I feel like such a fake fan. This is obviously one of his most personal and sincere artistic offerings as a film maker… but I was just bored the entire way through. It was beautiful and whimsical, but the story left me so cold and unsatisfied. Nothing resolved, nothing really mattered, nothing felt like subtext. And I know I’m wrong, it MUST be something I missed.
I guess I’m just basic, but hit me with that Porco Rosso or Wind Rises or Laputa vibes. But thats art, there’s no accounting for taste. I’m going to watch Heron again and see if it takes a second viewing for it to hit home.
Regardless how I feel about it, I was so happy to finally catch a Miyazaki film in theatres with my kids. That was great.