(1992)
4
Craig Butler
Porco Rosso is that rare animated film that will be enjoyed more by adults than by children -- certainly more than by very young children, who will be entertained visually by Porco but probably not enraptured by the narrative. Nor should they be, for Porco, with its melancholy air, 1930s-era setting, sense of nostalgia, smoky bars, and mature concerns, is not aiming for them. Indeed, in some ways Porco feels like a 1940s Warner Bros. film -- or perhaps like a 1970s look back at a 1940s Warner Bros. film -- that just happens to be animated and happens to feature a hero who has been turned into a pig through some strange enchantment. Visually, Porco is nothing short of splendid, featuring a vibrant palette that never turns garish, beautiful backgrounds and settings, delicate but forceful linework, and forceful character design. Indeed, director Hayao Miyazaki's characters seem influenced by a whole host of cartoon/comic strip artists, including Herge and E.C. Segar. The animation is not without flaws; occasionally the movement is stretched out a tad too long, and facial expressions are sometimes a little lacking. But none of this seriously detracts from the beauty of the film. Miyazaki's screenplay is a marvelous blend of the romantic and the adventurous, making good use of stock situations but finding the truth beneath them and allowing for a generous amount of deadpan dialogue. That dialogue is handled marvelously by the English-language cast, from Michael Keaton's weary Porco to Kimberly Williams' utterly engaging Fio. To sum it up, Porco is a treasure.
releases for Porco Rosso on AllMovie
Porco Rosso (1992)
|
Title/Studio |
Release Date |
|
Porco Rosso
Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Canadian)
More
|
January 1, 2008 |
|
Porco Rosso
Ghibli Collection
More
|
January 30, 2006 |
|
Porco Rosso [2 Discs]
Walt Disney Video
More
|
February 22, 2005 |
