Not what one normally expects to see in a mall, right?
Here's a Ponyo, there's another Ponyo!This has not been the best of the weekends. Part of it is because one of my least favorite days of the year -- one which makes me feel like I shouldn't be happy to be to be single the way I usually am most days of the year, for quite a few years now -- came again yesterday. Part of it is due to it having been gray, foggy -- due to weather conditions but also air pollution -- and humid for the past few days. Work-induced stress -- there's no denying that there's a recession on these days -- also has played its part.
But as I think that regular readers of this blog realize, encountering the kawaii can make my day as well as lighten my mood and bring a smile to my face. Thus it was that I felt whatever funk I had was lifted upon my unexpectedly encountering a large Ponyo On the Cliff by the Sea display inside of a mall in Mongkok this afternoon!
For fans of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli who have yet to see this magical movie, rest assured that it's one more cinematic gem that you will love. As for those who have yet to check out these anime giants' charming creations, I reckon that Ponyo... -- with its lovable as well as irrepressible main character and some truly cool supporting ones -- would provide a pretty good introduction to their amazing body of work; though, of course, you should never stop at viewing just one of their films but, rather, ought to then go ahead and check out the likes of the enchanting My Neighbor Totoro, sublime Porco Rosso, etc., etc., etc. :b
But as I think that regular readers of this blog realize, encountering the kawaii can make my day as well as lighten my mood and bring a smile to my face. Thus it was that I felt whatever funk I had was lifted upon my unexpectedly encountering a large Ponyo On the Cliff by the Sea display inside of a mall in Mongkok this afternoon!
For fans of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli who have yet to see this magical movie, rest assured that it's one more cinematic gem that you will love. As for those who have yet to check out these anime giants' charming creations, I reckon that Ponyo... -- with its lovable as well as irrepressible main character and some truly cool supporting ones -- would provide a pretty good introduction to their amazing body of work; though, of course, you should never stop at viewing just one of their films but, rather, ought to then go ahead and check out the likes of the enchanting My Neighbor Totoro, sublime Porco Rosso, etc., etc., etc. :b
8 comments:
Oh no, now that I have read your blog and seen your sour mood, maybe I shouldn't have started an argument with you on La Lingerie on my blog's comments section?
Hey, there are more of us that hate Valentine's Day than there are those who enjoy it.
And 90% of those with partners, probably hate the holiday for the fact that they are obligated to spend money and plan extravagant outings for the partner because of pressure from the others celebrating said holiday. It's a vicious circle designed by greeting card companies!
So does Ponyo get dubbed over there or is it shown in Japanese with English subtitles? Cool mall display!
Hi ytsl,
Agree with Glenn it's a cool mall display. And happy it got you out of a funk mood.
Sometimes it bothers me how alike looking many of Miyazaki's people are. It's like they're stock characters-the old lady, the pre-teen girls and boys, etc.
Hi Glenn --
Correction: I'm not in a sour mood -- I was in a gray mood but seeing the Ponyo display helped me feel less blue (or should I say gray?). ;)
As for your La Lingerie "argument": it's nice to see someone feeling so strongly about Hong Kong movies. I just wish you were more positive about the new batch of Hong Kong movies but, well, you're definitely not alone in worrying re the direction that Hong Kong cinema is heading.
Re "Ponyo": here in Hong Kong, people get two options -- "Ponyo" in Japanese with Chinese and English subtitles, and dubbed into Cantonese. I find it an acceptable compromise as then the kids who can't read can enjoy Ponyo too... :)
Hi sbk --
I know what you mean about the lookalike bits: e.g., at certain points, Ponyo's look reminds me of "My Neighbor Totoro"'s Mei. But rest assured that character wise, Ponyo's quite the original -- and VERY lovable indeed too. :)
YTSL! Having been once in HK during V day, I can understand how it can darken the mood of a single person (esp. in Mongkok). Being the silly single I'm, I was totally charmed by everything and the whole emotional excess of it :)
Even watching Cat & Mouse at a Mongkok cinema and probably being the only single person there (and sitting next to a couple whose male half kept on repeating the jokes) couldn't douse off my cheer.
Maybe we will both have significant others we like to spend time with next year! (Now that Tony Leung CW is married I think I may have to settle for a lesser man :) )
The pics are lovely and I have been to that mall with the really really high escalators (They put colours on the sides of them I guess and they look very cheerful!
Ponyo is indeed very lovable and is not really that similar to any other Miyazaki character in any stage :) It sure has the usual Miyazaki themes/messages and they were just as welcome as in his others films.
Hi again,
I just have to tease you about this comment a tiny bit:
"I just wish you were more positive about the new batch of Hong Kong movies"
You do realize that you are one of the few people online who wasn't delighted with Sparrow, don't you?
I'm positive but it just seems that for every True Women, or Way We Are, or Sparrow there's some pretty bad stuff as well.
Hi "eliza bennet" --
I don't think you're a silly single but I think we also long ago established that you are far more romantically inclined than I am! ;b
Re "the mall with the really really high elevators": That would be Langham Place but the Ponyo display actually wasn't there but, rather, Grand Century Plaza (nearer Prince Edward).
Re Ponyo: She didn't remind you of Mei at all? Really?! (And speaking of Miyazaki characters who resemble each other: how about Mei and Satsuki's dad in "My Neighbor Totoro" and Kiki (of "Kiki's Delivery Service")'s dad? ;b
Hi again Glenn --
Tsk, tsk. A luke-warm liking is *not* the same as disliking! And I may be one of the few people online who hasn't voiced her love for "Sparrow" but, honestly, I really do feel in the majority here in Hong Kong!
And yes, true enough that there's some bad stuff out there -- but in earlier years, not just recent one. And I really am being sincere in preferring "La Lingerie" to a lot of other (Hong Kong) movies I saw this year and in previous years.
I think the one truth about Sparrow that we both can agree on is that Johnnie To was definitely aiming to please non-locals. The film is a bit shameless in its appeal to European sensibilities. I could see why someone who liked The Mission could hate it (not that you hated it, but you get my meaning).
Hi Glenn --
Okay, yes, I'd agree with that one "Sparrow" comment of yours! :)
Anyways, rather than criticize or even critique Johnnie To further, here's getting back "on message" and asking for three cheers for Hayao Miyazaki and Ponyo, Ponyo, Ponyo!!! ;b
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