Unfortunately, the tale we're being woven leaves much to be desired. A mix mash of another world and reality. Hardly do we ever have a moment to learn about anyone else but the MC and his loss of his mother.There is no relationships being forged. The friendships, no meaning to his actions. He even scars himself deeply for... what? You're left with a sense of asking more questions than gaining answers. How did his father fall in love with his deceased wife's sister? Why does none of her actions throughout the movie make sense, such as leaving the home to have her baby? The characters of another world that we are introduced, all is learned on the surface with no deeper meaning or care other than a reason to push the boy forward.
It almost feels as though we're given half of a story, with too much shoved into such a short time span. Fantastical in nature and wonderfully pleasing on the eyes, but little more as most of the length of the movie is spent purely on world building. All I have learned is the boy's grief... and how he's trying to deal with that grief I suppose.I found more interest in the owner of the tower, his legacy and what he had tried to build. A whole world begging to be explored and fleshed out-- but oh so rushed at the end.
It's worth watching for the sake of being a Ghibli movie and, once again, soaking in all those details (especially as an artist)! But do not expect to come out of this with a coherent understanding of what exactly went down.
