MovieChat Forums > Gedo senki (2006) Discussion > Some thoughts from my side

Some thoughts from my side

posted 8 years ago by avlis-nec
6 replies | jump to latest

Right after watching this movie for the first time, I noticed a very negativ reception surounding it, especially here on IMDb. If you look at the message board you´ll see that only two discusions have been started since the movie came out in 2006. The first one being called "Favorite Ghibli heroine/leading lady?" with 4 comments and the second one "What's worse: This or Cars 2?" comparing it to PIXARs biggest failure Cars 2.

I came in contact with it after watching Doug Walker´s Disneycember 2014. As someone who had until then seen only three Ghibli movies (finding them at that time for my taste odd but entartaining) I decided to give all the one he mentioned a try. I can tell you a whole new world opened for me.

So I asked my self "Why is nobody talking about it?" Is it so unknown? But then again, its Ghibli, sure somebody came across it. Was it too complicaded and boring? Was it too ugly looking? Was the english dub so bad? Was it too dark?

I´m opening here a discusion I hope could give me some answers. And If anybody has a question for me, like why do I like this movie so much or how I unterstand parts of it, you are welcome to ask.

[–] PreachCaleb 8 years ago

I've seen a lot of people complain that the movie deviated too far from the source material.

And while I don't think it's a bad movie (there's plenty I like), I do think the pacing is a bit too uneven and film drags at times.

You are sin.

[–] avlis-nec 7 years ago

But deviating from source material is something movies do very often. Lord Of The Rings doesn´t follow the books word by word and I´m sure Harry Potter did the same thing and still these movies were huge hits.
But I agree with you that the pacing is not the best, and still I find it unfair to compare it to Cars2

[–] PreachCaleb 7 years ago

But deviating from source material is something movies do very often. Lord Of The Rings doesn´t follow the books word by word and I´m sure Harry Potter did the same thing and still these movies were huge hits.

True, but they still stuck real close to it. From what I've heard, this deviated way too far or mashed together various plots.

Having not read the books, I can't really comment on that. Based on the movie itself, I do think it's one of Ghibli's weakest. However, I find it immensely more enjoyable than Cars 2. Or even Cars 1.

Seize the moment, 'cause tomorrow you might be dead.

[–] SteffenDahlke 7 years ago

Well I just watched it the third time so far and like you wanted to see what the imdb message board has to say about it. So since there is not much discussion going on here I'll just give you my two cents.

I absolutely adore this movie!
I have to say I didn't read the books, and while I can understand to some degree that the story could be a little confusing since a lot of the world and character backgrounds aren't explained very much, I personally didn't feel confused at all. For me it's not the plot story, as in background, world building and so on that gets the movie going but the emotional rollercoaster that guides me through the entire experience. I dont know exactly how this movie accomplishes that, but watching it I got goosebumps and teary eyes severall times.
Normally I'm not too big of a fan of defending plotholes by dropping the phrase suspension of disbelief, but on this occasion for me it is exactly that.
This movie just draws me immediatly in so I got emotionally involved before ever having time to ask myself what is going on. And thats what makes this movie so great in my opinion.

[–] avlis-nec 7 years ago

Thank you very much for your response! :)

I didn´t read the books eather and, like you say, not everything is explained, but to be honest I think in this case it makes the movie look more real. I always got the feeling that the movie knows its own history and mythos, and if the movie know what it talks about then it is good made.

[–] rudeboymurray (3241) 4 years ago

I loved the books and had high hopes for this but it bored me to tears. I have no problem with adaptations deviating from the source - it’s a different medium - but there are some wonderfully cinematic sequences in the novels that were completely ignored in place of a drab, unengaging and completely uninspired mishmash. A massive disappointment for me.