Tales From Earthsea on DVD (2006)

CJH from Dundee [Highly rated reviewer] , 08/09/2007

I enjoy Studio Ghibli films, and I liked Le Guins Earthsea books, but I found this film was sorely lacking in both areas.

The books do have a wandering pace, and perhaps that doesn't translate into film that well, but the characters weren't this wooden. Scenes crawled by with rather clumsy animation - for Ghibli - and almost no explaination of anything; just when a revelation is to be revealed, it is cut and we are left with no answers and a lot more agriculture. Most of it felt like, Ah, this is actually kinda scary and threatening, what are the characters going to do now? Oh never mind, we have more ploughing to do...

Even the heart-felt song mid-way through felt torturously long and tedious.

If you love Ghibli, you'll probably get something from it, but the animation is not up to their standards.

If you love Earthsea and Sparrowhawk, I suggest you leave it alone. There are flashes of the book's intentions and 'I remember when this happened' moments (which speak more like 'this is based on a book you know') not to mention Sparrowhawk himself does virtually nothing.

I hope one day someone makes a proper rendition of Ursula's books, this and the sci-fi channel's poor attempt just use and abuse them. Either that or she just stops giving people the rights to them.

  18 out of 19 people found this review helpful

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A customer from Leeds, UK , 05/08/2007

As far as Ghibli goes, this is a let-down. It's not a bad film, it's just terribly uneventful and really lacks the quirky characters of their other works. Some of it really made no sense either, and reading online, the books the movie is based on are just as baffling over some issues. Worth a watch, but won't get repeat viewings.

  11 out of 13 people found this review helpful

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A customer from Cambridge , 01/02/2008

Reading other reviews I expected this to be way below par, compared to other Studio Ghibli films. But I did enjoy it, and I think the reason it received (other) low ratings was partly because it was attempting to render a synthesis of the 'Earthsea' stories, while not having the freedom of expression you will find in other Ghibli productions. It does try to convey the characters and the world of Earthsea; and that may be why it is a bit slow. But (any faults apart) it was quite an enjoyable film and deserved a better reception. Hey, lets get a bit real here; any Ghibli offering, while not at the top of their league, is way ahead of the usual Hollywood Pap!

  6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

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Drschrebling from Harrow [Highly rated reviewer] , 20/05/2008

Following in the footsteps of Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle was never going to be easy, but I was really disappointed

The story telling feels laboured and the animation feels about three decades old.

There are few redeeming features, this is one best forgotten!

  5 out of 6 people found this review helpful

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Drschrebling from Harrow [Highly rated reviewer] , 20/05/2008

Following in the footsteps of Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle was never going to be easy, but I was really disappointed

The story telling feels laboured and the animation feels about three decades old.

There are few redeeming features, this is one best forgotten!

  5 out of 6 people found this review helpful

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tunnelweb from Hamilton [Highly rated reviewer] , 08/08/2008

Fantastic film! Beautifully animated, with excellent characters. The plot is rather complex and very deep. It is slow moving, building character and atmosphere, and may therefore be better suited to a more mature audience than some other Studio Ghibli films.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

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