Tales From Earthsea - 2007

Directed By: Goro Miyazaki
Voiced By: Timothy Dalton, Mariska Hargitay, Matt Levin, Cheech Marin, Blair Restaneo

Tales From Earthsea is the new film from the great and illustrious Studio Ghibli, and the first film from the son of Ghibli godfather Hayao Miyazaki. Goro Miyazaki actually made this film against the express wishes of his father, and one wonders if he shouldn’t have heeded his father request. Earthsea feels just like a Studio Ghibli film, all gloriously opulent visuals which prove that 2D animation is as alive as ever, even if it’s only the Japanese who know how to use it. But the story lacks the cohesion and dramatic weight of say Nausicaa or Princess Mononoke and lacks the magical fantasy of Spirited Away. Based on Ursula Le Guin’s series of novels Tales From Earthsea struggles from a poor script which looks like it has adapted various elements of a series of books without retaining the context. As a result the film feels lost in its own mythology, without the time to explore the elements which are raised.

The visuals however are truly gorgeous. Miyazaki captures beautifully the films period setting, both the rural elements and the urban environments which bustle with activity and feel vibrant. However, this is a perfect example of style over substance. Though the animation overwhelms the scenes, the story is so unfocused and lacking in a sense of motivation that it’s hard to find what the meaning is. So poorly developed is this that when the finale arrives the audience is left to guess or assume links between certain characters and subplots which are just left then picked up again when the story is reliant on them to draw to a conclusion.

Even the characters seem hugely underdeveloped. As if huge chunks of the source material have been tossed aside. Prince Arren the films central character is never given any form of back story other than the opening scene, which feels not only unexpected, but due to Miyasaki’s inability to construct a cohesive narrative, pointless and wasted. Ged, a wizard of pure Ghibli ad japanimation heritage lacks the weight and grandeur of other incarnations from other films.

As the story develops and moves towards its final showdown the audience is so lost it’s hard to care what happens. Not only does this sour the good name of Ghibli but also Ursula Le Guin’s novels, whose novels are of an exceptional quality with a superb mythology. This might have worked best as starting point in a possible franchise, but that seems all but lost now due to the poor filmmaking standards of the young Miyasaki.

The poorest outing for Studio Ghibli if one of the most lavish to look at. Stay at home and watch Spirited Away as this film will leave you perfectly aware of the uncomfortable cinema seats, expensive admission fee and overwhelming scent of popcorn.