My Review of "My Neighbor Totoro"

My Neighbor Totoro is a Japanese animated movie that came out back in 1988. It's a movie that was forced upon me many times and I refused to watch it. Eventually, I did get to see it but I was much younger back then. I thought it was really boring and hated it. Many years later, I decided to give this movie another chance and I have a totally different opinion on it.

This movie starts out with a small family. We have two young sisters, Satsuki is the older daughter and Mei is the younger daughter. They're moving into a new home in the country with their father. The house is very dilapidated. They even believe it might be haunted.

Satsuki and Mei are fearless young girls and they're willing to face any evil spirits. Their curiosity and fearlessness kind of gets them into all of their adventures in this movie.

Meanwhile, their father is trying to navigate their family. They've just moved into this new home and their mother is in the hospital for an unknown disease. Normally, movies would shift the focus of the father because he's got to take control over the situation. In this movie we have the perspective of Satsuki and Mei.

They have an interesting relationship with one another. They're both going through the same trials and tribulations of moving to a new place with an ill mother. Yet they couldn't be further from the same. Mei is much younger and she idolizes Satsuki. In some ways, Satsuki has taken on a motherly role for the family. Still this is a lot for a young girl to be responsible for.

This is such a contrast to what we see kids today. There is no technology and the kids have such different mannerisms. They're always very polite to everyone around them. The patience of each of the children is quite different as well. Some would be shocked at how much freedom these children get as well. They're free to roam around the village freely at all times of the day. No one really bats an eye at this either. The village seems very safe.

Maybe this is why these two girls are so fearless when they meet this demon like character named Totoro. When Totoro appears, we don't know if this is a figment of their imagination or if this is some sort of spirit. It seems to lean closer towards the spirit realm because other characters in the movie seem to acknowledge this spirit. Nobody in the movie seems to be able to see Totoro except for these girls. That makes it seem especially suspect.

As we progress through the movie we realize this movie really isn't about Totoro. It's about growing up in this time with these two young girls. They're going through life, love and loss. We understand their pain, anger, sadness and joy. Everything is so abundant and living. This world really comes alive with these two girls. There doesn't seem to be a dull moment even though not a lot of stuff actually happens in this movie.

Totoro actually helps pace the movie together in an entertaining fashion in what would otherwise be quite uneventful. This movie explores the personalities of all of the characters and really makes us a fly on the wall in such a distinct time and location.

I mentioned that I hated this movie when I first saw it. Back then I didn't have the patience to understand what was going on with this movie. It doesn't really explain itself. This movie lets you put the pieces in there and understand for yourself what's going on. Now that I've seen it. I understand why people give this movie so much praise. It's quite beautiful to watch and quite an experience while watching it.

Overall, I had a really good time with this movie. I couldn't believe that I enjoyed it that much more. Perhaps now I can kind of reflect on it. This movie certainly makes me think about life and contemplate on why we're so busy all the time. Maybe we need to appreciate what's around us. I can now recommend this to others but not everyone. I may also give this another viewing some day, that's why I have to give this movie a 7.5 out of 10.