Sukai kurora (2008)

Director:

Mamoru Oshii

Writers:

Hiroshi Mori (story)
Chihiro Itou (adaptation)

Release Date:

2 August 2008 (Japan)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Drama | War

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Genetics | Prostitute | Bowling | Death | Identity

Awards:

5 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Rinko Kikuchi	...	Suito Kusanagi (voice)
Chiaki Kuriyama	...	Mitsuya (voice)
Shosuke Tanihara	...	Tokino (voice)
Bryce Hitchcock	...	Mizuki Kusanagi (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ryo Kase	...	(voice)

Also Known As:

The Sky Crawlers (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for material involving violence, some sexual content and smoking.

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES | Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Singapore:PG | USA:PG-13 | Australia:M

Company:

Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV)

Trivia:

Director Trademark: [[Mamoru Oshii] [Basset Hound]

Soundtrack:

Kon'ya mo hoshi ni dakarete...

Not as good as Oshii's previous films,but still very competent

I know not everybody appreciates the parsimonious style and deep subjects which have the films directed by Mamoru Oshii,but I am delighted by the existence of a filmmaker who always offers us scenes of an amazing visual beauty and exciting action,but which are always endorsed by fascinating ideas.I think there is not any other contemporary director who combines the tools from modern cinema with philosophical monologues,metaphysical fantasies and analysis of subjects like,for example,the conscience or the soul.In summary,Oshii is not afraid of making unaccessible films for the casual spectator.With every new movie,Oshii seems to be more far away from the "normal" narrative,because from the humor and action from the saga Patlabor,he went to showing spiritual reflections in Ghost in the Shell; then,he criticized the ontological reality in Avalon; after that,he analysed the reality of the existence in Ghost in the Shell : Innocence; and now,he makes a study of the function and limits of memory in the construction of human identity in The Sky Crawlers,which may be his least obtained film to the moment,but it is still very interesting.The plot summary from this film may make it seem as it is focused on the causes and consequences of the war conflict it portrays.But reality is not like that.In spite of showing us some excellent scenes of air combat,the authentic melodrama from this movie is on the earth,pushed by laconic conversations and monologues which slowly and precisely show us an ambiguous image of the function of war,the fighters' identities and the curious condition which avoids them of growing older.But,as in Oshii's previous films,there are not easy answers or simple solutions to the questions raised by the characters,so the movie leaves the spectator the homework of taking out conclusions.I think that's the best element from this movie.As I said before,the sequences of air combat are excellent,because they certainly produce impact.The ending is ambiguous but it is satisfactory,because it closes the movie on a solid way.However,there are some fails on this movie.On a few moments,it gets a little bit tiring and there are other moments which feel pretentious.There are a few other fails,but they are minor.I liked The Sky Crawlers pretty much,but I do not know if I can recommend it to everyone.I found it very interesting but I am sure other people may find it boring.I do not think it is a great movie,but I appreciated its narrative and emotional complexity very much.