Description
In a mythical world filled with magic and bewitchment, crops are dwindling, dragons have reappeared, and humanity is giving way to chaos. Journey with Lord Archmage Sparrowhawk, a master wizard, and Arren, a troubled young prince, on a tale of redemption and self-discovery as they search for the force behind a mysterious imbalance in the land of Earthsea. Based on the classic fantasy book series by Ursula Le Guin.
Language
Original language
Japanese
Original publication date
2006-07-29
Library's review
A sad waste of a beautiful film. I don't mind so much that it has very little to do with the source material, but I do mind that it's not good. Admittedly, the first third or so is quite engaging. Intriguing things happen, the world seems mysterious and magical and real in that particular Ghibli
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way, and everything is very, very pretty. Then, alas, the protagonists arrive at a cosy farmstead and the rest of the film is -- well, it's still pretty. Little else, sadly. Characters do next to nothing, scenes where something does happen take three to five times the amount of time they should, and the plot is erratic, hard to follow and -- when it does bother to make sense -- only present in long, inactive dialogue or monologue sequences. We are told who is who and why they do the things they do, not shown. The film finally picks a bit back up the final confrontation, which while also overlong at least is dynamic to watch, but we're left with next to no explanations. Props, however, to the English voice cast, Defoe and Dalton in particular add a lot to the dubbed version. But nothing can make up for the utter lack of coherent storytelling. I'd be quite happy to rewatch the first third of this film some day, perhaps then fast-forwarding to some highlights of the final showdown, wherein the genuinely creepy villain gets to shine. But the film in its entirety is just not worth it. And it costs me to say that, because it has wizards and dragons. Show Less
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LibraryThing member Eurekas
Not up to the high quality that Studio Ghibli usually puts out.