Tales From Earthsea

Released worldwide in 2006, Studio Ghibli’s “Tales from Earthsea” finally made an appearance in U.S.A., after some contractual trouble with the SyFy Channel kept the movie in an unknown release date for a long time. Given a sparkle with an English-language voice cast and given a controversial PG-13 rating (a first for a Disney animated release), “Tales from Earthsea” is a remarkable film, but maybe not worth the long wait it took to be released in the States.

Brian Orndorf said in his review, “Dark times are approaching the land of Earthsea, with the “balance” of life eroding, allowing evil to take over the land, dividing the nations of man and dragon.” Wizard Sparrowhawk (Timothy Dalton) has found a particularly bothersome boy named Arren (Matt Levin) on his journey, and brings him to a safe place: home to Tenar (Detective/Sergeant/Lieutenant Olivia Benson from “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” herself, Mariska Hargitay) and young Therru (Blaire Restaneo). Making a temporary family, the gang is in trouble by the evil sorcerer Lord Cob, voiced by Willem Dafoe, who wants the mystery of Arren’s true name, giving him all the power he needs to take over Earthsea for himself.

Orndorf said, “An adaptation of the popular “Earthsea” novels by Ursula K. Le Guin, this Japanese production has the benefit of the animated realm, allowing director Goro Miyazaki (son of legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki) to move fluidly around this fantasy world of dragons, magic, and malevolence.” It’s a respectful directorial debut, but not as nice of what the film really needs, with viewers thrown into his confusing world with little to like besides the colorful visual heft.

Orndorf said, “Perhaps students of Le Guin’s work will find more to feast on here.” The script isn’t completely thick, but it does speak “Earthsea” fluently, delving into an overwhelming whelm of impossibility brought together through the line of life and death. It’s a spiritual journey for the characters, but also one of magic and guilt, going through a mystical center to the movie that takes some time to really like. Orndorf said, “It’s not a thrilling film by any means, but perhaps that’s where the splendid integrity of it all lies, keeping the experience challenging to the layman. Still, there are plenty of question marks to the material that aren’t exactly ironed out by film’s end, along with a few flights of bodily transformation fancy that could use a more approachable degree of explanation.”

An adventure story mainly, “Tales from Earthsea” stays a nice epic tale, giving a harder edge to the magical story, which keeps the stakes engaging. Maybe a step down for the Studio Ghibli filmography when it comes to style and overall summary pleasures, the film stays an occasionally charming make. Just don’t think that everything will come crystal clear.

My siblings said that we all went to the theaters to see this movie and we came out disappointed and underwhelmed. However, I don’t recall us doing that. I said that I must have not gone, but they say that they wouldn’t have left me behind when they went to see the movie. Even when I was watching this when I rented it from the library, nothing seemed familiar and I have no recollection of seeing this in the theater. The only Ghibli movies I remember seeing in the theaters are “Spirited Away” and “Howl’s Moving Castle.”

In the end, two-thirds of the movie is actually really good. The animation, the visuals, the designs, the usual stuff Ghibli does to attract its fans are all here. However, the third act is where the film falls apart. I don’t know what had happened that caused it to deteriorate, but I still think the film is watchable. Don’t worry, if this is anyone’s least favorite, I completely understand. This is my sister’s least favorite Ghibli film. Give it a watch. I don't think this is better than “Howl’s Moving Castle,” but that’s just my opinion.

Now that we have gotten the two underrated and wrongfully hated Ghibli films, check in tomorrow when I look at a really good film in “Studio Ghibli Month.”