Porco Rosso [DVD]

Yet more proof from a master storyteller that anime is as high a form of art as any. This fabulously poignant and funny story contains many of Hayao Miyazaki's marks of quirky genius. It's about the life and loves of a seaplane pilot who has been turned into a pig and makes his living in the Adriatic as a bounty hunter, during the rise of Fascism in Italy. So what's so strange about that? After all, as he says, while he is calmly sorting through his sub-standard ammunition on the night before a Duel to the Death with his satisfyingly villanous arch-rival, "All middle-aged men are pigs." Unlike any other film in the world, and unlike the other Studio Ghibli films. An act of gratuitous creativity. Visually ravishing, but to anyone interested in animation and storytelling, this is a bottomless goldmine of expertise in every aspect of the art; timing, framing, characterisation, colour, background detail, you name it. Both Japanese and American voicework are flawless, though the Japanese version has some moments of true poignancy that were missed in the US version, which is slightly more facile in a couple of places. Every single character in the film is faultlessly animated, penetratingly observed, and funny. Every scene is worth seeing a hundred times. But the story itself, my dears, is just so plain inspired, teetering as it does along the brink of some fairly punchy taboo areas, but always with a delightfully clear and high and affectionate moral purpose. And even the credits at the end, which combine a hauntingly beautiful song by the wonderful Tokiko Kato with Hayao Miyazaki's hilarious sketches of tween-wars pilots and their planes, hold the viewer between tears and laughter. Miyazaki-san, thank you! Buy several copies and give all but one to your best friends.

MAGIC

Utterly gorgeous to look at, with at least two of the most beautiful sequences of animation ever filmed. But also very funny, engaging, and thoughtful by turns. Plenty here for film fans of any age and persuasion, plotlines ranging from old-fashioned unrequited love (Gina and Marco) to adventure (Porco v. just about everybody else in the air), to political intrigue (secret police etc), but the main focus is less the story than the sheer romance of flying and rescuing fantastic machines amid wonderful scenery. When Porco tells Fio the story of how he came to be cursed - which is all a bit existential, not that that matters at all - it's perhaps the most poignant scene of any animated film: gently enigmatic, glorious to see, and just plain heartbreaking, all at once. I first saw the film just over 10 years ago, slightly intrigued by what all the fuss was about, and loved it straightaway. Since then I've watched it probably every other year. More surprisingly, despite plenty of competition from fine newer releases by Miyazaki, Pixar et al., my children adore this film it as much as ever (they were 5-ish on first seeing it, so 15-ish now and still wanting to see it) - that's quite a test of the Crimson Pig's durability. Miyazaki, on form, is arguably the best hand-drawn animator alive. Porco Rosso is among his very finest work.

As a recent convert to Ghibli films and someone with an interest in early aviation, this was a must-have DVD. Whilst films like "Totoro" are clearly aimed at kids, this film is an odd mixture. The opening sequence where the children are kidnapped by pirates is rather cutesy and there seems to be an obvious borrowing of the character Bluto from Popeye. However, the film then relocates to a bar at which point the references quickly change tact and this appears to be a re-imagining of "Casablanca" with our hero being a wise-cracking re-working of Humphrey Bogart complete with raincoat and cigarette. The arrival of a brash, American rival to challenge Porco Rosso also serves to raise the bar somewhat above a typical children's film and the film's conclusion certainly re-emphasizes this fact. There is also a moving scene where the planes of pilots killed in dogfights during World War One are seen ascending towards heaven which might not be suitable for younger children. As with all Ghibli films, the images are extremely striking, well drawn and full of vivid colours. All in all, this is a very ambiguous film. As per usual with Ghibli, it is the girl engineer, Theo, who transpires to be the most favourable character and another woman, Gina, the most sympathetic. Children will probably not pick up on the references to an earlier generastion of Hollywood films and will simply enjoy the action sequences, especially whee the planes are involved. There is a lot of humour although some of the wisecracks seem at odds with an animation film and the scenes at the workshop where the new planes is designed and built are a highlight in this respect even if some parents may be scratching their heads at remarks about the size of the girl engineer's butt! The section of the film concludes with a hairy take-off sequence along a series of canals and is the highlight of the film for me. Beautifully illustrated, this is not necessarily a film for children but the story is enjoyable even if there are scenes of fighting which probably are a bit more realistic than the usual Tom & Jerry type scrap. Older children will enjoy this as will adults but probably best avoided for the very youngest.

This was one of those movies were I got to the end and realized I enjoyed it, don't get me wrong I was enjoying watching it but it's such a unique film that it can be hard to grasp at first. It came this morning and I've watched it twice already, the second time was a lot more enjoyable, it's a very classy film, very different to any other Miyazaki film I've seen, it just goes to show what an ingeniously diverse talent he has.

Porco Rosso is another Studio Ghibli gem. If you understand Pokemon you will get the themes and story lines in Studio Ghibli films. Porco Rosso is easy on the eye and brain. A selfish fighter pilot survives a fight his friend doesn't and he is commissioned by his friend to look after his now widow while being cursed (pig appearance) and dodging different authorities. The film deals with some quite adult themes such as death, relationships, bigotry, war and in the case of Porco Rosso challenging his beliefs about women and their place in society but it is done with an element of humour and satirical comedy. It seems to end abruptly but perhaps I missed something and I will have to watch it a few more times to get the ending - not everything is USA and have to have a conclusion. Our first purchase from Studio Ghibli was 'Howls moving Castle' which all ages in our family loved, we were very pleased with this second helping from SG. Its PG rating however is earned and you will be pestered by the very young with 'why' and 'whats that mean'. It is typical of Studio Ghibli.

This is without a doubt the best that Studio Ghibli has to offer. A beautifully filmed masterpiece. With perfect backdrops, a dose of humour, a sweet and wonderfully adventurous storyline and an ambitious, free and dream-like quality in it; Hayao Miyazaki has created a piece that allows you to escape this life and take to the skies. Whether it be in Porco's ongoing chance at redemption, Julia's hope that he will let go of his past, Fio's admiration of flight, the truly spectacular imagery that has been created, or just the fantastic humour in Curtis and The Seaplane Pirates; this film has something for everybody and more for Anime Fans.

I put off buying this until fairly recently because I'd wrongly assumed it would only really be enjoyed by men when in fact it's actually one for the whole family. All the characters, including the baddies are great fun, especially the unfortunate pirates tormented by the group of adorable schools girls kidnapped for ransom at the start of the film. The hero is Porco Rosso, a fearless air pilot whose face at some point in the past turned into that of a pig and who hires himself out for rescue missions, bounty hunts and the like, while spending much of his time with his 'close' friend, singer and hotel owner Gina. When local usurpers severely damage his plane, he travels to Milan with a young talented female mechanic in order to repair it, all while attempting to outwit the Italian secret police, air force and local pirates.

Très bon achat

The opening scene of Porco Rosso shows that the year is 1929, a decade after the First World War. This is depicted on the cover of the magazine Cinema, which rests over Porco Rosso's piggish face. It was a time of high tension throughout Europe and the Mediterranean Sea where the story takes place. In Germany the Nazi's were gaining strength while planning their conquest of Germany and later Europe with the possibility of the world. Italians were under Il Duce's iron rule, as he commanded the Fascist party, the only party allowed. Nineteen twenty-nine was just years before Francisco Franco's control in Spain with a Fascist ideology. What is most alarming is that 1929 was only one decade away from the Second World War, which was slowly brewing throughout Europe. In essence, Hayao Miyazaki literally depicts the year that was in-between the two World Wars, but his film also turns into a political allegory for the that time. This allegory is depicted through a flying pig that defies political undercurrents by collecting bounties on outlaws and trying to stay outside the boundaries of society. Porco Rosso, once a man, now a pig due to a curse, flies for himself only, as he collects bounties and makes life sour for air pirates that terrorize the Mediterranean Sea. Porco lives a lonely life in a hide-away somewhere in Mediterranean Sea where he bathes in the sun when he is not hunting flying pirates. Isolation seems to be Porco's way of dealing with his appearance and the only excursion from his personal island is done with help of darkness. At night shadows help veil his pig face, as he visits his favorite hangout, Hotel Adriano. Miyazaki does a marvelous job in his creation of the character Porco who portrays dispositions such as selfishness, cynicism, and gloom through a pig without hope of being something better. The idea of using a pig is also remarkably brilliant, as the pig is often used as a symbol for greed and sloth. Porco's laziness is depicted through his sunbathing and his inactive participation in politics and society, as the world around him is once again about to crumble. The persona and attire of Porco brings a mood that is experienced through many film noirs where cynical characters meet in sleazy and ominous atmospheres. This is evident when Porco visits Hotel Adriano for the first time when all his enemies are present. The film noir that Porco Rosso offers also augments the cinematic value of the story, as it authentically depicts the time period. The cynicism is further enhanced if the audience reflects on the political atmosphere of the 1930s in Europe where politics divided families and neighbors turned each other in due to different beliefs. In the middle of this an American pilot, Donald Curtis, arrives to claim fame and secure a spot in Hollywood, and maybe later the Presidency. When Curtis for the first time hears Madame Gina sing at the restaurant at Hotel Adriana he falls in love. However, he does not know that her love belongs to another, even though this other does not know. Curtis' reason to come to Europe was to have a dogfight with the infamous Porco Rosso and he finds his opportunity when Porco is on his way to get his plane fixed. This is the way he wants to claim his fame by shooting down Porco, which he successfully does as Porco's plane has a motor problem. Somehow Porco succeeds in getting his plane through Italy and to Milan where Paolo Piccolo a skilled airplane mechanic that he trusts lives. When Porco arrives he discovers that the Paolo's 17-year old American granddaughter is more or less running the show. Initially, Porco is suspicious and wants to go to another mechanic, but is convinced to stay. Fortunately Porco's suspicions are groundless, as his suspicions seem to be more sexist than based on facts. When the plane is fixed Porco can return to his life, as a bounty hunter, but the political climate has changed and it seems to have put Porco in a spot where he is forced to take a side. Hayao Miyazaki's Porco Rosso is a fantastic animated journey that also makes a strong political statement. The film entertains young and old, but also leaves a lot for the audience to ponder while the magnificent animation transcends into the mind through vibrant colors and detailed lines. Cleverly, Miyazaki communicates his story through an obvious storyline that is visually explicit, but also hidden in visual codes and symbols. This means that the film is multifaceted with several ideas that can have an audience member scratching their head for a long time. The story also keeps the viewers on the edge of their seat, as nail-biting suspense leaves the audience guessing what will happen next. Ultimately, this cinematic masterpiece leaves the audience with a fulfilling experience that offers something for everyone.

Trasformato in maiale per un incantesimo non meglio precisato, Porco Rosso è il soprannome di Marco Pagot, un grande aviatore dell’Italia tra le due guerre. Ribellatosi al regime fascista, fugge dalla patria con il suo aereo e diventa il protettore di tutte le genti contro i pirati del Mediterraneo. Non si pensi tuttavia ad un puro paladino della giustizia, perché Porco Rosso, è in realtà più interessato ai soldi che agli ideali nella sua nuova veste di cacciatore di taglie. Oltre che in perenne competizione con gli altri aviatori, con i quali non rinuncia, quando può, ad ingaggiare pericolosi duelli aerei. Persa un giorno la sfida contro l’americano Donald Curtis, Porco Rosso fa segretamente ritorno a Milano, dove conosce la giovane Fio Piccolo, che lo aiuta a costruire un nuovo potente idrovolante e lo segue verso il sogno di una rivincita. Tra i due nasce una profonda amicizia, grazie alla quale Porco Rosso riesce a superare un altro scoglio: l’amore mai concretizzatosi con la bella Gina, la donna più ambita di Europa. Che ha un passato doloroso (è tre volte vedova, di altrettanti mariti-aviatori) e sentimenti, discreti ma veri, per l'amico di gioventù Marco. A metà strada tra la vicenda storica e un’Europa di fantasia dominata dal rombo degli idrovolanti, Porco Rosso è un’opera capace di coinvolgere a diversi livelli adulti e bambini. Emerge anche più evidente che in altre opere di Miyazaki un giudizio sul passato totalitaristico del vecchio mondo. Il “folle volo” di Porco Rosso segna il rifiuto dell’oppressione fascista, e il tentativo di affermare la libertà in un momento storico preciso; e fa impressione, in un cartone animato, vedere un Potere che insegue e spia (le donne dell'officina Piccolo lavorano segretamente per costruire il nuovo aereo di Porco Rosso). Un giudizio severo che coinvolge anche Hollywood, dove Curtis vorrebbe portare Gina, e dove sogna di sfondare prima di arrivare addirittura alla Casa Bianca (evidente riferimento a Ronald Reagan). La caustica ironia della donna, che rifiuta amando troppo l’Europa e l’italiano Porco Rosso, suona come una scelta di campo tra due diversi modi di concepire il cinema. Per quanto riguarda la realizzazione tecnica non ho molto da dire su questo tema: i disegni sono molto simili a quelli di Kiki, e sono perfetti, specie nei fondali, a tratteggiare l’ambientazione marittima del film, anche se lo stile con cui sono disegnati i personaggi è più caricaturale del solito, e deve di più ai cartoni animati occidentali che agli anime. Non è un caso, ovviamente, ma un ulteriore omaggio all’animazione nostrana sulle musiche, anche qui basti dire che il solito, ottimo Joe Hisaishi ha composto gran parte della colonna sonora, ma la parte del leone la fa la bellissima “Toki ni wa”.

The movie is one of the greatest ghibli, but when I put the blu ray in my ps4, blu ray player, or xbox it said it was the wrong region, i ended up changing the region of my ps4 and i dont wanna do dat kinda thing, thanks a lot amazong.

Es básicamente la misma edición que cualquiera de las anteriores más caras sólo que sin libretos ni libros ni steelbooks por lo que por menos de 8 euros que me costó creo que he realizado una compra excepcional (si quiero libros sobre la película o los estudios ghilby los compro aparte). Es decir tiene la película en varios idiomas incluidos algunos autonómicos y los extras que son los storyboards, entrevistas, promos y trailers de la película. Es curioso lo de los storyboards porque en vez de ser un conjunto de fotos o de láminas mejor o peor hechas por las que pasas con el botón delante o retroceso están integrados como si fuera una película o sea que tienes una película de una hora y 35 minutos (con el sonido de la misma) realizado con dibujos y esbozos de como sería la misma dibujados a mano en resumen una manera distinta de revisarla. Sobre lo demás imagen y sonido perfectos y limpios una gozada tras los vhs y los ripeos de dudosa procedencia, por cosas como ésta da gusto revisar los clásicos. Envío de Amazón ultrarápido y encima me vino con más cosas por lo que no tuve que esperar a que viniesen otros paquetes que pedí.