From Up On Poppy Hill (2013)
Average Rating: 7.1/10
Reviews Counted: 58
Fresh: 47 | Rotten: 11
Gentle and nostalgic, From Up on Poppy Hill is one of Studio Ghibli's sweeter efforts -- and if it doesn't push the boundaries of the genre, it remains as engagingly lovely as Ghibli fans have come to expect.
Average Rating: 7.5/10
Critic Reviews: 23
Fresh: 20 | Rotten: 3
Gentle and nostalgic, From Up on Poppy Hill is one of Studio Ghibli's sweeter efforts -- and if it doesn't push the boundaries of the genre, it remains as engagingly lovely as Ghibli fans have come to expect.
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Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 4,975
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Movie Info
The setting is Yokohama in 1963, and the filmmakers lovingly bring to life the bustling seaside town, with its misty harbor, sun-drenched gardens, shops and markets, and some of the most mouthwatering Japanese home-cooking set to film. The story centers on an innocent romance beginning to bud between Umi and Shun, two high school kids caught up in the changing times. Japan is picking itself up from the devastation of World War II and preparing to host the 1964 Olympics - and the mood is one of
Cast
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Sarah Bolger
Umi (English language v... -
Masami Nagasawa
Umi (Japanese language ... -
Isabelle Fuhrman
Sora (English language ... -
Haruza Shiraishi
Sora (Japanese language... -
Anton Yelchin
Shun (English language ... -
Junichi Okada
Shun (Japanese language... -
Christina Hendricks
Saori (English language... -
Gillian Anderson
Miki (English language ... -
Yuriko Ishida
Miki (Japanese language... -
Alex Wolff
Riku (English language ... -
Raymond Ochoa
Riku (English language ... -
Tsubasa Kobayashi
Riku (Japanese language... -
Aubrey Plaza
Sachiko (English langua... -
Rumi Hiiragi
Sachiko (Japanese langu... -
Chris Noth
Akio (English language ... -
Nao Omori
Akio (Japanese language... -
Jeff Dunham
Gen (English language v... -
Emily Osment
Nobuko (English languag... -
Jamie Lee Curtis
Ryoko (English language... -
Jun Fubuki
Ryoko (Japanese languag... -
Keiko Takeshita
Hana (Japanese language... -
Bruce Dern
Yoshio (English languag... -
Takashi Naitô
Yoshio (Japanese langua... -
Beau Bridges
Mr. Tokumaru (English l... -
Teruyuki Kagawa
Mr. Tokumaru (Japanese ... -
Charlie Saxton
Mizunuma (English langu... -
Shunsuke Kazama
Mizunuma (Japanese lang... -
Ron Howard
Philosophy Club Preside... -
Jake Steinfeld
Fish Seller (English la... -
Emily Bridges
Mr. Tokumaru's Assistan...
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All Critics (58) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (47) | Rotten (11)
A departure for Studio Ghibli - an emotionally nuanced, nostalgic look at the past that is grounded in everyday reality but retains the humor and delight that are part of the studio's trademark.
Top CriticIn the wisdom of this artfully rendered film, Umi and Shun - and the viewer - come to learn that the past and the future should go hand in hand, that the best way to move forward is to reflect, and respect, what came before.
The story of a girl grappling with first love, the absence of her parents and the anxieties of an on-rushing future in 1963 Yokohama has all the earmarks of a Miyazaki classic.
The film's perfectly fine, but it's not a patch on "Spirited Away," "My Neighbor Totoro," "Princess Mononoke," and other Studio Ghibli classics.
This is a gentle film, hand-drawn with irresistible colors, that exudes nostalgia in a lovely way.
Although simpler and less mysterious than the great Hayao Miyazaki movies, the gently melancholic From Up on Poppy Hill is still a must see at a time when family entertainment is too often synonymous with blandness.
There's definitely enough here to provide a quick fix for older Studio Ghibli fans, though children will probably be bored.
The charming and nostalgic "From Up on Poppy Hill" is as lushly illustrated and vividly realized as memory itself.
A sweet but rather bland coming-of-age story.
"Poppy Hill" proves to be more than just a visual feast. Its seemingly slight storyline has a warm emotional resonance, tapping into both the uncertainty of a Japan caught between past and future.
From Up on Poppy Hill, Studio Ghibli's latest, is decidedly earthbound in comparison to those transportive earlier films, though it's not without its charms.
Goro Miyazaki has a style that's both more painterly and more cinematic than the cartoonish norm, while his father's screenplay is a classic coming-of-age story that seems suited for a live-action remake.
What limits From Up on Poppy Hill is its seeming whitewashing of some tough subjects, including the unseen consequences of war and the role of women in post-war Japan.
A wonderfully gorgeous and nostalgic film whose story doesn't live up to its look.
It's strange to see so much focus on the details of the backgrounds, which are exquisitely rendered, when there is so little attention to the expressiveness of the characters.
The animation is pretty and clean, reminiscent of other Studio Ghibli films like "Whisper of the Heart," but never achieves wondrous artistry.
It's a minor work. There's no argument around that. Still, it's got a good heart, and likable characters.
As in so many Studio Ghibli films, the tension is between renovation and cherishing of tradition.The movie is staged during a beautifully chosen moment of transition-the months right before the Tokyo Olympiad.
Like his old man, the younger Miyazaki favors limited character animation and luscious water colors. Unfortunately, he lacks his father's storytelling skills.
Rest assured, the younger Miyazaki has clearly earned his stars, as Poppy Hill offers just the same intimate, ultimately life-affirming kind of storytelling we've come to expect from the family name.
Audience Reviews for From Up On Poppy Hill
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Discussion Forum
| Topic | Last Post | Replies |
|---|---|---|
| Are people bashing this because it's Goro, not Hayao? | 51 days ago | 39 |
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Foreign Titles
- From Up On Poppy Hill (Kokurikozaka kara) (DE)
- From Up On Poppy Hill (Kokurikozaka kara) (UK)
