I am really happy, that I have seen it on a big screen. I was so impressed, that i didn't finish my popcorn! I didn't make to the middle, even!
I don't know how historically precise the storyline is, and I believe that not very. But it doesn't matter, because it's charming and tragic and heartwarming. It is story about magic of dreams, that a talented person makes to come true, but it also tells us of great love, and though I detest love stories generally, this one is true kind - makes you weep and giggle and then weep some more.
Art is as good as ever, may be better even. There are lots of meadows in this story and also lots of sky, and both were really, really greatly done.
As for sound I can't tell much, our voice actors made the main hero sound like a robot.
Characters are best I ever seen in Ghibly animations. They manage to stay enchanting and truly kind, although they all are adults and live in no wonderland. The magic of their dream transform them into angellike creatures with wondering eyes and open hearts, living in despairless, hopeful world. Even if you start disliking anyone of them, you end up loving him or her. Everyone is so alive, so captivating you feel that you want them to be your friends. Or like they already are your friends.
I believe that finally Miyazaki managed to create a story for everyone telling everything he wanted to tell - about magic of your dreams, about love, friendship, teamplay, about living with your sorrow, about people being good, about how it is marvellous to live.
And the best thing about this story is that though it's said to be the last of Miyazaki creations you don't feel unhappy, on the contrary it gives you a happy feeling of the world being marvellous even if you lose something and having bunch of friends, all and new and the best of them is Miyazaki.
