THERE’S A LIGHT OVER AT THE DEWCLAW PLACE

Sunday, April 25. 2010

THERE’S A LIGHT OVER AT THE DEWCLAW PLACE

Tammy’s visit became stressful due to her bringing her son Angstrom, and not because of Angstrom! He was very well-behaved for a three-year-old. No, it was Tammy constantly hovering over him so that she couldn’t focus on the wedding preparations. Finally, we drove the two hours from Beige U. to Domain so Angstrom could play with Coney and Francis.
The children almost instinctively found things in common to turn into games. After using Angstrom’s glow to make hand shadow figures, they played flashlight tag. Francis won at hide-and-seek; he seems to win any kind of game involving finding things.
Meanwhile I got Tammy’s measurements for her bridesmaid dress, and we went over the schedule for the weekend of June 5. Two of my other bridesmaids, Fiona and Corrie, came over and we chatted online with Rhonda and Rachel back at school. Tammy and Angstrom left at 10:00 in the evening and returned to the lighthouse.
Everything seems to be falling into place, which worries me.
Not that the Disney company needs a plug from me, but they’ve released a DVD reissue of one of my all-time favorite movies, Hayao Miyazaki’s “Kiki’s Delivery Service.” Its special appeal to me is easy to see, since it’s about a young witch who runs errands by flying on her broom. Her ability to fly is depicted not as a skill to be learned (as in Harry Potter) but as an art. She faces a crisis when a loss of confidence results in her losing her powers.
See it.
What's your favorite Miyazaki film?

Posted by Lindesfarne at 01:30 | Comments (42) | Trackbacks (0)

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It's a tie between Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle.

#1 Lauren on 2010-04-25 03:05 (Reply)

My favorite Miyazaki film would probably have to be Spirited Away. I'm not sure why.

#2 Matthew Carpenter (TuxRug) (Link) on 2010-04-25 04:46 (Reply)

My favorite Miyazaki film has always been My Neighbor Totoro. That movie is just a pure, unadulterated ball of happy.

#3 Nicky on 2010-04-25 06:15 (Reply)

Lindesfarne, I've gotta know... Is the title of this blog entry a reference to the Rocky Horror (Picture) Show?

#4 Maggie on 2010-04-25 06:23 (Reply)

It just has to be a reference.

There was a TV show this last week or so that used Rocky Horror as its background like CSI once used the furrys.

And there are a few RH references over at the discussion group.

I like that title.
'Otter

#4.1 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-04-25 11:56 (Reply)

Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind. Hands down, Miyazaki's greatest masterpiece.

#5 Matthew Henry on 2010-04-25 06:24 (Reply)

That would probably have to be Spirited Away.

Glad to hear your wedding plans are running smothly. It might be the calm before the storm, but I'm sure what your really feeling is some pre-marrital jitters.

#6 Alex on 2010-04-25 08:47 (Reply)

Mine would have to be "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind". If only because it was the film that introduced me to Anime and the idea of animation as a serious story-telling medium.

#7 Weldûn on 2010-04-25 09:28 (Reply)

It's a good thing Tammy's hair color was already white: Angstrom would have turned it that way! Just because of his light, though: at least from what we saw on this side, he's extremely well-behaved! And that's not just judging him as a three-year-old.

Given how the Fates always seem to whipsaw the good people, I'm certain you're quite right to be worried that things are going too smoothly with the wedding preparations. The one thing you won't have to worry about is Fenton. He's stuck with you after being shot down on his initial proposal and he agreed to wait until after you graduated. He'll stand beside you no matter what.

My favorite Miyazaki movie changes depending on my mood. The top four: Kiki's Delivery Service: a story that's not about a witch as much as it is about growing up. (I've been told that in the original Japanese, the same voice actress does both Kiki and the artist Ursula. It makes their discussion in the cabin after Kiki loses her abilities somewhat spooky...) Castle in the Sky: A "boy's adventure" story in the same way Kiki is a girl's. Name another movie that starts out with the heroine falling to her death from a great height! The name "Laputa" was originally part of the title, but it was cut out because it means something bad in Spanish. The fact that it's from "Gulliver's Travels" had no impact. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind: The first Studio Ghibli movie. Watch the flying scenes in this then watch "Rescuers Down Under" and tell me that the Disney animators didn't steal from Nausicaa. Rather, try to tell me that with a straight face! The final one of the top four: My Neighbor Totoro. I actually have seen this in Japanese, along with Nausicaa and Laputa. The entire scene while Satsuki and Mei are waiting for their father at the bus stop may be the best scene in any movie I've ever seen. Period. The fact that when her father gets off his bus all Satsuki can say is "Neko! Neko no Basu!" is pretty much priceless. ("Neko" is Japanese for cat, "no" means of or what we mean by the apostrophe-s combination and "Basu" is a word imported from English: bus. So Neko no Basu translates pretty much literally as Catbus.)

#8 CharlieG on 2010-04-25 09:36 (Reply)

Oh, and kudos to the title of the post, assuming that it's actually a reference to my favorite Rocky Horror Picture Show song.

Which brings a question that I'm sure that many on this side would be interested in having answered. Obviously, on our side the are all human. What species are Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Richard O'Brien, Patricia Quinn, Nell Campbell (Little Nell), Johnathon Adams, Peter Hinwood, Charles Gray and Michael Aday (Meat Loaf Aday)?

#9 Weldûn on 2010-04-25 09:37 (Reply)

Tim Curry has got to be a chameleon, given the vast differences in the roles he's played...

And Charles Gray as well, considering he went from a informant helping James Bond in You Only Live Twice and to being Ernst Stavro Blofeld himself in Diamonds Are Forever ...

#9.1 CharlieG on 2010-04-25 13:35 (Reply)

All good answers! Let's face it, Miyazaki has never made a bad film.

And yes, Rocky Horror was the inspiration for this blog's title, although it's more from Dad's generation.

#10 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2010-04-25 10:13 (Reply)

I watched Rocky Horror with some friends on Second Life (Ninth Life to you, Lindesfarne), and it was the strangest movie I'd ever seen.

And the story about the three kids was funny.

#10.1 Bixyl Shuftan (Link) on 2010-04-25 14:13 (Reply)

I seldom watch a movie more than once these days.
I may not watch Ponya twice. I have watched Spirited Away and Princess several times.

RH I saw back before 83.
The core of the movie was the audience participation.
If you watch it often enough the fact that it is a B movie honoring other B movies does stand out.
It was wonderful seeing Wichita open up RH. Wichita is/was such a staid town.
Because of the audiance stuff I must have seen that movie 10 times. I have never seen the stage play that started it.
'Otter

#10.1.1 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-04-26 12:13 (Reply)

What species are the characters from Harry Potter on your side?

Here they are all human. We have a distinct lack of diversity in species, though there are owls.

#11 Ashley on 2010-04-25 11:53 (Reply)

My favorite Miyazaki film?
It's a tie between Spirited Away and his most recent release, Ponyo.

#12 Melissa on 2010-04-25 12:06 (Reply)

Mononoke Hime is mine. I am surprised no one mentioned it yet.

#13 James on 2010-04-25 15:08 (Reply)

In terms of pure fantasy, it would have to be a tie between "Spirited Away" and "Castle in the Sky".

The airplane/Aviation geek in me loves "Porco Rosso", "Kiki's Delivery Service", and "Castle in the Sky".

Musically, they're all great; but "Ponyo" has one of the best soundtracks I've heard in quite a while.

#14 Reynard on 2010-04-25 15:14 (Reply)

Kiki's Delivery Service. It's magical in many more ways than the obvious one.

#15 Jerry on 2010-04-26 01:01 (Reply)

What species is Kiki?

#16 EHH on 2010-04-26 02:45 (Reply)

My favorites: Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. Full length, full story movies.

#17 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-04-26 11:02 (Reply)

I'm not a big anime fan, but I have seen Spirited... Loved it.

#18 Mortar on 2010-04-26 11:25 (Reply)

Everyone here will recommend you get every Miyazaki film and watch it.
Some have more grown up themes, some are shorter than others, all are wonderfully made.
At a local furry party, someone was showing an old tape of a show, that had one episode Miyazaki had either made or heavily contributed to. I forget the show, check in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PrancingSkiltaire/
(you will have to join) to ask. (I will check and post later)
Anyway there was a clock tower and a set of gears. I was asked if I understood that gears moving at different speeds are the devil to animate. I had not so understood. Anyway that one episode they said got Disney back to the artist drawn stuff away from total CGI. So for the anime fan, that show was a wonder, not only for that scene, but for several others. For me it was interseting, nice, early Miyazaki.

#18.1 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-04-26 12:51 (Reply)

I am only guessing. Because flying is involved I would say she is a bird. A large bird so she can carry heavy packages. Also a colorfull one.

I also don't see many anime movies but my vote would also be for KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE. If they ever make an anime show about Kevin and Kell that could change.

#19 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-04-26 11:53 (Reply)

Don't worry about the odd sense of foreboding you're having about the wedding, happened with me too, happens with everyone. A couple hiccups the day of, but overall it worked perfectly and we've been married ten years now. Besides, for some reason you or your friends and family seem to have something odd happen to them every day, so ...

You have Disney over there too, huh? I'd be willing to bet my life savings the CEO of Disney is a mouse ...

#20 David Kendall on 2010-04-26 11:56 (Reply)

In your wedding, as in mine, no one attending had any motive to kill any other guest. That is just a start to the tricky-ness of this wedding. The Sonar/No-Sonar issue,, potential no-fly zones, day and night people problem on steroids, all sorts of interesting times kind of things.

As for the 'some reason you or your friends and family seem to have something odd happen to them every day, so ...', the birds had a comment on that long ago: this family will be a pivot point of their society. Or something like that, near the end of the GBC.

'Otter

#20.1 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-04-26 12:28 (Reply)

You must mean the Disney founder.
I do not know who the current CEO is, but is not likely to be related.
'Otter

#20.2 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-04-26 12:41 (Reply)

I've seen every Miyazaki feature, but I don't have a sure favorite. At one time I would've said Howl's Moving Castle, but I think I was influenced a bit by the circumstances, particularly getting to see it in a theater with a receptive crowd. I loved that film until the last several minutes, when it got too Disney-sappy.

I'm also a big fan of his least popular, least characteristic film, Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro. Does that lose me feminist credentials?

#21 Classic Steve (Link) on 2010-04-26 13:33 (Reply)

I just checked the wiki on the Castle.
That must have been the one I saw at the Skiltaire's, it matches the description.
I liked it, and the comments were that it changed the Disney animation department's methods and priorites.
But I got the impression that it is hard to find.
'Otter

#21.1 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-04-29 04:31 (Reply)

We are all antici...pating your wedding.
You are going to graduate soon?
Congrats!
'Otter

#22 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-04-28 16:13 (Reply)

Your recent conversation with Fenton....
Actually the Herb/carn split does not worry me as much as the Bug/insectivore split. Your parents wedding took care of that first problem.

I can just imagine someone selling/wearing T-shirts saying "I survived another Dewclaw wedding". Any over-stock can be sold in a few years, though Rudy's wedding should not present much of a problem: could just invite the carnivore crowd and skip the tension. And any wedding for Coney is too distant. I could imagine that Rudy has some reason to be wearing such (grin).

#22.1 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-04-29 04:37 (Reply)

Record and send to the ones that can not make it.
Or telepresence the whole thing.
'Otter

#22.1.1 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-04-29 20:35 (Reply)

Just the carnivore crowd for Rudy's wedding. I don't think so. I don't think Fiona would want to leave her 1/2 sister Corrie & her clone Mary out of the party. Plus Mary.s adopted parants. I think Fenton would be invited.

#22.1.2 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-04-29 23:50 (Reply)

Yeah, and there goes the chance of having a simple and safe Dewclaw style wedding.
If we could get a franchise in a world we do not have direct access to, that 'I survived a Dewclaw wedding' would look good. With the basic idea that planning stops causalities.

#22.1.2.1 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-04-30 10:34 (Reply)

Thats right. Kevin & kell had it easy. mostly had freinds & relitives from both familys. Lindesfarne & Fenton has a large variaty of guests. Rudy & Fiona may have the same problem if they have to invite Fentons side of the family.

#22.1.2.1.1 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-04-30 20:33 (Reply)

Ohh, they are all so good but... the recent Ponyo is my favorite kid-friendly movie, while Nausicaa is my favorite that appeals more to an adult crowd. But they are all dear to me, from My Neighbor Totoro and the Cat Returns, to Howl's Moving Castle and My Neighbors the Yamadas, Porco Russo and Princess Mononoke... Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service - augh, just so many great, moving films! It's hard to pick one, because it excludes the others, and I love them all.

#23 Sara Starling on 2010-04-29 01:45 (Reply)

Welcome to May. Lindesfarne is no her way home from the bridle shower with an immense load of fertilizer. I hope she is carefull. A load of fertilizer that big is a rolling bomb. The sooner she gets it to Tree the better. It would have been safer to send it in in smaller loads over several months then all at once.

#24 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-05-01 07:58 (Reply)

Joke?
Actually to create a bomb from fertilizer you need to add gasoline or something stronger.
And it helps if it is the correct type of fertilizer, just any BS will not do.

But I have seen the vid of the person who followed a portapoty loaded truck under a too low bridge.

Now whether Tree can deal with a meal that big is another thing.

#24.1 Old Prof. Otter on 2010-05-02 01:14 (Reply)

In todays strip Tree is giving Lindesfarne a shower gift of her pine cones. Fenton is holding up a sign saying thank her. I think Lindesfarne is the last person you would have to remind to say thank you for a gift.

I don't think Lindesfarne has a need for pine cones. I think she will end up giving them to someone who can use them. Like Douglas Squirrel and his relitives.

Also I didn't know you had to add gasoline to fertilized to make it explosive,

#25 STEVEN BRAMS on 2010-05-02 11:00 (Reply)

Nausicaa and Laputa were among the first anime features I saw, as my son introduced me to his favorite genre; I enjoyed them both. My Neighbor Totoro is a delight, and served to introduce my grandson to anime. Spirited Away is the one I like best; Howl's Moving Castle was a disappointment, especially the latter part, because it departed so much from Diana Wynne Jones' novel. (And anyone not familiar with her books should remedy that lack!)

#26 Phroggge on 2010-05-04 05:47 (Reply)

i love porco rosso

#27 krazykorean on 2010-05-16 17:25 (Reply)

Hi, I'm Fortuna, new to the blog, and a big fan of yours Lindesfarne.

#28 Fortuna on 2010-07-06 16:27 (Reply)

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