Grave of the Fireflies

Amazon.com essential video

Isao Takahata's powerful antiwar film has been praised by critics wherever it has been screened around the world. When their mother is killed in the firebombing of Tokyo near the end of World War II, teenage Seita and his little sister Setsuko are left on their own: their father is away, serving in the Imperial Navy. The two children initially stay with an aunt, but she has little affection for them and resents the time and money they require. The two children set up housekeeping in a cave by a stream, but their meager resources are quickly exhausted, and Seita is reduced to stealing to feed his sister.

The strength of Grave of the Fireflies lies in Takahata's evenhanded portrayal of the characters. A sympathetic doctor, the greedy aunt, the disinterested cousins all know there is little they can do for Seita and Setsuko. Their resources, like their country's, are already overtaxed: anything they spare endangers their own survival. As in the Barefoot Gen films, no mention is made of Japan's role in the war as an aggressor; but the depiction of the needless suffering endured by its victims transcends national and ideological boundaries. --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews:

A marvelous and gripping film.......2007-08-20

I never thought in my lifetime that a Japanese anime film would reduce me to tears. Well it has happened. I finally got around to watching Tsutomu Tatsumi's GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES after months of languishing on my queue list on my online dvd rental service. This haunting animated film proves that not all anime needs to be based in fantasy.

This bleak story was inspired by the autobiographical novel of the same title by Akiyuki Nosaka who had lost his sister to malnutrition during World War II. In GRAVES OF THE FIREFLIES, the main characters of the film is Seita, the older brother, and Setsuko, the younger sister. It is World War II. Japan is subjected to the frequent air raids by the west. Seita and Setsuko loses their mother to the bombs while their father is in the navy and has not been heard from in awhile. After losing their mother, Seita and Setsuko moves in with their aunt. Their aunt is anything but kind and loving. She views the children as nothing more than financial burdens on her household. She admonishes Seita for not contributing to the househould finances as well as to the country every opportunity she gets. One day, Seita had enough of his aunt's insults, and takes Setsuko to an abandoned bomb shelter. Seita's selfish pride would eventually prove to be his undoing and would lead to tragedy in the end of the film.

I loved this film. I was so moved by the imagery and the writing. In a lot of animated films, when someone gets hurt, you don't see the wounds the individual received from his or her attacker but in this film you do, namely with Seita and Setsuko's mother. Their mother was completely unrecognizable in her bandages but you could see the serious wounds by the blood and her facial expression.

While the aunt may not have been an angel herself, Seita wasn't exactly perfect himself either. He was selfish by not appreciating the roof and food his aunt provided albeit relunctantly. It never occured to him that he should try to contribute to his aunt's household income given the circumestances that she had two extra mouths to feed. Unfortunately his selfish pride would lead to his downfall when he decides that he and Setsuko would be better off away from his aunt.

GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES is definitely not a kiddie film for young audiences to see. The story and images are bleak and occasionally graphic. The realism in the storyline was so real and authentic, I was moved to tears especially towards the end of the film. This film gave me a good glimpse of life in Japan during WWII. GRAVES OF THE FIREFLIES is a rare gem in animated films and films in general where I am brought to tears. This is an instant classic with me.

I Didn't Cry, But Man Did I Come Close? .......2007-08-17

Few movies I've seen can bring me to the brink of tears, and only a handful of those can actually haunt me days after seeing them. Grave of the Fireflies is one of those rare movies I've seen that did this to me. Very few films have EVER made me feel as bad as this one did. Try to think of the saddest movie you've ever seen, Schindlers List, Saving Privet Ryan, anything, and this movie blows it out of the water. This film has the power to devastate you, to move you, to bring you to the brink of tears and then push you over into a chaotic world of tears and turmoil. This is Grave of the Fireflies.

Set during the last days of WWII, while the US Air Force was fire bombing Japanese cities, Grave of the Fireflies is a movie about a young boy named Sata and his little four year old sister Setsico. When their mother is killed in the firebombing of Tokyo Sata is forced to care for his little sister in a nation ripped apart by war and famine. With his father far away serving in the Japanese navy, Sata is the only one who can care for his sister. The love shared between these two siblings is something that will forever leave an impression on me. As an older brother myself I could very easily put myself into Sata's situation. His need to give his sister the very best he can while not being able to provide for her is a very real feeling.

There are no heroes in this film, and there are no villains. Sata and Setsico are no heroes; the only heroic things they do throughout the movie are love and take care of one another. And, their aunt, although harsh and unfair, is no villain. At the same time neither side of the war, American or Japanese, is portrayed in a negative light. This is not a war movie and doesn't exist to condemn one side or the other. This is a movie about two orphan children trying to survive while the society they grew up in crumbles to dust around them.

Many critics of this movie complain about how annoying little Setsico is. Yes, I can admit, sometimes Setsico can be annoying, but really, what little girl isn't? She's a child, and children can't understand everything that's going on around them. Setsico doesn't understand that there is a war going on and that she can not have everything that she wants, she doesn't understand that Sata is killing himself trying to provide for her. As an older brother I find it absurd when people complain about how annoying little brothers/sisters can act in movies without even realizing that siblings are annoying in real life. Sata is no different.

You may never look at fireflies the same way.

not a children's movie.......2007-08-16

When I got Grave of the Fireflies, I knew it would be sad. However, I had no idea what a brilliant and moving film I was in for. It is hard to find words to describe the feeling you get after watching this movie. All I can say is that I didn't just cry - I bawled. And it takes a lot for me to shed a tear during a movie. I don't know why Grave of the Fireflies is labeled as a children's movie. Some scenes, especially when the mother dies, are extremely graphic. Also, the overall theme is much too heavy for younger viewers. This is by no means a feel-good movie, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't watch it. It is a masterpiece, a work of art, and a powerful message. I highly recommend it to those who want something beyond action or fairy-tale endings in their movie viewing experience. Grave of the Fireflies deserves 10 stars.

One of the most Inspiring Movies I Have Watched..........2007-07-30

This is only the second movie in my entire life I have ever watched that reduced me to crying. I have read the many reviews and I understand some of the people's views about the main character being spineless and not doing anything for his sister when the opportunity is right there. I also see how the little girl can get on some people's nerves, due to her "spoiled attitude." But I wonder if those critics have ever really looked at children their age. And I mean, REALLY looked at them collectively.

Children, like the little girl, are attention seekers at that age and do not understand that they cannot get everything they want. They haven't been taught to be reserved yet. The same goes for the teenage boy. Children his age are still at a loss for what to do on many aspects of life. Teenagers are prone to believe that they are always right. The same goes for the boy in the movie, he only takes actions on what he believes is right, and it is obvious that his interactions with some people and his aunt has built in him a strong distrust of adults.

Thus, the little girl, not understanding their precarious situation, due to her innocent nature, asks for things that naturally come to her like food. And because her brother feels sorry for the situation he has put them in, and because he loves his sister, he tries his best to give her what she wants. He doesn't understand at that point, that she could get sick. And when she does, he doesn't want to take her to an adult because his aunt has already traumatized his impressionable mind. So he does what he believes is right and tries his best to save his sister on his own.

Where, in this amazing movie about a boy struggling to overcome his youth and his immature instincts, is a spineless boy who won't find help for his sister? Where, in this amazing movie with a young untainted girl still learning about life, is there a "spoiled brat?" I have to disagree on many levels with the critics, because viewing this movie broke my heart as I watched the children struggle with their youth and do only what they knew how to do. Granted, some children are amazing and can overcome immaturity under intense situations, yet many cannot. This movie is a good example of what children will come up with when they feel the entire world is against them.

This movie is not about a war. It never has been. It is about how people survive after a disaster. And in this case, this movie is about two average children, who only have faith in each other.

Grave of the fireflies.......2007-07-17

Grave of the fireflies is a realistic story about WWII in Japan. How Japan's people daily lives where affected, and peoples reaction to the constant stress. It focuses on a brother & sister, who are left orphaned due to the war/bombings, and the struggles they face together. I've watched this movie several times, it's cute at times and very serious at other. TO PARENTS: I would watch this movie either before letting children watch or be with them when they watch due to realism present in film.

Grave of the Fireflies (Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

A marvelous and gripping film
I Didn't Cry, But Man Did I Come Close?
not a children's movie
One of the most Inspiring Movies I Have Watched...
Grave of the fireflies

Grave of the Fireflies (Collector's Edition)
Starring: Tsutomu Tatsumi , Ayano Shiraishi , Yoshiko Shinohara , Akemi Yamaguchi , and J. Robert Spencer
Director: Isao Takahata
Manufacturer: Central Park Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

International | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

ASIN: B00006HAWP
Release Date: 2002-10-08

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

A marvelous and gripping film.......2007-08-20

I Didn't Cry, But Man Did I Come Close? .......2007-08-17

not a children's movie.......2007-08-16

One of the most Inspiring Movies I Have Watched..........2007-07-30

Grave of the fireflies.......2007-07-17

Average customer rating:

Very Happy
bootlegs are bad...
Arrr, mateys! Make this collection walk the plank..
Non Bootleg is a great set, Go for it!
Great for kids

Studio Ghibli Movie Collection

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

ASIN: B000F7TTJQ

Product Description

This is a 4 DVD set that includes 7 movies. They are: Laputa: Castle in the Sky Grave of the Fireflies My Neighbor Totoro Kiki's Delivery Service Porco-Rosso Princess Mononoke Spirited Away Audio is in both English and Japanese

Customer Reviews:

Very Happy.......2007-06-22

I only buy anime from official dealers and I own this set pictured here published by FX. This is a wonderful 6 disc set with scene selection, set up options and interviews. They also have the Hollywood voice overs like the Disney versions. The picture and sound are very good too. A great choice for those who want to save money. Don't buy from private sellers or you're just rolling the dice. I understand there may be some issues with the subtitles but I watch the English versions. I'm very happy with my set.

bootlegs are bad..........2007-06-04

Don't buy bootlegs. Buy the Buena Vista DVD releases (in either R1 or R2). Don't buy these. I'd rather see people download copies from people who are just trying to share things that they like than see people pay money to Chinese bootleggers just trying to make a profit.

Arrr, mateys! Make this collection walk the plank.........2007-05-30

So I bought this set from another site before realizing that they were bootlegs. Well, what should you expect for about $5 a movie?

But besides the ethical issues of ripping of Studio Ghibli, you have very poor quality in the sound/captioning department. Captions are not synched properly with the dialogue; there are captions when there is no dialogue; and they caption sound effects, e.g. (birds chirping), (helicopter whirring), ...as if they were for the hearing impaired.

Furthermore, they jam 2-3 movies per disc, and navigating between movies is near impossible; the only way I can figure out how to do it is to forward through one movie to get to the next.

My advice is to find good used copies of the originals.

Non Bootleg is a great set, Go for it!.......2007-03-20

My DVD set "Studio Ghibli Complete Collection" with Studio Ghibli Trade Mark, has the following on 6 DVDs. My set has similar but different cover to that depicted, very professional and no issues at all with quality.

1. Princess Mononoke 2. Nausicaa: Of The Valley Of Wind 3. Only Yesterday - (Tearful Thoughts) 4. Whisper of the Heart - (Pick Up Your Ears; if Your Listen Carefully) 5. My Neighbor Totoro - (Tonari No Totoro) 6. Defenders of the Forest - (Pompoko) 7. Porco Rosso - (The Crimson Pig) 8. Laputa: Castle In the Sky - (aka: Laputa) 9. Kiki's Delivery Service - (Witch's Special Express Delivery) 10. Grave of the Fireflies - (Hotaro no Haka) 11. Ocean Waves - (I can Hear the Ocean) 12. On Your Mark.

This set has all the need to see Studio Ghibli productions, this set misses Howls Moving Castle and may be a previous best collection prior to the release of that movie. My ratings below are out of 10

In any case the rest are all great, as with any selection there are those you can take or leave but in this case they are few. Top viewing are Grave of the Fireflies, (10) a must see, Kiki's flying Delivery Service (10), and Spirited Away (10), both adorable. Totoro for a fun ride (8), Laputa (9), Nausicca (9) and Princess Mononoke (8) for the adventuous, Swash Buckling Porko Rosso (8), The Cat Returns (9), Wisper of the Heart (9) for fantasy lovers, and Only Yesterday (10) and Ocean Waves (8) for love stories, finally On your Mark (7), a quick rescue the princess type adventure!

Worth every penny I paid. ($51.00 Aus) I hope if you purchase this you get a good copy and not a pirate version.

Great for kids.......2007-02-11

The first Ghibli I saw was Kiki's Delevery Service on Toon Disney althorugh I didn't saw the whole movie, the second was Sprited Away on Cartoon Network (and I didn't see the whole movie again), but I started to see more of the Miyasaki at a local libary and the movies are great for kids, teens and adults.

Miyazaki 13 Pack (Castle in the Sky/Kiki's Delivery Service/Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind/Porco Rosso/Princess Mononoke/Spirited Away/Grave of the Fireflies/The Cat Returns/Howl's Moving Castle/My Neighbor Totoro/My Neighbors the Yamadas/Pom Poko/Whisper of the Heart) (1999)

Average customer rating:

Pricey, but worthwhile collection of Ghibli's works.

Miyazaki 13 Pack (Castle in the Sky/Kiki's Delivery Service/Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind/Porco Rosso/Princess Mononoke/Spirited Away/Grave of the Fireflies/The Cat Returns/Howl's Moving Castle/My Neighbor Totoro/My Neighbors the Yamadas/Pom Poko/Whisper of the Heart) (1999)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki , and Kirk Wise
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Cat Returns

ASIN: B000OYT9N6

Product Description

An instant library of 13 Hayao MIYAZAKI classics assembled on 24 DVDs. Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation studio, led by one of animation's greatest creators, Hayao MIYAZAKI. The studio creates very high quality animated movies, which is rather unique, since most Japanese animation studios depend on TV series or OVAs. They consistently beat Disney movies in box office revenues in Japan and have received numerous awards. Miyazaki and Ghibli movies are well respected and loved by all Japanese people, children and adults alike. Now own the ultimate Studio Ghibli DVD collection in this hefty collector's pack.

Customer Reviews:

Pricey, but worthwhile collection of Ghibli's works........2007-05-28

The genius of Hayao Miyazaki and his works from Studio Ghibli have slowly been growing in popularity, due in no small part to a campaign courtesy of Disney, headed by Pixar guru John Lasseter. Starting with SPIRITED AWAY, the Mouse House has released most of Ghibli's masterpieces on DVD here in the United States.

Many other websites have gone into detail about Studio Ghibli and their works in general, so I won't recap them here. However, it should be mentioned that all these movies contain high-quality visual transfers (KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE and LAPUTA: CASTLE IN THE SKY show their age in places, but both still look pretty good overall), as well as the original Japanese soundtracks.

While purists insist that the native language track is the only way to see these movies, Disney has nonethless gone out of their way to commission absolutely stupendous dubs featuring actors such as Mark Hamill, Cloris Leachman, Phil Hartman, Minnie Driver, Patrick Stewart, Harold Gould, Uma Thurman, Suzanne Pleshette, Pat Carroll, and Billy Crystal. All give excellent performances; some of the choices are a little odd (James Van Der Beek, Michael Keaton, and probably, to a lesser extent, Billy Bob Thornton), but they're hardly blasphemous and don't detract from the overall experience.

While the adaptation scripts sometimes throw in more extra lines than necessary (KIKI and LAPUTA are most notable for this, although to be fair, they're not too much out of context with the original), for the most part they remain faithful in spirit (if not letter) to the screenplays of Miyazaki, Takahata, and company. And best of all, not even one second is omitted from these movies. Four things should be noted, though.

1. KIKI and CASTLE have extra pieces of music on the dubs--the former is mostly soft piano music courtesy of Paul Chihara, while the latter has a spectacular and arguably superior reorchestration of the full score (previously performed on synthesizers). The man responsible for the new music, interestingly, is the original composer Joe Hisaishi, under the approval of Miyazaki himself! There have been many debates over which interpretation of the soundtrack is superior, but personally I think both versions of the score for LAPUTA are beautiful and can be enjoyed independently.

2. GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES is the only movie in this package not to be dubbed by Disney; produced by New York based Central Park Media, it's not on the same level as the other titles, but it's mostly well done.

3. The DVD of MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, a much loved movie, is the newly repackaged Disney release with a high-quality widescreen transfer as well as a new dub featuring real-life sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning as Satsuki and Mei. There was a previous, well-liked dub of TOTORO produced by Streamline Pictures and released by FOX in 1993, but the DVD it is on is pan & scan. There has been a lot of pointless debating over which dub is superior; most of these criticims tend to stem from nostalgia rather than reason. I'd suggest ignoring the controversy and listen to both dubs for two different but no less enjoyable interpretations of a great story.

4. PRINCESS MONONOKE (distributed by Miramax) and MY NEIGHBORS THE YAMADAS are both one-disc sets. And, since MONONOKE was the first Ghibli DVD release, there are only two skimpy extras (although the transfer of the movie itself is impeccable).

There are a group of naysayers who have been overly critical of Disney's treatment of these films, claiming that the Mouse House is somehow sabotaging Ghibli's work. These accusations are senseless and untrue. While Disney has admittingly delayed these movies for way too long (they acquired the rights for them in 1996), the numerous criticisms over the DVDs and dubbing are often overdone and unnecessary. While the DVDs are sometimes simply designed, the films themselves are presented well. Likewise, there is little point in comparing the dubs to the original Japanese versions. While there might be some argument about getting a more authentic experience through the native language track on most of these movies (although films like KIKI, LAPUTA, and HOWL are actually easier to watch in English since they all set in European-based environments), when the dubs are as well done as this, it is arguably better to just watch both. Either one provides an enjoyable experience, although getting the most out of the dubs may depend on what you bring with you to them.

For Anime fans, the works of Ghibli are an essential addition, but fans of animation in general owe it to themselves to give them a spin. A word of caution, though: not all of these movies are for children--PRINCESS MONONOKE has some graphic images of violence; it's the sort of movie that grown-ups will enjoy, and that's not a bad thing in the least.

Average customer rating:

A marvelous and gripping film
I Didn't Cry, But Man Did I Come Close?
not a children's movie
One of the most Inspiring Movies I Have Watched...
Grave of the fireflies

Grave of the Fireflies
Starring: Tsutomu Tatsumi , Ayano Shiraishi , Yoshiko Shinohara , Akemi Yamaguchi , and J. Robert Spencer
Director: Isao Takahata
Manufacturer: Central Park Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

International | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

10-12 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Feature Films | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

Feature Films | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

ASIN: 1562197290
Release Date: 1998-10-07

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

A marvelous and gripping film.......2007-08-20

I Didn't Cry, But Man Did I Come Close? .......2007-08-17

not a children's movie.......2007-08-16

One of the most Inspiring Movies I Have Watched..........2007-07-30

Grave of the fireflies.......2007-07-17

Akira - The Ultimate Collection [Non-US Format, PAL, Region 2, Import]

Average customer rating:

Akira - The Ultimate Collection [Non-US Format, PAL, Region 2, Import]
Director: Katsuhiro Omoto
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

Its 2019, the world is on the brink of absolute destruction. Tokyo shimmers with tech-noir fetishism, gangs of cyber-punk bikers cruise the sprawl of the post-atomic city and rioting crowds surge under the neon-topped buildings looming a thousand storeys into the sky. Now, old gods return to do battle with Akira and something more than comic book ultra-violence is unleashed. Prepare to enter this astonishing nightmare of hyper-reality created by one of the worlds leading animation directors, Otomo Katsuhiro. ------------------On the DVD: as befits this film's status as a Manga classic, Akira has a wide selection of extras spread across two discs, including a "Making of Akira" documentary, a photo gallery, a quiz and a "Make your own trailer" feature, as well as one hidden feature on each disc. The film has been digitally remastered and presented in widescreen format, with Dolby Digital 5.1 for the English-dubbed version, and Dolby Digital 2.0 for the original Japanese language version.

Average customer rating:

A marvelous and gripping film
I Didn't Cry, But Man Did I Come Close?
not a children's movie
One of the most Inspiring Movies I Have Watched...
Grave of the fireflies

Grave of the Fireflies [Region 2]
Starring: Tsutomu Tatsumi , Ayano Shiraishi , Yoshiko Shinohara , Akemi Yamaguchi , and J. Robert Spencer
Director: Isao Takahata
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

ASIN: B0002HSDT6

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

A marvelous and gripping film.......2007-08-20

I Didn't Cry, But Man Did I Come Close? .......2007-08-17

not a children's movie.......2007-08-16

One of the most Inspiring Movies I Have Watched..........2007-07-30

Grave of the fireflies.......2007-07-17

DVD:

DVD

DVD