Miyazaki's Swan Song was quite the discomforting experience. True, all the accolades given to this film regarding the lush Musical Score, the depth of the metaphors, and the lavished visual art/animation were absolutely deserved. It was honestly the film's saving grace, however the gold plated poop is still poop. True, there is something admirable about taking on a historical drama and to try to give 'real life' that Ghibli spark of magic, but this movie was just a gigantic portfolio of beautiful animation.
The plot was as weak, consistently either underwhelming or anti- climactic, and worst of all ended ambiguously sad, so I left theaters habitually dissatisfied and depressed; The main character is both static and boring, I have no sympathy for this 'perfect man'. Any flaw that tried to give him edge or shape was almost immediately dismissed with some justifying action: ex. As a boy, he's painted as a scrawny, nerdy book worm, justified by confronting a bully and judo throwing him. Or he may be perceived as a neglectful lover/workaholic - whoops never mind, he holds his wife's hand while trying to work one handed.
The plot was as weak, consistently either underwhelming or anti- climactic, and worst of all ended ambiguously sad, so I left theaters habitually dissatisfied and depressed; The main character is both static and boring, I have no sympathy for this 'perfect man'. Any flaw that tried to give him edge or shape was almost immediately dismissed with some justifying action: ex. As a boy, he's painted as a scrawny, nerdy book worm, justified by confronting a bully and judo throwing him. Or he may be perceived as a neglectful lover/workaholic - whoops never mind, he holds his wife's hand while trying to work one handed.