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Grave of the Fireflies - discussion.


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miloarkielove



Joined: 03 Jul 2010
Posts: 14
PostPosted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 11:30 pm Reply with quote
I watched this movie a couple of days ago and it was the most epicly sad WWII movie ever!I have heard so much high praise about it everywhere,(and now I really get why),but I would love to hear what some more people think about it here.
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Tony K.
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Joined: 18 Nov 2003
Posts: 11507
Location: Frisco, TX
PostPosted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 11:33 pm Reply with quote
Could you offer up your own opinion first? The general way to open up discussion threads around here is that you make some kind of opening statement, put in some comments, and eventually people will participate.

Thanks.
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KanjiiZ



Joined: 28 Jun 2009
Posts: 661
Location: Central Coast
PostPosted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 11:45 pm Reply with quote
I enjoyed Grave of the Fireflies as a film, but to be real honest it kind of forced you to feel bad for the little girl dying. I'm not a huge fan of anime that do that. I believe that he recent anime, Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 was inspired by Grave of the Fireflies. Once the kids start talking, you know what's going to happen.
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miloarkielove



Joined: 03 Jul 2010
Posts: 14
PostPosted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 11:53 pm Reply with quote
Tony K. wrote:
Could you offer up your own opinion first? The general way to open up discussion threads around here is that you make some kind of opening statement, put in some comments, and eventually people will participate.

Thanks.

Well,as I said before,I felt that it was the most depressing war movie ever made,and an unfortunatley real take on the time.Amazing artwork,combined with a grim yet true storyline,and that resulted in a movie that flowed wonderfully from start to finish,and provided for an extremely depressing anime feature film,possibly the most depressing ever.Thanks.
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Mushi-Man



Joined: 17 Nov 2008
Posts: 1537
Location: KCMO
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 1:03 am Reply with quote
I really enjoyed Grave of the Fireflies. It was extremely well crafted in a way which I rarely see. And Isoa Takahata really did an amazing job writing and directing this film. And it was so hard hitting, the ending just brought me to tears. I dare anyone to watch it and not feel touched.

And I know some people complain that it tries to make you cry. But I really don't see whats wrong with that. If its a dramatic tragedy and it doesn't move you, then it's not well written. If an anime is able to move me in some way emotionally, it can be through crying or laughter or whatever the case may be, then it's a masterpiece.
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miloarkielove



Joined: 03 Jul 2010
Posts: 14
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 1:05 am Reply with quote
Mushi-Man wrote:
I really enjoyed Grave of the Fireflies. It was extremely well crafted in a way which I rarely see. And Isoa Takahata really did an amazing job writing and directing this film. And it was so hard hitting, the ending just brought me to tears. I dare anyone to watch it and not feel touched.

And I know some people complain that it tries to make you cry. But I really don't see whats wrong with that. If its a dramatic tragedy and it doesn't move you, then it's not well written. If an anime is able to move me in some way emotionally, it can be through crying or laughter or whatever the case may be, then it's a masterpiece.

I agree!
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Wrathful



Joined: 08 Mar 2010
Posts: 372
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 4:57 am Reply with quote
I believe I can shed some interesting spin on this discussion. As for myself, I love the film more than Akira or Spirited Away, the more well known anime movies. However I've seen some people shrugs it off as alright. I mean fair enough, people's taste differs. One thing I find interesting is that these people see hardly any emotional value in this movie.

All throughout the movie, the boy is seen as selfish. If he truly cared for his sister, they would have not live on their own but stay with his aunt. Ultimately, it was the boy's fault that his sister died. Does anyone believe that way?

I actually didn't really think much about the movie other than the fact it was the best one for me. Now I like to ask you all if you agree with the paragraph above or put your insight to it.
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akitainu



Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 132
Location: SATX
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 5:20 am Reply with quote
Grave of the Fireflies is one of the best movies, anime or not, that I've ever seen. I've only seen it twice, the last time was over five years ago.
It's not really a movie you roll out for good times.
@Wrathful...you are absolutely correct. Seita is to blame for the misery he could mitigate. I've seen that criticism before and it is valid.
But,
Seita is a child himself. His foolishness is that of youthful myopia. I've never been able to hold it against him.
Ill intentions are unforgivable. Poor decisions...well, they scale, wildly, with experience, in their horribleness.
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PetrifiedJello



Joined: 11 Mar 2009
Posts: 3782
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 7:13 am Reply with quote
Mushi-Man wrote:
I dare anyone to watch it and not feel touched.

You lost the dare. Not only was I not touched, but felt the entire premise was too... artificial, for lack of a better word.

Now, before fans get upset and cry foul, note I didn't say it was bad. It's not. It just didn't lead me to care about either character. The ending was so over-the-top, I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "Goodness, can it get any cheesier to try for those tears?"

Don't forget, I'm 43. I've seen plenty of war tales and some are most certainly better than others. This one simply didn't make the cut as one of the best. It happens.

I believe the aunt's attitude and the "situations" Seita found himself in were too purposely added to emphasize the situation the two children were in. Unfortunately, these very elements is what took away from what could have been an exceptional anime.

Despite my take, I still recommend others see it for themselves and come up with their own feelings.
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DuskyPredator



Joined: 10 Mar 2009
Posts: 15595
Location: Brisbane, Australia
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 8:53 am Reply with quote
I thought it was an amazing film, I remember that I once caught it running on tv, and it is one of the few Ghibli films I had not seen seen before. part way few I came on ANN just to say that I was watching it and finding it a good watch. By the end of the film and returning to ANN to give my thoughts, I had tears continuosly rolling down my face, and I was sobbing. I would probablly say that I had not cried so much at an animated film since I saw Pokemon movie when I was but a child, probablly cried more and I felt like this truely was just how bad the effects of war can be.

I would say that since I saw the movie, more then ever I see that there is no really good side to a war. I hear alll these stories of my own country getting attacked by Japan in WWII, but to see the other end, the movie definetly left an impact on me and just looking at the images are powerfull messages indeed.
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gundam83



Joined: 22 Jun 2010
Posts: 93
Location: Caribbean
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:35 am Reply with quote
Grave of the fireflies is an incredible anime I almost cried at the end lol. The story and the characters were really good that anime should have won an Oscar or something! And the thoughts expressed earlier about Seita being selfish,I never really looked at it that way but it's true. But he's a child and he will make immature decisions.
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ZenErik



Joined: 22 Nov 2009
Posts: 392
Location: Boston
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:49 am Reply with quote
Great movie! I sold it immediately after watching. It's just the kind of movie that I will probably never want to watch again. Very well done but far too depressing to have much replay value for me.
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dormcat
Encyclopedia Editor


Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 9902
Location: New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 10:50 am Reply with quote
Wrathful wrote:
All throughout the movie, the boy is seen as selfish. If he truly cared for his sister, they would have not live on their own but stay with his aunt. Ultimately, it was the boy's fault that his sister died. Does anyone believe that way?

Guess I have to dig out this post over and over again.

Let's see... aside from Tony the Mod, no one had yet registered back then.
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egoist



Joined: 20 Jun 2008
Posts: 7762
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 11:27 am Reply with quote
Since we're on it, why is it hard to re-watch this film? I recall I watched it about 4 years ago, and never touched it again (several anime on the same boat, so I'd say this is nothing special), although I can't find a reason not to re-watch it.

I've heard this multiple times by now, so I'm rather curious.
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JGonspy



Joined: 03 Feb 2005
Posts: 70
Location: Toronto
PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 11:42 am Reply with quote
As a semi-autobiographical story, I've always wondered how much of the movie takes from real life. It's one of my favourites, though I've only been able to bring myself to watching it once, but I may have to brave it again to get a new perspective on it.

I also think this comment of the author of the original story is really helpful.

[url]http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/grave/interview.html
[/url]

While I'd rather not be too hard on Seita as such extreme circumstances could elicit the same sort of selfish behaviour, and his age is obviously an issue, the film seems to me to be an apology of sorts. The tragic image of his death is almost like a penance, being alone in a city where no one seems to care. As the story shows how he got there, you can see that while he loves his sister, losing her is how he eventually lost himself, and to a degree he blames himself for that.
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