I haven't. I've actually not re-watched this movie in full since I originally saw it back in 2007. But I'l take your comment as a recommendation to re-watch, and I'll try to get around to it sommeday. When I do re-watch it, I'll add it to the blog under my Thoughts on Re-watching Project
Probably not this year. We don't have a working TV in the apartment at the moment, and I don't have peace and quiet to watch a full movie at the moment even if we did. But maybe when the little one is a bit older I can watch it with her.
I did see clips of this movie a couple years back, however. I forget where--maybe it was on TV, or maybe I saw it on Youtube (probably on Youtube). My reaction upon watching those clips was a sudden nostalgia for rural Japan. And I remember thinking it was funny, because I didn't even realize I missed rural Japan until seeing those clips. But the film just so perfectly captured what the Japanese countryside looks like. When I first saw this movie, I was still in rural Japan at the time, so I didn't have the same nostalgic rush.
That's interesting what you say about rural Japan. I just assumed the Totoro landscape was another fairy-tale mash-up that Miyazaki so artfully pulls off. But yeah, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts if you ever give it another look.
In this family one kid has more use for it than does the other. When her grade 11 class went to England, she forgot her money belt in the kitchen. I had time to drive it down to the school before they departed. But I got out some markers and drew a Totoro on it first. She got it, saw it and said, "Oh that makes me feel better." For some, the emotional reach of that film is very, very deep.
I'm not sure, but I suspect by the time Ebert saw this movie he was a deeply invested step-father -- Chaz's kids all speak very highly of him.
ReplyDeleteBut speaking of fatherhood: have you rewatched this movie since becoming one?
I haven't. I've actually not re-watched this movie in full since I originally saw it back in 2007.
ReplyDeleteBut I'l take your comment as a recommendation to re-watch, and I'll try to get around to it sommeday. When I do re-watch it, I'll add it to the blog under my Thoughts on Re-watching Project
Probably not this year. We don't have a working TV in the apartment at the moment, and I don't have peace and quiet to watch a full movie at the moment even if we did. But maybe when the little one is a bit older I can watch it with her.
I did see clips of this movie a couple years back, however. I forget where--maybe it was on TV, or maybe I saw it on Youtube (probably on Youtube). My reaction upon watching those clips was a sudden nostalgia for rural Japan. And I remember thinking it was funny, because I didn't even realize I missed rural Japan until seeing those clips. But the film just so perfectly captured what the Japanese countryside looks like.
When I first saw this movie, I was still in rural Japan at the time, so I didn't have the same nostalgic rush.
That's interesting what you say about rural Japan. I just assumed the Totoro landscape was another fairy-tale mash-up that Miyazaki so artfully pulls off. But yeah, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts if you ever give it another look.
ReplyDeleteIn this family one kid has more use for it than does the other. When her grade 11 class went to England, she forgot her money belt in the kitchen. I had time to drive it down to the school before they departed. But I got out some markers and drew a Totoro on it first. She got it, saw it and said, "Oh that makes me feel better." For some, the emotional reach of that film is very, very deep.