MovieChat Forums > Gake no ue no Ponyo (2009) Discussion > Total kids movie...like age 6 or below.

Total kids movie...like age 6 or below.

posted 15 years ago by demens-1
35 replies | jump to latest

I'm a huge fan of Spirited Away and Howls Moving Castle so when I saw this and the rating it had I was hoping for something along those lines. Instead this is pure boredom from start to finish, absolute waste of time. Zero emotion in any of the characters with the most simplest of stories. This thing is a joke and purely to kids movie, no adult should watch this.

I know you'll watch this anyway, but do yourself a favor, know what to expect. When you're 40 minutes into and bored out of your mind, save your self the extra hour because it will not get better.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] kill-the-boxtrolls 14 years ago

I loved Ponyo. The only Miyazaki movie I hate is Nausciaa of the Valley of the Wind (Warriors of the Wind), but I do agree that this has got to be Miyazaki's childish movie. All of his other movies are good for my 8 year old cousin. She watched Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away and she was hooked. They were both very unpredictable. Although, she hasn't seen the rest.

Sonic will be hearty forever.
"Mom, could I get one of these?" - Little Girl

[–] Mixalidis 14 years ago

I'm not too familiar with Miyazaki (I've only seen two movies and loved them) but this one was different and also childish, with Ponyo repeating the same phrases so many times. I was really bored and also thought that it's more suited for little kids (I guess that explains a huge success in Japan), but of course many adults will enjoy it too. Personally, I found it pretty stupid and I didn't find the story logical (I know, why am I trying to find logic here? I guess the ones who didn't like it will understand what I meant) or coherent (which may also be the result of boredom ).

[–] edmondoster 14 years ago

Brother, I'm 35 years old and "PONYO" is one of my FAVORITE Studio Ghibli/Miyazaki movies. Look, I'm not arguing that you feel different about the movie... you're entitled to your opinion of course.
But, I think, when you say the movie is only for ages 6 minus, you are quite wrong, as I know at least TEN MORE FRIENDS of mine, more aged than me even, who simply LOVE "Ponyo"...

It's a matter of taste. Tastes are as different as people are different.
Arguing about matters of taste is a matter of waste (hey, that rhymes!! I just created a "wise saying", ha! ha!).

You can't categorize liking this movie to ages. It simply does not fit.
Maybe I'm a CHILDISH grown-up who knows? But if me being CHILDISH allows me to LOVE "Ponyo" with all my heart... then I thank God that I'm childish!

Regards.

[–] robot_rollcall 14 years ago

I thought Ponyo was really fun. I didn't mind the simple story because sometimes its nice to relax with a film that doesn't require a lot of brain power. The story was charming and the animation was beautiful.

Just repeat to yourself "It's just a show, I should really just relax."

[–] jorgito2001 14 years ago

I think you might be right, as beautiful as the animation is, its definitely a kids movie.

I started playing the Blu Ray around 9pm...the only one awake when the credits started rolling was my 6-year old daughter! My wife & 10-year old son fell asleep, and I was dozing off in & out til the end, she was MEZMERIZED, I was really shocked.

--
I'm your average ordinary everyday, jorgeegeetooo!

[–] TheWumberlog 14 years ago

Maybe it's just because I'm older now, but it took me a couple of viewings to appreciate this movie to the same degree that I appreciate other Miyazaki movies; it seemed too much like a kids' movie.

But my three year-old sister absolutely adores this movie, even more than Totoro. She's watched it so many times she even has parts of it memorized.

[–] paulerowland 14 years ago

The story
A boy finds a fish who wants to be human and they fall in love.
or
The dredging of the sea has caused a environmental catastrophe which threatens to flood the coastal town.
or
People that can help each other can overcome nature's worse.
or
True love wins when you accept the person for all their perceived faults.
or
A father's love of a child shouldn't get in the way of them living their lives.

I just watched this for the first time tonight and I thought there was much more there to understand than a "kids movie". With Miyazaki there is always more than just the pretty pictures, which were of course stunning!

I loved it :)

[–] TheWumberlog 14 years ago

I didn't mean that it wasn't good. It's a great movie with a a lot of subtext, which is one of the elements that makes Miyazaki movies great.

For some reason I just found it harder to relate to Sosuke and Ponyo, which I admitted that was perhaps because I am so much older. Maybe it's because I saw other Miyazaki movies at a younger age which have remained with me, but I don't have the same problem relating to, say, Mei and Satsuki.

In another way, it could be taken as a positive. I'm hard-pressed to think of any movies that present two five year-old this intelligent and sensitive while remaining true to their given age.

[–] frothymocha 13 years ago

yeah, this is undoubtedly the most childish Ghibli film to date.

[–] whitly_12 12 years ago

It's funny you bring up Howl's Moving Castle, as that movie is painfully flustered and incoherent on a narrative level (i.e., it's an excessive over-achiever) Ponyo may not have the best story ever written, but it's simple to follow along with and doesn't end up confusing me with all its rushed plot point and dragged out scenes with no relevance to the grand story as a whole.

Also, calling this a movie for kids 6 years and younger means jack-sh*t when it comes to actual quality. Winnie-the-Pooh is also for little kids, does that mean that he's a waste of time too?

[–] Doc_Roliday 12 years ago

Yeah, this is a children movie.