Gedo Senki gets Raspberries
Goro Miyazaki wins worst director, worst film awards
Despite topping the Japanese box office for five weeks, Goro Miyazaki's debut Gedo Senki (Tales from Earthsea) "won" the Bunshun Raspberry Award for Worst Film of the yea
(Source: www.nausicaa.net)
It's been a mixed year for Goro Miyazaki and his directorial debut Tales From Earthsea (Gedo Senki in Japan). The animated feature film received plaudits at the Venice Film Festival and topped the Japanese box office for five weeks (unseating Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest from the #1 position). It later became the 4th top grossing film released in Japan in 2006.
However, Goro's father, anime legend Hayao Miyazaki, publicly claimed that Goro lacked the necessary experience to direct a feature film. That statement led to a bitter feud between the two that was only recently resolved. Also, Gedo Senki received mixed reviews at home and abroad, with many reviewers unfavourably comparing the movie to Hayao's best work. Gedo Senki also got a lukewarm reception from Tales From Earthsea author Ursula K. LeGuin, who reportedly told Goro, "It's not my book. It's your movie. But it's a good movie."
Now Gedo Senki has the dubious honour of being called the Worst Film of the year and Goro the Worst Director, courtesy of the Bunshun Kiichigo Awards. The awards, voted on by a collective of 32 Japanese movie critics, pick out what they consider to be the worst movies shown in Japan over the past year.
Gedo Senki was the clear "winner," earning 69 points from critics. That's 31 more than its closest rival, Sinking of Japan, and 42 more than the 3rd place finisher, The Da Vinci Code. Goro was named the Worst Director while Da Vinci Code star Tom Hanks was Worst Actor.
Most bloggers seem to feel the award was unfair to Goro Miyazaki and Gedo Senki. Because Studio Ghibli (which also releases Hayao Miyazaki's films) consistently produces such high product, any mis-step will come under that much more scrutiny. Not only that, comparing Goro's debut to his father's finest work is an inherent injustice to the son.
IMDb reviewers have given Gedo Senki an average rating of 7.0 out of 10. IMDb readers also gave Hayao Miyazaki's debut, 1979's Rupan sansei: Kariosutoro no shiro (Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro) a 7.5 out of 10.
