Rating: 
Summary: Simply Superb.
Review: It's the kind of movie you watch once and vow you'll never watch again -- for the emotional turbulence and the profoundly grave theme and atmosphere of the film leaves you overwhelmed at the time you've finished viewing it -- but you inevitably keep going back to watch it over and over again. It is a unique film in that respect, for the interval between the viewing for most people will be infrequent -- perhaps once a year or so -- but the movie will stay in your memory like a haunting yet sadly beautiful nightmare, and will keep you watching the film for many years after. It is a movie which you will never forget about; it will linger in your memory and move you in a way that very few other films, if any at all, can.People who are strongly patriotic might have objections in viewing this film, but this movie is not about blaming America, nor is it about blaming or glorifying Japan. This movie goes far beyond such issues as nations and patriotism, but goes right to the roots of humanity itself. The movie addresses the immortal theme of man's inhumanity to man, and how innocent lives are affected by war. The film presents the world beyond the surface of World War II, the world viewed from the eyes of two orphans on the other side of history. These days, in midst of all the movies packed with eye-candies and shock elements, coming across such movie as this is so rare. The Grave of the Fireflies stays in your memory and shines without the use of those gimmicks. The music is beautiful, and the animation is superb. I definitely recommend watching this movie with subtitles rather than the dubbed version, for the voicing is so well done in the original. This film is the best human drama I have ever watched. As a human being, I am glad to have watched this movie.
Rating:
Summary: The Most Depressing Film I've Seen...
Review: This is a heartwrenching tale about two children trying to survive after their town is bombed during World War II. This is a film about war, but it isn't a film about war. Seita and Setsuko are in their situation because of the war, but their struggle is their own. This is not a typical anime. It is an epic film that happens to be an anime. If you think you can handle the emotion in this film, then I highly recommend it (I can't even count how many times I cried during it).
Rating:
Summary: Grave of the Fireflies: Poetic Directography
Review: Opening Shot:
"September 21, 1945. That was the night that I died." Victim to starvation and loss a young boy sits listless in a train station, proped up against a pillar. During the day he is passed by unassuming bystanders; "The Americans will be coming any day know". He slumps to his side. It's night. "Another one." A train station janitor kneels down and shakes Seita's limp body. A tin can clanks to the floor. "What is this stuff?" he asks another janitor. "Never mind that, just dump it," he replies as he walks past. The janitor stands up and walks over to another body. "This one's a goner to. You can see it in their eyes." He throws the tin can into a field, it's charred contents spill out. Smiling, a young girl (Setusuko) surronded by red fireflies rises from the field. She can see the dead boy dead boy (Seita) from where's she's standing. She is about to run to him, but is refrained by Seita who, also surronded by red, lovingly holds her back. I bought this DVD not knowing what to expect. Hearing many,good things about it I decided to buy it. I had to drive from store to store for about 3 hours looking for this DVD. I finally found it and watched it that same day; I can say it was well worth the drive. Isao Takahata is known throughout Japan as Hayao Miyazaki's - Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away - contemporary. After watching this movie I could see why. Poetic Directography is what I coin this movie. Most directors require that shots move the story along; if they don't do this they are usually cut from the final version. Takahata uses "pillow shots" to emphasize certain moments throughout the movie. These "pillow shots" do nothing for the story; they simply cut away from the movie allowing the viewer to think about what has just happened. Takahata also uses shots that show the characters in their true demeanor, when there stripped down to their essence. That's what makes this movie so powerful and moving. Takahata builds the characters, Seita and Setsuko, to the point where they are as real as your brother and sister; making their stuggle for survival yours. This is not an anti-American film, or in contrast an anti-war propaganda either. It simply shows the lives of two people, brother and sister, who don't live through the war; their hardships, struggles and deaths. If anything this movie should prove that living under the type of circumstances that Seita and Setsuko did ends in death. It leaves us with the questions why must the innocent die? and how can we prevent it? Questions Mr. Takahata has left up to us to answer.
Rating:
Summary: Certainly a work of art
Review: Yes, everyone gushes about this movie, so I'll try to keep it less so. Roger Ebert once said "When anime fans say how good the film is, nobody takes them seriously." Ouch, but he is right. When looking at this movie, don't view it as "anime," that catch-all word that congures up images of creepy teenage girls, neverending fight scenes, and poorly dubbed movies. Rather, view this as an animated movie about an aspect of WWII that we don't always think of. It seems brining up the topic of this movie results with two knee-jerk reactions. A) This is an Anti-American movie where Americans are blamed for all deaths in Japan while ignoring Japan's role. OR B) An indictment of America for killing these two children, and a call to avoid war at any costs. The first is a poor description of this movie due to the movie's elements. Americans are almost never mentioned, save as the pilots of the inhuman planes that fire-bomb the villages. The movie instead raises questions that many should be able to ask: who was at fault? The Japanese people for refusing to help these children? The aunt for expecting too much of a 14-year-old boy traumatized by his mother's death? The Emperor of Japan refusing to surrender when he was obviously defeated? Seita for having too much pride? The Americans for retaliating after Pearl Harbor? Or, as I wonder if the movie suggests, that when people are dying of starvation, politics and finger pointing cease. The movie spends almost zero time blaming a set of people for Seita and Setsusko's situtation (interestingly, the only "bad guys" there seemed to be in the movie where people like the farmer who beats Seita for stealing his crops). When people are set in a blame-first mentality, it's refreshing to see a movie that has little of this pop-culture quality. Because of all of this, the 2nd Knee-Jerk reaction to this movie ("I'm sure Bush had a hand in this!") is incorrect as well. Overall, everyone else has done a good job of describing the basic content of this movie, so I won't repeat it all. However, this movie is recommended for those who want to see the power of an animated movie that is usually not done in the US. The characters of Seita and Setsuko are so well done (I don't think I've seen a 4 year old portrayed that real in a long time) and strong that you can't help but have a sinking feeling in your gut everytime you know something is going to happen to them. Most notable, Setsuko is not a stereotypical cartoon child. She cries wildly during the night -supposedly due to bad dreams about the war, she refuses the food that could keep her healthy, and plays around her cave with an utter disdain for the war going on around her. There are no cutesy catch-phrases to sell Burger King cups by. By the end, the wasting away of the characters is a very difficult things watch. In the end, I didn't cry (I'm bad at this, I rarely cry at movies), but was still speechless for a few hours afterwards. This is not a movie to watch if you are emotionally unstable at the moment or prone to depression. But, you will be moved. We are fragile.
Rating:
Summary: My childhood memoiry
Review: Grave of the Fireflies is a movie I watched when I was a little girl. I can still remember how I didn't quite understand it, but yet still feel the sadness of the movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Be Prepared To Get Depressed!
Review: What a sad existence Seita and Setsuko endure. It is charming despite the ongoing negative circumstances throughout the movie, that this brother and sister duo manage to laugh, sing and play games between scenes. I love Setsuko's laugh. A very good movie, but be ready to not feel warm and fuzzy inside after this film comes to an end. You have been forewarned.
Rating:
Summary: Sad and Beautiful
Review: Grave of the Fireflies is a movie that will stay with me forever. The first time I watched this movie, I was sad for over an hour afterwords. I still think about the movie even now, because it is that good. The story is one that happens probably all the time, even in non-war times. Yet, no one, I don't believe, ever really thinks this kind of thing is possible. I really like the message of "Grave of the Fireflies." It shows war's other victims. Also, knowing many people from Japan, this really shows a perspective we, as Americans, never learn. We are always taught that we did what we had to, because the Japanese were evil people. However, generalizing statements like that just make things worse. This is an anti-war movie that gets to the heart of what being against war is all about.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Greatest of all time
Review: This movie should be up on every list of the greatest films of all time. A powerful drama that shows the true drama and hardships of war as suffered by two young children. Powerful characters and a very strong story push this very sad and drepressing film to a very meaningful and symbolistic close. This film could depress anyone, and isn't suggested for anyone with a weak stomach, heart, or under the age of 16, but is a must for anyone that is alive.
Rating:
Summary: 5 stars, but don't watch it!
Review: This is an excellent movie. The kids are adorable and easy to sympathize with, the plot is realistic and easy to get lost in, the animation is superb. But unless you are a warmonger, I would not suggest that you watch it. The lesson is great: war is not worthwhile. The message comes across painfully clearly, however; the movie is so depressing that I would not suggest anyone watch it unless they are active supporters of war.
Rating:
Summary: Very Powerful
Review: This is a movie that can bring a group of guys to tears. Its very sad but very well done.
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