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Customer Reviews of Grave of the Fireflies

Unforgettable Movie in a Lifetime
The movie itself criticizes neither America nor Japan that actually plunged these kids into such suffering. It never blames anyone (including us the viewers) who couldn't help those War orphans. There is neither violence (as we usually expect in the war movies) nor even the war itself (as we usually expect in the war movies) in this animation. What we see is the beautifully animated poetic drama of human sacrifices of a 14 year-old boy, Seita, and his 4-year little sister, Setsuko. Nonetheless, it is an overwhelmingly powerful Anti-war movie that we ever had, beyond comparison with those heroic ones. One hour after viewing the movie, we will find out ourselves holding somewhat different ideas about the War and about the lives that were involved in such a tragic period. Beyond Anti-War, viewers might even experience some kind of anger toward something... I would like to mention that the story is based on the actual experience of the author of the original book, Nosaka Akiyuki, himself. I realize that writers are sometimes so brave to depict their own painful memories.

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The single best drama movie. Ever.
Ghibli is a sign of quality. From movies to music Videos (Such as On your mark, by Chage & Aska), all it's productions contain a certain something that makes you keep them in your heart. Grave of the Fireflies is one of their best.

The story centers on Setsuo and Seita, a brother and sister who lost their mother in the second world war, and whose father is in the navy. Don't worry. I should first clear out this: This movie isn't biased: You won't hear japanese glorified nor americans bashed... But you'll hate war when you end watching it.

This is, plain and simple, the saddest drama ever. Animated or not. And it's one of the most intelligent ones, too. The symbolism and analogies managed will surely click a soft spot in people who have lived war. the pinnacle of all this is the scene where they're catching fireflies to light up their room. It's hard to contain a tear when watching this.

The visuals aren't bad at all, either. Despite the fact that it's showing it's age, since it was made in 1986, the animation is smooth and beautiful, and you sometimes stop seeing it as drawings. Of the music, it's on par with everything else. It's a great soundtrack composed primarily by instrumentals by the recognized composer Jo Hisaishi.

In the end, it's hard to imagine anyone who wouldn't like this movie. It's the most touching film I've seen in my life, and it's not far away from the best movie ever. Just be sure to pick up "My Neighbor Totoro" to lift your spirit after this emotional tour de force.

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Grave of the Fireflies. A masterpiece of the creative form
Ever since I became a writer somewhere around 1996 or 1997, I've had an intense fascination and desire to create things that touch readers, whether through saddness, fear, or happiness, because I think that when a piece, either written or on screen, touches you emotionally, it leaves a lasting impact on you that can lead to a better understanding of the world around you, and even possibly yourself as well. I think that as a creator, this is the greatest achievement one can reach, and I have the utmost respect and admiration for anyone who accomplishes this very thing which I so eagerly wish to achieve.

"Grave of the Fireflies" is the sad tale, based on the semi-autographical book "Hotaru no Haka" by NOSAKA Akiyuki, which tells of the author's experiences during the aftermath of World War II, in which he lost his little sister to malnutrition, for which he blamed himself.

In "Grave of the Fireflies," 14 year old Seita and his 4 year old sister Setsuko lose their mother after the Allied forces bomb their village. Their father is in the Navy and at sea, and hasn't been heard from in a long while. Without going through the entire plot, suffice it to say that the story is a moving and frightening look back at the lives of two young children who should never have to face such horrors at their tender ages. The tone and mood of this heartwrenching piece is set from the very first scene, when Seita utters the fateful words "September 21st, 1945. That's the day that I died."

Before watching "Grave of the Fireflies" I'd heard that it'd been referred to by many, like movie reviewer Roger Ebert, as one of the greatest war films made, and after watching it, I have to agree. Only a person with the emotional depth of a gnat or the heart of block of wood could watch this film and not feel the emotional power of it. It's the kind of story that lingers in your consciousness long after, and forces you to see the true face of war, the REAL consequences and victims of the violence we seem all too quick to inflict upon each other these days. And the most incredible thing about this movie is its subtleness, its complete lack of political propaganda or any attempt to try to blantantly force a moralistic ideal down the viewers throat. Director Isao Takahata shows supreme trust in the story itself, choosing to use the beautifully illustrated film to portray the tale in all its moving glory.

In Japan this movie was shown in schools as an educational piece. I don't know if this has been done in America, but I think that it should. We need to learn to understand the entire spectrum of war, and on an even more basic level, we just need to teach our children the lessons of empathy and compassion so that when they find themselves in positions in which their decisions impact others, they'll take care to consider the consequences before making those decisions. I also think that every world leader should be forced to sit down and watch this film over and over until its message is ingrained into the nooks and crannies of their brains, because it often seems that compassion and empathy are qualities sadly lacking these days.