Grave of the Fireflies is a very... sad... movie about Japan during World War II. As I'm sure you all know, they were repeatedly bombed by other forces quite frequently. This whole movie centers on a city called Kobe that is subject to these air raids.
A boy named Seita and his really little sister, Setsuko, are in their backyard. They are hiding food and things under the ground for later use. Their mother comes out and tells them that she is going to the shelter. The attack comes after she leaves, causing the town to pretty much burn to ashes. The two decide to leave to find their aunt who lives nearby.
After staying with her for awhile, Seita and Setsuko leave. Their aunt was really mean to them, but she didn't force them out of the house. She kept telling Seita how much of a slug he was, etc. Anyway, they go to live in an abandoned bomb shelter. The siblings try to get by on their own, but no one can support them, and they don't have much money at all. Things just keep getting tougher and tougher, and Setsuko seems to be getting ill.
The rest of the story is about what happens to Seita and Setsuko. Most of the film is just showing them doing random, every day type things. I think that is an interesting twist on most animes, and it really brings you to know the characters and feel more attached to them (which is usually a GOOD thing).
The things in this movie that may be offensive aren't really MEANT to be that way. It often shows burned people, maggot-infested people, or just plain beat up, dirty, diseased, poor people. They also show townspeople burning the dead. In Japan, that's a tradition, so it's not meant to be cruel. The swearing... I think they did maybe once. It doesn't pop up in my memory, so it can't be too bad. The violence is evident: it's a war movie. Get used to bombs dropping on people and towns.
Storyline
5/5 It's a sad movie. Very good, though.
Character Development
5/5 Very well done. As stated before, it showed people doing normal things, which really made you notice how you were like them, etc... dramatic statements... blah blah.
Plot Depth
5/5 The plot is very sentimental and stuff. Get a box of kleenex. Or a very long and thick sweater sleeve.
Music
5/5 It was good. They had some piano, some classical japanese, and some orchestra. It was very diverse, although mostly depressing dramatic stuff.
Sexual Content
5/5 None.
Nudity
5/5 Setsuko (about age 4) goes without a top at the beach. Ooh, the horrors.
Violence/Gore
4/5 Violent, but it's a movie about WAR! There is some blood, and lots of burned and dirty diseased-like people.
Animation
5/5 Very well done. It was made in 1988, and it has the quality of some more recent anime.
Profanity
5/5 I think they swore a couple of times, I'm not sure though.
Overall goodness
5/5 I liked it. I recommend that if you see it, you not watch it in front of someone who will mock you if you start crying. Also, be sure to have that sweater sleeve or kleenex ready. ^_^
Totals: 49/50. I highly recommend this to EVERYONE. I don't care if you HATE sentimental crap. This show WILL make you actually think about what others had to go through. And, not to sound all... cheesy... but it made me be thankful that I could wander over to the fridge and grab whatever I wanted WHEN I wanted.
First of all, I'd like to say that I have wanted to see this movie for about two years. I found out about it a long, LONG time ago, and Comic Junction only recently got in the DVD version. The VHS. . . well, that got sold. Unfortunately, not to me. ^_- I had very high expectations of it. It met them very well; probably exceeded them! (And that, my friends, is rare)
Seita is fourteen and Setsuko is four. Theya re burying things in the backyard for later, being it is early 1945, and war is all about. Their mother is going to the shelter in case of bombing. They've had an air raid warning. So, Seita and Setsuko finish burying their stuff and run off. The bombing starts as soon as they get out of the house. They have to move in with an aunt, being their house was burned to the ground. I hate their aunt, and I hope she burns in hell. Well, with that out of the way, eventually, they must leave. She doesn't. . . FORCE them physically out. BUT! You think Seita really WANTS to hear how useless he is? How Setsuko and him are spoiled brats? Nah. They move into an abandoned bomb shelter.
Throughout the movie, you can see them deteriorate. They get thinner and thinner, rashes appear, they get sick. Setsuko either had lice or maybe it was dandruff. I really couldn't tell. Maybe it was fireflies. With the violence, it wasn't your typical anime violence with lotsa blood and gore and other fun stuff (which I happen to LIKE). It was very realistic. War is not fun. I hate it and I hope. . . it burns in hell with Seita and Setsuko's aunt. The characters are also realistic. Even little mannerisms are so similar to real people. When Setsuko's upset, she rocks back and forth and stares at the ground like a normal four-year-old would. Seita's very serious, like one would be with a soldier for a father. 'Twas so realistic. And it definetely was one of the saddest anime I have ever seen. It lived up to my expectations. (As if that mattered to you. ^_-)
Storyline
5/5 It was very different from most anime.
Character Development
5/5 Very realistic and believable.
Plot Depth
5/5 It's deep and stuff like that. But it's so DEPRESSING!
Music
5/5 It was pretty. I really liked it. Piano and orchestrated pieces with traditional Japanese songs and stuff.
Sexual Content
5/5 No.
Nudity
5/5 Setsuko runs around without a top on, but she's a very little girl. Seita is seen with those traditional Japanese male undieees. They are like thongs, so it is a butt. Oooh. Too much for you? Oh, they also pee in the woods.
Violence/Gore
4/5 WAR, PEOPLE! Yeah, with dirty, skinny, maggot-ee (eeew. YUCK. I hate maggots. They are THE most disgusting things on this Earth. Well. . . and leeches.) bodies. Deceased people are everywhere, and even little Setsuko happens upon a body.
Animation
5/5 It has the quality of a more. . . recent film. Most excellent, and the credits said that it used a rare brown-edge technique. I have no idea what that means, but it was cool.
Profanity
5/5 Seita said "Damn him". I think that was about it.
Overall goodness
5/5 It was very realistic. I cried a lot, though. It was amazingly realistic movie with so many people that you cared about right away. I liked it when Setsuko caught the firefly. Very funny - I laughed so hard I almost started crying again. Good thing I didn't, because then I wouldn't have cried so much later. That made no sense. I'm tired.
Totals: 49/50, or YOU MUST SEE THIS! I INSIST!
TOTALS: 49/50 SEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE ITTTTTTTTT! Very highly recommended!
***We own it on DVD. We prefer the subbed, although the dubbed voices are very good too. Being it's about Japanese history, it just seems more. . . proper to watch it subbed. Unedited, of course.***
| Title: | Grave of the Fireflies | ||||||||||||||
| Original Creator: | Akiyuki Nosaka | ||||||||||||||
| Year: | 1988 | ||||||||||||||
| Licensed by: | Central Park Media Co. | ||||||||||||||
| Length: | 88 min | ||||||||||||||
| Rating: (not professional) |
PG (mature situations, minor injuries, war, and serious issues)
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Number of Tapes:
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1
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Price for individual tape:
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Dub: $29.95 Sub: $19.99
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Box Set? Price:
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No
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Number of DVD's:
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1
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Price for individual DVD:
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$29.95
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Box Set? Price:
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No
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Comments:
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Grave of the Fireflies is a very serious and sad movie about two children, one a teenager and one yet a toddler, in World War II. It is centered towards no one in particular, and would be appreciated by people who can handle sad movies. Both male and female would probably like this particular film.
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