MovieChat Forums > Neko no ongaeshi (2005) Discussion > Does anyone else feel this...

Does anyone else feel this...

posted 18 years ago by CsikosPost
12 replies | jump to latest

I just saw the film yesterday, and I can see that it's not a Miyazaki film. It's flawed in ways that Miyazaki would not have allowed, the dialogue and storytelling are a bit rushed, and the charaters aren't as developed. It's clear to me that Spirited Away is a superior film, it's so much more polished and overall to me is truly the work of a master director. But at the same time, I think I would rather watch The Cat Returns on any given day for the following reasons:

1) I've always been a huge cat lover. This film was like a childhood dream come true for me, to see rows of talking cats standing on two legs, and then to be able to be transported to their kingdom, these were the kinds of things I'd always wished could happen to me.

2) It's short and simple. Spirited Away sure is beautiful, but at times it's just so mystical that it borders on being perplexing. I've found The Cat Returns to be so easy to follow, and so refreshing and heartwarming no matter what 5-minute scene I choose.

3) I just have always had a longing to be a carefree, happy-go-lucky child, and this is one of the only movies I've ever seen that truly reminds me how wonderful it feels to be a child again. I haven't seen My Neighbor Totoro recently, but so far this is one of the only films where I really felt that.

So yes, I admit that Spirited Away is a better film, but I'm still a huge fan of The Cat Returs just because it was such a perfect film for me in so many ways. Does anyone else feel that way, with like, any of the above reasons?

[–] shutterbug_iconium 18 years ago

Studio Ghibli is not only Miyazak. How the heck the trademark Miyazaki sprang up to your mind? directed by Morita Hiroyuki and produced by Studio Ghibli. It is based on the manga by Aoi Hiiragi called Baron: The Cat Returns.
"Based on Neko no Danshaku, Baron (literally "Baron, the Cat Baron") by Aoi HIIRAGI, the movie follows Muta (the fat cat in Whisper of the Heart) and Baron (also from Whisper) as they set out to rescue a young girl named Haru who has wandered into the world of cats.Neko is a fantasy adventure story directed by Hiroyuki MORITA, with music by Yuuji NOMI (who also composed the music for Whisper of the Heart), and a script by Reiko YOSHIDA. It was released in theaters in Japan with Ghiblies Episode II on July 19, 2002 by Toho. It was produced by Toshio SUZUKI with Hayao MIYAZAKI as the Executive Producer."
So it does not really make sense to compare it with The Cat Returns does it?

[–] CsikosPost 18 years ago

I know that. Maybe I should've made it clearer; this film reminded me of Spirited Away in several ways, with the storyline and the characters and such, they really do have their similarities. But even though I believe that "Spirited Away" really is the better-made movie, I stil love The Cat Returns and would watch it more frequently, just for the above reasons.

I'm only saying what I felt from having seen the movie once. I was just wondering if anyone agreed with me on those points.

[–] sangepengyou 18 years ago

I have seen more than a few Studio Ghibli films (Howl's Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away -- among others) and although each story is different I always come away with the same feeling of familiarity-- there's just a certain feel and look (and some plot and character elements) that seems like it might be intentional? But intentional or not, I felt more than one parallel more than once and that was throughout the Studio Ghibli films I've seen.

[–] Emperorglenuff 18 years ago

If you liked the carefree, enjoyably fun feel of this film, I would recommend My Neighbour Totoro if you haven't already seen it. Its one of Miyazaki's earlier works, and its quite amazing in its simplicity.

[–] monsterpop 18 years ago

i think both are very good but not on par with the best ghibli films,
and that if you enjoy one more you shouldn't say the other's better.

[–] obscure_note 18 years ago

I agree. Technically, this movie isn't that superior, but I cherish it for its innocence.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] mcvorkov 13 years ago

I feel just about the same. :)

[–] tobyrclark 13 years ago

It's weird, I was probably more disappointed by this than any other Ghibli movie, but I think I'd still be more likely to watch it again than any of Takahata's films or even a couple of Miyazaki's.

The Angels Have the Phone Box

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] 13 years ago

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