Title: Porco Rosso

Genre: Historical/Fantasy

Creator/Studio: Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli

Company: Buena Vista

DVD Info: 1 hour, 34 minutes

Summary: Set in 1930's Italy, this story concerns Marco "Porco" Rosso, a pilot cursed with the head of a pig after watching his comrades die. Will he learn the errors of his ways?

The Good: This is a little out of character for Miyazaki. Usually, we don't see realistic settings in his movies. Despite that, the movie still has that charm that permeates through his movies. Porco is a charming hero (albeit a little selfish), reminscent of those seen in classic WWII-era movies. Disney picked a good voice cast here, too. Michael Keaton is excellent as Porco.

The Bad: I wish they'd shown us how Porco Rosso got cursed. They show us why, but that's not enough.

Offensive Material: This story does have some gunfights, as can be expected from the setting. Overall: Porco Rosso is a welcome change of pace for Miyazaki. It definitely shows his range. I enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who's a fan of Miyazaki's works.

My review: 3.5 Category: B

Comment: Other Ghibli titles include: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, Pom Poko, Princess Mononoke, Grave of the Fireflies, Spirited Away, The Cat Returns, Whisper of My Heart,and Howl's Moving Castle.