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Porco Rosso
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki - Family, Adventure, Comedy, Animation - 93 minutes - PG -1992
Summary: Set in Italy, the picture hearkens back to classic 30s-40s era cinema, only with a flying pilot pig for a hero! Battling against dastardly sky pirates and aided by spunky girl mechanic Fio Piccolo and his longtime friend Madame Gina, can Porco save the day and regain his humanity?
Rosso might not get the attention of a Spirited Away or Totoro, but it’s just as good, just as joyous a viewing experience. Plus, it features one of cinemas great opening sequences: one that is packed with thrilling aerial acrobatics and planeloads of hilarity (those kids were so damn adorable and funny). It sets the stage nicely for the sparkling action/romance to come.
As with all of Miyazaki’s features the characters are well rendered. Porco (aka Marco) is laconic kin to certain John Ford protagonists, in that he’s a robust man’s man (or pig’s pig?) at a stage where everything’s changing in the world and this adventure will likely be his last hurrah.
In addition, I got a kick out of Porco’s youthful sidekick. I loved her enthusiasm and way she keeps these roughnecks in line. She’s also part of that changing world Porco has to adjust too.
The art is a dream. I admired the wonderfully appointed sets, the craft and costume designs. Gina’s clothing in particular was fashionably attractive, with neat line work and soft colors.
The action is skillfully choreographed, and I was entranced by the details in the animation - the way objects and people moved: ala the splash of water when planes slice across ocean surfaces, or in the clouds and rising aircraft pictured during Porco’s bedtime story. My eye always had something to savor, and I enjoy the story as well.
For some reason I missed it on its opening run, it came and left theaters without my notice, but now that I've found it, I consider it one of Miyazaki’s finest.
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki - Family, Adventure, Comedy, Animation - 93 minutes - PG -1992
Summary: Set in Italy, the picture hearkens back to classic 30s-40s era cinema, only with a flying pilot pig for a hero! Battling against dastardly sky pirates and aided by spunky girl mechanic Fio Piccolo and his longtime friend Madame Gina, can Porco save the day and regain his humanity?
Rosso might not get the attention of a Spirited Away or Totoro, but it’s just as good, just as joyous a viewing experience. Plus, it features one of cinemas great opening sequences: one that is packed with thrilling aerial acrobatics and planeloads of hilarity (those kids were so damn adorable and funny). It sets the stage nicely for the sparkling action/romance to come.
As with all of Miyazaki’s features the characters are well rendered. Porco (aka Marco) is laconic kin to certain John Ford protagonists, in that he’s a robust man’s man (or pig’s pig?) at a stage where everything’s changing in the world and this adventure will likely be his last hurrah.
In addition, I got a kick out of Porco’s youthful sidekick. I loved her enthusiasm and way she keeps these roughnecks in line. She’s also part of that changing world Porco has to adjust too.
The art is a dream. I admired the wonderfully appointed sets, the craft and costume designs. Gina’s clothing in particular was fashionably attractive, with neat line work and soft colors.
The action is skillfully choreographed, and I was entranced by the details in the animation - the way objects and people moved: ala the splash of water when planes slice across ocean surfaces, or in the clouds and rising aircraft pictured during Porco’s bedtime story. My eye always had something to savor, and I enjoy the story as well.
For some reason I missed it on its opening run, it came and left theaters without my notice, but now that I've found it, I consider it one of Miyazaki’s finest.