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Barefoot Gen
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Animation - 7.7 |
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Sound - 8.2 |
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Story - 9.0 |
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Character - 8.7 |
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Value - 8.4 |
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Enjoyment - 8.6 |
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Average - 8.1 |
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| Average |
8.8 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
8 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| I really did struggle to write this opening, so I will simple say this: it is better than the far more renowned Grave of the Fireflies, and you should watch it. It is that simple.
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3 of 3 people found this review helpful.
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petran79 |
(2007-07-31 01:17:39) 2007-01-11 06:13:25 |
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| Average |
6.0 |
| Animation |
0 |
| Sound |
0 |
| Story |
0 |
| Character |
0 |
| Value |
0 |
| Enjoyment |
6 |
| (update after I read the manga)
This movie is based on a 10 volume manga of which the first 4 volumes were translated in English by Last Gasp press. Previously Project Gen made an effort to translate the series unofficially. In French and Russian though the manga is complete.
Though Grave of the Fireflies is regarded as the best anime dealing with WWII, there are other similar animated films of which unfortunately only a few were exported.
I wish a fansub group or a distributor picks some of them.
Even prior to reading the manga I didnt find this movie worth watching. While it tries to portray the cruelty of the nuclear holocaust in the most gruesome way, at the same time it falls into crude depictions of the aftermath of the bombing that do not in anyway impress the viewer except for shock value. With better animation this would help but the way it is depicted here it falls to the same trap as the series "Now and then , Here and There". Graphic violence, nudity, sex or whatever should be put in a context if they're going to last longer than simply stir the senses.
If you read the manga you will be surprised to see how many elements (and crucial at that) were omitted in the anime. Gen's father anti-war and pacifist stance, his conflict with his older son who wants to go to war, the abuse of his children in school and elsewhere because of that etc.
In the manga Gen has two other brothers.
I know that some of the manga's messages would not appeal to all viewers but that is the main reason I found the manga one of the best I read.
Just as reading the graphic novel of Barefoot Gen is a better experience, I assume the same would apply if you read the novel GOTF is based on.
Movies like Barefoot Gen should work to introduce the viewers to the literature they're based at.
Still if you look for similar movies, one other obscure one that was fansubbed is "Who's left behind". Or else you have to know Japanese to watch the other movies.
A similar and very good movie though comes from the UK titled "When the Wind Blows" by J.Murakami. I doubt that many have seen it outside the UK though. It is also touching and has an excellent cast.
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0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
9.0 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| A truly heart-breaking movie about the horrors of Hiroshima and the survival of the native people. The movie is well done (quite old already), and every now and then a "narrator" tells a few facts about what really happened in Hiroshima when the Americans dropped the very artefact of the basic human nature.
This movie actually made me cry, and I'm sure it'll make anyone with a heart do the same.
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0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
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nauXolo |
(2005-04-22 22:06:06) 2005-04-02 02:33:50 |
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| Average |
6.0 |
| Animation |
6 |
| Sound |
0 |
| Story |
7 |
| Character |
7 |
| Value |
3 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
| Truly a very captivating and shocking... movie. If you've studied the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, then one will notice how accurate many aspects of this story is. For example, in the beginning the father wonders why all the other large cities have been bombed over and over again, but left Hiroshima..
Furthermore, they add more family drama to show the hardship of the times. It truly is amazing to watch it from a Japanese point of view, rather than an American passive 'factual' view where they aren't victims of the bombing.This trouble and happiness Asian family isn't too alien a concept either. Even now, families are like this.
Also, a lot of this is from a child's point of view where one doesn't know what is truly going on, nor the serious nature of the events that are happening. All they grow up in is in fear of some unknown attacker, yet they aren't really afraid, until they are attacked themselves.
A story of fear, hope, strength, and devastation. A story of losing your loved ones from childhood. Life goes on but things like this should never happen again.
However, because of its seriousness, it is not meant for everyone. Maybe not everyone will appreciate watching it and perhaps it might be disturbing to some people to the point where they'll be angry? Also, sometimes it seems to be a little more tha a documentary, despite its shocking message... Also, as an anime, I dont think its that great ... despite its grave message, its not that good of an anime.
The characters themselves arne't too impressive either. The emotions maybe strong, but its not due to the character but the situtation.
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0 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
9.0 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| This was quite a shock when I first saw this during the early '90's. I remember that gory scene of when the bomb fell right on its town. Crazy that Barefoot Gen does actually gives that impact when you start watching it, and ending with something that leaves you of understanding of what these consequences could always happen to the innocence. The main character was a fine example who had the youth, strength and will to go on and fight for being that ray of hope for the people in his community and for his own sake of living it. However, the story can go in two ways. The first thing would be that this plot had taken place of time of turmoil of the warring of countries that many civilians can’t partake in because they don’t believe in these actions. Finding their own peace in its aftermath was something that they would have to deal with whether they liked it or not. The second factor of this plot would mainly be the people that would have their own personal self-guilt from the ones who brought that terror and chaotic act, while making themselves a wonder of why deciding to do it in the first place. I don’t see that the animation and sound value of it was bad, probably alarming to those who don’t like violence. In short, the movie has a replay value on seldom occasions and should taken into consideration if those who liked the movie "Grave of the Fireflies". It’s definitely worth a look.
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0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
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Pantha |
(2005-02-04 19:48:24) 2005-01-22 21:19:50 |
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| Average |
8.0 |
| Animation |
6 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
8 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| Barefoot Gen is a tragedy. But what most reviewers will fail to mention is that it is much, much more than that. Grave of the Fireflies this is not. Both movies are realistic: War will either tear people apart or unite them. But Barefoot Gen is on the other end of the spectrum, and apparently, I prefer this end. I contend that this film is better than Grave of the Fireflies (and that is saying something) if only for one reason: it made me smile.
...it doesn't begin with tragedy. On the contrary, it's thirty minutes into the film before chaos hits. Instead of beginning with the atomic bomb, viewers see interactions between Gen and his younger brother, Shinji- playfully fighting over food, a little role playing in the rain, mischievously stealing carp. In fact, twenty minutes in, I knew immediately I would prefer this film over its Ghibli counterpart. Here, the brothers are trying to steal carp from an old man. They get caught and he gives them a hard time. They beg him to let them keep the fish, telling them it's for their weakening mother. And he lets them keep it. This scene is very important to me (and there are two others quite similar to it) because it was also played out in Fireflies, but with a very different outcome. There are many scenes in this movie that could have gone in a completely different direction, but thankfully, did not. The heartfelt moments mingled with tragedy is what makes this film the best anime movie I've seen.
There are two things I disliked about the film; one being the inclusion of the narrator. In some areas, he talks of things that is nothing more than textbook history. For example, telling viewers about the after-effects after the initial landing of the bomb (i.e., black rain, cancers) is not necessary. The film, through imagery, already made use of black rain, disease, and contaminated water and putting the words on screen lessens the effect. Not only that, but at one point, the narrator is nothing more than a voice for propaganda. In this case, a narrator is not needed. Secondly, Ryuta's character should have been omitted. Had he not had a certain characteristic, I would have been fine with him. As it is though, his character cheapens what occurs earlier in the film and, frankly, it's also a pretty bad coincidence.
In the end, this classic is not about despair, but hope in the midst of it. Here, cruelty came in the form of fire and not from the hands of human beings. If you want to cry, watch Grave of the Fireflies. If you want to SMILE and cry, watch Barefoot Gen.
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1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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De Baer |
(2005-02-27 16:15:45) 2004-09-11 15:59:32 |
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| Average |
8.5 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| Barefoot Gen beleuchtet das Leben einer japanischen Familie zur Zeit des 2. Weltkriegs die durch das wohl schrecklichste Ereignis in der Geschichte der Menschheit auseinandergerissen wird: Der Abwurf der 1. Atombombe über Hiroshima und ist dabei nicht viel weniger emotional und mitreissend wie Ghiblis Meisterwerk "Grave of the Fireflies". Die Stimmung des Films ist unheimlich bedrückend und depressiv. Auch was schockierende Szenen angeht wird der Zuschauer nicht geschont: Man bekommt die Folgen der Atombombe und das dadurch entstehende Elend der Menschen direkt und knallhart vor Augen geführt, was heftig an den Emotionen rüttelt und nachdenklich stimmt da alles was in diesem Film passiert auf der Realität basiert. Man leidet mit den Charakteren, hofft das ihnen nichts geschieht bis sie der nächste Schicksalsschlag trifft und man das ganze Drama hilflos mit ansehen muss. Ein wahrlich fesselnder Anti-Kriegsfilm der nicht nur berührt sondern auch aufzeigt wie grausam und sinnlos der Krieg ist. Nichts für schwache Nerven aber moralisch wertvoll!
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0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
9.8 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| One of the most heart-wrenching and hardest films to watch that I've ever experienced. Even animated, the magnitude of emotion and sorrow in this film is unbelievable. We're introduced to a loving family trying to make it through the war, and survive the best they can. After the atomic bomb is dropped in the midst of a normal day, we're introduced to the real hardships of war and the indescribable pain seen throughout the film. The anime conveys a lot of great messages against war, and for anyone that thinks they can handle this movie, I really recommend you see it. The fact that it's based upon a true story only tightens the grip this film will have on your heart.
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