Did you receive any entertaining value from this movie?
| I think this movie could've worked well as a documentary about war and educational piece for people living in countries devoid of major major crisis to help them see what it is really about. That is to say, if the message of this movie is supposed to be "war is bad" then I will say it was executed really well. However, it didn't invoke any strong emotions within me - it was just plain depressive to watch and even though it may be mean to say - mundane, because it depicts something that used to happen in the past, still happens in modern times and most likely will continue to happen in the future to a great number of people. It's essentially a slice of life during a war time. In other words, this movie didn't make me enjoy my time with it at all, neither it helped me see life in a better, brighter, more hopeful way like escapist fiction does. |
| Yeah. It's entertainment. I didn't sit on the couch, pinky out, cross legged, pretending to watch a documentary. I also didn't feel guilty or depressed. I watched a sad war movie. It was emotional. I felt something. But it was entertainment. I watched it with a bag of Chips and a Sprite. |
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| I'm always a little annoyed when people reduce this movie to "war bad," since it's such a shallow reading. I'm of the opinion that the movie is far more about how people respond to disaster - war is the backdrop in this movie's case, but if it were replaced by, say, an earthquake or flood, a lot of the plot would be the same. Though it's always worth saying that if you don't react emotionally to this movie (hard as it is for me to imagine such a reaction), you probably won't ever appreciate it. To me, the most interesting aspect of the movie is Seita's pride - he gets fed up with his aunt and believes that he can make it on his own with Setsuko, and that pride is what ends up killing them both. Sure, they were miserable living with their aunt, but they would have lived if he had stayed. The decisions he makes are very believable, and even sympathetic, for a boy his age raised in the culture that he was; the movie pities and understands him, but it does not excuse him. There's a multitude of things to talk about with this movie: "war bad" is absolutely one of them, and its depiction of war's effect on a society and its individuals is admirable, but it pains me when people, even people who did like the movie, only ever discuss its antiwar aspects at the expense of everything else. |
Reply to johneaston
I'm always a little annoyed when people reduce this movie to "war bad," since it's such a shallow reading. I'm of the opinion that the movie is far more about how people respond to disaster - war is the backdrop in this movie's case, but if it were replaced by, say, an earthquake or flood, a lot of the plot would be the same. Though it's always worth saying that if you don't react emotionally to this movie (hard as it is for me to imagine such a reaction), you probably won't ever appreciate it.
To me, the most interesting aspect of the movie is Seita's pride - he gets fed up with his aunt and believes that he can make it on his own with Setsuko, and that pride is what ends up killing them both. Sure, they were miserable living with their aunt, but they would have lived if he had stayed. The decisions he makes are very believable, and even sympathetic, for a boy his age raised in the culture that he was; the movie pities and understands him, but it does not excuse him.
There's a multitude of things to talk about with this movie: "war bad" is absolutely one of them, and its depiction of war's effect on a society and its individuals is admirable, but it pains me when people, even people who did like the movie, only ever discuss its antiwar aspects at the expense of everything else.
To me, the most interesting aspect of the movie is Seita's pride - he gets fed up with his aunt and believes that he can make it on his own with Setsuko, and that pride is what ends up killing them both. Sure, they were miserable living with their aunt, but they would have lived if he had stayed. The decisions he makes are very believable, and even sympathetic, for a boy his age raised in the culture that he was; the movie pities and understands him, but it does not excuse him.
There's a multitude of things to talk about with this movie: "war bad" is absolutely one of them, and its depiction of war's effect on a society and its individuals is admirable, but it pains me when people, even people who did like the movie, only ever discuss its antiwar aspects at the expense of everything else.
| @johneaston In my opinion there is a huge difference between a natural disaster and war because the former is accidental and the latter is human-made and continuous (ongoing conflict and fruitless sacrifices for the war effort are the main reasons for everything that happens within the story and how the people in it act), so replacing one with another would have to change a lot of things. And as for Seita, I'm unable to see him as anything but a victim of said war - under those conditions can't really blame a 14 years old boy for anything that he does at all. I can see myself getting emotional if it went against the expected outcome and got a happy ending, though. For example, if it ended with the father coming back home and saving his kids from malnourishment while also giving them parental warmth and hope for a better tomorrow. But I guess this would defeat the purpose of this movie. |
Shizuna said: @johneaston In my opinion there is a huge difference between a natural disaster and war because the former is accidental and the latter is human-made and continuous (ongoing conflict and fruitless sacrifices for the war effort are the main reasons for everything that happens within the story and how the people in it act), so replacing one with another would have to change a lot of things. And as for Seita, I'm unable to see him as anything but a victim of said war - under those conditions can't really blame a 14 years old boy for anything that he does at all. I can see myself getting emotional if it went against the expected outcome and got a happy ending, though. For example, if it ended with the father coming back home and saving his kids from malnourishment while also giving them parental warmth and hope for a better tomorrow. But I guess this would defeat the purpose of this movie. You make good points; I agree that war and natural disasters are different, but because the movie chooses to focus on the average civilian (unlike something like Barefoot Gen, for example), very little of the plot would have to change. Obviously things like Seita's idolization of the military would feel out of place in a disaster film, but I think those kinds of things would be few. On Seita being a victim, I agree in the literal sense that he is one. However, I firmly believe that the discussion about his role in his sister's death is a meaningful one. While I pity him, I cannot fully exonerate him. Ironically, I've seen other people list this as a negative for the film, while I believe it is its greatest strength. While it's emotional heights alone are commendable (and believe me, I cried more at this one than any other), it is its condemnation of pride that elevates it to a masterpiece. And yes, a happy ending would betray the themes of the film. As it is, the ending ironically ends up being its happiest moment, in a morbid sense. Brother and sister reunited, one way or another. |
johneastonJul 8, 2025 7:40 AM
Reply to Shizuna
@johneaston In my opinion there is a huge difference between a natural disaster and war because the former is accidental and the latter is human-made and continuous (ongoing conflict and fruitless sacrifices for the war effort are the main reasons for everything that happens within the story and how the people in it act), so replacing one with another would have to change a lot of things. And as for Seita, I'm unable to see him as anything but a victim of said war - under those conditions can't really blame a 14 years old boy for anything that he does at all.
I can see myself getting emotional if it went against the expected outcome and got a happy ending, though. For example, if it ended with the father coming back home and saving his kids from malnourishment while also giving them parental warmth and hope for a better tomorrow. But I guess this would defeat the purpose of this movie.
I can see myself getting emotional if it went against the expected outcome and got a happy ending, though. For example, if it ended with the father coming back home and saving his kids from malnourishment while also giving them parental warmth and hope for a better tomorrow. But I guess this would defeat the purpose of this movie.
Shizuna said: I can see myself getting emotional if it went against the expected outcome and got a happy ending, though. For example, if it ended with the father coming back home and saving his kids from malnourishment while also giving them parental warmth and hope for a better tomorrow. But I guess this would defeat the purpose of this movie. While I haven't watched Barefoot Gen, the fact that it has a sequel suggests the 1st movie ends somewhat optimistically. |
| その目だれの目？ |
| Yes, it was a memorable experience. |
*kappa* |
| Believe it or not, this movie is trying to make you depressed. That is a major emotion. Art doesn't need to only provide whimsy and joy. Lots of powerful work can be done evoking other, negative emotions. |
| This movie is one of the best things I've ever seen. It hurts, it's not a fun experience, but it's a raw and real experience. War is bad. |
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| Just a bit due the animation, which is always good since it is ghibli. The production is always great. It is impossible to not appreciate the artistic direction put into ghibli's movies, even if it is still not the type i love. Aside from that i didnt found entertaining, aside from some of the SoL moments and risky ones, but overall i didnt found it engaging bcs i find the conflicts of the story uninteresting. I know that it is not inherently bad that the sister of the mc died due to his fault and i understand how he felt, but i just found it boring how it progressed, even if i liked the backdrop of war being a nuisance. In terms of emotions, i felt nothing so it didnt even leave me an impact. The death of their mother and the unpleasant nature of what they were going through were the most noticeable parts for me. I can get emotional from stories, i just didnt get for this one, especially because of how stupid the sister's death was. Judging if something is entertaining or not, it having a "tragic" undertone or blatant tone to it isnt what makes me consider if it is entertaining, but merely if i felt engaging, had fun or kept my interest, aka what didnt made me bored. Entertaining is whatever i enjoy, be it of any genre and progression (slow, fast). I disagree with those that say that "it is good but is not meant to be enjoyed" or "is good even if not entertaining", because entertaining is simply enjoying it for me for any reason, regardless of the content. Seeing like this, this movie was not entertaining for me because i often felt uninterested and bored while watching it, bcs even if i liked the depictions of war interfering with the people and the setting (all very well compensated by ghibli's good animation) i gradually just felt it became dull the more it continued on (the sister of the mc dying bcs of his understandable yet obnoxious attitude was the last straw). I just didnt liked it bcs i didnt liked the movie aka i wasnt entertained by it, i would feel entertained if i liked it regardless of the content aiming to be sad or not. Entertaining value is what makes you want to keep going with whatever it is and makes you feel even invigorated or satisfied sometimes after the conclusion. An exciting interest that encompass curiosity as well. I dont think it makes sense that everyone uses and refers to entertaining stuff to only be about stories that are pumping action or happy ones |
INoLuvJul 8, 2025 11:56 AM
| I found it to be a cheap melodrama with a message that has been said countless times, so can't say I did. |
| it's the only ghibli movie to invoke any actual emotions in me so yeah, it was interesting. will never rewatch though. |
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| Hot take, but the kid killed his sister due to stubbornness and I feel exactly zero sympathy for him. |
| nah, Isao Takahata interpreted this movie as something more about pride than anti-war. |
SgtBateManJul 9, 2025 7:46 AM
Help! I need somebody. Help! Not just anybody. Help! You know I need someone. Helpppppp!  |
| There are better WW2 anime fyi . I would rate this 7 personally. |
Reply to Shizuna
@johneaston In my opinion there is a huge difference between a natural disaster and war because the former is accidental and the latter is human-made and continuous (ongoing conflict and fruitless sacrifices for the war effort are the main reasons for everything that happens within the story and how the people in it act), so replacing one with another would have to change a lot of things. And as for Seita, I'm unable to see him as anything but a victim of said war - under those conditions can't really blame a 14 years old boy for anything that he does at all.
I can see myself getting emotional if it went against the expected outcome and got a happy ending, though. For example, if it ended with the father coming back home and saving his kids from malnourishment while also giving them parental warmth and hope for a better tomorrow. But I guess this would defeat the purpose of this movie.
I can see myself getting emotional if it went against the expected outcome and got a happy ending, though. For example, if it ended with the father coming back home and saving his kids from malnourishment while also giving them parental warmth and hope for a better tomorrow. But I guess this would defeat the purpose of this movie.
Shizuna said: I can see myself getting emotional if it went against the expected outcome and got a happy ending, though. For example, if it ended with the father coming back home and saving his kids from malnourishment while also giving them parental warmth and hope for a better tomorrow. But I guess this would defeat the purpose of this movie. This post reminded me this anime for some reason https://myanimelist.net/anime/20207/Boku_no_Boukuugou |
Reply to themoneylender
This movie made me me cry and I'm a 46 year old grown ass man.
| @themoneylender Watch this next then. |
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