Death Note: The Last Name (2006) Dir: Shûsuke Kaneko

Conclusion of the live action version of the critically acclaimed anime series.

The plot:
As L continues his investigations, believing himself to be tightening the noose on Kira, whom he suspects to be an alias of Light, his thoughts are confused by the apparent emergence of a second Kira, Kira II, who seems more ruthless than the first. whereas the original Kira would only kill convicted criminals, Kira II will kill anyone he / she deems worthy of death.
Can L uncover the secret of the Death Note and the Gods of Death before Kira II becomes unstoppable?

A direct continuation of the first movie, this has all of the strengths and weaknesses, too.
Plot-wise, this is intriguing, and well played by all concerned.
The addition of the second Kira adds a new element of suspense, and everything plays out in a logical, well-presented manner.
Still the gripe holds that the appearance of the Gods of Death is a little bizarre, though representative of the anime versions, but mixed in with the live action, it all just feels a little bit Roger Rabbit.
Still, an exciting, gripping conclusion to the story.
Liked it a lot.

4 out of 5

Ponyo (2008) Dir: Hayao Miyazaki

After the spellbinding Spirited Away and the hauntingly beautiful Howl's Moving Castle, Hayao Miyazaki here gives us an altogether more simplistic tale.
The plot:
Sosuke is a young boy who lives with his mother and father on a rocky outcrop right next to the sea, his father passing by occasionally on the ship he captain's.
One day, Sosuke discovers a small fish with a human face, names her Ponyo and keeps her in a bucket. When Ponyo disappears after having been 'rescued' by her wizard like father, she puts all her efforts into becoming human so that she can return to Sosuke and live life as a little girl instead of a fish!
And it is certainly enchanting, though somehow lacks the scale and scope of most of Miyazaki's previous output.
Coming across as slightly more 'child-friendly' than before, this didn't captivate to quite the same degree and, the worry is, now that Miyazaki has the support of Pixar, could we be seeing a slight watering down of his imagination to fit the Disney model more appropriately?
I hope to God not, as it was the riot of creativity that set him apart, and brought him to the attention of Pixar's John Lasseter in the first place, so to adapt to blend in would seem to make little sense.
With a sequel to Porco Rosso currently in production, I guess we'll find out soon enough.
Ponyo was good, but it was no Princess Mononoke.

4 out of 5

My Neighbour Totoro (1988) Dir: Hayao Miyazaki

Let me just put this in context for you.
I've just finished writing my review of A Serbian Film, one of the most ghastly, disturbing, emotionally draining horror movies I have ever seen.
And now I've got to write this one, about a Miyazaki movie.
Simply put, I can't think of a more jarring contrast.
Anyway.....
Hayao Miyazaki, the brilliant mind that later brought us such delights as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle, here delivers a more sparing, slighter fantasy, but one that is just as effective.
The plot: A young family are forced to move as the mother is taken ill, leaving the two young daughters in the care of their father. The house they move into sits adjacent to a small wooded area. Investigating one day, the younger of the daughters discovers a magical land apparently existing within the hollow of a tree, and befriends a giant, furry creature that serves as some sort of spirit of the forest, with power over the nature that surrounds it.
What follows is simply a delightful adventure as the girls get to know the spirits that dwell within the woods.
Achingly beautiful in places, laugh out loud funny at others, weirdly jarring on occasion, this is a sensory overload that is just a joy to experience.
Miyazaki's gift is to fuse the extraordinary with the really very ordinary indeed in ways which simply melt the toughest of hearts; the two girls at a bus stop in the pouring rain, standing beside the large furry spirit; acorns sprouting as forest spirits dance ritualistically beside them, and too many others to mention.
Though one of the more 'kiddie' of his offerings, this is far from a children's movie.
Simply enchanting.

5 out of 5