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I got Spirited Away for Christmas!
It's the American version - the Disney one - and there was a moment of panic on Christmas day when I wasn't sure I could get my dvd player to play region one discs. Luckily I could, as my sisters boyfriend told me you can unlock them with a code. Phew!
But anyway, I watched the dubbed version, and it is kind of... diluted I'd say. They go to lengths to make everything a little bit too clear for my tastes, but I think I picked up on it a lot more because I'm familar with the original, subtitled version.
For example (and SPOILER!)
Near the end, when Chihiro tells Haku his real name, it becomes pretty apparent - and he says "My name is Kohaku River!" rather than "my name is Kohaku Nagishiwhateveritis" and it's all a little heavy handed around the more sensitive moments. In fact, there are only a few certain points in the film where I felt like they'd really tampered with it, but it did make me sit up and take notice. (That's the only thing that felt odd that I can remember...) It all felt a little clunky to me, and spoils it somewhat, but not irrevocably.
Luckily, the disc includes the orignal Japanese and subtitles, so I shan't complain. It's also got quite a few nice extras on the making of the film, and the whole working process. I think a couple are orignal Japanese TV shows. As well as some bits and pieces on the American voice-overs, but that's not very interesting.
It really is a beautiful film, and somehow perfectly captures what I feel should have been Saturday morning telly when I was young, like Rizla said. It's just unfortunate that it seems we only become aware of this when we're older. I know a few people who remember Laputa the flying island, from their childhood days, like it is the thing of legend. I think it's amazing that Miyazaki can kind of capture that feeling of being young, and I say we all make an effort to get children to see his films. FOR THE CHILDREN!
I'm making a terrible attempt at explaining how this film makes me feel, but I put that down to it making me feel like a little boy snug in bed who discovers this amazing enchanting film world, like he is half dreaming, because normally such televisual things do not successfully capture the imagination of youth. etc. |
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