‘Laputa: Castle in the Sky’ (1986) Review

Hey world, I haven’t done a movie review in a while, so here it is. I will probably do a lot of that when the magazine comes out. With that I’ll learn to write more professional movie reviews but for now let’s keep it friendly.

For this review we will be talking about a classic,Japanese favorite of mine,Castle in the Sky.

 

‘Castle in the Sky’ is a movie directed and written by Hayao Miyazaki, who is one of the most respected and famous animators to come out of Japan. And with good reason to, because his work is beautiful, heart-felt, nostalgic, conscious of the environment and  breathtakingly inspiring.

In this film we are taken to strange fictional world, where the period is both old and new and air ships are used. The conflict in the first scene  captures our attention really fast so we are curious and in suspense as to why all this trouble over a girl with a necklace. As the lovely music based soundtrack carries us away from time and allows to dwell deeper as this mysterious little girl falls from the sky and begins to float.

I would say that the entire was very well-balanced and that the characters were all unique and likable and easy to enjoy and have feelings for, plus the grand scale of the art style was always pleasing. There was a pretty amount of blue and green landscapes, and the architecture again provided a nice emptiness which added on the feeling of nostalgia. Plus the pacing was perfect, there were slow heartfelt  moments where the characters got to bond well, but I feel like every scene was like real life because it was linked and had a bit of all the emotions people go through. Like even in the slightly romantic scenes there is an element of fear, a sensation of courage and adventure, an addition of visual comedy in the company of expressive dialogues.

 

So I loved the movie, as you can tell, and I have loved it ever since I was a little child. It is one of those movies that you want to watch to feel how time has passed you by, and also it is a movie that grows in meaning everything you watch. The message is different when you watch is as an adult compared to how it was an epic adventure when you were a kid.

The plot basically consists of two kids who are thrust into this search for an abandoned and almost forgotten city that floats in the sky. But also in this pursuit is the army and a family of pirates. And in the process the characters come face to face with their fears, and grow as they get closer to the city.

 

Thematically the movie talks about love, dreams, peace and power and the fate of mankind.

 

Love of any kind because we get to watch are two adorable protagonists, Sheeta and Pazu, become closer and save each other. Relationships and expressions of love are handled in a unique way in Miyazaki’s films. There are no abrupt confessions, or flashy songs, or obvious reasons or even set gender roles when it comes to a growing relationship or understanding. I like that they are able to communicate with each other fully and that they take care of each other, where as in most other movies the biggest cause of a problem is the lack of common ground between the lovers, or lack of communication.

Miyazaki even said so himself in an interview.

“I’ve become skeptical of the unwritten rule that just because a boy and girl appear in the same feature, a romance must ensue. Rather, I want to portray a slightly different relationship, one where the two mutually inspire each other to live – if I’m able to, then perhaps I’ll be closer to portraying a true expression of love.”
― Hayao Miyazaki

The other kind of love in the movie is spiritual love or the love for nature, and making peace with the earth and its ways. Sheeta says this as Muska points a gun at her.

“The world cannot live without love”

Castle in the Sky may be an innocent movie  and it does not have anything vulgar in it, but there is a very good and reflective portrayal of the evil in the hearts of men, and how those forces of greed and selfishness can lead to the destruction of mankind. Which speaks a lot about on the current situation the earth is in now. Even if people don’t believe in global warming, they can see the change when Lahore has lost most of it’s for trees to urban construction. They can see how the tigers are being killed in India, and sense the heat or the sting in the air. And most of this is our own fault, but all these big corporations just want what benefits them with no concern of the land.

 

But nature eventually does win. We get to see that when the kids land straight in Laputa. They are met with a rusty robot, who is all alone and takes care of the animals and plants in the city. This was one of favorite scenes, because of the art and the message those movie stills leave behind. Laputa as we are told really was a great power of legend, and there in the clips it is empty and at peace like the ruins of any other civilization we have here among us. Even in its death it is alive, but the feeling is bittersweet, it’s like looking at those pictures of the ruins of Egypt. Which was once a great power in Africa, and it was also looted time and time again by Europeans, and been robbed of something.

Which leaves one to believe it is truly best to leave these cities and buildings as they are, and protect them.    The city floats away in the movie, and the only thing that is ever left of any nation is their children. An old house is never really used as a house ever again.

But even so there needs to be an appreciation of the past and a personal bond should be developed with nature if we are to survive. Castle in the Sky just reminds us of that. It is all this and a lot more.

And again the amazing art work deserves a class award of its own, because it brings the entire concept to life. And the soundtrack doesn’t need any words to justify it.

So I would recommend everyone to watch it. Watch with your family and your kids, and be swept away on an amazing journey and yeah be inspired.

 

 

‘Capsicum’,on good writing, passing time, my magazine and making it during the night time

Hi everyone,

I hope all of you have been in the best of health and have been living your life to the fullest.If you have not been, well, then maybe it’s time to start, because that is what I intend to do…hopefully.

Any way let’s talk about what has been going on with me. My publisher friends have been down right ignoring me, regarding my two books. I have been requesting and submitting these two stories to them for the whole half year that has past, and the situation has been nothing a deep stab to the chest and hurtful shame. I finally understand how difficult and emotionally scaring the whole thing is for writers who have been dealing with rejection or harsh criticism, not to suggest I haven’t had those times, but it really is a sad eye opener when you have to defend or fight for your creative property. I would go as far as saying it’s like defending your baby. I’m not really sure what I can do about having my work ignored, it is discouraging and I have cried a bit over it. But I hope it just happens quickly, because I really really want ‘Ramiz’, and ‘Nothing Happened‘ to be published this year. It is something that I’ve wanted to quite some time and the desperation just grows bigger and the agitation follows.

Apart from this tragedy, I would be doing a lot more blogging, vlogging, stuffing on YouTube. So do follow me there, my account name is Ranjha’s Girl. I will talking about books and general stuff about me, and eventually I would like to put up videos about food and culture.

And the last update is a surprise and sort of a big deal for me. I will soon have my own magazine, which I own and control. Ta dah!

The magazine thing happened pretty abruptly, I just said I want a magazine, and in barely a little time I got my friend to get the website done and I payed the fee for it and I guess I am my own boss now. I hope. I’ll let you guys in on the name of the magazine soon, but for now I want to talk about why exactly I felt the need for one and the importance of having your own things.

The reason I wanted the magazine is because I felt like my work for other magazines was not being posted quickly or on time. Which was bad because the good majority of my work was interviews, and I always felt bad when people asked about their interviews, but it wasn’t up yet, because a lot of time and asking went into it, so my own magazine won’t give me lame excuses. Also a problem with me working is that, I was not social enough with the other writers in general, so I did not learn many new things or socialize on a level that would satisfy me, thus with my own magazine I would have no option but to talk to people, network and brainstorm. I would initially be uploading content on my own before I let other people in, just so I get comfortable.

I believe that the magazine will allow to curate and create good and unique content, and really push me into the business and field and maybe push me in with some passion and credibility. Because its sounds really different when you say magazine instead of blog, not to say blogs aren’t amazing, but people do have their prejudices.

And lastly it is important to have something is your own  where you can be yourself to the fullest, and not compromise your narrative or articles for the sake of likes or quick fame. This principle might not take you far in life, but it will help you sleep and and give you self respect. So yes, have power, and give other people a space where their work is welcome and respected.

I am oddly excited and I hope you guys and girls stick around for the whole thing, because deep down I believe I can truly impact the culture and change peoples lives in a great away.

That’s all for now I suppose, and thank you for reading this and I really look forward to getting all this work done and being happy.

Stay blessed.

Written, November 1,2014

​I suppose the best thing to do when you have been hurt or wronged by other people – is to improve oneself or to focus on a goal.

It becomes hard in life to rightfully know what to do in situations which you have little insight for. You wonder if you have been for your goodness or for a bad thing you have done .

And when it comes to hate or indifference people will rarely tell you how they feel . when its love they waste no time and say it likes it means nothing – but the hate they carry stays silent in their heart like lava in a valcano it only comes out at a weak moment .

So you must never let that hate hurt your will-it is hard but stay constant make yourself – improve yourself .

Be it a good deed – habit- skill – your looks or a business and even children or family work for them which in result brings you good words and fortune . 

But do not grow cold be always willing to reconcile and forgive .

Plastic

​

This is twice removed from reality 

That is not from divine influence 

Not for cause or virtue 

Least be it some drama waiting to spread like a virus 

All paints , perfumes , pennies and points 

Stashed up to be nothing 

A bridge heavy with locked promises from the past 

What’s the point 

What’s the use 

It’s corrupted minds

That rule over 

And they point fingers at each other when they want more for themselves 

Far from anything substantial 

Plastic food, plastic in the sea – fish on our plates

Money in our banks 

Not our cash 

Egyptian artifacts 

Not our war 

No morals 

Slight justice 

Fighting for a fake dream 

And in the end the enemy – that ever so blazing enemy will hurt itself. 

And the world will watch with indifference

Another Doll

Such a doll under the sun
Twenty years now
And the world
Knows that
Not at all
Those peacocks and cats
Mudd under snow
White bed sheets
And porcelain pots
What had you done to yourself
Unable to see yourself
Nearly fade away
You were not meant for this
This was not what you dreamed
If you still hold those dreams
Dear and near to your heart
You will do what it takes
To shine bright
Despite the duality
Of this mortal space
They are still hoping you make it
Dont keep them waiting

My child still

I dont have anything to say at the moment,  or maybe its just that my head is a bit dazzled.
As a good person  you are expected to be polite and nice to people despite them being rude to you .
Out of common decency you have to be happy when someone achieves something , and we try the best we can to be sincere .
But perhaps I am not . Forgive me that I do so .

When I told you about the sad things I had to go through it was just information to you . When I laughed and decided to play it was only annoying to you . When I wanted a softer tone or an honest smile it felt outrageous to you. In the start I did what we all do. I put up with it because my feelings and ego was involved , so it became a matter of self respect.

For my mother self respect meant something else , it meant fighting , it meant giving everything one had for the cause of honour. I dont believe that. My opinion may be the child of a bad experience or the child of a new social theory but it is my child still.
I will not drink in tears for another , my own swords have left little room for more pains .

False friends

When thunder , lightning and rain
Tore the bonds between us
You should not  have been surprised
Yet you were
Your tears and blood were on the rise
And mouth dried with wet guilt
And so appearance got the best for you
In the eyes of the world
And I was the one who took the fall
But in your eyes the odd reality  you believed unreal
Came straight  to haunt you
And haunts it still
And I had hoped with a little you would realise what had actually done
Yet I to live in disbelief of it
I live in shock of the turn dug into the open sky
A red red strip upon the belt of the ocean
Either a cunning actor , actress among the  actresses and actor smong the other blessings
Yet in all your deception
All your attempts to conceal the  truth
Like a rumoured witch
You did strike with rotting hate your black actions
Into the depths of my pale bosom
You made a great speech to the ears of the blind
Taking advantage of the innocent,  which is no surprise , yet Im surprised you did
Tyrants , liars and all other things dark in the center have used innocence to their own advance
At the price of someone else
The roots of poison that I with holy water pulled from the ground
Came back as a smog and took the souls of those held dear
But do continue
I do not care 
And so
Does not deception give birth to distrust
Do lies told once not last as shocks on the ears when they are caught
Do friends not cease to be  when one harms the other 
Thunder,  lighting and rain
Wear not surprise on your face then
How long will you pretend
The weight of time has been enough
To break lies
Time alone will truth to the world
And time alone will aid me
Even If I in anger lash out in flames
I keep my resent still
But it fills out of my skin so thick
But time
Time is running out
And the truth
Shall be found out

Day dream wrath

Its hard dealing with people .
Especially when you have nothing in common , but insist you love them.
When they say they mean what they say , but you two have different meanings for the same .
Its hard when you dont know how to behave or properly communicate .
They will be nice when they need something – and you will be nice when ever you see them.
They will be nice when they need something and indifferent when they dont .
Although you look naive and inexperienced,  you perhaps have felt the winds too deeply .
Its hard to talk because you dont know where to start .
Like parents are , waiting for their children to come home with a spaceship.
I will still wait under my rock while you go tend the sheep and pick strawberries.
Because when spring comes this year
The butterfly will break out of the cacoon , right under the moon.