The Red Turtle

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Jay W I've been going through all of Studio Ghibli's movies, and I was not looking forward to this film. "The Red Turtle" is an 81-minute film with no dialogue about a man trapped on a desert island. It's a set up that doesn't sound all that interesting. I can work with a film without dialogue. Films like "Illusionist" and "Shaun the Sheep" are able to stay engaging without having their characters speak. It's actually the island location. Typically, don't care for desert island movies, there's only so much you can do with the setting. It helps if a character has someone to work off of, that is why in "Cast Away" the include Wilson. But putting my bias against 'island movies', how does this movie hold up. Well, like all Ghibli films it is beautifully animated, but not at its best. The movie doesn't have as much room to flex its animation muscles like in "Castle in the Sky" or "Princess Mononoke". There isn't much they can do with the colors or movement; they are constrained by the limited characters and setting. For the lack of dialogue, for a lot of the runtime it makes sense. There is no one for him to talk to, so why would he talk to himself? But other times I wonder, why isn't this man saying anything? There isn't much motivation for us to root for this man to get off the island. Not that the protagonist isn't likable, they actually do a good job making him a sympathetic hero. It's that we never see what his life on land is like. Given the strange world this is, I'm not 100% sure that there is other land out there. The movie takes a surprise turn at about the 40-minute mark that made me pause and say: "What?" I won't spoil where the story goes, that is part of the fun. Just know that it is a strange turn. I don't think this will be anyone's favorite Ghibli film, but it is still a Ghibli film, which is better than so many others. If you're on a desert island, and it's the only thing to watch, then give it a watch. Otherwise, I wouldn't search it out. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 12/01/24 Full Review Freeze P Saw this at the Eye in the Netherlands. Very, very beautiful. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/12/24 Full Review Georgan G An amazing film, beautifully animated, with deep layers to the story. Love the imagery like the baby turles leaving home for their own life. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/29/24 Full Review Kyle C Stunningly beautiful in both story and art. It touches on themes of loss, loneliness, acceptance, and growth. The lack of dialogue serves the feeling of isolation, and the gorgeous score keeps our ears from getting bored. There’s not much more to add that wouldn’t spoil things. This movie is probably not what you expect; bear with it. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/07/24 Full Review Alec B A gorgeously animated fairy tale. The lack of dialogue is wonderful as I'm tired of animated films screaming nonsense at me. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/03/24 Full Review Kyle M This artistic meditative film is good over its conceptualized nature and soundly definitive traits, but nothing much to be absorbed by considering the subtextual reality check beneath the absurdity that's merely an analytical thought easily decrypted. (B) Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Red Turtle

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