Another Hayao Miyazaki film that Jasmine lent me. Unlike other Miyazaki films, this one doesn’t involve heavy and political issues. Rather, it focuses on teen love (^.^) and finding one’s true path in life.

The movie is heartwarming and has just the kind of atmosphere for a laid-back afternoon to enjoy oneself.

It features the song of Olivia Newton-John called Country Road and the heroine even translated it to Japanese and sang it. I have to admit that I am not very good with old songs, but that songs really grows on you, especially as it is used often in the movie; in different versions, sung by different people.

Whisper of the Heart makes me smile because of the interaction between characters that are both innocent and endearing. Crushes, flings and even true love combined with the determination to find one’s path are definitely what makes this movie such a delight.

In truth, it makes one yearn to have a puppy love, at any age. =)

Chii from Chobits sporting an armalite gun. Ayame Souma from Fruits Basket flirting with Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy. Roy Mustang from Full Metal Alchemist skipping around and waving his coat tails like a skirt. Best of all, Jasmine almost being run over by a runaway turtle.

Yes, that’s the chaos that greeted us during the Toy and Games convention on June 17th. Amidst the packed crowd and overflowing merchandise, the fascination centered on the cosplayers gathered there.

A myriad of people gathered from all walks of life. There were characters from Ragnarok, Bleach, Full Metal Alchemist, Final Fantasy, among others. Let me list some of them.

• Bleach - Kuchiki Byakuya and another person dressed as a shinigami (though I don’t know who she’s supposed to be… Hinamori, perhaps?)
• Full Metal Alchemist - Roy Mustang (yeah, skipping around the place) and Edward Elric (holding an Alphonse plushie ^^)
• Final Fantasy - Cloud Strife. I could pick him out from the crowd because his hair is taller than most people =)
• Fruits Basket - Ayame Souma, with a mustache. Urrg.
• Chobits- Chii, played by a guy. Not a pretty sight.

Great entertainment by the Acafellas and we also met anime vendors whom we know personally (first name basis, I tell you! ^^). A friend of ours joined the art making contest and as of today the results haven’t come in yet. We’re wishing her luck.

Though crowded, it was a nice enough event. I only wish someone brought a real Cloud Strife sword. Then I would have made a quick escape with it. *maniacal laughter*

I was supposed to upload some stuff in Winglica today, but the FTP is being cruel to me. Again. So I surfed other blogs for some inspiration.

I came across some reviews for Howl’s Moving Castle by Hayao Miyazaki and I was surprised at what other people had to say. There are some positive and negative comments about it.

Positive Review
Negative Review

I’ve never read the original book by Dianna Wynne Jones so I’ll go by the movie this time.

In truth, the movie lost me. The animation is great, yes, and so was the sountrack. But the main plot just lost me somewhere along the way. I was hammered with a lot of stuff about war, and that it is bad (don’t we all know that already?). But I didn’t even catch why there was a war in the first place. This is where I feel Miyazaki has filled the movie with political views more than what was needed.

In truth, compared to the brilliance of Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away, it was lacking in characterization. I wanted to see something deeper from the characters but it came short.

The thing that really kept me going was the story between Howl and Sophie (so I’m a sucker for love stories; I can’t help it!) because this is one Miyazaki film that actually has an ending to its romantic twist (unlike Spirited Away *sniff*).