Totoro

It's been a while since the screening last week, but I really have had to let the film sit in my brain for a while so that i could figure out how I really felt about it.

Generally I liked it but not the parts that I assume most people like. Satsuki and Mei were ok characters but they started to annoy me really fast. They scream too much. I don't know if it is common for Japanese children to scream out everything their parents say. I hope it is not. Besides that I thought they were cute, just like normal kids. Their desire to help their mother get well was endearing but Mei was far to young to be an interesting character. Satsuki was slightly more complex but not by much. Totoro was really cool and I finally understand why so many people love him. He reminded me of a big, old, friendly dog. He often moves slowly and is cuddly but if he needs to exert the energy to be ferocious, he can. I also found his continued use of the umbrella to be really interesting. He treasured it not only because the girls gave it to him but because it was a musical instrument and a tool. He appreciated all of the small details of something we normally take for granted. I think this has to do with his connection to nature. When you go out into the forest and let your mind clear out the business of our modern everyday life you begin to notice more; like the rustle of things in the wind and the flow of the waves in a lake.

This brings me to what I liked most about the film: the scenery. So many films nowadays are a constant assault of excitement and action. I rarely get to see a calm environment with no music playing and just sounds of nature. I really enjoyed watching peace.

Its not the most academic analysis of the film but it is a reaction and that is important.