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Why bother, when I've got that special brand of snarkiness that is oh so you to look forward to, haus?
But since you requested it...
1. Far be it from me to set down parameters for a discussion I didn't start. But apparently since you've decided to take far too seriously what was meant mostly as a joke in the first place, I'll simply say that I was suggesting that maybe, just maybe, a film about a rat that likes food is possibly being over-analyzed when it gets accused of being classist. Apparently a critique of a critique, even one as obviously soft as mine, is a no-no in Haus Land.
2. Style is not something Bird and Miyazaki would really be comparable on for the most part. One of the things I find attractive about Miyazaki, oddly enough, is that his character designs are almost 100% similar from film to film, but that he still manages to render these characters as distinct from one another. Bird... well, does not. The differences between The Incredibles and The Iron Giant are obvious.
However, where they come together on style and substance is in forced growth. That is, the characters having change, often the shift into adulthood, forced on them by outside events. Usually this plays out against the backdrop of a much larger conflict, obviously, but it's still there.
As for critical reception, I cannot really speak for Miyazaki in Japan. I have no idea as to what kind of numbers his films see over there. They do, however, enjoy a great deal of success over here, but with the possible exception of Princess Mononoke, that success is limited to what could still be described as a fairly cliqueish audience. Bird's films, with the exception of the Iron Giant being a financial flop, have all been critical and financial darlings.
As far as influence, you couldn't really argue against Miyazaki taking the crown. While there seems to be a growing number of imitators state-side who try to capture the feel of a Pixar / Bird film, one that is essentially a "kid's" film while being neither stupid or preachy, and make it entertaining for adults... they all fail pretty miserably. Miyazaki, on the other hand, does not go two days without being mentioned in a film studies class somewhere.
As to your third suggestion... who exactly is it you think you are, besides being a moderator, to determine exactly what my participation is, should be, or should count for? I came in here, I wasn't snarky, I wasn't flaming, and I stated my opinions. Just because you (and Seth, apparently) didn't like them IS NOT my problem. |
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