Forgive me, Ghibli fans, but I have to say this. I love the film, and would easily give it 5-Stars. My reason for this review, is to slate the product, as it's so utterly shoddy, it's beyond a joke!
Firstly, the menu screen that starts the Blu-Ray, is pathetic. Literally, no expense has been spared, to create a static screen with cgi-created rose petals gently falling down the screen, whilst no music plays.
If you play the film, without setting-up any of the audio/subtitle options, it defaults to English 5.1, with on-screen English Subs for the Deaf/Hard Of Hearing! Why?
When the film starts, and even if you've chosen to watch the film in Japanese with English Subs, the film starts with the awful Disney created English Opening Credits sequence, with English Subtitles that repeat everything that is on-screen. It concludes, with the Disney created English Closing Credits sequence, which are merely white text scrolling-up a black screen! Again, the on-screen subtitles repeat much of what you can see. Why has StudioCanal UK NOT used the Japanese Opening and Closing Credit sequences, which were how the film originally appeared in Japan? After all, this is a Japanese animation, and as such, you've basically bastardised this monumentally amazing film, and altered it!
To make matters worse, the US Blu-Ray release included the 90-minute documentary ISAO TAKAHATA AND HIS TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA, as the extra, in Hi-Def. What do we get in the UK? A 40-minute announcement that THE TALE OF PRINCESS KAGUYA has been completed, and some trailers. Now, you can buy the documentary separately, but it's on DVD only, which means you have to enjoy it in Standard Definition only! Very cheeky of StudioCanal UK to do this!
The write-up on the back of the Collector's Edition, is inaccurate too. It states:
"From the legendary Studio Ghibli, comes the visionary tour de force THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA. Based on one of Japan's oldest and most beloved folktales, this hand-drawn masterpiece is the extraordinary final film from co-founder and director Isao Takahata".
...er, except it isn't. Isao Takahata hasn't finished with Studio Ghibli as a director, writer or producer. Nor has Studio Ghibli finished film-making either! Hayao Miyazaki, has finished directing - with Ghibli's previous film THE WIND RISES - but even he is only stepping-down as a director, and not as the head of Ghibli itself. So, whoever wrote this blurb, is clueless!
On top of this, this Collector's Edition, comes with five postcards. Normally, they are of a very high standard. Not here! Nope, what we get are five random images from the film, none of which are very good, and one has been horizontally-stretched to fit the size of the postcard! What really annoys me, is that when the film was released in cinemas, StudioCanal UK gave-out for free a set of six postcards to may cinemagoers. These featured the UK poster, plus five additional images: all of which are better looking, clearer, and more attractive to fans of the film.
But the problems don't end their. The printing of the outer sleeve/case is blurred, and the text bleeds into the cardboard that's been used! Why? Poor production quality checks! And, the sleeve isn't wide enough to actually hold the postcards, and the two discs (one Blu-Ray, one DVD). It's so tight, it makes it almost impossible to get the thing out!
All of these issues, faults and problems, destroy what should have been an amazing release of this beautiful film. Considering this is a Collector's Edition, and cost me £19.75 from Amazon, it's appalling in practically every aspect! I am so angry with StudioCanal UK. If you have the choice, and are Region A (USA) compatible, import the US Blu-Ray instead: the cover art's not so impressive, but I've been told you do get the original Japanese opening and closing credits, plus the 90-minute documentary, but it is Region A locked and NOT completely Region Free as Amazon lists it as!
If you can't do that, then stick to the standard UK Blu-Ray or DVD release. Simply put, this is one of the worst Ghibli releases I've ever owned! It's an insult to fans and Studio Ghibli!
