The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)

[Jasonic]

Originally Posted by dyne

This is Blu # 400 for me

#500 for me. Will be adding it as soon as it arrives.

[Herry Dunston]

If only I've seen this film way early in the last year, I would've gladly put this in my Top 10 of 2014. Still weighing in on which is the better Ghibli film (The Wind Rises or this), but if nothing, it's the most beautiful display of traditional animation I've seen from the studio. Takahata has done this watercolor style before, but he perfected it here; one has to admire it from the design alone than the animation, which technically isn't that marvelous to the naked eye. It's great to look in hi-def, and it's a solid folklore with the most adorable maid I've seen in a while (and I've seen a lot of hackneyed maids in anime masquerading as cute).

A couple of surreal scenes put a curve on the viewing experience, but otherwise, this put me in genuine tears moreso than Grave of the Fireflies.

I saw the film dubbed, and I'll see it again in its original language alongside the truncated doc.

[cakefactory]

The animation was gorgeous, but it really didn't involve me emotionally consistently, in stark contrast to the likes of Grave of the Fireflies or Wolf Children. I understand it's based on folklore and thus probably most of the story beats are just a cultural divide I don't understand, but it seemed like the entire subplot with the suitors going after the rare items was a waste of time, especially the scene in the storm at sea. It had flickers of life where I was really getting into it, but then it would walk through a bunch of scenes that felt like treading water. The first 30 minutes or so before she goes to the city are gorgeous and seem like they could really develop into a magical movie, but from there on out it just kinda sputters. I loved a few scenes utterly, particularly the stunner about halfway through where the animation style changes to a really scratchy, charcoal look (this is in most of the trailers so it's not really a spoiler). I dunno why they didn't really come back to that, it's an amazing scene. The big flight scene towards the end also was gorgeous but tempered with a kind of bitter nostalgia which also really worked for me. But, I didn't much like the actual ending of the movie or probably half of the stuff that happens once she's in the city. I'm disappointed! I don't regret buying it or anything, the animation is so stunning I'll definitely be rewatching it plenty.

I watched it in Japanese, didn't listen to a second of the dub. I am morbidly curious. The story and character designs are so incredibly Japanese that I think it would really feel odd to me hearing it in English.

[Herry Dunston]

I'm not sure what scenes are added in the 3-hour cut of the documentary, but from this 82-minute cut, it's rather extensive enough. It thoroughly go through the trials of making a film in pre, during, and post production: the delays, the creative block, the managerial mandates, all without any kind of glitz and glamour as seen in Western documentaries. I like the little creative moments it sprinkled, like how Takahata add a few frames to Kaguya pausing before bow to unsuspecting workers in an early sequence; I had to rewatch that over and over to fully grasp the nuance.

As for the dub itself, it's technically not bad but it IS more suited to its original language. Chloe Grace Moretz just isn't the right casting choice for the lead, and it's not due to her performance; it's pretty hard to find any Western actress that's perfect for a character that apparently has a perfect voice. I heard snippets of the clips in the Japanese audio, and I can believe in Takahata's decision in whoever he chose to play Kaguya.

EDIT: BTW, I'm conflicted with the Flying scene because it looks TOO amazing

[Show spoiler](plus, it's implied that Kaguya's childhood lover is willing to leave his wife and child behind for her, and she's not aware of the irony of this situation; it's a dream sequence, I know, but it's messed up, I think)

.

[Dubstar]

is the the 3hr cut of the doc available on an import?

[Herry Dunston]

Yes it is, though it's a 1080i release (fair enough; judgin' by the DVD, it's natively interlaced) and there are no English subtitles.

[Herry Dunston]

I have a very slight nitpick with the US blu-ray release. The company credits right after the Studio Ghibli logo weren't replaced with English titles when watching the dub; they're usually done with prior domestic Ghibli releases, but not with this one. It could've been a mistake on GKids's part.

A small mistake, mind you; Universal/GKids did just about everything right with this release.

[Brian81]

Originally Posted by Herry Dunston

I have a very slight nitpick with the US blu-ray release. The company credits right after the Studio Ghibli logo weren't replaced with English titles when watching the dub; they're usually done with prior domestic Ghibli releases, but not with this one. It could've been a mistake on GKids's part.

A small mistake, mind you; Universal/GKids did just about everything right with this release.

Good. I dislike translated credits. I guess it's less annoying given the character set for Japanese, but when you see things like REGIA with DIRECTOR slapped right below, when you already know what it means from watching many many foreign films, it becomes an annoyance. Worst yet is the Disney Ghibli credits of 'Nausicaa' (the absolute worst) where you listen to the Japanese soundtrack but the English dub actor credits are slapped FORCEFULLY right on the screen. Another annoying sub job of note, is Anchor Bay's 'El Topo', where a repeated line of the same word ('nada') over the course of an entire minute is subbed over and over each time the word is said. 'Nothing' appears on screen many times consecutively, as if the viewer needs reminded of a translation each time in the sequence.

[Herry Dunston]

I said "company credits", not the credits in the title sequence; THOSE are replaced with English titles for the dub. You can, however, see the original Japanese credits by watching the film subbed, as is the case with almost all the domestic Ghibli releases (except for Nausicaa, sadly).

[Namuhana]

I watched the film this morning and thought it was absolutely lovely. The animation's wonderful (I especially enjoyed the style change during the sequence in which Kaguya is running). I'll definitely have to sort through the bonus features soon.

[Brian81]

Originally Posted by Herry Dunston

I said "company credits", not the credits in the title sequence; THOSE are replaced with English titles for the dub. You can, however, see the original Japanese credits by watching the film subbed, as is the case with almost all the domestic Ghibli releases (except for Nausicaa, sadly).

Okay. I just figured these start with the Ghibli logo on a blue background, then run across the various credits with the animation behind it.

[DJ Mike]

Originally Posted by DJ Mike

Is the Blu-ray region free? I know it's Universal, but they region-locked the UK release of Watership Down owing to not having distribution rights elsewhere, and it looks to be a similar situation here.

If it helps, I'm more specifically interested in whether this will play on a Region B player.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by DJ Mike

If it helps, I'm more specifically interested in whether this will play on a Region B player.

I'll check this afternoon, I have a region B player that I can test it on.

[RodChester]

Just had this arrive from Amazon. I really like the slip cover with its embossing and metallic ink. I'll probably give this a watch tomorrow. Really looking forward to seeing it.

[disneywildcat]

Pics of the discs. No region labeling on the BD as this is a Universal disc. DVDs are labeled Region 1 as expected. And of course the menu sis Universal's usual Blu-Ray interface. Much like Poppy Hill's release, only sounds play as still pictures appear in the menu.

[Show spoiler]

[Namuhana]

^ Mine was packaged like that too and I almost flipped out when the first disc I saw was the DVD instead of the Blu-ray, haha.

[RodChester]

Originally Posted by Namuhana

^ Mine was packaged like that too and I almost flipped out when the first disc I saw was the DVD instead of the Blu-ray, haha.

Yeah I had a second of mild panic when I opened mine up. Flipped the tray and everything was fine. I promptly switched the DVD and Blu putting it in the front.

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by RodChester

Yeah I had a second of mild panic when I opened mine up. Flipped the tray and everything was fine. I promptly switched the DVD and Blu putting it in the front.

Yeah, I immediately switched them, too.

[Bandit Tajomaru]

Originally Posted by disneywildcat

Pics of the discs. No region labeling on the BD as this is a Universal disc. DVDs are labeled Region 1 as expected. And of course the menu sis Universal's usual Blu-Ray interface. Much like Poppy Hill's release, only sounds play as still pictures appear in the menu.

[Show spoiler]

Just out of curiosity, why do companies region lock the DVDs but don't lock the Blu-Rays?

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

I'll check this afternoon, I have a region B player that I can test it on.

Yeah, it works on the Region B player, though that was already implied by the last guy's post that it has no region label on the disc.