Review of The Wind Rises
Miyazaki's penultimate movie is a masterpiece that focuses on his love of aircraft and the people involved in the growth of the industry through the lens of Jiro Horikoshi. Horikoshi was a real man, but this movie takes plenty of liberties with the facts. Or so I've heard. The movie is undoubtedly a celebration of aircraft, the dreamers who turned mankind's dream to fly into a reality. But it also meditates on the "cursed" nature of this dream. The human cost of its corruption by the malicious and ruthless war machine. Characters: 11/10 The characters and their arcs are the whole reason why this is myfavorite Miyazaki movie. Jiro is a quiet and brilliant guy who harbored the dream to fly since he was a child. His kindness and gentle nature are demonstrated throughout the movie, which makes it all the more tragic given that his life's work ends up being used for the War. He was aware of it, yet chose to go long; to "live in a world with Pyramids".
My favorite character is Naoko Satomi despite how little screen time she had. She's the girl who Jiro loves and eventually marries. And the depiction of their love is so gentle, serene yet impactful that I haven't been able to stop thinking about this movie even days after watching it. More than the visuals, sound design, and beautiful animation it was the characters and their dynamics that left the deepest impression on me.
In the typical Miyazaki fashion, no side character feels like fodder. Each has a personality that's animated into their movement and dialogue. A big part of the authenticity that this movie has comes from how real the characters feel. They are what keep this movie grounded and personal.
Animation and art: 10/10
I don't know if there is a studio whose visuals and animation deserve a 10 more than Studio Ghibli. The quality is exceptional and has been refined over the years. It's simply a treat to watch the characters move from one gorgeous scene to the next
Music/ sound design: 9/10
I'm no expert by any means. On anything. But one of my favorite things about the movie was how personal the sound design felt. Many sound effects especially for airplanes were created by an Individual. And instead of feeling goofy, it lends an innocent passion and authenticity to the movie.
The music was nothing special. It was good but nothing special like " The Legend of Ashitaka", or "the merry go round of life".
If anyone reads this review then, please, watch the movie. Set aside some time, settle down, and let the colors and emotions seep into your soul. This movie is a revelation. Perfection.