Hayao Miyazaki proves that he is not only a master animator but also a master storyteller. Ponyo is easily one of the best films -- animated or live action -- of the year.
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08/14/09
Ponyo (2009)
91
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:111
Fresh:101
Rotten:10
Average Rating:7.7/10
Consensus: While not Miyazaki's best film, Ponyo is a visually stunning fairy tale that's a sweetly poetic treat for children of all ages.
Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins
Genre: Childrens
Synopsis: From the Academy Award®-winning director and world-renowned Japanese animation legend Hayao Miyazaki comes PONYO, a story inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale “The Little Mermaid.” ... [More]
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Noah Cyrus, Matt Damon, Tina Fey
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Reviews for Ponyo
A good number of Miyazaki's fans will be disappointed by what looks like a step back, but the relaxed simplicity of the new film eventually works its effortless magic.
08/13/09
Miyazaki's stunning adventure is geared to younger kids.
08/14/09
Bliss Made Simple: Hayao Miyazaki's shimmering 'Ponyo' ('Gake no Ue no Ponyo')
09/04/09
The sight of the giddy and newly bipedal Ponyo racing atop the waves of a magically roiling flood may be the happiest and most memorable image of the movie year.
08/21/09
Some may find it too childish, but the movie's innocence is infectious, and Miyazaki's artistry utterly transporting.
08/14/09
The film's pleasures are immensely simple, but this does not make them less real or wonderful.
08/19/09
Compared to the animated garbage that typically passes through stateside theaters, it's practically a godsend.
08/21/09
A charming and enchanting mystical fairy tale about a goldfish who becomes a girl and a little boy who loves her and introduces her with pride to his world of wonders.
08/13/09
Ponyo is something of a disappointment. Leaving aside the plot deficiencies and storytelling awkwardness, Mr. Miyazaki's latest simply doesn't look good.
08/28/09
comes from a great line of Miyazaki heroines
08/13/09
Wondrous, weird, and sweetly innocent, Ponyo is a tale bursting with love, which is recommendation enough for the young and the young at heart.
08/14/09
lacks any real sense of conflict or danger. It makes up for it. . . with a delightfully absurd internal logic that is perfectly keyed into the way small children see the world
10/03/09
...at its most magical when it observes the every day.
08/13/09
For those who love 'Spirited Away' and 'Princess Mononoke,' as I do, here's another Hayao Miyazaki tale of friendship and fantasy.
08/16/09
When you see Ponyo -- and you must -- be prepared for a movie that doesn't abide by Hollywood rules. This is a tale for children (yes, of all ages) who are ready to be coaxed into another world through simple words and luscious pictures.
08/14/09
Top CriticLately, when I want to smile, I just think of Ponyo.
08/25/09
Hiyao Miyazaki, bless him, continues to be an analog guy in animation's increasingly digital world
09/04/09
When the ocean rises in this wonderful movie, each leaping wave stares out at us with a baleful eye as if in watchful and worried wait.
08/14/09
Top CriticThe type of glorious filmmaking and storytelling that should appeal to everyone ... a wonderful and magical film that should be seen and enjoyed as a family.
08/14/09
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