Spirited Away was not only one of the best movies of last year, but one of the most mysterious and magical films in recent years. I just got back from seeing the English dubbed version in theatres and realized that if everyone saw this version, they wouldn't realize this at all. I first saw the movie off a legimate bootleg dvd that only had the japanese version. The result of the movie was an accomplished fairy tale along side an art house film that was slyly imbedded in curiosities and ambiguilties that could not be explained and gave one me one of the most amazing feelings after a film. Even after seeing the movie 4 times, I still had many questions that could not nor should not be answered at all. The movie followed a known fairy tale story but went on narratives that were never explained and only gave more mystery to the story. It was truly a moving experience because it was like being introduced to a world that was so colored in various ways that no one could be identified as one thing or another-but the movie still felt like a realized fairy tale with a beginning and end. The more I watched it, the more curious I became to all the purposeful loose ends it had, or not purposeful, due to something about the making of the film I will say later, but either way, it was an accomplished film that was so mysterious and beautiful because the experience is what mattered the most.
The English language dubbing, is to put it mildy, a travesty that destroys all the magic and power in ambiguilty the original Japanese version had. This version does not allow the scenes to play out in the silence of the characters doing what they are doing as in some scenes, but jams itself with dialogue that tries to push the jokes and meanings of what everything in the world is. It has no understanding that under the layer of fairy tale, Miyazaki has made an art film that is the only kind that can best complement the world he is showing through the great experience it is to show it. All mystery is lost in this version and everything explained so audiences will "get" it because Disney has absolutely no faith in audiences being able to appreciate a world of visual wonder that only becomes more engrossing and enchanting with each viewing. The effect for this viewing is to get all that can be attained on that one viewing. The English language version is a mere ok film, as the Japanese version is nothing but a masterpiece that shows a master filmmaker at command with his medium in such a way that has not been seen since Fellini with the drama or the best movie in the world now, City of God. Miyazaki is the best animator and one of the best filmmakers now. No one even watch the english version because it only intrudes. I won't be watching it ever again, nor will likely for any other Miyazaki film. After watching Princess Mononoke, I realized how thought out the movie was in tidiness to summing up meanings and such in what seemed to be a complex film. The result was masterful, even if what I am sensing is an inferior film to its original. I've never watched the original Japanese version, but now am going to with great excitement to what I can discover in what may seem like a different film because if you were in my position for Spirited Away, the English language version was exactly that in every single bad way it could have been.
Also, the thing I noted to look for earlier in my writing in that the movie may not be purposeful in having loose ends is because the movie originally is 3 and half hours long. Miyazaki cut an hour of it for commercial reasons purely and admits that to this day. Curious to what the director's cut of this film in its original language and purpose could be like.
~rougerum
I'm glad to hear this. There are very few anime films that I like, but Myazaki's films do manage to work their spell over me, and with a second viewing I can always say that I love them. But especially with Spirited Away, I could tell that the English track was butchering the feel of the movie. It felt wrong, hearing those voices (some of them recognizable) coming from those characters.
Im not too drawn to the anime thing, in fact Im sort of put off by it, but after hearing such great reviews and I saw a commercial that looked pretty cool, Im going to check this out. Whats with the re-release shit?
It only was re-released because it (very deservingly) won the Best Animated Film Oscar. It most likely won't be around past this week, though, because it hasn't really been doing well, plus it'll be released on DVD next Tuesday.
spirited away is the greatest animated children's film ever. the characters, story, ending.. damn. every kid should see it.
nuff said.
Im looking forward to seeing it. And forunately its out region 1 dvd very soon.
The last time I watched a dubbed film was Crouching Tiger Hideen Dragon DVD, and that will be the last time.
Spirited Away was amazing. I didn't think the dubbing was horrible, but I thought Daveigh Chase's voice was too cartoony and the woman who played Lin had the wrong accent for the film. Since Disney wanted this film to appeal to kids as well as adults, I don't blame them for theatrically releasing a dubbed version since many kids don't know how to read.
Definatly looking forward to the subtitled version, but the english dub was still fascinating. So very creative and just had an incredible feel. This beat out Iron Giant as best animated children's film for me.
Quote from: RegularKarateDefinatly looking forward to the subtitled version, but the english dub was still fascinating. So very creative and just had an incredible feel. This beat out Iron Giant as best animated children's film for me.
But is it better than Jungle Book 2?
Shit yeah...Spirited Away is amazing on many different levels. I've only seen the dubbed version so I can't wait to see the the subtitled one. I know that watching Princess Mononoke subtitled was a million times better than the dub.
Luckily the DVD will feature dual language audio and the original English subtitles (that match the Japanese version).
I know its not as good as Miyazaki's stuff, but for me, 'Iron Giant' is still tops.
I just watched the subtitled version of Princess Mononoke and didn't notice really any signficant difference. Yea, some lines were changed, or rearranged, or shortened/added but the meanings were really there and for the most part, pretty similiar. I wish Spirited Away dubbing was as good as this one and just tried to show the film it already had in maybe more clear english than just not understanding the point of the movie and adding so much dialogue that the greatness of the movie was taken away. In the dubbed version, it is just a love story and identified as one early on. In the Japanese version, it is a movie about buried truths and the ideas that this girl going into this new land may have more connections to it than just the love story, that within her, she may also poccess powers like any being there. By the end of the movie, you get hints of that within an accomplished fairy tale. And it deals so much more with the direct emotion of the experience to going to this world that it becomes transcending. I actually prefer the dubbed version to Princess Mononoke because I thought the dialogue was more focused, but still understanding of the power of the movie and the actors doing the speaking roles were a lot better, especially Billy Crudup for Ashitaka and Minnie Driver for Lady Toboshi.
~rougerum
i am excited for the dvd. the imagination displayed in this movie is unparrelled. after seeing this, i rented princess mononoke and loved it. we need such visual stories in our lives to keep an understanding that there is so much more that can and could be. so many things were left open to either confusion or acceptance.
Quote from: GhostboyI know its not as good as Miyazaki's stuff, but for me, 'Iron Giant' is still tops.
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The Iron Giant: Special Edition disc is set to street on 8/26 (SRP $19.98 ), with anamorphic widescreen video, English and French Dolby Digital 5.1 audio and all-new special edition materials.
Quote from: The Gold Trumpet
The English language dubbing, is to put it mildy, a travesty that destroys all the magic and power in ambiguilty the original Japanese version had. This version does not allow the scenes to play out in the silence of the characters doing what they are doing as in some scenes, but jams itself with dialogue that tries to push the jokes and meanings of what everything in the world is.
I'd seen only the English dub, and, yes, it left me with this palpable feeling of having had something poorly explained or related to me. Spirited Away made me feel so non-Japanese, and I wonder if that was the intent or if the film was meant to be mysterious even to those within Japanese culture. (I actually theorized that knowing the Japanese language might've helped—there are lots of un-translated words onscreen).
Last night, I played the DVD with the dub on and the English subtitles on as well. The subtitles were far more terse and made the translation seem overly-Americanized—not to mention that factual data seemed "missing" from the subtitles (perhaps it was simply not there to begin with). However, that same sense that I was getting less than half the story, that some of the plot was governed by meaning while some of it was utterly arbitrary—that sense of the film remained for me.
Too bad, because it feels like even if I re-watch the film in its Japanese, subtitled form, the dub version has pointed my analytical mind in directions that Miyazaki probably never intended—I now want Spirited Away to obey rules and make sense, but it simply might not.
Still, I think no matter what happens, I'll regard Princess Mononoke as the better, more focused, more important, and more restrained of these two outstanding films. It's the one I think I'm more likely to carefully rewatch.
Mesh,
The dubbing controversy on this film is indeed a mess and reminds me of the major difference between direct entertainment minded films and those that are not. I said in another post that Blow Up/Blow Out was a great example between the difference of commercial cinema and art cinema. This is another great example, but is at the cost of a great film in the process to most American viewers. The more and more I see this film in its original Japanese language, it grows. I understand why you would go with Princess Mononoke as best, but I think there is a way for you to get the viewing experience back from this film. Just shelve all viewing of this movie for like a year or so and from then on, only watch the Japanese version and maybe all connections to the english dubbed version will be lost enough to look with "eyes unclouded" (Mononoke term) and let the original grow on you with each viewing. Miyazaki is a great filmmaker and one of the best working today and even in the shit mess his film has been given, this still should be understood of him.
~rougerum
Quote from: The Gold TrumpetJust shelve all viewing of this movie for like a year or so and from then on, only watch the Japanese version and maybe all connections to the english dubbed version will be lost enough to look with "eyes unclouded" (Mononoke term) and let the original grow on you with each viewing.
That's a pretty good idea. I think I'll shelve all of Miyazaki's work (excluding Mononoke) for a year, so that I can sorta cleanse my palate.
It's odd that I actually want somewhat less from Spirited Away than what Disney tried to give me. Obviously, though, their tactic paid off, at least in the strictly monetary sense.
So earlier Friday night, I finally got to see Spirited Away on the big screen. I was so excited. Then about a minute into it, my stomach sank as I heard the characters speaking English. No subtitles. Crap. Dubbed version. On the big screen. I thought the committee I was on that organized these films for campus screenings knew better, but perhaps it was the company's fault: I don't even know if there's a subtitled version in the US, considering how studios think we're stupid Americans.
But, bottom line is I was looking forward to seeing this film on the big screen with subtitles and everything. The crazy part is I was very tired going into this screening. I had just gotten out of a Finding Nemo screening (a film which, yes, gets EVEN BETTER a second time around), and was working on only about four hours of sleep. So I ended up dozing off for a few minutes, about 20 minutes into the film or so. I woke up and Sen was pretty much involved with the bath house, so it doesn't seem like I missed much.
Needless to say, GT was pretty much right. And I think awaking in the middle of a scene adds to this: that this film is so much like a dream, like a creation of another world, that I'm in awe that I have never seen anything like this in my life. But what bugs me is I feel I'm missing out on the subtleties GT speaks of. Of course, at the same time I'm thinking that I've picked up on these things, too, because I got that sense of what GT described throughout the whole film without reading what GT wrote before hand.
Question is, now, there's another screening tomorrow night. Same film, dubbed in English. I'm debating whether or not I should go and see it again, and perhaps watch Finding Nemo again as well. Got a poker game to get to, too. Who knows. Question really is, what am I really missing by not seeing the subtitled version? I guess I'm answering my own question, because I'll probably end up buying the DVD eventually. Any comments on what the DVD is like, though, before I commit?
And yeah, what all I was awake for was amazing. I was a bit lulled at first. Some of the dialogue WAS bad, because of the language barrier. But once that big thing of sludge came in, I knew I was in for something unique, and it really delivered. So yeah, Badlands, Finding Nemo, and Spirited Away in one day. That's pretty great. And I'm ranting deliriously right now so I'm gonna shut up and go to sleep.
I rented this film with my g/f and her parents about a half year ago. I knew it had received stunning reviews, but that is all I knew. So, we are sitting down watching it and I notice it is in english. I spend a good half hour trying to figure out if it's dubbed or not (since the job on matching the mouths, etc is excellent). I found the film to be boring and I just couldn't believe how long it felt.
Flash forward to a few months later, I find it on dvd for $9. I pick it up, go home and watch it subtitled. Now, for whatever reason the film just seemed to run at a brisk pace and I fell into the story.
I don't really know the difference between the subtitled and dubbed versions, but from what I've read is the ambiguity is taken out in the subtitled version.
Ono..........STOP. DO NOT WATCH SPIRITED AWAY AGAIN DUBBED. You're lucky to have been able to sleep through much of it the first time around and miss some very crucial flaws in the dubbed version. The film needs to be seen subtitled. The dubbed version TAKES away all the amguilty in the subtitled one. My heart breaks for all the people who know only the dubbed version. You need the dvd because it allows for the subtitled version to be seen.
if you like miyazaki at all watch crimson hog, it's his best work.
So then I'm thinking about getting it on DVD. Should I get just Spirited Away, or the Miyazaki three-pack with Castle in the Sky and Kiki's Delivery Service?
^^^
What he said. Anyone have any opinions on those other films?
I'm a Miyazaki virgin.
Quote from: Onomatopoeia^^^
What he said. Anyone have any opinions on those other films?
They're enjoyable and I own them. Castle in the Sky is much more thought out and and a lot more enjoyable. Kiki's Delivery Service is intentionally minimal, but I still thought there should have been more to it. I'd recommend.
they're both great. kiki's a little girly though, but still great. Miyazaki really hasn't made a bad film. his worst one, IMO is nauticaa, and even that was pretty good.
I haven't seen Castles, but Kiki and Spirited were both great in their own ways.
Quote from: Chest RockwellI'm a Miyazaki virgin.
Pop that cherry already. Miyazaki is true love, and he'll be gentle.
It really is eerie how amazing Spirited Away was. Even though I saw the dubbed version, and slept through a portion of it, it has this quality that all the greatest movies have where it sticks with you because of this fanciful, otherworldly tone it sets.
Walt Disney Home Entertainment have announced three animated masterpieces from Hayao Miyazaki, the genius filmmaker of Spirited Away, the Academy Award winner for the Best Animated Feature Film of 2002. My Neighbour Totoro, Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind and Porco Rosso will each be available to own from the 31st August this year, for around $29.99. Each will be presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen along with Dolby Digital Surround Sound tracks for My Neighbor Totoro and Porco Rosso. Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind will receive a Mono track. Each two disc set will also feature the original Japanese language track, complete storyboards, featurettes that go behind the microphone and more.
Quote from: MacGuffinWalt Disney Home Entertainment have announced three animated masterpieces from Hayao Miyazaki, the genius filmmaker of Spirited Away, the Academy Award winner for the Best Animated Feature Film of 2002. My Neighbour Totoro, Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind and Porco Rosso will each be available to own from the 31st August this year, for around $29.99. Each will be presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen along with Dolby Digital Surround Sound tracks for My Neighbor Totoro and Porco Rosso. Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind will receive a Mono track. Each two disc set will also feature the original Japanese language track, complete storyboards, featurettes that go behind the microphone and more.
grand news.
everyone please make a vow right here right now that he'll buy porco rosso.
Thats a given.
I haven't seen any other Miyazaki films than the ones released by Disney last year (and Mononoke), so I'm eagerly looking forward to the next batch, as I absolutetly loved the last one.
Quote from: MacGuffinMy Neighbour Totoro, Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind and Porco Rosso will each be available to own from the 31st August this year, for around $29.99.
was wondering why these hadn't been released yet and came across this (for anyone who's interested)
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/pressrelease.php?id=668
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