When Marnie Was There (DVD)

When Marnie Was There is an excellent film, and it has one of the best portrayals of anxiety and depression I've ever seen in a movie. The only problem with this is that early in the movie, Anna's actions had me disliking her after she insulted a character out of the blue that was seeking her friendship (in a slightly annoying way). However, I have friends and family with depression/anxiety, and I've seen them say and do horrible things with no regards for the feelings of others, even if they would never do that on a normal day. Like all Ghibli films, the animation is superb, but there are parts of it that are slightly different in this film, especially the colors and some of the extra details. The story is interesting, in that like other films from the studio, if it had been made in America it might have been a horror movie, but since their culture has a different view on spirits it's instead a beautiful story of love and friendship. I don't want to say too much to avoid spoilers, but the climax and ending to the film is perfect, it was so amazing that I couldn't help crying uncontrollably, something I hardly ever do. To put it simply, I loved this movie, and I'd highly recommend this to everyone of all ages and inclinations. With this being the first Studio Ghibli film without its creators (Miyazaki especially) but the amazing quality and originality of When Marnie Was There gives me hope that there might be more excellent films from them in the future.

I have always loved Studio Ghibli films and the fabulous and artistically stunning work of Hayao Miyazaki. I'm a huge fan of Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service, The Secret World of Arrietty, and Howl's Moving Castle. This movie definitely does not disappoint and follows along the same path as the movies before it. While being animated, I wouldn't really recommend getting this for a very young child to watch. The story line is just too advanced with more adult related concepts than children related. However, my 10 year old nephew had no problem following the story and being engrossed in the tale it told. The movie is about a young girl (Anna) who suffers from perpetual shy-ness and a general displeasure of being close to other people. A lot of which has to do with her past. During the movie you follow the life of Anna, who leaves to spend the summer in the country to get fresh air and hopefully help deal with/get over her aversion to being around other people. While there she discovers a beautiful mansion at the edge of a marsh with an air of mystery and magic around it. Some times when Anna visits the mansion it's grand and vivacious and other times it's dilapidated and abandoned and Anna can't seem to figure out what's happening. It's there that Anna meets Marnie, a mysterious young girl with a big secret. The film takes you through the summer of Anna and Marnie and all the wonderful things they learn, discover and get through together. Stunning artwork, beautifully composed and an amazing and heartfelt story. I would definitely recommend this film to others.

One of my all time favorite ghibli films, glad to be able to own the bluray and disc. Would recommend this movie

First, about the Blu-Ray: some of those commenting here have complained about not being able to skip the promotions at the beginning of the disk to go to the movie directly instead. If they are using Cyberlink 13, 14 -- or 15 on a PC, as I do: right click on the screen; that will open a menu with an item for “going to …” where one can open yet another menu that offers the choice of starting at the “root” menu. Now, the film: This is the last full-feature ever to be produced by the illustrious Study Ghibli, at least while operating in the same manner that has earned it the heartfelt admiration of so many, for so many years. It is also the Japanese version of an English ghost story, and the material cannot be stronger, originating from one of two cultures that excel in them and coming now to us through the filter of the other. One of the two main characters is a shy pre-pubescent girl that is at war with her own emotions, but mostly keeps a grip on them and remains respectful, if distant, towards others. Except in a few occasions when she cannot help herself and lashes out. But then realizes that she was wrong and comes around to apologizing sincerely. The second main character is the ghost of another girl of similar age, existing in a very different situation, but connected to the first one in ways that come to light at the end. In this story, time itself bends: past and present briefly and imperfectly seem to overlap for a few minutes or a few hours, now and then, letting each girl move from her reality to the other's and back. So, in a way, each might be a ghost to the other (and there is a hint that this is the case in a rediscovered diary Marnie had kept many years before). Magic and mystery rule; above all, this is a tale about the mystery and magic of love. It is also a very humane and moving story. The animation is of the quality one expects in a Ghibli film. This is not about high drama and dare-devil action, as in “Mononoke”, or action plus deeply poetic story-telling as in “Kaguya”; it does not play as hard with one’s emotions as “The grave of the fireflies”, is not as boisterously fantastic as “Pom Poko”, or as amusing as “Porco Rosso” or “My neighbors the Tanakas”, or as heart-warming as “Kiki”, to mention some of the studio's great achievements, but it is a great small piece of art all the same, as well as a feather in the cap of Hiromasa Yonebayashi that directed it (his second movie after “Arrietty”, also adapted from an English story). Comparisons have been made, nonetheless, to some of those former movies by some professional critics and, in conclusion, “Marnie” has been declared by them to be a “minor Ghibli.” I disagree: those are comparisons between apples and butterflies. This movie, as those other ones of that wonderfully creative enterprise, is in a kind all its own, and should be seen that way. As of this writing, “Marnie” is in the list of candidates for an Oscar in the “Best Animated Film” category. Given the tremendous amount of wind in the sails of “Inside Out”, I fully expect the latter to win the prize. “Inside Out” is, in my opinion, an inferior product, if brilliantly executed, since it, after all, comes from Pixar. It is about a girl of about same age as in “Marnie” that is also in the grip of her emotions, but the message here is that it is no big deal to act up, to the distress of others, even when one’s own family is struggling with unexpected and serious problems: after all, we are ruled by our emotions and that gives us a permanent “get out of jail” pass. A great message to all kids out there already “old enough to understand”? I think not. So, in my heart of hearts, I am rooting for “Marnie.”

When the say 'All good things must come to an end' it really is something you never want to hear. In this case knowing that the studio that gave the world some of the most beautiful films of the last 30 years is closing it's doors is heartbreaking. Studio Ghibli finally made a name for its self in the western world and the whole library of its films are unlike anything you will ever experience. The final film in this collection, 'When Marnie Was There' could not have been a more perfect conclusion to Ghibli's legacy. Based on a heart warming tale we see a coming of age story with a heart warming supernatural twist. The characters are so charming and the English voice cast chosen in Haliee Steinfeld, John C. Reille and Kathy Bates is wonderful. As always the animation is stunning and watching a story taking place in the peaceful countryside made me feel like all my stress had gone away for just a little while. However, the story is a beautiful blend of joy and sorrow as the two main characters Anna and Marnie develop a one of a kind friend ship as they peel away the layers of the pasts and share their inner most secrets with one another. It is a story filled with hope, love and loss and the ending will definitely produce a tear or more. For me, tears were definitely shed just knowing that the pioneering team of Miyazaki and Takahata have 'officially' concluded their epic adventure into the world of animation. They proved that animation is a genre that can be developed for all kinds of audiences and that traditional cell animation is an art form that is far from dead. Each time they exposed new wonders and dived ever deeper into its beauty and their product as well as their awards, have shown that time and time again. Complete your Studio Ghibli journey with this heartwarming conclusion and I am sure you will happy that you did. End of Book 2

𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄 𝒄𝒊𝒓𝒄𝒍𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰’𝒎 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓. When Marnie Was There is a 2014 Japanese animated psychological drama film co-written and directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi and produced by Studio Ghibli A young girl, Anna, is sent to the country for health reasons, where she meets an unlikely friend in the form of Marnie, a young girl with flowing blonde hair. As the friendship unravels Marnie has closer ties to the protagonist than we might expect. Adapted from a novel written by Joan G. Robinson in1967, 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒆 𝑾𝒂𝒔 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’s universal appeal is in its honest characterization of adolescent apprehension; its scriptures and visuals sequences alike capture what can appear to be an otherwise jaded youthfulness hasn't been corrupted quite yet or lost its sense of imagination. The perfect balance of angst and curiosity, Yonebayashi’s adaptation is that oyster we are all encouraged and desperate to crack. The problem this potentially creates, of course, is a matter of ambition over resolve. Here, when compared to the rest of what Studio Ghibli has turned out, the magic is less about…well, magic, as it is about a marked and unique maturity: this is especially the case when considering the formalities of the foster care system that set a precedent for Anna’s secret (That suggest a personal history though Robinson never mentioned having any), and in turn make ‘𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒆…’ a fairy tail hybrid without the usual guideposts save the emotions its characters explicitly suggest. That said, 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒆 𝑾𝒂𝒔 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 deviance from a given formula applies to its integration of themes that are applicable to both young and more mature viewers alike, and perhaps should be discussed at length on occasion: intergenerational trauma and parental guilt just to name a few. In spite of Robinson’s silence in regards to what inspired this particular story less specified clues are formative: Namely, her comments that suggest creating the character of Marnie helped her learn how to forgive her perpetually “un-get-atable” (Her words, not mine) mother in combination with the presence of cruel adults that are often in her novels. What transpires on page, and thereafter on screen, is a contiguous plea for both hope and stability: it need not be clear-sighted or transparent to matter. A reductionist take would focus too much on ‘𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒆…’s transitional beats that are at times corny and cliche. Nonetheless, it is on a border scale most concerned with the conclusions children come up with when left to their own devices, and it shows genuine empathy for the relationship between inquisition and heartbreak; when raised without transparency - which requires tough conversations and some amount of accommodating - some individuals are left with no choice but to make judgments about the people, places, and special circumstances that surround them, and leaves them with wounds that are just going untreated. In short, 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒆 𝑾𝒂𝒔 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’s place on Hayao Miyazaki’s recommended reading list doesn’t come as much of a surprise; adamant at one point this would be the last film produced by Studio Ghibli, he (and others) have been successfully lured out of retirement multiple times all in the name of keeping pace with a demographic that many people like to underestimate if not flat-out disregard. Anna’s many predicaments related to self-esteem, permanency, and displacement follow so many of us well into adulthood, and I doubt any of us will ever have the whole story, regardless of how that phrasing applies. It really need not be said, but children only understand so much: “ 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒆…” does the 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 least and gives them credit for what they pick up on.

Sometimes, I see a movie at just the time I need to see it. This was one of those time. At the time I viewed this movie, it was just a week after my mother passed away. The sadness and loss still in me. The feeling that nobody understands the feelings. Of loss, anger, sadness, hurt, confusion. All coming together. Yet, after I watched this movie, I felt that somebody does understand. It was great for me to watch this movie just at this very moment in my life. It had a lovely story about friendship. About a girl trying to figure out who she is. All the feelings she had at this point in her life. The people around her trying to help yet not knowing how. The animation was nothing short of breathtaking. Definitely recommended.

Incredible Blu-ray steel book movie awesome ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

There has been so many glowing reviews of this film that there is very little I can add to it, except to back up that it is a truly wonderful film. The story is intriguing and interesting; a misfit teenage girl, adopted and rebellious against everyone, is lovingly sent to her adopted mothers relatives to spend a summer holiday in the hope it may help mend her melancholy state. It is there that the journey begins of how the teenage protagonist finds understanding of her world and of others and of herself. In simple terms, any film has two components: a visual part and audio part. The animation is superb; beautiful renditions of scenes that are both life like caricatures and conveying of mood. The actors are superb, their voices perfectly match their characters and deliver performances that are totally engaging and fit perfectly into the story and film. Whilst younger viewers may not see the subtleties of the story they will be engrossed by the wonderful, colourful animation that conveys oodles of emotion along the way, plus the intrigue of the solitary house and mysterious inhabitants including Marnie herself. Adults will appreciate all these things plus latch on to the empathy conveyed for the main protagonists and those around them and all the events they shared. It is a wonderful production; the characters look and move in a manner matching their personalities and roles, the landscapes encapsulate the mood of the story setting, the animation is sumptuous and a joy to look at; topping it off are the voices of the actors which convey perfectly their characters. The sound is wonderful, with incidental effects such as rain footsteps, etc. all deliciously conveyed and a pleasure to listen to; just listening to this DVD is itself an engaging experience that captivates the listener. Dont hesitate to see this wonderful heart wrenching and uplifting film; you wont regret it.

I add the soundtrack to its reputation for outstanding visuals and story.

Spirited Away from Studio Ghibli is one of ten favourite films ever, and by ten favourite, I mean top two. And I love others ones like Castle in the Sky and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and I have copies a number of other ones. I always at least liked each Studio Ghibli that I've been able to see. I picked up a half dozen I hadn't yet seen yet - Only Yesterday, Grave of the Fireflies, Princess Kaguya, Porco Rosso, all good to very good films that I enjoyed. But When Marnie Was There was by far my favourite of the group. The story is about Anna, an introverted 12-year-old girl who lives in Sapporo with her foster parents. She is distant and unhappy with them, but does not discuss her feelings, leaving her foster parents worried. Her parents send her to spend the summer with Setsu and Kiyomasa, relatives of her foster mother, in a rural, seaside town where the air is clear. There is an old abandoned mansion across the bay. One day she rows across the bay and meats a pretty blond girl Marnie, and is invited inside to a vibrant, luxurious family party. But the next time Anna visits, the home is abandoned with no sign of life. Did Anna imagine Marnie, was she a ghost, was it all a dream? Soon, a new family purchases the mansion and begins to fix it up, and the young girl of this family, Sayaka, finds an old diary that shows that Marnie was real and lived in the home with her family, but decades in the past. Sayaka and Anna try to solve the mystery, and Anna finds there is a reason she is drawn to Marnie. The director of When Marnie Was There, Hiromasa Yonebayashi, carries on the Ghibli tradition beautifully, with beautiful hand-drawn animation with exceptional background visuals that add to the often dream nature of the film. I would strongly disagree that this is a minor Ghibli film as several writers have suggested. It is magical and beautiful, pretty unique in having a withdrawn introvert as its main character. This is the final film from Studio Ghibli, at least for awhile - the studio has gone on hiatus indefinitely with the retirement of Miyazaki and Takahata. That makes me sad. I hope Mr. Yonebayashi and his fellow animators can get back to work soon.

El servicio de Amazon fue excelente como de costumbre, envío a tiempo y el producto presentó cero defectos. Otra película de los maestros de Ghibli y dirgida por Yonebayashi que nos cuenta la historia de Anna durante sus vacaciones en el Japón rural, donde enfrentará problemas por su forma de relacionarse pero a la vez hará amigos y se auto-descubrirá tras conocer a Marnie. Soy terrible escribiendo sinopsis pero puedo asegurarles que es una obra hermosa con un bello mansaje sobre la familia y la amistad. Gran calidad de imagen a 1080p, subtítulos en español y audio en japonés y español (latino), un solo disco con terribles extras como suele hacer Zima (galería de imágenes), y slip cover. La compré a $150 por lo que considero que valió la pena.

As always, the book is better but the movie has done a wonderful job in capturing the spirit of the novel.