Kidskycom It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Hayden Kane There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

The Movie Diorama If it isn't a fantasy epic with imaginative visuals, then it's a humanistic war drama focusing on Japanese traditions. Surprisingly, this newer addition to Ghibli's canon is far more lesser than the heavy themes that are typically conveyed. Goro learnt from his previous directorial effort and, with the advice from daddy anime genius Hayao Miyazaki, has crafted a sweet romantic tale. A young girl and her friends assist with renovating the Latin Quarter clubhouse at her academy, although soon starts developing a romance with one of the boys there. Think of it as teen romance but substituting silly school comedy with stunningly gorgeous animation. I sound like a broken tape recorder, but my word the animation is absolutely picturesque. Studio Ghibli consistently pump out amazing anime feature films like a rabbit humping anything that moves. Efficient. Gloriously efficient. From the homely aesthetics of Poppy Hill to the vibrant blue waves of the nearby sea, every single frame was a work of art. Then Miyazaki beautifully blends the mesmerising musical score to create a symphony of colours that invades all the senses. To then embed the bustling port town ambience with the other imperative elements really does create a world. It's not just a painting, but a window to this idyllic environment that feels alive. The story, whilst competently told, does feel too minimal and that's mostly down to the underdeveloped characters. Umi and Shun clearly adore each other in a subtle way, however there is a lack of expression that detracts from the relationship between these two teenagers. There were about five emotional scenes where only one really impacted me, that's due to how one-dimensional the plot and characters are. It comes across as a soap opera, which is a shame. There are nice touches such as the daily flag raising and Umi's motherly routine that injects some personality, but on the whole it feels monotonous. A perfectly animated film is let down by a story that lacks power.

Kyle Cohen A simple coming of age story. The visuals, as always for Studio Ghibli, are amazing to look at. They certainly know how to create an immersive atmosphere. The characters and story are good, but don't stand out that much until the third act. That is when the emotions kick in. I don't know why but watching anime characters cry is a tough thing to get through! Maybe it's because the animation creates the emotion of sadness as if it were spilling out of the character. Anyways, it's extremely emotional and almost got me to tears. And that is the only sad point in the movie. The rest of it is extremely sweet and harmless. If you like Studio Ghibli and the trailer looks good to you, then you will probably enjoy this movie a lot.

Chris Freire This film is called From Up On Poppy Hill it's a weird name to me cause when I saw the movie it had nothing to do about a hill but it had something involving Poppy but I will explain that later. The movie's plot I won't explain cause this movie wasn't release in Most of The United States it was only in select theaters but I manage to find a nearby theater to watch it. After that it was great and I will explain things that is involve in the story. It's has to involve something about a difficult Romance,Parent Lost, and Saving something from being destroyed. The movie's not hard to follow but there are parts that can be difficult to find out and there is are few Twist in the movie that make it great I won't spoil it you have to watch the movie to understand.But the lesson I really love in the film which makes it strong It teaches how much family matters in life cause without it your on your own and how to survive to stand up for what you believe in some basic lessons that are done very well. Overall though it's a Fantastic well done anime film Parents and Kids will enjoy it and has great lessons to teach many. I recommend owning it on Blu-Ray and DVD

dexturelab I have to say that I really enjoyed the whole one and a half hours watching this great movie. This movie will give you a very fresh breeze of happiness and leave you with joys. The main characters and their interactions were portrayed very real, though a little bit matured. That may be because they lived in a time not so long after the war. I truly felt happy for the little couple by the end of the movie. It makes me miss my high school time a little bit. Japanese anime knows how to evoke that nostalgic feeling effortlessly. Let's welcome another soon-to-be classic, along with Totoro or Whisper of the Heart. I am looking forward to experience another great projects from the Ghibli studio.