Closing out another promotion and a look see on the results and entries making a play for the booty. In this case, a copy of a Studio Ghibli DVD from the crew at Dendy Cinemas. Reason being that of the exclusive limited season of Tales from Earthsea from, yes, Studio Ghibli.

Ten days for one reel to play at the Dendy Newtown in Newtown's Dendy Cinemas and on to the next state. So, on to the scoreboard of entries and the art coloured in the lines.

Who sings the theme song to Tales from Earthsea?

Aoi Teshima.

On the surface isn't all that simple. Unless a quick check of the Wikipedia entry is made. Not much for the IMDB listing. Clearly nothing from the film's official site.

Well, it is a crap shoot when playing with Wiki as a source. In this case, it plays well enough to the tune.

Name another Studio Ghibli film not already mentioned on this page:

Any of the following made an entry a valid entry: Laputa: Castle in the Sky, Grave of the Fireflies, Kiki's Delivery Service, Only Yesterday, Porco Rosso, The Ocean Waves, Pom Poko, Whisper of the Heart, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbors the Yamadas, The Cat Returns or Spirited Away.

Most entries fell safe and late with the use of Spirited Away as the chosen marker. Obviously, when sorting through, and with the options to consider, any entry which opts to drop with any other title floats a bit higher in the pool.

When picking from a list, take a look at other movies, in case they don't seem so dragged down by being so recent or popular as to not make the brain think.

Which Studio Ghibli DVD would you like to win?

Any would do: No preference; Howl's Moving Castle; My Neighbour Totoro; or Nausica of the Valley of the Wind.

This round works on two shots; the personal choice and the blind shot. For those who are really interested in picking up a DVD of their choice, they would go for the one they're looking to nab. Others, for the sake of winning, will just throw down "No preference" and hope for the best. When there are entries for all the other titles however, those with a shot at "Whatever" will lose out.

Most of the time.

Those that will always lose out are those who cannot decide and go for more than one. And that's the worst thing to do. There exists a blacklist for those who choose to rort. It's there for a reason. Stay away from it and have palms clear of red paint.

 

Smash that ice leg as the freezing nights are here again. Really cold out now, so cold the ears are starting to bleed from all that frost.

Tales from Earthsea continues its short and exclusive run at the Dendy Newtown cinemas. Really good anime, finely made film and even falling asleep from the night's antics hours on the phone before hand will not dampen it at all.

Oh, but for those of reading things in books and not of subtitles, Fell: Vol 1: Feral City collects the first batch of single shot crime fiction stories from Warren Ellis and Ben Templesmith. Quick and satisfying read in the singles form, a nice ride on the train for those who know how to walk and read at the same time.

Unlike those who know how to watch a movie and sleep at the same time.

 

Only one reel of the latest anime from Studio Ghibli is in Australia and making the rounds. Next destination, and running for the next ten days, Tales from Earthsea at the Dendy Newtown.

Glamorous and lush visuals from the very start, a hint of shouting across the crashing waves and subtitles are good. Not so good to do this much reading in the morning however. Drowsy takes hold and a nice slumber slots in early after the start. Enough to gather the flow of the story, not too late to miss out entirely on the world.

With a world in despair it's the ancient and true which leaves for hope and the dying truth of life and the end with death. A tale of acceptance and fighting for the best parts of life and leaving the rule of giving and receiving to the heart. Heads will only complicate matters when the desire out rules and out gasps the sheer audacity of what befalls those who chase the light.

Magic and sorcery, the stuff of mystics, plays heavy in the background with a clean swipe as the human emotions stand at the fore. Truly a beautiful film to soak in and marvel at the expanse and closeness.

Playing at Dendy Newtown from May 17 until 27 for an extremely limited season.

 

Although, I would be rather happy if it were Totoro, at least Totoro never stole my catalogues... moving on...

My Neighbour Totoro is another beautiful all ages film by Studio Ghibli (pronounced Jibbly).

Satsuki and Mei move to the countryside with their father after their mother does herself a mischief.

Soon after moving in the two girls, voiced by Dakota and Elle Fanning respectively, realise that they share their house with some rather unusual critters and an even more unusual neighbour named Totoro.



My Neighbour Totoro was originally released in Japan in 1988 and in the US in 1994 by Troma films (the ingenius people that brought us Tromeo and Juliet and Toxie) before being licensed and redubbed by Disney in March 2006 and acquired by Madman entertainment soon after.

Although animated in 1988, the quality of animation and film stock itself are excellent and as with all Ghibli films, the music is incredible.

The local release is a bit shy on special features, with alternative angle storyboards, original trailers and textless opening and closing credits but as mentioned above, the film itself is in pristine condition. And wrapped in a high quality reversible slick.

I wouldn't necessarily say that this is a must-watch for any old anime fan, but I will say that it is a must-have for all Ghibli fans.

A wonderful film filled with fantasy, wonder and hope that will be a delight for adults and children alike. Written and directed by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki.