Anime Movies

Apollo the Just · #1

Can be either stand-alone movies [think Miyazaki], or movies based off of or that come after a series.

Have any thoughts or favorites? I'm personally a fan of the Detective Conan movies [specifically the 14th one], mostly because they are always super epic. Not the most realistic or loyal, but definitely super epic.

I haven't seen any Miyazaki in awhile, but I do remember loving Howl's Moving Castle.

The FMA movie is just weird, but then again, so was the whole ending to that series.

Thoughts?

#2

Believe it or not, my favourite Miyazaki flick is still 'Castle of Cagliostro'. It's a great, entertaining movie by any standard. Easily the best Lupin III story. Bet you'd dig it, CL.

Satoshi Kon made some awesome stuff. He was always one for blurring the lines of reality in his work---'Perfect Blue' is probably his best film. Psychological thriller about a pop singer being stalked by an obsessive fan. Pretty messed, in a good way.

I have a soft spot for 'Akira'. It's a little sprawling---I needed more than one viewing to take it all in. Still some of the best animation I've seen. Compelling, despite its flaws. (Actually, one could say pretty much the same thing about 'Metropolis' and 'Steamboy', too.)

Probably think of more later.

YouTube · #3

My Neighbor Totoro still makes me very happy. We got the dubbed version when I was little, but I was fortunate a few years ago to get a chance to tape the subbed version off of Turner Classic Movies.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

Valigarmander · #4

I haven't seen many anime films, unfortunately. My fav so far would probably be the Cowboy Bebop one.

I've been meaning to see Castle of Cagliostro sometime, though.

Bad Dragonite · #5

Every Miyazaki film I've seen I love.

Still have several I want to see though.

Oddly enough though, there was a Pokemon movie I also enjoyed, Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew. It was better than the others from what I remember. Idk what I liked so much about it, I just enjoyed it. Haven't seen it in years sadly though so my opinion may be hazy. *shrug*

I can't really think of any favorites though, if only for the fact I haven't seen many. :/ *shrug*Wish to see more, just haven't yet.

#6

^^It's a good one. I've heard that Steven Spielberg considers CoC one of the greatest adventure movies ever made.

Ace Mercury · #7

I've been meaning to watch some Satoshi Kon movies, but I never get around to it =/

I watch movies if I've seen the anime for it, especially if it's a new story that's not already re-iterated by the anime and manga. There's Cowboy Bebop and The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya; Disappearance was pretty good, though the first hour or so was really bleh desu.

I'm looking forward to the K-ON! movie; it comes out in December, but I'll probably have to wait until the Blu-ray comes out before I end up seeing it =(

Apollo the Just · #8

Ah! I've been meaning to see that film, Boo. Thank you for the reminder. I definitely will now.

I haven't seen that many non-series-related, non-Miyazaki films. I did see The Girl Who Lept Through Time, and I remember enjoying it well enough but not thinking it was anything too spectacular.

Valigarmander · #9

Booyakasha wrote:^^It's a good one. I've heard that Steven Spielberg considers CoC one of the greatest adventure movies ever made.

I've only heard good things about it.

I love the Lupin III series, but the only movie I've seen is The Secret of Mamo.

#10

'Grave of the Fireflies' will make you cry. You should watch it anyway.

monstrman · #11

Valigarmander wrote:I've only heard good things about it.

I love the Lupin III series, but the only movie I've seen is The Secret of Mamo.

The Castle of Caligostro is good, but it changes a lot of the key elements that made the series great... like it's excessive campy-ness. Plus the story ran a little dry at points. Also Lupin's jacket is green in that movie... for whatever reason.

Booyakasha wrote:'Grave of the Fireflies' will make you cry. You should watch it anyway.

This one time we watched grave of the fireflies and my friend didn't want to fall into the serious depression of the movie so he just cracked jokes about how he was eating burger king and making various comments.

Admittedly, it was kind of funny... but it really ruined the story. It's a really moving film...

CuccoLady wrote:Can be either stand-alone movies [think Miyazaki], or movies based off of or that come after a series.

Have any thoughts or favorites? I'm personally a fan of the Detective Conan movies [specifically the 14th one], mostly because they are always super epic. Not the most realistic or loyal, but definitely super epic.

I haven't seen any Miyazaki in awhile, but I do remember loving Howl's Moving Castle.

The FMA movie is just weird, but then again, so was the whole ending to that series.

Thoughts?

Uh Miyazaki... was that like Spirited Away? I remember seeing Howl's moving Castle once but I'm really unfamiliar with those movies to be honest...

As far as FMA goes... yeah I agree I wasn't much of a fan of the movie. It was cool but... like you said, weird. I much preferred Brotherhood because the story is so... interesting. Admittedly, a lot of the characters get much more of an eastern influence but that's to be expected. It really isn't that bothersome.

I've actually never seen the Detective Conan movies but I really enjoy that series so I'll have to look that up.

I liked the Cowboy Beebop movie if you haven't seen it already, though I'm unsure of exactly how it relates to Miyazaki because it's really got a more western influence and is much more realistic.

A movie just popped into my head though it may or may not interest you, Akira is a very... odd movie. That's really the only way I can explain it.

Deepfake · #12

I'm pretty certain that a lot of the "movies" you guys are referring to are actually OVAs occasionally marketed as feature-length films in the North American territory.

I'm a really big fan of Ghost in the Shell 1 & 2, Akira, Steam Boy, My Neighbor Totoro, and Princess Mononoke.

Ace Mercury · #13

I think all the films mentioned actually had a theatrical release. We, in not-Japan, have to wait until the DVD/BD release gets fan-translated, as they probably don't have official English subs.

I also love OVAs too. There's nothing more sweet than loving a series, and then finding out later that there's more super secret episodes.

Galefore · #14

I loved Spirited Away, it's a fantastic film by any standard. As well, Millennium Actress and Tokyo Godfathers cemented Satoshi Kon as a truly great filmmaker, anime or otherwise, for me.

#15

'Tokyo Godfathers' is excellent.

You guys ever see 'Spriggan'? It's a little screwy, but thoroughly entertaining.

'Wings of Honneamise' is really good. It's a story of man's first attempts at space travel, set in a fictional nation embroiled in war with its neighbours. I like it loads. Tryin to find it to watch may be problematic, though---DVD's rare as hen's teeth these days. (I guess they didn't make a lot. Understandable, as it never quite equalled 'Ninja Scroll' or 'Ghost in the Shell' in popularity, but still frustrating.) Hate to recommend something so hard-to-find, but there you go.

Jere · #16

I really liked the digimon movies (of season 1 and 2 mind you) both the american versions and the japanese versions (and i have to say that the japanese ones made more sence...) and me reading far into the digimon lore that would be healthy.

I outwited some people on a swedish digimon board and they didn't even know it.
Anyway

Then the only movie i watched was Spirited away and i though it was great, don't know in what way really i was only 14 at the time and didn't know what i wanted from a good movie.

Then the pokemon Movies (of course....) i have only seen as far as number 4 + that second mewtwo one(?) but i always thoght they hold togheter in some cheesy kind of way but then i stoped watching the series right after the Johto arc when i felt that a change of cast again would not help me keep the series fresh in my mind, so i more or less jumped of that train but im still thinking of watching the movies!

Apollo the Just · #17

I haven't seen Spirited Away since I was too little to have any clue what the heck was going on. That actually goes for most Miyazaki films. I've got some re-watching to do x{D

And how many of you have seen Grave of the Fireflies? I've heard nothing but excellent and depressing things about it. Is that pretty much the consensus here too?

#18

Well, I can't speak but for myself, but I got misty last time I saw it. It's really good, but they don't pull their punches, no sir.

Speed · #19

Miyazaki is excellent always.

Loved Cowboy Bebop's film and it's the only movie of an existing property I'd consider buying.

Deepfake · #20

CuccoLady wrote:I haven't seen Spirited Away since I was too little to have any clue what the heck was going on. That actually goes for most Miyazaki films. I've got some re-watching to do x{D

And how many of you have seen Grave of the Fireflies? I've heard nothing but excellent and depressing things about it. Is that pretty much the consensus here too?

The plot isn't really very fascinating, IMO, it's kind of just a "watch horrible things happen, get depressed" movie. I can't recommend it, since I can actually sum it up with:

[spoiler]Children are orphaned when their parents are killed by war, during wartime. Their relatives are unsympathetic and they're mostly forced to live on their own. They die of malnutrition, with the older brother blaming himself for the death of his sister.[/spoiler]