My general impression is that while they have made some absolutely wonderful movies, they have a few stinkers, too. The only one I haven't seen (including Ocean Waves and this one) is the Cat Returns, so I can't comment on it. My least favorites are Nausicaa, Laputa, and Only Yesterday.
Favorites are Porco Rosso, Pom Poko, Yamadas, Spirited Away and Castle of Cagliostro.
My least favourite is Pom Poko, which I thought was too episodic.
My favourite is probably Porco Rosso.
Cagliostro and Nausicaa aren't strictly Ghibli films (though the latter has been re-released under that banner) as they both pre-date the formation of the studio. I love them both, especially Nausicaa which is my favourite of Miyazaki's movies.
Haven't seen all of them yet and I'm about to see Only Yesterday but from teh ones I've seen: Nausicaa, Laputa, Grave Of The Fireflies, Kiki, Totoro, Pom Poko, Panda Go Panda, Cagliostro, Porco Rosso, Spirited Away, Mononoke and Howl *gasps for air* my least favorites are Mononoke and Porco Rosso.
The one I like best is probably Grave Of The Fireflies with Nausicaa and Kiki as a runner-up.
Did you ever notice that people who believe in creationism look really un-evolved? - Bill Hicks
I've met a few people who didnt enjoy Only Yesterday so I headed into expecting myself to not enjoy the film, but I came out on the other side realising that it quite possibly one of my favourite Ghibli films.
I can understand peoples reasons for not liking the title as it is quite a quiet whimsical film, but I really enjoyed how well observed it was, and how I could relate to so much of her life as a girl- (geographic location aside).
Personally my least favourite Ghibli films (although I hate to classify them in such a way) would possibly be Naussica- not because it was a bad film, but it just didnt sit well with me
I bought Only Yesterday 2 weeks ago and only got around to watching it yesterday (its impossible to rent studio ghibli movies)
It was absolutely fantastic. I hate watching animation with subtitles, but nevertheless, I was aboslutely captivated!
The studio Ghibli movies Iv seen are: only yesterday, Nausicaa, Howls moving castle, Mononoke, whisper of the heart, grave of the fireflies, kiki, spirited away, totoro, laputa, tales from the earthsea and the cat returns.
My least favourites are laputa and kiki, but not to any fault of ghibli's. I've only seen the english versions of these movies and the voices were dreadful, like nails against a chalkboard!
But if I ignored the voices, I would have to say the cat returns and tales from the earthsea didnt do all that much for me. They really lacked the magic found in Ghibli movies.
My favourites are all tied between nausicaa, mononoke and howls :)
Tristan: For all time they will say it was our love that brought down a kingdom. Remember us.
I have to say that my least favorite movie made by Ghibli is the one i aswell love the most, Nausicaa. Why i don't like it? The movie feels like something unfinished! Thus, it's just an adaptation of the manga made by Miyazaki, and Nausicaa in it's full lenght? Whoa... When i found it at my local library i had no higher hopes over it, but the characters, the messages, the art! Amazing!
This i put as my number one "Ghibli"-made thing, Nausicaa the manga.
One thing i think of, is that when most people in the western world hear about Ghibli they think of Miyazaki's movies, Isao Takahata is somewhat... Uncredited.
Don't get me wrong, Miyazaki is one of the greatest directors and storytellers of our time (in my opinion) but Takahata's movies are more... Well, deeper into the parts of psycology, how i'm now going to say it, and many people, among me for starters (though not anymore!), have a hard time being able to take an animated movie that seriously. Specially in the western culture, whom has been nutured with Disney for ages! Now when miyazaki's movies are getting more and more attention, thus building a bridge to an adult aproach of animated movies, will hopefully Takahata gain a larger name in the western world! Beacuse, let's face it, Omohide poro poro and Grave of the Fireflies are better than icecream!
I also thought Only Yesterday was weaker than the rest of the Ghibli films. Way too preachy.
When darkness overcomes the heart, Lil' Slugger appears...
BESTS:
Whisper of the Heart
Spirited Away
Grave of the Fireflies
WORSTS:
Pom Poko
Princess Mononoke (NOT BAD, just not re-watchable IMO)
Only Yesterday (NOT BAD, just not as good as the rest, probably better to watch when I am an adult!)
FAVORITES:
The Cat Returns
KiKi's Delivery Service
My Neighbors the Yamadas
[deleted]
It's because Takahata's film's are rooted in reality. The characters are faulted and go through the trials of life we all do. Miyazaki's films are feel good escapism. That's why Ghibli is so good. It's the perfect blend, and with those two running the show, they can do no wrong (I haven't seen Earthsea yet).
shareonly yesterday is quite sad if you think about it, it shows how your past dies and about growing up, i actually found it sad. when she thinks about fifth grade memories it is quite sad ( not the story but something else).
cant think of anything clever to write
I thought it was a pointlessly mundane film! But maybe I was expecting action/adventure/fantasy like with most other Ghibli films. I'll watch it again soon.
shareI watched it again and changed my mind about it! ^^ It's still mundane, but perfectly charming as long as you're not expecting a rollercoaster ride.
sharethe story is pretty bland, i like some scenes when the childrens come back to help the main character in the end, ( i dont know why but i find it sad)
cant think of anything clever to write
I love many of the films -- but I love this most of all. It is not for action-adventure fans -- but fans of classic Japanese cinema (where family dramas of this sort play a major role).
MEK
Every dream is a prophecy: every jest is an earnest in the womb of Time.
[deleted]
Least favourite: Whisper of the Heart.
Although I appreciate what it's about I just can't seem to get into it! I've tried three times already and I keep switching it off by the time she starts discovering her creativity and the movie starts showing the highly acclaimed fantasy scenes (which I believe were made into the movie Cat Returns. Love that movie, btw). But the movie is a bit too long and it doesn't hold my interest, even though I appreciate it's messege and whatnot.
Favourite: Grave of the Fireflies.
Quite frankly, rarely does a movie effect me the way this one has. You can't not watch it and feel a little sadness after it. I think it's ghibli's finest and one of the best war themed movies I've ever seen (and I don't even like war-based movies).
Cat Returns is supposed to be another story Shizuku wrote about the Baron later, rather than the one we see clips from in Whisper of the Heart.
I found Cat Returns a bit disappointing, but I loved Whisper of the Heart.
you love the cat returns and hate whisper of the heart, then you dont have love for ghibli movies, cat returns looked like a disney movie.
..dont try to get tough with a keyboard
[deleted]
i dont believe you put howls moving castle at the bottom, its the best studio ghibli movie.
***highest***
howls moving castle
princess mononoke
whisper of the heart
grave of the fireflies
porco rosso
only yesterday
ocean waves
the cat returns
***lowest***
not bothered to put others, cant think of all the studio ghibli movies at the moment. cat returns is my least favourite studio ghibli movie
cant think of anything clever to write
Best (IMHO)
1. Tonari no Totoro
2. Grave of the fireflies
3. Whisper of the heart
4. Nausicaä of the valley of the wind
5. Spirited away
6. Mononoke Hime
7. Only Yesterday
8. Laputa: Castle in the sky
9. Howl's Moving Castle
10. The cat returns
11. Pom Poko
Still haven't seen Kiki's, Porco rosso, Coglistro, little norse prince, earthsea, etc
HIGHEST TO LOWEST: (FAVORITES)
-The Cat Returns
-Whisper of the Heart
-Spirited Away
-KiKi's Delivery Service
-My Neighbors the Yamadas
-Howl's Moving Castle
-Porco Rosso
-My Neighbor Totoro
-Ponyo
-Castle in the Sky
-Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
-Only Yesterday
-Grave of the Fireflies
-Princess Mononoke
-Pom Poko
1.Spirited Away 11/10
2.Princess Mononoke 10/10
3.Grave Of The Fireflies 10/10
4.Nausicaä 10/10
5.Only Yesterday 10/10
6.Whisper Of The Heart 9,5/10
7.Laputa 9,5/10
8.My Neighbours the Yamadas 9/10
9.Porco Rosso 9/10
10.My Neighbour Totoro 9/10
11.Pom Poko 8,5/10
12.Cagliostro 8,5/10
13.Kikis Delivery Service 8/10
14.Howl's Moving Castle 8/10
15.Tales From Earthsea 8/10
16.Cat returns 7/10
[deleted]
I finished my Ghibli marathon. I saw all of the titles you listed but one (Earthsea) and I also managed to watch Miyazaki's Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea.
Surprisingly, my rating is EXACTLY like yours. But being IMDB, I rounded down for the ratings.
I don't understand the distaste of Only Yesterday that I'm reading. It's one of the most heartwarming of all the Ghibli films.
Ponyo I gave a 9 out of 10.
Ghibli films are never stinkers...
and anyhow, watch 'The Cat Returns", cos its my all time fav.
"Only Yesterday" was awesome! unless you dont understand it, of course...
Least (worst)
Cat Returns
Gedo Senki
Most (best)
Lupin III Castle of Cagliostro
Only Yesterday
Whisper of the Heart
Least:
Ghiblies: Episode 1 (5/10)
Ghiblies: Episode 2 (6/10)
Gedo Senki (6/10)
On Your Mark (7/10)
Iblard Jikan (7/10)
Umi Ga Kikoeru (7/10)
Most:
Sen To Chihiro No Kamikakushi (10/10)
Hauru No Ugoku Shiro (10/10)
Kaze No Tani No Naushika (10/10)
my vote history: http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=23949572
Least favourite? The little norse prince.
Not bad, but one expects a lot more from God Isao Takahata, who also directed Only Yesterday, the best film ever made!
tis not Ghibli movie, and by the way one of the best they did before Ghibli
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=23949572 - My vote history (>6000 titles)