It might be an animated TV movie, but to me it felt more real than most of the live-action TV dramas out there, because everything shown in that movie seems so realistic and familiar and therefore gives you a similar warm and nostalgic feeling that you also get while watching movies like My Neighbor Totoro. For some reason this movie just speaks to me like no other Ghibli movies can. ![]() But with "The Ocean Waves/Umi Ga Kikoeru", I felt like I was the main character and his story was my story. I always felt I was merely watching the movie, instead of "experiencing" it. Don't get me wrong, I can see why they are great masterpieces and why people would love them, but personally I just couldn't connect with any of those movies nor can I relate to the characters. Truth to be told I never really enjoyed all those Miyazaki extravaganzas such as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away or Howl's Moving Castle, which of course isn't to say that they are not great. And it helps a great deal too if you also know a thing or two about the Japanese culture and life in small town there. The thing is you can't just watch the movie, you have to "feel" the movie and its characters as well. In other words, it's more about how you feel about/relate to the characters (dialogs, emotions, relationships, etc) than what you see on screen (the plot, actions, stunning visuals, etc). It's more of a character-driven film than a plot-driven one. As some reviewers have said, this film is all about the subtleties. To them I'd say you people just didn't get it. Now it seems that the complaints from those who were less impressed by this film are mostly centered around the film's (seemingly) lack of a solid plot or exciting actions. ![]() You may not have the similar experience as the male protagonist, but you can certainly relate to him and understand what he's going through (at least I could). Instead, it just tells a simple (yet highly-effective) coming-of-age story about an ordinary high school teenager in a realistic and sincere way. brave and independent heroine, epic stories, unusual adventures.you get the picture). It doesn't follow the usual Miyazaki formula (i.e. ![]() It's a shame that this little gem is often underrated, under-appreciated and neglected by Ghibli fans, because it's so not like anything Ghibli or Miyazaki has done so far (which, ironically, is one of the reasons why I love it so much). And the more I watch this film and the older I get, the more I appreciate it. The reason I love it is because out of all the great Ghibli works, this one speaks to me the most. First off let me say that this is my top 3 favorite films from Ghibli Studio (the other two being Castle in the Sky, and My Neighbor Totoro). I rarely write reviews for movies but I simply have to recommend this one and straighten a few things out. Working as both an intriguing coming-of-age drama & a muted love story, Studio Ghibli's first & only TV feature still remains their least seen work and even though it is no match to their greatest efforts, it nonetheless deserves a watch or two. On an overall scale, Ocean Waves is a gentle meditation on teen relationships and is brought to life with sufficient care, affection & sincerity. However, despite being only 72 minutes long, the film still feels somewhat stretched out. The backdrop setting is splendidly detailed at all times. Her behaviour & actions add an element of mystery in the story and it unfurls very gradually. Of the three people caught in the love triangle, it is the character of Rikako Muto who exhibits the most interesting arc. The story is grounded & lifelike, and it never tries to do more than it can handle. Its hand-drawn animation may not rival the best works of the studio but it still carries their quality stamp on it. ![]() Directed by Saeko Himuro, the plot is always focused on the characters & their relationships, all of which is portrayed in a very subtle & authentic manner. Based on the novel of the same name, the story of Ocean Waves follows a young college kid who's returning home after his first year at university but after glimpsing a familiar girl at the train station, recalls his senior year of high school when that same girl transferred to his school from Tokyo and turned his life upside down. Ocean Waves was Studio Ghibli's attempt to allow its younger staff to showcase their movie-making talents and although what they manage to put on screen is a fascinating & surprisingly mature take on high school romance, it lacks the refined quality that could have hurled it into the leagues of the studio's best works.
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