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OVERALL RATING : 1, PATHETIC.

Hi, this is a very negative review of Big Fish and Begonia.
Keep in mind that this is a conversation, please do not randomly get offended.
So, here is why not only did I not like Big Fish and Begonia, but this movie actually made me seriously angry :



STORY AND CHARACTER : 3, POOR.

... The plot is a generic seemingly harmless come of age story about a strong girl who thinks out of the box and follows her heart but...


First problem : IT'S CONTRADICTORY AND MESSY.
The story is clumsily told which is counter productive. I'll come back to the main character's problem later but, for example, it is so clumsily written that a scene that was supposed to be poetic and emotional became hilarious (cf the worst love confession scene ever).

Also, it is messy : there is no main thread to the story, it is a patchwork of random characters who just do things because... reasons...
For example, there was no need for a villain in this story, and yet one appeared out of nowhere with some random macguffin, and disappeared just as quickly without adding anything to the story. When you want villains in your movie, you have to make them relevant and important : first, give them screen time ; second, set up and pay off their evil plan ; third, conclude their story ; fourth, give them a motive that might add something to the main meaning of the whole movie. Otherwise, what was the point ?


Second problem : LAZY PLAGIARISM.
The main character's arc, her chara design and even some of her expressions (especially the strong willed serious girl expression) were copy-pasted from Miyazaki's classic main characters... without even understanding Miyazaki's work.
How to know the difference between lazy cash-grabby plagiarism and sincere inspiration ? Well inspiration tries to bring something new to the original material, like an hommage. For references, go watch Disney's Lion King (kind of a remake of Osamu Tezuka's Kimba the White Lion, which they still could have been courteous enough to mention in the opening credits though), or Lu Over the Wall (which was heavily influenced by old american cartoons and Miyazaki (and especially Ponyo)).


Third problem : THE GIRL IS A SELFISH ASSHOLE.
The main character is a selfish asshole who never learns from her mistakes. Also, nothing anyone does has real consequences, which doesn't help. So she endangers her whole village, actually gets some important people killed and goes "Whatevs, Imma follow mah dreams". How poetic ! Like I said, blind plagiarism is counter productive.
Worst of all, she never encounters any real obstacles and everybody just want to sacrifice their lives for this selfish moron, especially her best friend (well, love is blind...) and her grandfather. Her body count is pretty amazing.
And even SPOILER ALERT when she finally tries to sacrifice herself to make amends for what she has done, the best friend takes her place... and she goes "okay thanks" and shrugs it off, so she really did learn nothing.

Personal suggestion : WANT AND NEED. What this girl needs is a slap in the face and a reality check. This is actually an important point when creating a classic come of age story. The girl wants something, she discovers that what she needed was actually something else. Example : Chihiro doesn't want to move to a new house and wants to go back home. Through a scary and magical journey, she learns that what she actually needs is the strength to face change, for life is ever changing and that is what makes every moment beautiful. And by the way even the comedic subplot about Yubaba's perpetual baby who is accidentally freed from his overprotective mother and faces the outside world actually adds to the meaning of the story. Get it, movie ? That's just how well thought out Miyazaki's work is ! Try to understand what you plagiarize, at least !


Fifth problem : WASTED POTENTIAL.
The girl's best friend was original and had amazing potential... what a shame ! He is energetic and friendly but also violent and jealous. Every time he appears, the scene starts with something breaking. This is a brilliant idea ! Which was just completely dropped partway through. SPOILER ALERT the kid stays nice and even sacrifices himself for the girl without ever becoming a real threat. What was the point ?



ART : 5, MEDIOCRE

First problem : LAZY PLAGIARISM.
For example, the scene with Yubaba - hem, sorry, the Guardian of Souls : the old man is introduced in a sort of litter carried by cats. This was exactly the same type of animation as Howl's Moving Castle for the evil witch, (with a tinge of Ghibli's Neko no Ongaeshi)... except the old man is INSIDE a palace. Seriously. Grow a brain, movie. And then the guy reaches for his grasshopper cigarettes with the same movements as Yubaba and the whole scene was reminiscent of Yubaba's deal.
Same with the volume of clothes and the way they catch light (cf scene with water and fire camp) which were exactly Miyazaki's style and animation.
All that was missing was his enormous tears, expressive cat-like hair and big eyed weird creatures.
Did you think your audience was blind ? Well... you were probably right, seeing how well you are rated.


Second problem : BAD ASSOCIATIONS.
-The chara designs were clumsy : your main character is supposed to be the focal center both in the scenario and in the frame. The girl's design blended too well with her surroundings. The chara design that was actually the center of attention was the best friend's. Which added to the girl's general blandness.

-The 3D was disgustingly bad and badly integrated in the landscapes.

-Mixing cartoon-Tezuka-ish flashy dolphins with realistic enough humanoid characters just felt really silly and broke the poetic atmosphere it was aiming for. For once you should have plagiarized Miyazaki's creatures a bit more.



SOUND : 5, MEDIOCRE.
I don't remember it... Must have been pretty generic, then.



ENJOYMENT : 1, PATHETIC.
I wasn't even bored or disappointed : I was seriously disgusted and angry.
Lazy cash-grabs should not be rewarded.