Grave of the Fireflies

[Destroyer2000]

Oh, I'm not. I know it won't be a fun movie to watch...well, for me it will, but not for them. I would love to see an anime or movie that is emotionally moving enough to make me cry.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Hm...I'm going on a trip with the yearbook committee in a week or so, and none of them are anime fans, as fatr as I know. Would this be good to show there? I've never seen it, but I would like to know how depressing it really is. Considering it is a 4 day trip, and there are 2 guys and 13 girls...lots of crying? Maybe I'm just morbid.

I'd do so XDDD It's one of the best "mind-changing" anime's ever.

[Destroyer2000]

Lol, they already think I'm weird because of anime; oh well, this'll be good...

[MorwenLaicoriel]

I feel silly as a Ghibli fan saying this, but...I couldn't sit all the way through Grave of the Fireflys. I got to the part with...I'm not sure exactly what it was. All I remember is a dead body and maggots. And I just said "Agh, I can't handle this right now" and walked out of the room (my brother was still watching it).

I feel bad, but...I just couldn't. ^^;

[Yumie]

Yeah, the movie was depressing-- very few movies about war aren't. Though I did think it was kind of interesting seeing the war from a Japanese kid's perspective, they sure had it rough. So that was really sad. Overall, it was interesting, but just a bit too depressing for me to really enjoy.

[Mave]

It was a sad movie (I wouldn't necessarily say depressing). I do have a small dissenting voice regarding the kids. I personally felt the kids complained a little more than they ought to and the brother was unwise to give his sister everything she wanted. Perhaps the kids were not old enough to realize that they're not the only one who has problems and that in the end, it was pride that did them in.

Still, I'm truly sorry for the fate of those kids and felt that perhaps their distant family could have been a little more caring.

[Destroyer2000]

How graphic is the violence and gore in it, and the type of langauge? I'm not concerned about any of that myself, but for the others that will be watching it for me. And while we are on a side note, I ask the same about "Voices of a Distant Star"

[rocklobster]

How graphic is the violence and gore in it, and the type of langauge? I'm not concerned about any of that myself, but for the others that will be watching it for me. And while we are on a side note, I ask the same about "Voices of a Distant Star"

There's reviews for both on this site. Click the reviews link at the top of the page.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

How graphic is the violence and gore in it, and the type of langauge? I'm not concerned about any of that myself, but for the others that will be watching it for me. And while we are on a side note, I ask the same about "Voices of a Distant Star"

[spoiler]the worst part was showing a woman's burnt body. And some of her flesh (arm) was shown and was pretty disgusting. Had flies flying around and such. Then they threw all the bodies in a pile and cremated them[/spoiler]

[KhakiBlueSocks]

GFF is one of those shows I think that you only have to watch once and hope you never see it again.

And that's EXACTLY why I always check out my anime DVD's from the library! It's absolutely free and if the movie is depressing I just don't check it out!

[yukinon]

........I own it.

[Linksquest]

I watched the LA version of this a few weeks back and I thought it was actually pretty good. I liked the way that they made the fireflies CGI and not real. Seita's character was the only one that I thought couldn't really act well... <_<...

the ending was like... frustrating:

[SPOILER] It was like the ending to the movie Titanic: [SPOILER] Where she throws the diamond into the ocean... how pointless and stupid! [/SPOILER] She throws Setsuko's bones into the river... that's like... wrong. That's like shaming ancestors or something. [/SPOILER]

[FaerieChica]

I hated it. It was horrible depressing, morbid at times, and the ending was ridiculous. They never even told you how he got to the place where he died. And who sits there and watches their sister burn? Cute little girls aren't supposed to die like that. This was definitely not my fav Miyazaki film.

[soul alive]

Though this was done by Studio Ghibli, Grave of the Fireflies is not a Miyazaki film.

Though it is a very depressing film, it is for a reason. Japan at the end of WWII was not a happy place. The film is a social commentary on that. The stark reality in the movie has a purpose. We [as a world] must not forget the atrocities that have been committed, whether they may be direct or indirect, like the apathy shown in the movie. We have to remember them as they happened and strive our utmost to prevent them from happening again.

Sorry for my rant, but I feel very strongly about this subject.


(NOTE: These are my opinions. They are what they are, if you disagree, fine. If you want to argue with me about it, PM me, I don't want to see this thread locked.)

[RobinSena]

I watched Fireflies for the first time, last night.. Amazing movie.. Sad, especially when I have two little sisters of my own.

I enjoyed seeing the other side of the story. Even now, when it comes to World War II era Japan (and Germany) it is very easy for Americans to villianize the entire country. This movie lets us know that there were innocents involved, something we often conveniently ignore.

Very true.. My brother and I were talking about that very point after we finished watching it..
This will probably be the first anime I purchase.

[yukinon]

It was one of the first animes I purchased, and actually the film that got me hooked on Studio Ghibli films.

[termyt]

I have the DVD released by CPM (oddly, this is the only Ghibli film whose rights for release were not granted to Disney). It lists the production company as Emotion and makes no mention of Ghibli. A search on the web shows sites listing Ghibli as the production company while others list Emotion. None that I found list both or explain the discrepancy.

Nausicaa.net reports that Bandai originally released the film in theaters because the producer was a publisher, not a film distributor. Why Ghibli didn’t release the film is another question. That could explain Emotion’s link to the movie, but I’m not sure why they would be listed as a production company.

Of course, I’m no expert in copyright law, so perhaps I am making it more complicated than it needs to be.

Anyone have a rationalization for the Emotion being listed for the production of a Studio Ghibli film?

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Though it is a very depressing film, it is for a reason. Japan at the end of WWII was not a happy place. The film is a social commentary on that. The stark reality in the movie has a purpose. We [as a world] must not forget the atrocities that have been committed, whether they may be direct or indirect, like the apathy shown in the movie. We have to remember them as they happened and strive our utmost to prevent them from happening again.

While I agree, I wish to also note that it wasn't just Japan that was in a crisis like that. China and Korea were countries that were invaded by Japan. Women were raped and children were murdered. Korea was under Japanese oppression for quite a few decades. They were forced to adopt Japanese names, learn Japanese, and follow Japanese customs.

Some people (No way am I including you, please understand that) Tend to give Japan much sympathy after watching GoTF, yet many don't realize the war atrocities Japan has caused upon it's neighboring countries (No way am I saying that civilians are to blame. Maybe some, but certaintly not all.)

[soul alive]

I know what you mean MSP, and I agree. I was speaking generally on the world as a whole, not just Japan. Didn't clarify I guess. ^_^

[yukinon]

I think all countries have committed atrocities in the name of war. still, I stand by my earlier statement that it is easy for any country to villify and dehumanize their 'enemies' and I feel that GotF is a great commentary on that.