Hinokio

I saw this at the Japanese Film Festival in Sydney and I thought it was fantastic. The whole story is clichéd as a whole, however with all the plot twists changing directions you have to just let it take you where it wants to go.

The story involves a young boy who lost his mother and was confined to a wheel-chair from a car accident. He spends his time locked in is room, using a robot that he can communicate from his computer as his eyes to the outside world.

Some moments in the film could be considered to many audiences as quite corny, however, the darker elements manage to balance the film as a whole quite nicely. At times the film feels it gets a bit long too, however this is only because there are so many ideas crammed into it that sometimes you really have no idea where it is going and are wanting to find a resolution all too soon. The ending, however, is far more than satisfying enough.

Use of cg is really great too, although it is usually saved for the right moments so that it is most effective. The use of first person perspectives and computer game footage was masterfully utilized to make interesting comparisons between reality and virtual-reality. Much more interesting than it was in say, Doom.

I think the most important thing about this film though, is that the characters are presented in ways that you can only feel compassion for them. You get the sense that the makers also felt the same way.

Verdict: You'll laugh, you'll cry.

This film reminds me another movie. The film of my childhood - "the Foundling." (in Кussian - "Подкидыш". So I fancied it! Lost child or a lost little robot... What a difference? The main thing - he finds his family. Those who he can trust and love.. Of course outside of the Soviet Union few people know Faina Ranevskaya - a wonderful actress of the Soviet cinema. And so old movies and very few people seem attractive. I watch them almost on a par with the modern. But sometimes they look even more fantastic. Example - Pinocchio. You can even draw Parallels with Pinnock (in the Russian version of Buratino). Thank you sincerely for secondarily this film.

Thank you for a film.

I've just watched this movie. It's very touching and great story. they's no any technical features. indeed they don't make some real effect in movie. its only background. on first there are feelings of real people. and it's shown very great and subtly. you know, you just can't ignore feelings of this young boy and his new friends with their own problems. it is the movie about real life and real problems. i nearly started to cry when the basic character (boy) said to his father that he will never forget him. it's really strong moment of the film and then when he says about meeting with his mother. its really touching! i think you'll get a lot of pleasure when you'll be watching this kind story of little boy and very strong people around him.

I recommend "Hinokio: Intergalactic Love" to anyone who likes a family movie, or anyone who is tired of Too Much Angst and wants a happy story. :)

I loved this movie because it is very well tied together-- there are no lose ends to speak of, but also because it explores a mature concept-- but in a way that younger people can understand, too. This is a movie that talks about death, love, forgiveness and friendship. Even "grown" people can take something out of this movie.

"Hinokio: Intergalactic Love" is a story of Satoru and his classmates. Satoru lost his mom in the same car accident that left him in a wheel chair. One year after the death of his mother, Satoru's father gives him a robot that allows him to go to school from home. In this way, Satoru can re-enter life outside his room without ever leaving it.

The conflict in this movie comes at first from Satoru being alienated in his class. He wants to make friends with the other children, but they cannot see past the robot in front of them to the little boy talking to them through it. The children will not even call the robot by Satoru's name—instead, they refer to him as "Hinokio." Another conflict comes from Satoru's relationship with his father-- who Satoru refuses to speak to.

The story is very well woven together with the introduction of a mysterious game "Purgatory"-- a game hidden within a game (Cyber City). This game catches Satoru's interest because it is centered on the after life.

How will Satoru come to terms with his mother's death? Will he every make a connection with his friends in his class? Watch and find out. :)

It's a good movie, worth too look. The cinematography is well. The visual effect are erection yet soft. The storyline is dramatic.The characters are really Japanese stereotype, but some things are too Western. The Purgatory theme are based on the west (Christian) belief. Instead using the Samsara belief, the movie-maker try to make this film goes international by adding some west "charms", such as the purgatory (linear life), English languished theme songs, and Pinokio fable (the Blue Fairy is Eriko in the game or maybe God Himself). Somehow, it's remind me to Artificial Intelegence (Spielberg's), but the idea of taking control the robot is Japanese typical (so many films in Japan that the heroes controlling some mecha to beat the bad guy). The act of the players are good, the director choose the correct players to depict the characters (jun is so tomboy but sweet, Eriko is so pretty, the mother is so beautiful). For me, it's a fine teenage love story. Adults can take some lesson from it. Moreover, it's a story about family, how to develop good relations inside the family. Well, some things are irrational (the technology, the magic), but it's really a heartwarming movie.