Stanislaus

A funny and brisk piece from The Hire series that brings together an all-star cast. A satanic Gary Oldman, an "ageing" James Brown, tough guys Clive Owen and Danny Trejo and last but not least a bizarre Marilyn Manson.

While Laputa: Castle in the Sky didn't wow me as much as Miyazaki's breathtaking "trilogy" (working title) Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Princess Mononoke, it's still a highly above average animated film that stands tall in terms of quality. There is the typical Miyazaki motif of a girl/woman and a boy/man relationship, one of whom is not exactly an ordinary person. There are also some wonderful and elaborate scenes that are full of unbounded imagination. This time there is a certain visionaryism, with the conquest of a perfect place that seems at first sight unattainable. The film does not lack for a witty line, which is especially provided by the characters of the pirates, led by Dora. In short, another great cinematic experience, which is not unusual for Miyazaki, but practically a given.

Funny, romantic, brisk! In the span of a few minutes, we get to see the life of a man who dared to take a risk and grabbed his biggest chance by the short hairs. And even though it looked like it wasn't going to end well, there is a happy ending.