Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind: The First Ghibli Masterpiece

If you're looking for a Sci-Fi adventure film and if you love the Studio Ghibli-verse,* you're in the right place. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind  (1984) is a spectacular Ghibli feature that is set in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian universe and is sure to tickle your fancy.  Not to mention it's pretty freaking cute...  I'll talk more about that later. ;)

So, the film starts out focusing on a young, red-headed girl named Nausicaä, who is the princess of the Valley of the Wind.  We're first introduced to her as she is scavenging in the wilderness equipped with her breathing mask. She demonstrates a childlike fascination with the world that gets the audience to fall in love with the post-apocalyptic wasteland she lives in.

As we get to know Nausicaä, we find that she is not only noble by birth, but that she has a noble heart. That is to say, she has a bigger heart than most others in her world, herself uniquely offering love to some of the uglier, more vicious creatures surrounding her. In fact, it is this type of love and acceptance that saves her by the end of the film. To put it into simpler terms, Nausicaä is kind of like that stereotypical little kid who will take all the needy plants and animals home to give a helping hand. You know, sort of like an Eliza Thornberry type. Very cute, and actually good characterization overall of Nausicaä as a person.

The overall message built into the film is that humans desperately need to take better care of nature.  This is pretty common for Ghibli films, Pom Poko and Princess Mononoke standing as just two examples of other environmentally friendly Ghibli films.  That said, I love how Studio Ghibli tied the environmentalist concerns of the film to the fundamental, universal principle that we need to appreciate and love life in all its forms. And when we extend our love and appreciation of life to other beings, we shouldn't judge on appearance. I know this is incredibly sappy of me, but I LOVED this aspect of the film, mainly because I think this is a life lesson that too many humans can't even begin to get a clue about.  So, in sum, I'd say that the moral and ethical dilemmas dealt with in the movie leave the viewer with a net positive impact; this being the case even though environmentalist messages can generally get real old real fast, especially if done poorly.  Not the case here though!

At least for the most part.  While it was mostly great, some points in the movie felt like overkill, as the bad guys who were essentially against nature did not seem to have any good in them whatsoever.  Disagree if you like, but I thought that the characters' sides were written in black and white.  If they were against nature, they were bad, and if they were friends of nature, they were good.  Not really room for an in between.  Also, I don't really follow the bad guys' logic in picking a fight with the giant, dangerous creatures that stampede and kill people.  Not to mention their desire to resurrect the gargantuan creatures that destroyed everything in the first place, simply for the sake of expanding their kingdom.  I don't get it... Especially since everyone seems to be struggling to survive at all.  Ain't nobody got time for a territorial war in this kind of world;  at least, if we're trying to be realistic here.

On a different note, the music was fabulous, in my opinion.  It wasn't AMAZING, but it was good.  Probably my favorite melody from the film was Nausicaä's tune that she sang to the ohms--it was a great embodiment of an innocent childhood friendship (listen to the melody below).  Very cute.  Also, because this is a Ghibli film (made by the Ghibli people before the studio was technically created), the fact that the animation was great is pretty much a given.  The landscapes in particular were really cool because they captured pretty well what I would imagine a post-apocalyptic world to look like.  I especially like the opening scene, when Nausicaä takes a deceased ohm's eye home because it looks like a really interesting half crystal ball.  The pollutants (spores) looked like snow in the sky and on the ground, which I thought was an intriguing set-up.  Really great imagining of what a post-apocalyptic world would look like.

As for the story itself, I'd say it's pretty simple, but I think this movie is more about the art speaking for itself than the story being complex.  In fact, I think the purpose of this film is more to inspire introspection on the topic of the human impact on the environment than to entertain.  I like this about the film though because, due to the fact that the movie lets you breathe and allows you time to think about what is taking place, the message comes out in a clear, yet not annoying way. **American films about the environment, PLEASE take note!**

All in all, despite some of the flaws in this movie, it was a work of art.  And not only is it enjoyable to watch, but it leaves you thinking about some critical life lessons.  I'd give it an 8/10 because it is a great movie, but some things could be slightly better or more interesting.  I do also have to point out that this film was made in the 80s, but it could more than compete with all of the cartoons coming out today. Crazy how, if a film is done right, it doesn't matter when it was made--it's the work that was put into it that matters.  Miyazaki is a genius though, so this is not surprising.

That's all for now!  Did we miss anything? Completely disagree with our assessment?  Love everything we said?  Leave your comment below to tell us what you think.

--Corey C.

*For those of you who don't know what Studio Ghibli is, you should know!  They're an amazing animation studio that has come out with some of the best animated features of our time, and I'm not just saying that.  They have proven themselves time and time again with films like Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and others.

Lose Yourself: From 8-Mile to Cloud 9

Rap has always been a controversial genre. Some would argue that it's not even music. I, however, would like to set the record straight. Rap is music. It's a very expressive way of laying out emotion, passion, and overall discontentment. Like any genre it has its stupid songs and stereotypes (look at my car, I make tons of money, I have lots of sex, etc.), but rap can also have meaning and purpose. This brings me to my topic today: the Eminem hit "Lose Yourself." 

This song was written during the filming of the movie, 8 Mile, and was later included in the film. The song tells the story about the film's main character B-Rabbit and his journey into gaining respect as a rapper. This kind of story closely mirrors Eminem's journey and has been seen as somewhat of a ballad for him and his career. The passion truly shines through.

The tone of the verses of "Lose Yourself" alternate between stress, anger, and frustration. The song's subject continually fails repeatedly, knowing that each time could be his last shot to make it out of his terrible situation. The song hits you with this urgency from the very first measure right up until the last moment. It's almost like a racing pulse the entire time, interspersed with a rather beautiful piano riff.

The rhyming scheme has a very distinct dual structure. Two words are often combined to create a sort of rhyme that fits with the beat of the song. This unique structure is very well presented and is not at all distracting. It's clear that a lot of thought went into each and every lyric. While you're listening, you begin to feel for the song's subject and root for him against the world and his own demons that wants to bring him down all while hearing that he's only got one shot to make it work or he could "end up in jail or shot."

"Lose Yourself" has won several awards. Among them is an Academy Award for Best Original Song, MTV Music Video Award, and the Grammy for Best Rap Song. I can see why; this really is Eminem at his best. He sounds aggressive, frustrated, and full of ambition, which he expresses with an almost desperate yelling throughout the rap. This song is definitely worth a listen. If you're a rap skeptic, this song may just convert you.

~H. Logan Christensen

Unknown Specials Christmas Countdown #15: Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever

Ah, Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever (2014) from Lifetime. Yes, the most questionable entry on this list. Hear me out--the movie’s self-aware that it’s a cheap cash grab, which unifies the film by mocking itself for its apparent flaws. The plot’s nothing special, just a combination of Home Alone and any "save the animal shelter" movie, but sets it in a mall after hours. That different setting alone provides an amusing twist. 

The film tells the obvious plot competently enough while also making the bad guys clearly incompetent from the beginning so the child and cat besting them honestly works. The plot and effects feel stock, but it honestly works as the movie’s feline is a meme and the movie’s just a quick Christmas cash grab, and since the movie’s mocking itself, it feels in the right style. But Aubrey Plaza as the voice of Grumpy Cat makes it all worth it. 

Probably the best casting choice and the child actress she plays against isn’t bad either. The movie’s a fun waste of time and sarcastically unembarrassed of what it is which honestly makes the heart tugging moments shine greater. Not the greatest comedy or drama, certainly not special but at least good enough. Like a Garfield comic, expectedly okay.

My Neighbor Totoro: The Movie Behind the Logo

Totoro Ghibli logo

Ever seen that cute, chubby, grey, cat-like dude pictured to the right?  That’s Totoro.  So many have seen this iconic character, not knowing who or what he is.  Well, Totoro comes from yet another memorable Ghibli classic and has effectively become the logo for everything Ghibli. The film he comes from is, you guessed it, My Neighbor Totoro, which I’ll review below.

My Neighbor Totoro is a fairly well-known classic that has touched countless hearts and triggered several “Aw, how cute!” reflexes.  The film is about a small family, the Kusakabes, who move to a remote town in Japan to be closer to their hospitalized mother.  At the beginning of the film, the two children, sisters named Mei and Satsuki, are a little frightened by the rural setting and they find some interesting creatures called “soot sprites,” who are terribly cute. As the film progresses, the girls find out what life is like in the country and discover a giant forest spirit named “Totoro.”  He can only be seen from time to time, but is always helpful to Mei and Satsuki. 

I left a lot out of the summary because you really have to experience the story for yourself to really get everything, but I think that about covers the major points.

So, my opinion about this film is that it is indeed a work of art.  The landscapes are gorgeous, the human characters are drawn well, and the non-human characters are drawn amazingly.  10/10 for visuals for sure.

The character development was also great, 10/10, because the kids are portrayed almost perfectly (Miyazaki is really good at creating child characters).  The dad is characterized well too; you get to know him as a good, playful father who can parent well, despite the challenges he faces with his wife always being away at the hospital.  The family also faces real-life challenges, which automatically makes them more relatable and likable.

The storyline was cute, but I wouldn’t give it more than 7/10.  It just didn’t reach the Ghibli bar for storylines because, really, not much happens over the course of the film.  I mean, the story goes:

Family moves to a new town—>They meet Totoro there—>Mei gets in trouble—>She is saved by Totoro and friends.  

Like I said, cute but a little simplistic.  However, it is a kid’s film, which is why I gave it no less than a 7.

The music at first seemed the same as the storyline—cute but simple.  But it ended up turning into an iconic soundtrack when the movie really got going (after the intro).  With that, the music is also super catchy.  In fact, I once showed it to a roomful of kids in a class I was teaching and they all started humming along at one point.  It was really cute and made me appreciate the soundtrack of the movie even more.  9/10 total score because it is amazing, but not necessarily perfect the whole movie through.

Overall, I give this adorable, iconic classic a 9/10.  It is nearly perfect in some ways and could be a little better in some others.  This is one of the best anime films of all time and I think it really deserves a watch.  I know I’ll be seeing it again sometime soon.  :)

Well, that’s all for the moment.  I hope you consider watching Totoro if you haven’t seen it already.  

Corey Cherrington