Discover "The Boy and the Heron": Miyazaki's film that'll have you asking, "Do herons actually talk?" A unique adventure.
Data sheet
- Director: Hayao Miyazaki
- Genre: Animation, With-A-Dash-Of-Fantasy
- Duration: 124 minutes of time flying
- Year: 2023
- Cast: Well, they're cartoons, but with voices that are pure gold!
- Where to Watch: In theaters
Plot
Picture Tokyo in 1943, where war is more background noise than an imminent threat for our young hero, Mahito. He's your typical kid who'd rather chase a talking heron than do homework. And chase he does. He meets this heron, not just any bird but a kind of spiritual guide with a sense of humor sharper than a katana. Together, they find an abandoned tower that's like a theme park for retired wizards.
They enter the tower, because that's what you do when you stumble upon a mysterious structure, right? Inside, it's like Miyazaki decided to blend Alice in Wonderland with The Wizard of Oz, adding a pinch of Japanese surrealism. Talking creatures, moving objects, and a stepmother who probably lost the manual on how to be a regular stepmom. It's a coming-of-age journey for Mahito, filled with life lessons and reality-defying encounters.
And what does Mahito learn from this out-of-this-world experience? Life can be complicated, talking herons aren't reliable life coaches, and sometimes, families can be weirder than a magical world hidden in a tower. In short, it's a story about growing up, magic, and how to survive adolescence with a heron mentor.
Review
So, the film: it's like Miyazaki decided to host a BBQ and invite every director, animator, and screenwriter around, only to show them how it's really done. The plot? A roller coaster on Everest's peak, full of unexpected narrative twists, loops of emotions, and free falls into the absurd. Just when you think you know where it's headed, you find yourself wondering if you took the wrong elevator and ended up in a different movie.
Visually, we're talking a masterpiece. Like watching the Mona Lisa moonwalk. Each scene is so detailed, you could explore it for hours and still find new treasures, like an artistic treasure hunt.
The soundtrack? Imagine Beethoven and Mozart having a jam session. It wraps you in a melodic hug, to the point where you almost forgive Miyazaki for creating a world so breathtakingly beautiful that coming back to reality feels almost disappointing.
In terms of staying true to the source material, Miyazaki takes stories and makes them his own, like a Michelin-star chef turning grandma's recipe into haute cuisine. He doesn't just follow them to the letter; he elevates, transforms, and explodes them into a fireworks display of creativity.
In conclusion, rating this film is like trying to score a sunset: it's a 10, but not because it's perfect in the traditional sense. It's a 10 because it changes you, makes you think, and leaves you with a sense of awestruck wonder, like when you were a kid and saw snow for the first time. And, naturally, it makes you wonder: "If I talk to herons, will they answer?"
Why I Recommend It
If you haven't seen it yet, you've missed a gem. It's like trying sushi for the first time: weird but surprisingly delicious.
Why I Might Not Recommend It
If your favorite genre is "plotless movies full of explosions," this might not be your cup of tea.
I give you advice, then it's up to you...
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