Adrienne Roche

While a feast for the eyes in that special, succulent way only 2d animation can be, this movie was merely proof to me that Miyazaki’s director role has gone unchecked for far too long. Critics would have you believe that this is a journey into your own psyche and Miyazaki’s, but I challenge you to care about this film a week from now. I know I found it to be a meandering, half-baked story by a man who I feel would rather march his loyal team into hell than relinquish his iron grip on Ghibli. Sad to see a once great storyteller become a rambling emperor languishing on the throne of his past success, no better than Mahito’s granduncle and his toppling empire of fever dreams.