It may not be as thrilling or epic as Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke or Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, yet it is still ten times better than most animated films that America spews out. Like most other Studio Ghibli films, Arrietty Lush and magical and delightful all at the same time. Lush and magical and delightful all at the same time. ![]() It is truly a beautiful film and should be enjoyed by all. Go see it, take yourself, your spose, your children, your friends children, your niece, your nephew, your parents, your grandparents, and anyone else I haven't mentioned. Certainly more approachable Ghibli film then others for American audiences. You really can't help but smile and be happy at the end, even if the ending is somewhat bittersweet. The Secret World of Arrietty is one of their finest works to date, beautifully animated (and by beautifully I really mean stunning), a wonderful story with great voice acting. The Secret World of Arrietty is one of their finest works to date, beautifully animated (and by beautifully I really mean stunning), a wonderful story I should preface this review with an admission, I love Studio Ghibli's work, all of it, so I am a little biased when it comes to their films. It simply is.I should preface this review with an admission, I love Studio Ghibli's work, all of it, so I am a little biased when it comes to their films. It doesn't need thunderous gimmicks or musical cues - or characters so outlandish that they're ready-made for collectibles bought at fast-food restaurants - to be a wonderful movie. The artwork is gorgeous and meticulous, the story beautiful. Viewers used to the whiz bang, frenetic pace of other animated features may find The Secret World of Arrietty slow-moving and lacking in special effects, but that's its strength. Our kids can handle complicated material, as long as it's handled intelligently and with compassion. And yet the story unfurls with no heavy-handedness, just a realism that doesn't condescend to its young audience. In Ghibli movies, children and teens are allowed to be sad, despondent, worried, afraid, and burdened - it's not a sugar-coated world. But even more substantial is how the movie straightforwardly presents the plight of a boy who's often left alone and is lonely, and of a girl who doesn't get to interact with others like herself. On the surface is the wonder of a teen discovering a miniature counterpart who lives in a world much like his own, only within the walls and under the floorboards of his house. The beauty of Studio Ghibli movies is that they have such depth and heart, and this film is a perfect example. There is a fairly slow part in the middle that would make a good bathroom break, but if your child is old enough to grasp the ramifications of all that is going on in the film, it is actually a fairly gripping tale with some scenes of suspense. The film is really targeted at children who are able to fully grasp the bittersweet nature of that type of dramatic situation. The main relationship in the film reminded me a lot of the "impossible" friendship between ET and Elliott (ET), and Wilbur and Charlotte (Charlotte's Web). ![]() The preschool set, however, is not the target audience for this film. There are some moments in which characters appear to be in life-threatening peril, and my son would not have handled those scenes very well at all. The film is very gentle and contains very little that will bother any child who has made it through "Toy Story." I ended up deciding the film was not appropriate for my very sensitive 4 year old. This one roughly follows the story of "The Borrowers." The film does an amazing job of illustrating the way a house looks to a 5 inch person. I loved "The Littles" as a child and am thrilled to see a high quality animated film made that captures the spirit of that genre of story. I am a huge fan of the "little people" genre.
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