Grave of the Fireflies

Rating:
Summary: One of the best...
Review: No words can describe this great masterpiece of artwork. Grave of the Fireflies is the only movie that can touch even the coldest hearts, it will change your life. The touching story of two children in WWII japan is one of the world's greatest and most powerful anti-war statements. All highschools should show this film. Everyone should see this.

Rating:
Summary: Like Totorro, only sad as hell
Review: Totorro (please god, let the spelling be correct) starred a Japanese family relocated to the country side during the bombing campaigns over Japan in the 1940`s. Though the movie was full of whimsical humor, there was an underlying sadness. Grave of The Fireflies dispenses with the pleasantries and stars two orphaned siblings starving to death in an apathetic world. The movie is masterfully directed, the scenes are intelligent and meaningful. The timing of cuts between scenes is some of the best I`ve ever seen. This is story telling at its best. The animation quality is wonderful, but there are no self-advertising "behold, dynamic camera angles and a huge explosion!" scenes because the animation is a tool used to tell the story, rather than the story an excuse to show off the animation. As always though, stick to the subtitle, dubs are always atrociously bad and are often in done in a matter of days by the american distributer to boost sales. It should be noted that this film does not make any judgments on the united states, or Japan for that matter, which is so much better than the countless other documentaries and films that like to point fingers.

Rating:
Summary: Grave of the Fireflies
Review: Very Very Good movie. You can feel two childrens living in a very sad life. Life isn't always beautiful.

Rating:
Summary: A HARDEST TRUE
Review: This anime is a real drama. In fact, you know old the time how end this but you will cry no matter what. This anime is not for child and you need to have the certain ripeness to see it.

Rating:
Summary: Incredibly sad movie
Review: Don't watch this film with anybody in front of whom you are ashamed to cry. This amazing movie about what the Japanese endured in the last days of WWII is quite merciless and efficient in the mannner in which it extracts tears from the viewers' eyes. Have a box of Kleenex on hand.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful-but very Sad
Review: Two ago, I went to a japanese animation film festival, which inroduced me to the world of anime, and also to the wonderful film, "The Grave of the Fireflys" I was deeply moved by the story, and the endearing charectors, and it's very true message. It doesn't take sides. Just tells a story. I highly recomend it to anyone!

Rating:
Summary: Unforgettable Movie in a Lifetime
Review: The movie itself criticizes neither America nor Japan that actually plunged these kids into such suffering. It never blames anyone (including us the viewers) who couldn't help those War orphans. There is neither violence (as we usually expect in the war movies) nor even the war itself (as we usually expect in the war movies) in this animation. What we see is the beautifully animated poetic drama of human sacrifices of a 14 year-old boy, Seita, and his 4-year little sister, Setsuko. Nonetheless, it is an overwhelmingly powerful Anti-war movie that we ever had, beyond comparison with those heroic ones. One hour after viewing the movie, we will find out ourselves holding somewhat different ideas about the War and about the lives that were involved in such a tragic period. Beyond Anti-War, viewers might even experience some kind of anger toward something... I would like to mention that the story is based on the actual experience of the author of the original book, Nosaka Akiyuki, himself. I realize that writers are sometimes so brave to depict their own painful memories.

Rating:
Summary: anime without violence thats actually good
Review: for an anime that has no violence this is excellent, I recommend seeing this, Ninja Scroll, Akira, Ghost In The Shell, Iria Zeiram Hunter, and Record of Lodoss War

Rating:
Summary: An Emotional Rollercoaster Of Tears
Review: Wow, where can I begin. I've just seen this movie and after reading so many of the other reviews, I have to agree that this is a really moving film. I did cry... a lot, when I was watching it. It stirred up so much painful emotions and sadness that it's impossible not to. I can't believe any animated movie can be this real. The story centers on a boy named Seita and his cute little sister Setsuko. The story takes place during World War II when Japan was being air bombed. The aftermath was devastating as it kills Seita's and Setsuko's mother leaving Seito to take care of himself and and his sister. I don't want to map out the whole movie, I recommend for you to see it for yourself. I was still in tears about fifteen minutes after the movie has ended and this coming from me, a person who doesn't usually cry. I can honestly say that I have never cried so much. It made me think of how cruel war can be and how much suffering there is in the world as well as in my own personal life. This anime is something really special, and it is one of the best movies ever.

Rating:
Summary: Hope, love, life - war is the end of them all....
Review: What can be said when superlatives fail? When I found out about this film, I knew it might just be something special; having watched it, I can testify to that severe understatement. Everything was perfect, from the beautiful animation to the haunting score to the heart-breaking story. Critics have pointed out individual moments of great beauty - I say the film is one timeless instant of great beauty. Despite its brilliance, I can imagine the ignorance of many people who watch this and it annoys me. Despite condemning no-one (except those who, white or coloured, initiate a war), who wants to watch a WW2 movie telling the story as seen by Japanese eyes, or German or any other country who was considered as either an aggressor or who weren't American and hence didn't really take part? Yes, it's true about the horrors that took place in POW camps and Japanese planes did bomb Pearl Harbour, but this film isn't about the people who did that. This film is about those who suffered the consequences of their government declaring war, so the old saying "they started it" is the most ignorant, bigotted thing anyone can say. It didn't condemn anyone but I hear comments like this and I might just - for example, look at what America's reponse was: split atom, new way of bringing mass death that transcends generations, tested twice on Japan. Well, how beautiful, how noble, how many clean consciences, and the west can testify to the pure righteousness of the act simply because "Japan started it". Now I'll step off my soapbox since it's debatable how many will actually listen, and onto the film itself. Buy the subtitled original; I haven't heard the dub but nothing can displace the sheer power of the Japanese actors. Also, I am not reviewing the DVD, I am reviewing the film - my version is imported and has squeaky clean picture and sound. This CPM version is a lot easier on the wallet and boasts more extras, but the technical and viewer reviews wrt the quality are slightly off-putting. After all, this film is one to cherish forever and you want the perfect copy, don't you? I'll finish by saying I've never shed proper tears for a film, but this one got them. There are moments of happiness, but even these bear undercurrents of tragedy and grief, all because of that first scene. Emotions are inspired which build quietly but inevitably until the final poignant moments, then the heart just breaks. The cries of those without voices indeed ring the loudest. One of the greatest films in any genre, anywhere, and it will haunt me forever.

- Why do fireflies have to die so soon? -