Some of the newer Disney movies aren't just about finding a prince - Mulan has to find her inner badass, Tiana to found her restaurant, Rapunzel to figure out who she is - and these other quests are just as important as the prince part
But there is always a prince in Disney, and it refreshing to get away with that with Studio Ghibli films.
And another way that Studio Ghibli wins? Characters are allowed to be nuanced! Look at Lady Eboshi. Good guy? Bad guy? Neither, because it's not about good guys or bad guys. Actions are good or bad, and motives are good or bad, but *characters* are allowed to be both.
I really loved the minions in the first movie--too bad they muffed it in the sequel.
I saw someone else's pointful critique of the sequel: she said that one big problem was that whereas the first movie showed the beauty, and possibility for success--of a created family, a family of choice--the sequel embraces the notion that the girls can't be happy without a mother in their lives--that somehow their family is wanting as it is because there's no mother.
I was so impressed with Lady Eboshi! It's so unusual for characters to be allowed to be that ambiguous - and never to have that ambiguity settled one way or the other. She's probably my favorite character in that movie
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Awww! I loved the movie. That said, I agree with you on Lucy and the romance element. I get why they included his neighbor trying to hook him up (since that was the theme) but yeah, it was a bit overdone. I'd have preferred more time with the girls (and mom! Apparently Julie Andrews didn't want a return visit or something?) I however LOVE the minions. So for me, I was pretty happy with them getting more screen time.
Oh my goodness, did Julie Andrews play Gru's mom? I never guessed! Her voice - the whole character - it's so different from what I expect Julie Andrews to play! Kudos for her for doing something so different.
And yes, I would have loved to have more time with the girls and Gru's mom. I think the trying to hook Gru up storyline would have worked much better if it was Gru's mom doing it, because after all she has a reason to care and a history of being interfering.
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True. Films centered on female characters that aren't just about finding a prince, unlike Disney.
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But there is always a prince in Disney, and it refreshing to get away with that with Studio Ghibli films.
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I really loved the minions in the first movie--too bad they muffed it in the sequel.
I saw someone else's pointful critique of the sequel: she said that one big problem was that whereas the first movie showed the beauty, and possibility for success--of a created family, a family of choice--the sequel embraces the notion that the girls can't be happy without a mother in their lives--that somehow their family is wanting as it is because there's no mother.
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And yes, I would have loved to have more time with the girls and Gru's mom. I think the trying to hook Gru up storyline would have worked much better if it was Gru's mom doing it, because after all she has a reason to care and a history of being interfering.
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