Note: This film is in theatres and on HBO Max.
Michael's Movie Grade: C+
Studio Ghibli's first CGI movie is an enjoyable family film but disappointing once you consider that it comes from one of the world's greatest animation studios.
This is a simple and lighthearted film, it obviously isn't supposed to be Spirted Away and no one should except that. There is still quite a bit to enjoy about this movie. There is a real sense of atmosphere present and the witch's house is simply a great setting. The background art is simply fantastic. The humor while not laugh out loud funny, did put a smile on my face. The Mandrake is a great character and definitely grows on you as you watch the film. The rock band was a great idea (even if sorely underused) and brings some really charming moments to the story.
Our main character is a rather interesting departure from the normal sweet adorable girl you normally see at the center of these types of films. She is manipulative and always tries to get people "to do her bidding." This is both a strength and a fault. On one hand it is interesting to watch a character who thrives on control completely lose it and fight so hard to bring it back. Adding to this is that her attempts to get control back are quite entertaining. On the other hand since this is her main (and one of her few) personality trait, there is little really likable or endearing about this character. This would not be a problem if the movie didn't actively try for warmth. She is one of the main reasons that the movie is entertaining but falls flat when it comes to any sort of emotional connection.
As stated before the lack of any emotional connection to our main character (or really any character) is the main fault of this film. However something that will also give this movie a bad reputation in many people's eyes is the CGI. While the design work and the animation are both quite good, the look of this film falls short of what people want for a Ghibli movie. The studio's hand drawn work remains a marvel and is often breathtakingly gorgeous. Those films can stand along with the best of any other studio. This first CGI effort though looks good but never stands out. The truth is Disney and DreamWorks CGI movies, simply look better and Studio Ghibli shouldn't take a back seat to anyone. This film also can feel a little rushed at times and the abrupt ending will leave many disappointed.
All in all this is far from the studio's best work and will disappoint many, yet it is quite enjoyable in its own right.
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