The Wind Rises - Reviews

Story | 8/10
Fast-paced telling of a story that emphasizes the significance of dreams. "The Wind Rises" also leaves one in awe of the technological development of Tokyo, Japan during World War II. Though I found some parts of the story could have been a little further elaborated, the film itself is still a masterfully told tale. 

The story of "The Wind Rises" takes place during the era of World War II. So it is a film that very well presents to the Western audience one of the Japanese perspectives during WWII. This movie also presents two sides of the same coin: a development of a romantic relationship and the growth of a genius Japanese aeronautical engineer named Jiro. I found the story's developments to be well-knitted together. Which I find, is just as expected of its famous director, Hayao Miyazaki. 

Animation | 9/10
The animation was simply beautiful. The animation staff of Studio Ghibli are very talented at animation and were clearly well-directed by Miyazaki, of course. I loved all of the colours and details in the backgrounds. The character designs are a classic style.

Fluid and smooth animation. Like all previous movies by Studio Ghibli, "The Wind Rises" has beautiful enough animation to captivate any lover of animated films! I also think Studio Ghibli done thorough research for certain technology designs in the film (such as what a standard war plane looked like).

Sound | 8.5/10
The music was beautiful, but in a couple of scenes an instrumental song or two felt somewhat unfitting to me. Still, this film contains very fitting music for the era the setting takes place in. I recommend this film for any fans of classical or orchestral music, as well as fans of traditional Japanese music.

Characters | 8/10
The characters were loveable and likeable for me. It honestly felt like there was no reason to dislike any of the characters. Because of how likeable the characters all were, I think "The Wind Rises" may be one of the films with the best character development, or at the very least, best use of characters.

It's just the character development was rather subtle, so it seemed the characters continued having the same temperament and personalities well into adulthood. However, we still see Jiro's growth as an engineer and designer of airplanes. We viewers also get to watch the gradual development of Jiro's romantic relationship. 

Overall | 9/10
I am giving this final Hayao Miyazaki masterpiece a good 9 out of 10 stars. I really enjoyed this film. Like many anime movies, it makes you laugh and cry. I recommend this film to those who like history, Japanese culture, anime in general, etc.

Again, I found it to be a fast-paced story that can easily captivate anyone who's watching. The movie itself is not as vivid in colours and submersed in fantasy as "Howl's Moving Castle" or "Spirited Away," but is still yet another wonderful film directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Any fan of Studio Ghibli will love this movie!

I have loved Studio Ghibli movies my entire life and this one did not disappoint. The scenery and character animation was breathtaking and imaginative while still staying true to the historical setting. The story had a calm pace, but it never left me bored.

Jiro's accomplishments from childhood to manhood were masterfully told through following his everyday life, but the viewers were not excluded from his hopes and dreams. The love story in this film was natural and beautiful, but laced with hardship, as life usually is.

The ending left me with a sorrowful, yet peaceful ache--I wouldn't have wanted it to end any other way. Content wise, there are a few instances of strong language, but otherwise it is completely clean. Overall, a magnificent film. Definitely worth watching.

This was a beautiful movie. The animation was beautiful, the characters were great, and the story was one I had never seen told before. A lot of attention is given to Germany in the years leading up to WWII, but I've never heard Japan's side of the story. I loved watching as Japan tried to rebuild itself and as they tried to stay in the flight race.

Most of all, what I loved was Jirou. He knew his dream from a young age, and it was the pursuit of his dream that really drew me in. He is extremely smart, but the way is not easy for him, with Japan trying to recover from the first world war. Still, he never gives up, and his enjoyment of flight is presented in such a way that is is easy for anyone to be excited with him.

Then there's Naoko. I loved her. She added a bit of romance to the story, and she and Jirou were so cute together. I was rooting for them the whole time.

The ending left me feeling bittersweet. I loved almost everything about the movie, but that bit near the end... Why did that have to happen? While it wasn't a flaw, it did make me enjoy this movie just a little bit less. But I'll probably still buy this movie. I want to rewatch the movie to make sure, but I do think it's one of my favorite Miyazaki films. It left me with such a sense of magic and wonder.

"The Wind Rises" - A Bittersweet Tale of Dreams and Reality

Story (8/10): "The Wind Rises" tells a captivating and bittersweet story that revolves around the life of Jiro Horikoshi, an aeronautical engineer who designed fighter planes during World War II. The film explores his passion for aviation, dreams of creating beautiful aircraft, and the moral dilemmas he faces as his creations are used for war. The narrative beautifully balances personal and historical elements, making it a thought-provoking experience. The story's emotional depth and exploration of the fine line between dreams and reality are its strong suits.

Animation (9/10): As expected from Studio Ghibli, the animation in "The Wind Rises" is nothing short of exceptional. The film showcases breathtakingly detailed and visually stunning scenes, from the meticulously designed aircraft to the lush landscapes of pre-war Japan. The animation captures the essence of flight and engineering with precision, making it a visual treat for the audience.

Sound (8/10): The film's soundtrack, composed by Joe Hisaishi, is a standout element. The music beautifully complements the storytelling, adding emotional depth to pivotal moments. Additionally, the voice acting, both in the original Japanese and English dub, is well-executed, conveying the characters' emotions effectively.

Characters (7/10): Jiro Horikoshi is a well-developed and relatable protagonist. His passion for aviation and his internal struggles make him a compelling character to follow. The supporting cast, including Jiro's love interest Naoko and his friend Honjo, adds depth to the story and Jiro's personal journey. While character development is not the film's primary focus, it succeeds in creating characters with genuine emotions and aspirations.

Overall (7/10): "The Wind Rises" is a beautifully crafted film that explores themes of passion, dreams, and the moral complexities of wartime. Its exceptional animation, coupled with a captivating story and memorable music, makes it a must-watch for fans of Studio Ghibli and those who appreciate emotionally resonant storytelling. My overall score of 7/10 reflects its status as a visually and emotionally engaging film that leaves a lasting impression. However, it may not be as accessible or appealing to those seeking a more fast-paced or action-oriented experience.

Allright. It's been a while since I've done something like this so bear with me as I try to find my way again.I did quite a lot of them in the past on a different website which you can find here: http://legendsofsatura.net/index.php/forum125/6-reviewing-guild.html

....They probably aren't very good though but please do stop by if you have the time and inclination. Originally the site was for writers, mostly original but also fanfiction.

Also I'm Dutch so there will be spelling errors. If you find them annoying give me a shout and I'll try to fix them.

Oh, I will try to keep spoilers to a minimum but there will be some. Usually the worse I rate an anime the more spoilers this will contain. You have been warned

So, you have probably already read what the animation is about in the discription given by Anime-Planet, which is the same as on the box. I will therefore try not go into the story that much unless I'm ranting about something (spoilers).

ART: Seriously, it's GHIBLI. Unless you've been living under a rock you are very familiar with their art. If you are not familiar with their art then run to your local store and get your hands on a GHIBLI movie asap. Spirited Away and Pricess Mononoke are probably the best ones to pick.

SOUND: Most difficult section for me to talk about as I hardly pay attention to music in movies. The less you notice it the better it is most of the time.

I must note though that the airplane sounds are very well done, together with other sound effects in the anime.

Voice casting is up to the usual GHIBLI standards as well. As GHIBLI movies are character driven it is very important to get this right and they once again nailed it.

I really liked the addition where some foreigners actually spoke their own language.

CHARCTERS: Main character is Jiro Horikoshi, whom we follow through his life as a young boy to adult. His dream is to build the best plane possible and give the beauty of flight to the people of the world.

Naoko is a young woman whom Jiro meets on the train as he travels to Tokyo to begin his studies there. As the years pass and they meet from time to time they start to feel for each other.

STORY: It may be cheap for me to say this but GHIBLI is probaly one of the few studios that could make a 2 hour movie about a guy growing up whi wishes to build planed and ends up designing the Zero and keep it interesting.

It helps that in the background the romance of Jiro and Naoko keeps simmering and historical events also take place to keep things moving along.

Still, 2 hours is very long and they certainly could have cut some of it out of the movie and still keep the overall story intact.

I certainly liked it but it is not one of GHIBLI's best movies.