aberdare, Local Online News Community, Forums, Chats, For Sale, Classified, Offers, Film Reviews, Events, Motors Sale, Property For Sale Rent, Jobs, Hotels, Taxi, Restaurants, Pubs, Clubs, Pictures, Sports, Charities, Lost Found
  1. Published on: 20/04/2018 10:18 AMReported by: Film Critic
    Plot: A girl's discovery of a strange flower, cat and broomstick leads her to a journey to a mysterious and magical college with a dark agenda.

    Japanese animation studio 'Studio Ghibli' is special to many people. For the last 30 years or so, they have given us some of the most amazing animation films of all-time.

    Sadly, with many of long-serving film-makers including Hayao Miyazaki retiring, the studio is currently in a re-building state and have announced a couple of new possible projects.

    But in the meantime, a few former workers have made a studio of their own called 'Studio Ponoc'. This first feature of theirs certainly had that Ghibli look to it when I saw some its images, and the story felt fantasy-heavy which is what made Ghibli so successful with many demographics around the world.

    From the first frame, the animation is already as visually captivating as Ghibli's. I will never get tired of films that look this beautiful.

    As for the story, I was seeing some similarities with many previous films from Ghibli as well as other fantasy films such as Harry Potter or The Golden Compass. That left me at a bit of a crossroads, because due to the lack of creative writing and character development, I was battling with the strengths of the visuals and satisfactory nature of the plot to see where I would rate this feature.

    As well as the animation, another notable strengths was the score. It was very noticeable and had many strong moments when enhancing certain set-pieces. It had a recognisable themes that was used in various ways throughout the film.

    I could relate this strengths with its animation, but the level of imagination in its world building and character design was great to watch.

    Sadly, there were parts of this world where I was getting confused with some of its rules. They almost seemed either to contradict themselves or just make it up as they go along for dramatic purposes.

    So to summarise, while the animation and visuals is as strong and striking in its detail as you would expect, the story and characters is inferior. There's nothing wrong with it, it just felt safe, satisfactory and it just did not made me care much for any characters. Also, the title character did not seem to learn that much or make much decision for themselves.

    It almost felt like a greatest hits compilation of Ghibli's back catalogue. I noticed various scenes, character designs or ideas that felt like they had leapt out of previous Ghibli film. Also, the Harry Potter and even The Golden Compass comparisons were almost too much for me, and it started to not be its own thing.

    I think the better story came from the opening scene. It seemed to be a the end of one story that leads us to the beginning of the story of this film. Now after seeing it, I think I would have rather seen the whole of that previous story from the opening scene, and that seemed it would be more impactful and long-lasting.

    There is some magic in here from Studio Ponoc's debut. It's just not fully-fledged yet.

    Rating: 7/10
     

  2. Your Comments:



You are in: UK / Aberdare / Wales
Find any Town in the UK, or Use UK map
Local Google MAP for Aberdare



User Control Panel

Not a Member? Sign Up!

Login or Register


Film Reviews, Last Cinema Movies, Movies, DVDs
aberdareaberdare News


Stats: Qlocal over 500,000 page views a month (google analytics)
aberdare Bathroom Suppliesaberdare Bathroom Tapsaberdare Bathroom Furnitureaberdare Bathroom Showersaberdare Shower Enclosuresaberdare Bathsaberdare L Shaped Bathaberdare P Shaped Bathaberdare Wet Roomsaberdare Bath Screensaberdare Bath Mixer Tapaberdare Bidet Tapsaberdare Toilet Seatsaberdare Sanitarywareaberdare Combined Toilet Basinaberdare Stovesaberdare Wood Stovesaberdare Home Stovesaberdare Cooker Stovesaberdare Enamel Stovesaberdare Designer Stovesaberdare Contemporary Stovesaberdare Multi Fuel Stovesaberdare Accounts Softwareaberdare Sage Softwareaberdare Sage Line 50aberdare Sage Line 200aberdare Pegasus Accountsaberdare Access Accountsaberdare Car Servicingaberdare MOTgaberdare Tyresaberdare Car Batteryaberdare Exhaustaberdare Journalist Jobsaberdare Reporter Jobsaberdare Writing Jobsaberdare Freelance Writeraberdare Self Employed Jobsaberdare Franchise Businessaberdare Franchise Opportunitiesaberdare Driving Schoolsaberdare Driving Lessonsaberdare Driving Testaberdare Driving Theory Testaberdare Driving Instruction, 0000 aberdare Driving Instructor, 0000 aberdare Insolvencyaberdare Insolvency Serviceaberdare Insolvency Servicesaberdare Liquidation Serviceaberdare Business Recoveryaberdare Insolvency Practitioneraberdare Bankruptcy Serviceaberdare Winding Up Petitionaberdare Business Financeaberdare Business Recoveryaberdare Voluntary Arrangementaberdare Individual Voluntary Arrangementaberdare IVAaberdare Debt Adviceaberdare Debt Managementaberdare Company Administrationaberdare Administrationaberdare Corporate Recoveryaberdare Corporate Voluntary Arrangementaberdare CVAaberdare Corporate Insolvencyaberdare Corporate Liquidationaberdare Members Voluntary Liquidationaberdare MVLaberdare Partnership Voluntary Arrangementaberdare PVAaberdare Tax Demandaberdare Invoice Financeaberdare Bridging Financeaberdare Vouchersaberdare Dealsaberdare Matalanaberdare Firewoodaberdare Fire Woodaberdare Kiln Dried Hardwoodaberdare Logs For Saleaberdare Log Suppliesaberdare Logsaberdare Firewood Logsaberdare Seasoned Logsaberdare Hardwood Logsaberdare Firewood Suppliersaberdare Firewood Log Suppliersaberdare Firewood Dumpy Bagsaberdare Firewood Cratesaberdare Cheap Firewoodaberdare Homefire Logsaberdare Cheap Firewood Logsaberdare Kindle Conesaberdare Pizza Oven Logsaberdare Heating Oilaberdare Home Heating Oilaberdare Red Dieselaberdare White Dieselaberdare Kereseneaberdare Commercial Fuelsaberdare Calor Gasaberdare Propane Gasaberdare Butane Gasaberdare Heating Gasaberdare Horse Trainingaberdare Horse Traineraberdare Horse Whispereraberdare Equine Whispereraberdare Horse Whisperer Victoria Smithaberdare Rattan Garden Furnitureaberdare Rattan Furnitureaberdare Rattan Sofaaberdare Rattan Dining Setaberdare Rattan Directaberdare Cheap Rattan Furnitureaberdare Rattan Corner Sofasaberdare Rattan Day Bedsaberdare Rattan Sun Loungersaberdare Rattan Cube Setsaberdare Rattan Bistro Setsaberdare Chimeneasaberdare Firepitsaberdare Patio Heatersaberdare Card Payments Processingaberdare Credit Card Processingaberdare Merchant Servicesaberdare Merchant Accountaberdare Merchant Paymentsaberdare Card Machinesaberdare Card Terminalsaberdare Online Paymentsaberdare Worldpayaberdare Bouncy Castlesaberdare Bouncy Castle Hireaberdare Garden Trampolinesaberdare Pramsaberdare Pushchairsaberdare Strollersaberdare Hauck Pramsaberdare Huackaberdare Childrens Trampolinesaberdare Baby Mobilesaberdare Baby Activity Matsaberdare Baby Bedroom Furnitureaberdare Childrens Bedroom Furnitureaberdare Hygiene Vendingaberdare Washroom Vendingaberdare Air Freshenersaberdare Air Careaberdare Aerosol Systemsaberdare Gel Systemsaberdare Water Savingaberdare Urinal Water Savingaberdare Eco Capsaberdare Sensaflushaberdare Water Managementaberdare Urinal Dosingaberdare Urinal V Screensaberdare Legionella Risk Assessmentaberdare Legionaires Bacterialaberdare Odour Controlaberdare Odour Eliminationaberdare Odour Removalaberdare Airsterilaberdare Hand Careaberdare Hand Creamaberdare Hand Soapaberdare Hand Washingaberdare Hand Dryingaberdare Hand Dryersaberdare Electric Hand Dryersaberdare Fast Hand Dryersaberdare Commercial Hand Dryersaberdare Energy Efficient Hand Dryersaberdare Hand Dryer Rentalaberdare Hand Dryer Salesaberdare Paper Towelsaberdare Roller Towelsaberdare Cotton Roller Towelsaberdare Blue Roller Towelsaberdare White Roller Towelsaberdare Janitorial Suppliesaberdare Janitorialaberdare Cleaning Suppliesaberdare Cleaning Productsaberdare Cleaning Equipmentaberdare Office Cleaningaberdare Home Cleaningaberdare Debt Recovery Servicesaberdare Debt Recoveryaberdare Debt Collectionaberdare Outsource Credit Controlaberdare Collection Agencyaberdare Debt Collection Agencyaberdare Commercial Canopyaberdare Steel Canopyaberdare Bike Shedsaberdare Bike Storageaberdare Bicycle Storeaberdare Bicycle Storageaberdare Bikes Storeaberdare Bike Storeaberdare Outdoor Canopyaberdare Cycle Sheltersaberdare Cycle Shedaberdare Cycle Storageaberdare Cycle Rackaberdare Cycle Compoundaberdare Cycle Solutionsaberdare Scooter Storageaberdare Scooter Shelteraberdare Canopiesaberdare Canopyaberdare Play Area Canopyaberdare Entrance Canopiesaberdare Entrance Canopyaberdare Waiting Shelteraberdare Smoking Shelteraberdare Parent Waiting Shelteraberdare Parent Shelteraberdare Teen Shelteraberdare Nursery Canopyaberdare School Canopyaberdare Play Canopyaberdare Envirolawnaberdare Astroturfaberdare Cheap Astroturfaberdare Artificial Grassaberdare Cheap Artificial Grassaberdare Astro Turfaberdare Artificial Lawnaberdare Fake Grassaberdare Fake Lawnaberdare Fire Stove Glassaberdare Heat Resistant Glassaberdare Fire Glassaberdare Stove Glassaberdare Fire Resistant Glassaberdare Replacement Stove Glassaberdare Glass For Stovesaberdare Spill Kitsaberdare Spill Control Kitsaberdare Spill Kit Refillsaberdare Spill Kit Refill GK6aberdare Chemical Spill Kitsaberdare Oil Spill Kitsaberdare Solar Panelsaberdare Solar Panels Costaberdare Solar Heatingaberdare Solar PVaberdare Commercial Solaraberdare Photovoltaicaberdare Dust Matsaberdare Entrance Matsaberdare Reception Matsaberdare Anti Fatigue Matsaberdare Floor Matsaberdare Logo Matsaberdare Washroom Servicesaberdare Principal Washroomsaberdare Washrooms Suppliesaberdare Washrooms Solutionsaberdare Sanitary Disposalaberdare Sanitary Binsaberdare Sani Binsaberdare Lady Binsaberdare Feminine Hygiene Unitsaberdare Sanitary Waste Disposalaberdare Sanitary Wasteaberdare Sanitary Unitsaberdare Feminine Unitsaberdare Hygiene Servicesaberdare Sanitary Bin Supplieraberdare Sanitary Bin Rentalaberdare Sanitary Bin Rental Servicesaberdare General Wasteaberdare Trade Wasteaberdare Commercial Wasteaberdare Business Wasteaberdare Waste Managementaberdare Waste Collectionaberdare Cardboard Wasteaberdare Paper Wasteaberdare Plastic Wasteaberdare Glass Wasteaberdare Biomass Wasteaberdare Metal Wasteaberdare Confidential Wasteaberdare Confidential Waste Serviceaberdare On Site Shreddingaberdare Off Site Shreddingaberdare One Off Shreddingaberdare Contract Shreddingaberdare Dental Wasteaberdare Dental Waste Disposalaberdare Dental Waste Legislationaberdare Dental Waste Complianceaberdare Accupuncture Wasteaberdare Accupuncture Waste Disposalaberdare Accupuncture Waste Collectionaberdare Tattoo Wasteaberdare Tattoo Waste Disposalaberdare Sharps Binaberdare Sharps Collectionaberdare Hazardous Sharpsaberdare Non Hazardous Sharpsaberdare Cytotoxic Sharpsaberdare Cytostatic Sharpsaberdare Ink Blockaberdare Wet_Wasteaberdare Tattoo Inkaberdare Drug Destructionaberdare Drug Disposalaberdare Drug Denaturingaberdare Unwanted Drugsaberdare Out Of Date Drugsaberdare Pest Controlaberdare Rodent Controlaberdare Bird Controlaberdare Bird Proofingaberdare Guano Controlaberdare Pest Call Outaberdare Pest Preventionaberdare Pest Deterrentaberdare Nursery Wasteaberdare Nappy Wasteaberdare Nappy Binaberdare Nappy Disposalaberdare Nappy Wheelie Binaberdare Nursery Waste Disposalaberdare Nursery Waste Collectionaberdare Incontinence Padsaberdare Offensive Wasteaberdare Human Wasteaberdare Nursing Home Wasteaberdare Care Home Wasteaberdare Hazardous Wasteaberdare Infectous Wasteaberdare Pharmaceutical Wasteaberdare Medicinal Wasteaberdare Medicine Wasteaberdare Infection Controlaberdare Hand Sanitisersaberdare Clinical Waste Disposalaberdare Clinical Waste Managementaberdare Clinical Waste Policyaberdare EA Registrationaberdare Hammocksaberdare Garden Hammocksaberdare Adult Hammocksaberdare Childrens Hammocksaberdare Baby Hammocks