The Secret World of Arrietty - Limited Edition Steelbook Blu ray DVD

I have no idea why but the majority of lists you see ranking Ghibli movies usually have this one pretty far down. Probably because Miyazaki was having some troubles here and there and appointed a new director. Well, you can't tell the difference here. This is a very satisfying film, and one that exerts itself with emotion, beauty, and empathy. To rate something as tepid as Ponyo above this film is nearly hilarious. Arrietty is really a superior retelling of The Borrowers, and the English language track is unmatched for me. The little people sound strange and too exotic in Japanese, and their designs don't really leave room for the accent either. This is one of an increasing amount of Ghibli films where I find the English voice cast is simply better than their counterparts across seas. At any rate GKids does a great job with the transfer always maxing bitrate and giving us a few good extras. You can obviously choose a Japanese track with proper subtitles as well. I love their slipcovers too as it rounds out the package perfectly.. The animation is breathtaking in places. I think for a first time director this is certainly something special. I never once was under the impression there was an amateur at the helm. Quite the contrary. I was always interested in the characters and felt they were done extremely well, though, that is sound wise entirely down to the amazing English cast. I loved the little nooks and crannies, miniature kitchens, the paths and places dispersed to under the house, the sense of scale and immersion.... Everything fits perfectly in this very elegant film. This for me a top ten Ghibli no questions asked. The ending is nearly perfect as well, and there is always a balanced feeling of joy and sadness throughout. I highly recommend this one to all fans of animation. Great job on the score as well. The whole package is top tier material. Read more

The product arrived in perfect condtion. The Secret World of Arrietty is an extremely charming film. It follows Arrietty and her family of borrowers as they are discoverd by a sick boy who lives in the house they stay in. Borrowers are little people who live within a home who "borrow" items for their survival. This is actually related to the Mary Norton novel and the 1997 film of the same name. The way that the world is portrayed too large for this small family with unique ways they get around, makes this an animation marvel. With Bridgit Mendler, David Henrie, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, Moises Arias, and Carol Burnett lending their voices in accompanied by a wonderful score makes this another masterpiece from Studio Ghibli. This come with both the Blu-Ray and the DVD copies of the film and booklet containing stills from the film and creator thoughts and commments. This is a perfect family movie and a must watch for any Ghibli fan. The mailing process was great and the fim is an enjoyable watch. Read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE this Ghibli movie!!! Even if you don't know Ghibli, if you are a fan of the original "Borrowers" book series, you will appreciate the beautiful, beautiful scenery and it will bring back happy memories of the books. The story line does not exactly follow the book, but is an acceptable smearing of pieces of about 3 of them. And the it's a well done story, even if you have never read the books. You will not have any trouble following the plot, and it is appropriate for children (we have 9 kiddos and our 7, 9, and 11 year olds all loved it (2 girls and a boy). It's great for all ages, for lovers of the book, for people who love anime or Ghibli, and people who just want to see a great animated film. Two thumbs up!!!! Read more

I have a special place in my heart for Studio Ghibli. The only problem I've really had with most Ghibli films in the past has been their tendency to have plots driven mainly by the occult. This movie, fortunately, lacks that element of the Miyazaki legacy, though I probably would have enjoyed it anyway. In fact, in some ways, I think I enjoyed this movie more than any other production ever released by Studio Ghibli, which is high praise indeed. It's a story about a boy named Shawn, who goes to a small house in the countryside, where he discovers a family of very small people, who survive by taking what they need from the humans they live with; little things that people won't miss. The tiny people call themselves borrowers, and often refer to the humans as "beans." The family consists of an old married couple and their teenage daughter Arrietty. The plot picks up when Arrietty is seen by Shawn, and the two begin a sort of strange friendship, which, unfortunately, can never be, since all borrowers know that to be seen by one human invites the curiosity and greed of the others, a fact which is proven jarringly true for the poor borrower family. The father of the family is somber, softspoken and savvy. He's something of an action hero, because he needs to be to take care of his family, getting in and out of kitchens and bedrooms quickly and without anyone seeing him. He also seems to be a master craftsman in many fields. His wife is herself very creative and skilled, demonstrating skill in knitting and cooking, though the primary impression that she's likely to leave on viewers is her tendency to worry. Both Arrietty and Shawn are curious souls seeking to understand and bear life as best they can; figuring out how to get by, one step at a time, like all of us. Ghibli films have a long history of taking their time and showing the viewers absolutely stunning sights. Every single Ghibli film is gorgeous to look at, and yet, they tend to be patient affairs as well. They allow a world of wonder to unfold before the eyes of the viewer; a world with its own problems and trials, like ours, and they take their time in doing it, instead of rushing around in big, flashy musical numbers and telling joke after ridiculous joke. This film is certainly no exception to that. None of the characters sing, nor do they tell jokes. Many of them are introspective and quiet, and yet, the subject matter is such that it's hard to grow impatient with the movie. I would say that this film is probably slower-paced and less intense than any other Ghibli film, but I actually thought the movie benefitted from its quiet atmosphere, as very tiny people trying hard not to be seen would, naturally, make very little noise. In the end, though, as I said, the thing I liked most about it was that its premise was something nobody could take issue with. Witches, magic potions, evil wizards and superpowered crystals could all be troublesome subjects for young children to absorb, but little people in an old house is the kind of fantasy that anyone can get into. There's even one scene of Arrietty's mother briefly praying for her daughter and husband. They do technically live by stealing things from humans, but because of their size, nothing they take is really that big of a deal, even according to the catechism of the Catholic Church. It's a distinction that may need to be made by parents after the film is over, but certainly not a problem with the movie itself. There are also quite a few good moral messages to be derived from this kind of story. "A person's a person, no matter how small," "sometimes, even the smallest person can make the biggest difference," and even a message about how the power of goodness (in this case, courage,) can be made most perfect in weakness. However, the film isn't perfect, and most of that, I suspect, has to do with the dubbing. A few of the lines feel overly-familiar and almost cookie-cuttered in, and Shawn's voice could have stood to gain a few octaves. He sounded like he was in his late 20s. Still, I recommend this movie heartily to anyone who has a child or is still a child at heart; still willing to dream of other worlds beyond our own, which is really the point of most Ghibli features when you get down to it. They do just what I want a film to do, elevating our minds to other possibilities and other worlds. This one manages to make even a normal world look alien and strange, and thus maintain its strong level of interest for the child in all of us. Most especially, I recommend this movie to those who, like myself, are religious and seeking a quieter, calmer alternative to the American "entertainment" of today. Read more