Miyazaki's Nausicaa, Porco Rosso, and The Cat Returns on DVD

[mmadsen]

I'm shocked that no one's discussing the recent release of Miyazaki's Nausicaa, Porco Rosso, and The Cat Returns on DVD. (Actually, The Cat Returns isn't by Miyazaki, but it's from his company.)

I hadn't seen any of the three, but I bought them all, and I enjoyed them all. Nausicaa is ripe for RPG inspiration -- a post-apocalyptic world with giant insects living in an encroaching poisonous forest, etc. I had the lowest expectations for The Cat Returns, but it surprised me; I really enjoyed it. Porco Rosso was a little...surreal for my taste; the protagonist is a middle-aged boat-plane pilot in the pre-WWII Adriatic...cursed with a pig's head.

Also, while it's de rigeur to mock English dubbed audio, I was quite impressed with the voice acting in all three movies.

 

[Krieg]

I remember watching the (apparently) butchered version of Nausica on HBO years ago. Can anyone give any info on how different the original version is?

 

[Stormfalcon]

I remember watching the (apparently) butchered version of Nausica on HBO years ago. Can anyone give any info on how different the original version is?

Basically, the butchered version was rewritten and marketed to focus more on action rather than the ecological themes that ran through the original plot. In one scene dropped from the butchered version, Yupa learns of Nausicaa's research into the fungi that populate the toxic jungle.

Spoiler

While she originally started the research to find a cure for her father and others suffering from diseases borne from prolonged contact with the jungle, she found that the fungi are not toxic when grown in pure soil and water.

 

[mmadsen]

Basically, the butchered version was rewritten and marketed to focus more on action rather than the ecological themes that ran through the original plot.

I can understand the idea -- even if I don't agree with it -- that a slower, adult-paced film should be edited down for an American children's audience, but how can the story even make sense once you remove (or diminish) the ecological themes? They're central to the plot.

 

[mmadsen]

I'm shocked that no one's discussing the recent release of Miyazaki's Nausicaa, Porco Rosso, and The Cat Returns on DVD.

Let me reiterate my shock. Perhaps people don't recognize the name Miyazaki; he directed Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Castle in the Sky, etc., and his version on Howl's Moving Castle should be hitting American theaters this summer. He's considered the Disney of Japan, and his movies are beautiful.

 

[jcfiala]

When I discovered that the three were out, I rushed over to Best Buy and bought them - for a short while they're selling for only $17.99 there. (Normally $19.99)

So far I've only watched 'The Cat Returns', which is a very interesting film. I'd never seen it in Japanese (unlike Laputa, which I can watch in Japanese I've seen it so often), and I really enjoyed the voices they picked for the movie - they were all very good, I thought.

People liking cats will really like it - and I didn't even recognize Tim Curry's voice, which is odd because I usually pick him right out.

I'm looking forward to seeing the other two soon.

John

 

[Terath Ninir]

A friend of mine got a hold of preview copies of "My Neighbor Totoro", "Nausicaa", and "Porco Rosso" last year. September or October, I think. My kids have played them to death. So I see commercials for Nausicaa on DVD now and just groan inwardly.

Porco Rosso is an adult movie. Not "adult material" -- more "boring to kids". Nausicaa is pretty preachy, but I actually grew to more or less like it after about a dozen viewing. Totoro is the best of the lot. I don't know if it's been released or not. Bitchin' movie for kids or adults. I want a cat bus!

 

[Pyrex]

Nausicaa is finally out?
*runs to DeepDiscountDvd.com*

 

[mmadsen]

A friend of mine got a hold of preview copies of "My Neighbor Totoro", "Nausicaa", and "Porco Rosso" last year. September or October, I think.

Man, my friends are lame.

Totoro is the best of the lot. I don't know if it's been released or not.

Not yet.

 

[Nuclear Platypus]

Another version of 'My Neighbor Totoro'? I remember Fox (Kids?) releasing it awhile back (early 90's I think) that had a free Totoro giveaway. I remember it because I *ahem* actually have one.

Miyazaki had a hand in the Rupan Sansei / Lupin III / Wolf series (there's been at least 2). Probably the easiest in the series to find would be 'Castle of Cagliostro' which has 2 versions / translations, Manga Video being the current one but IMO the older Streamline version was better. FWIW, this 1979 movie is a LOT better than the stuff Hollywood regurgitates. The car chase near the beginning has always been one of my faves.