and actions from the characters, for example the scene where Aren tells the girl about having killed his father and yada yada it's just comes off as he was talking about the weather when in reality that shoulda been more dramatic (it's a movie ffs!!) yeah, the characters are stiff and lack that freaky treats that ghibli characters used to have and made them interesting... whatever, this movie is too normie looking arghh and btw, where's the war that this movie title mentions lol... or the dragons that showed up at the beginning ?? i guess the synopsis was wrong and this doesn't involve a war or real dragons, what this really is bout is wanderers having half assed conversations that went to nowhere :(( |
Berry-VodkaJul 21, 2021 8:12 PM
💢   |
| Thanks to the dub willem dafoe has a page on MAL, I love that so much. Movie is mid as hell tho. |
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| I stumbled upon this movie shortly after seeing a Hallmark movie adaptation of the first two volumes of the Earthsea six-volume novel. I liked the Hallmark movies so much that I feverishly looked for more about this story, and that's how I found both this anime and the original novel. My enthusiasm was even greater, discovering that it was not any anime but a Ghibli anime! Additionally, it followed a new plot, not the one already adapted by Hallmark. I read the novel a long time ago, but according to my memory and another comment that I've seen here, this anime adapts the third and fourth volumes. Unfortunately, I have mixed sentiments regarding this movie. On one side, I loved the views, Hort Town (especially its colors), the vivid atmosphere of the sunsets, and how accurate was created the feeling of being caught between dream and reality! However, I was a bit disappointed in the story and characters. I may be biased after reading the novel, though, to be honest, I first watched this anime before reading the novel. Even at that time, I felt that something was missing, which compelled me to read the novel as soon as possible. An aspect that bothered me, for instance, was Arren. He is so different from his novel version! He seems more like Ged (Sparrowhawk) in his youth. Of course, it was impossible to adapt the complexity of a novel of six volumes to a two-hour movie. In this regard, Ghibli did a fine job adjusting the subject to the movie's length. But it came with some drastic changes. I couldn't help thinking of the following idea. Perhaps Goro Miyazaki liked Ged's youth story very much. However, if he focused on it, characters like Arren, Therru, or maybe even Tenar would no longer fit in the story. So, he chose a moment in the story when all these characters were present but also found a way to include the part he liked about Ged's youth story. Another aspect I personally regretted And yet, this aspect remains frustratingly unexplored 😅. |
| "The me today will not ever make the future me to regret!" (Emily Adachi from Air Gear: Kuro no Hane to Nemuri no Mori - Break on the Sky)  |
| This one lack Ghibli magic. |
| This film was actually pretty good. I don't know why it has such a bad reputation. I found it engrossing. |
| The music and scenery are fantastic, but it can't save a generic plot and uninteresting characters. There should have been more integration of the dragon throughout the movie. At least Up On Poppy Hill was made in later years and was an improvement. I actually didn't realize it was Gorou until I watched this. It's inescapable to compare him to his father, but I feel like people forget some of Hayao's aren't much to write home about either. 4/10 |
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| It wasn't as horrible as I thought it was gonna be, but it's still bad. The pacing is just awful. |
| loved it. visually grimdark compared to Ghibli's other work and you probably have to be a pretty big fantasy fan to love this one but for me it hit all the right spots. there did seem to be some pacing issues especially early on but it didn't bother me that much, for the most part it seemed to deliberately set out to be a slow, dramatic, cinematically shot film and it succeeded at that. soundtrack was outstanding. every fantasy work needs a great soundtrack to carry it and it surely did have that. the positives of this film far outweighed the negatives and i enjoyed it thoroughly. |
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