Miyazaki's "Nausicaa" Dub Updates

srstoneb writes "Earlier this week the Disney dub of Miyazaki's "Porco Rosso" premiered at the Austin Film Festival. It will probably be the only theatrical showing of "Porco", sadly, but reviews of the dub have been quite favorable. Even more exciting, as reported at Nausicaa.net and elsewhere, is that the Hewitts -- who did the English scripts for "Spirited Away" and "Porco" -- said they're currently working on "Nausicaa"! The cast includes Patrick Stewart, as well as Uma Thurman and, tentatively, Natalie Portman. A post to the Nausicaa.net mailing list by fan Dan Vogler further states that Stewart's role is Lord Yupa. (Somebody already made the inevitable joke about Picard being stabbed by a Nausicaan, so don't bother.) Both movies are tentatively intended for DVD release in spring 2004." Porco Rosso is a great flick, check it out if you aren't to dead inside to enjoy a kids flick. Greatly looking forward to both DVDs.

Comments

Porco Rosso Isn't Technically a Kid's Flick.....

[TomHandy]

Just to clarify something based on your comment.... although many Miyazaki movies are made for kids (although even those are generally complex enough to be enjoyable for adults).... Porco Rosso is actually one of them that probably isn't...... it was a movie that Miyazaki specifically made to be shown as in-flight entertainment on airplanes. Still a great flick though.

-Tom

Re:Huh?

[badasscat]

Nausicaa is pretty much Princess Mononoke actually - the story and characters are somewhat similar,

I honestly believe people who think this about these two films have utterly missed the point of Nausicaa. (You're not the only one - it seems a common view, especially among westerners I know who have seen both films.) Look at the time Nausicaa was made. Look at what was going on in the world at that time. Miyazaki has always made films that are allegories to issues he considers important now (though they also have timeless messages too - it's just that those timeless messages are always extremely apropos of the moment).

Nausicaa is an anti-war film - specifically, an anti-nuclear war film (Miyazaki himself has said the Cold War at that time deeply affected him, and he felt the Japanese public was not paying enough attention to it). Princess Mononoke is a film about man living in harmony with nature. They are two very different messages, though I suppose if you really stretch, you can connect them.

Porco Rosso not just a "kids flick"

[extrarice]

Miyazaki stated his inspiration for the story was to create a film that businessmen could relax to while on a flight - a film that wouldn't require too much thought to follow. It's a simple, enjoyable tale.
Nausicaa is another fantastic film. Though, if you have the chance, read the manga as well - there's a lot more in there than the film can deal with. In the manga edition I have, there are 6 books. The film only covers the first book.