Review of The Wind Rises

Story: 9 I found the story very refreshing even though it is different in tone from Miyazaki’s earlier works. There are flaws, especially if you factor in the political brouhaha that comes with over-romanticizing a history of war, violence, and death. This is one of the most difficult Miyazaki films for me to embrace, but in that respect, it is also one of the most complex Miyazaki films out there. It deviates so much from his usual linear, small span narrative and childlike aspects. This is a mature plot with some difficult questions that is befitting of the swan song of one of animation’s most belovedfigures. With this work, it’s as if Miyazaki is giving the children he usually make films for a glimpse into the adult world and the twisted mess of trying to bring childhood dreams into adult realities.

The most satisfying part of this movie is that it’s about flying. If you’re familiar with Miyazaki’s work, you’ll know he uses flight, wind, and the sky in all of his films. So for his last big bang to be all about the theme of flying and the metaphor of flying is just so fulfilling for a fan like me.

As I’ve already mentioned, the narrative is not restricted to the transient period of childhood but stretches for years into marriage and death. I really like this about the film, because it felt as if Miyazaki was communicating his own journey to us. I would give the plot a ten, if I didn’t think the plot was a little too light-hearted. I know that is Studio Ghibli’s trademark style, but I just can’t see pass the history. The young Japanese men went into war with huge smiles on their faces. The engineers worked for future of Japan with pure hearts and nationalistic pride. Those two aspects made my viewing experience feel eerie.

Art: 10
The art is what you would expect Ghibli art to be like. Watercolor backgrounds with a soft pastel pallet that reminds you of summer, even when it’s depicting winter. The humans are more cartoonlike than most other Japanese animation styles. The clothes look like soft marshmallows. Though, I would say that the backgrounds are little disappointing. Remember the expansive fields of Nausicaa of the Wind? The lush forest in Princess Mononoke? The romantic western architecture of Kiki’s Delivery Service and Howl’s Moving Castle? The grand waterscape of Spirited Away and Ponyo? Yup, not here. At least not with the same intensity. The film focuses more on the characters, but that is not to say there aren’t one or two breathtaking landscape scenes. Just not a memorable amount.

Sound: 10
Good. I don’t know jack about this topic, sorry. All I can say is the music is good and the voice acting includes Hideaki Anno, the NGE creator, so it’s pretty cool. There’s also a really cool sound effect during the more tragic scenes, especially the earthquake one. It’s that low “hum” that echoes throughout, when you hear it you’ll love it.

Character: 9
Hate to say it, but the characters are flat. Jiro is one of the least inspiring Ghibli leads ever, but he’s supposed to be the allegory for inspiration. If had to put my finger on it, I would say Jiro looked lost even though it seems as though he has a goal: to build the best airplane. I say this because he just seems concerned with building airplanes, what they’re used for isn’t really factored into his “passion.” Noako isn’t complex and just fulfills her role as the tragic lover who gives the audience something to cry about while Jiro create war machines that will massacre masses of people and send his own people flying to their deaths. Quite honestly, I found Honjo’s attitude to be more interesting and befitting the lead of a film with this topic. Kurokawa is a great comedic relief and father figure. Caproni is the perfect etheral accessory character that you see so often in Ghibli films. Think “The Baron” from the Cat Returns, except Italian and with more questionable morals.

Overall: 9
Well, it’s a movie that ends, not a movie that begins or one that is career defining. I truly liked it, and I was drawn in. Comparatively, I can’t say I care for it as much as other Miyazaki films, but objectively speaking it still stands above the whopping majority of animation films out there. Its very story oriented movie. The characters are devices that move the plot and are themselves not all that moving. You have to see this film with a focus on the big picture and not the details, which is contradictory to many of other Ghibli films. What are the big questions? Artists and engineers are the pioneers of creativity, but are they morally obligated to bear the burden of their ideas? In that respect, the child’s imagination pioneers the adult life, but if the reality of adulthood isn’t what the child wanted, should he have dreamt in the first place?