A Review of Us by Jordan Peele

Alright so admittedly, this is not the movie review I was supposed to be doing. I was
supposed to be picking back up my Scribbly on Ghibli that I started and did not finish last year,
but unfortunately, I was unable to find the time in my schedule to watch the movie I had planned.
That being said, I did happen to find the time to go see Jordan Peele's new movie Us (2019)
which came out at the end of last month.
Considering the critical and financial success of Peele's first movie Get Out (2017),
expectations for his second release Us were very high. As a fellow black (wannabe) filmmaker, I
know I─ for one─ sure had high expectations for the movie and honestly, I wasn't disappointed.
So far, from the general conversations I have been having throughout the week, opinions have
been varied.
I like the movie; to me the cinematography was done well, the acting was great, the
musical composition complimented the scenes very well. I thought the story was handled fairly
well, it was a bit ambitious, but I personally found myself able to keep up with majority of the
threads presented within the film. I loved the tension, I found the movie more tense than scary,
and I thought it did wonders for the story progression.
My sister, on the other hand, thought it was just okay. She thought the casting had some
issues and some of the dialogue was unbefitting for certain characters. She agreed that
cinematography and score was well done, but she felt that overall, the story was too ambitious to
ultimately be in par with Get Out.
Despite that, we both still recommend a viewing. Is the movie perfect? No. But it is such
a wild and thrilling ride and, in my opinion, harbors a twist that warrants not only a first, but also
a second viewing.
9/10 would recommend. And I will be back with my Scribbly, I swear!
Introduction
I’m sure most if not all of us has seen either My Neighbor Totoro or Spirited Away; I
didn’t see either for the first time until I was about fourteen years old and for a very long time
they were the only Studio Ghibli movies I had ever seen. About a year or so ago, with the
retirement of Hayao Miyazaki and the founding of Studio Ponoc, I decided to end my days as
ignorant swine and proceeded to binge as many Studio Ghibli movies as I possibly could (except
for Grave of Fireflies, I was told to stay away from that one), which ended up being about
thirteen out of twenty movies. With the theatrical release of Studio Ponoc’s debut film Mary and
the Witch’s Flower, I decided to do the Ghibli marathon all over again (because really you can
never get too much Ghibli) and revisit exactly what makes the movies so astonishing and
influential.
Miyazaki built his company on the backbone of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and
produced some of the top grossing animated films in Japan (and the US) to this day. His story
telling and animation is some of the most vibrant and creative there is and has demonstrated to
many what good filmmaking actually is. Yoshiaki Nishimura, founder of Studio Ponoc, aims to
do ultimately the same thing Miyazaki did when he created Ghibli, create a new wave for the
animated film industry. Whether or not they do is left to be seen but for now we can get a
glimpse of where they’re headed with their debut film; but before we do that we need to take a
look at their roots. Over the next few weeks I will be reviewing differently Studio Ghibli films,
starting with Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and ending with Mary and the Witch’s Flower,
noting how they craft their stories, their characters, and what exactly makes them so great.
If, in the end, I learn nothing about the influence Studio Ghibli has on Studio Ponoc, then
I will have spent the next few weekends watching some pretty damn great movies. Either way
it’s a win-win.
The Start: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
*I know it’s been nearly thirty-four years but I’m still going to say it: SPOILER ALERT!!*
Many people will argue that Hayao Miyazaki is one of, if not the greatest animation
director of our time and it is often argued that at least one of his many animated features is
probably the “best animated movie of all time,” though which is disputed. This film is one of the
films often considered when debating the topic (it’s also my boyfriend’s childhood favorite).
Inspired by the mercury poisoning of Minamata Bay in the 50s and 60s, Miyazaki released his
manga series Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, which ran from 1982-1994. The animated
adaption to this series, released in 1984, marked the second feature length animated film to be
directed by the artist.
Set in a post-apocalyptic world a thousand years in the future, Nausicaä tells the story of
humanities struggle to survive a wasteland ruled by giant bugs; mainly the Ohm. When two
warring kingdoms bring their fight to the small kingdom on the side of the “toxic jungle”, The
Valley of the Wind, it sends the young princess Nausicaä on a journey “to restore the bond
between humanity and the earth.” Filled with an abundance of great characters, an enriching plot,
and beautifully designed scenery, this movie does well to draw the audience into the world. The
movie stresses the importance of thinking before action and using pacifistic ideals to cultivate
peace. While the titular character has a serious martyr complex, she is still relatable and
inspirable and deserves her titular recognition.
Nausicaä opens with the infamous Lord Yupa riding through the wasteland covered in
spores donned in a gas mask. Upon discovering a village consumed by the toxic jungle we are
delivered our first line of dialogue a minute and twenty seconds in, “Yet another village is dead.”
This sets the tone for humanities outlook on their chances of survival against the toxic jungle and
the looming Ohm. When a Tolmekian ship crashes into the valley it delivers all kinds of trouble
for the citizens, including, among other things, an ancient geo-weapon. Soon Nausicaä too is
kidnapped but they don’t make it far before she and her captors are shot down by an opposing
Pejite gunship. They crash into the toxic jungle and we are met with a gorgeous imagery
juxtaposing the serenity with the danger they face in the area. It soon becomes clear that both the
Tolmekian’s and the Pejite’s are have become consumed with their war, willing to sacrifice
anything or one to make sure that they are victorious. Only Nausicaä and the people of the valley
see the importance of the bugs and the jungle and when all are confronted with the consequences
of their war it is Nausicaä who sacrifices herself to make it right.
With a soft pastel palette, a lovely original score, and Ghibli shivers Nausicaä of the
Valley of the Wind, shows the importance of humanity working with instead of against nature in
order for both to flourish. It also shows how governing powers are willing to sacrifice anything,
even the very earth itself, for their own personal agenda (whether science backs it up).
There’s a reason this movie is considered the greatest animated movie of all time.
WE INTTERPUT THIS SCHEDULED PROGRAM FOR: Tales from Earthsea
So initially, the next Ghibli on my list was supposed to be the first one I ever saw, ie My
Neighbor Totoro however after recently reading a crap article by the New York Times I decided
it can wait so I can tackle something that been irking me. So in this crap article (which claimed
Spirited Away was the best Ghibli film by the way so they definitely aren’t basic) the author
made an audacious accusation by declaring Tales from Earthsea the worst on the Studio Ghibli
roster. And apparently they aren’t the only people who have made this claim (according to our
magazine’s Editor and Chief, Tierra). I call bullxxxx. Tales from Earthsea is underrated,
underappreciated, and a damn good film and I am sick of hearing people say otherwise. So out
of spite, I sat aside My Neighbor Totoro and popped in Tales from Earthsea.
Alright so despite my initial remarks after some review I see why the ignorant swine
would consider this one the worst. It does stray away from the typical Ghibli custom and focuses
mainly on a young male, Prince Arren, rather than a maiden; but mainly, Tales from Earthsea
has the least amount of action throughout all of the movies. It follows the prince (after he runs
away), as he and a wizard (the Archmage Sparrowhawk) travel through the land of Earthsea in
an attempt to find the cause of the shift in the balance. The two unite with Sparrowhawk’s old
friend Tenar and her young ward Therru and after a semi-convoluted subplot and a series of (I
suppose unfortunate) events between Therru and Arren the two end up restoring the balance
together. Despite the lack of action and the aforementioned semi-convoluted subplot Tales from
Earthsea is an amazing story about the power of fear and the necessity of death and birth.
Tales from Earthsea takes a particular focus on the importance of death and the meaning
that it holds within context to life. Is life meaningless because we’re all going to die anyway or is
life meaningless without the promise of death to bring purpose to it? This is the question the
characters struggle to answer as the fear of death literally takes a hold of Arren and runs away
with him. The power of fear and the irrational violence it can cause is also a topic flirted with
throughout the movie and it reaches its pinnacle during the climax with Arren and Therru. This
movie requires a little thinking and if someone isn’t used to doing that I can see why they
wouldn’t get it. Tales from Earthsea is less about the journey and more about the lesson.
So maybe I haven’t done an adequate job arguing my point for why this movie isn’t the
worst Ghibli movie. And to those who agree with that statement all I can say is…. FIGHT ME.
My First Ghibli: My Neighbor Totoro
Everyone (and I do mean everyone, except for like hermits and rock people) has seen or
at least semi-recognizes My Neighbor Totoro and its titular creature. Totoro is the company’s
official mascot, appearing at the beginning of literally every Ghibli movie and is available in
literally any form of merchandise you could possibly think of. My Neighbor Totoro has solidified
itself as an animated classic and has a cult following akin…well nothing else that I can think of.
My Neighbor Totoro is the face of Ghibli and is one of the best animated movies of all time…
Now all that being said…it’s also just a tiny bit boring.
Okay so I know that’s a bit of a claim to make talking about one of the greatest animated
films of all time but it’s kind of true. While yes, the design of the scenery is gorgeous and yes,
the characters are unique, cute, and (mostly) fun, and again yes, the story is creative and pretty
unique…. it’s just ultimately a whole lot of nothing. The girls move into a new house in the
country because their mother is sick in the hospital, they become friends with the “keeper of the
forest”, the four-year-old is a brat and the older sister takes care of her, the end. I mean there is
some adventure; watching the way the spirit and human worlds interact with each other is done
in such a light-hearted capricious way you can’t help but smile; but Totoro is the whole show. In
a movie that is only eighty-six minutes long, it takes twenty-six for the titular character to show
up and the scenes between his appearances just seem to have the tendency to drag on.
The best parts of the movie, directly involve the forest spirits; without them we’re left
with scenes of Mei being a terrible toddler and her sister Satsuki taking on the maternal role for
her absent mother. I never actually noticed how bad Mei was until I watched it this go round; she
was rude, she cried if she didn’t get her way, she followed Satsuki around everywhere she went
and whenever she wasn’t supposed to go she never listened. The last part of the movie revolves
around Mei running away after being told her mother had to stay at the hospital; their community
ends up dragging a lake looking for her and she nearly gave her elder neighbor a heart attack.
Then there’s Satsuki, the older sister who cooks and cleans and takes care of her sister, always
trying to be brave and be strong. Eventually she ends up breaking down into tears because of
repressed fears about her mother’s mortality. So yeah, we end up navigating between scenes like
these and scenes filled with the innocence and light-heartedness of childhood and nature.
So as we end the movie singing the name of our favorite giant sleepy forest spirit, we’re
left with delightful feelings of relief for the Kusakabe family. My Neighbor Totoro is and will
always be an animated classic that I do plan to one-day share with my own future terrible
toddlers. And soon everyone will be singing about “my neighbor to to ro totoro to to ro totoro”.
The First Ghibli: Castle in the Sky
If Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is the animated marvel that paved the way for the
now featured animation juggernaut that is Ghibli; then Laputa: Castle in the Sky, is its satisfying
and energetic prodigy. Coming just two years after the animated success that was Nausicaä,
Miyazaki showed no signs of slowing down and debuted his new company with this lively, well-
developed, alternative history filled with pirates, alchemy, and wonder. Castle in the Sky, is a
mysterious, fun, fast paced adventure, that takes you on a unique journey of discovery, keeping
you entertained from start to finish.
Never a dull moment, the movie opens with pirates raiding an airship holding our meek
heroine Sheeta, who has been kidnapped by government officials. After escaping the airship with
the help of a mysterious family heirloom, Sheeta is discovered by Pazu an exuberant young boy
who, after discovering they’re both orphans, takes it upon himself to take care of her. Together
the two try to evade the likes of pirates and military alike while simultaneously trying to discover
the secrets of the legendary sky-city, Laputa and its connection to Sheeta. Despite a run time a
little over two hours, the movie doesn’t feel it, as we’re swept away with Sheeta, Pazu. and the
incredible cast of characters that they interact with on their adventure.
Still cultivating its signature look, Castle in the Sky is filled with beautiful scenery,
vibrant imagery, and marks the beginning of Miyazaki’s obsession with brunette heroines. Said
heroine, in the face of opposition (much like her predecessor) advocates pacifist and martyrish
ideals as guides to preserving the greater good. Unlike her predecessor, Sheeta, doesn’t have to
make the sacrifice alone; the introduction of Pazu also introduces the Ghiblian sidekick, a
supporter, self-proclaimed protector, and friend who helps guide the heroine along their journey.
Pazu is all those things for Sheeta and helps provide her with the agency to preserve and thrive.
I’ve noticed that when debating which Ghibli is the best, this is the one that often gets
overlooked. As the first Ghibli in the canon, Castle in the Sky is a marvel in its own right and
deserves the same kind of recognition as its predecessor and those that came after. While I
cannot definitively say which Ghibli is the absolute best, I consider this movie one of if not the
top contender.
The Basic B!t¢h: Spirited Away
I know I’ve said this before about My Neighbor Totoro, but everyone (and I do mean
everyone, even hermits and rock people) has seen Spirited Away. This movie was the top
grossing animated film in Japan for literally fifteen years, until it was overtaken by Your Name in
2016. This movie is very often voted (debatably) the best animated feature of all time. I’m going
to be honest, despite all these things, I was kind of dreading watching Spirited Away. Yes, I
know about all the accolades and yes I know that it was considered the fourth best movie of the
21st century, but despite how great this movie is, it’s still a bit overrated.

I don’t want to take credit from where it is due, this movie is very good. It tells the story
of Chihiro who has just moved to a new town and is expectedly anxious about the change. When
her father takes a wrong turn finding their new home, they end up at a tunnel that leads to the
beginning of our heroine’s adventure. Through her adventures in the spirit world Chihiro learns
to be confident in herself and her abilities; she realizes she’s more competent and intelligent than
anyone else gives her credit for, even herself. Our token Ghiblian heroine, Chihiro’s exceptional
kindness and selflessness causes her to help those that others would just abandon and allows her
to achieve accomplishments that otherwise would have gone unsolved.

One of the darkest color wise, Spirited Away takes a turn from the bright pastels that
animators initially utilized and instead incorporates fun images and gothic patterns with an
abundance of dark reds and purples. Even with the added intensity of the darkened colors, there
are still bright whimsical scenes filled with magic and fun. Add the original score with fun wind
and string compositions (especially the chase scene in the bath house) and light chimes during
establishing shots really brings the story to life.

Spirited Away is a staple and it deserves many of the awards it’s garnished, however I
disagree with the assumption that it’s the best Ghibli there is. In trying to articulate my argument
I’ve discovered my own bias against Spirited Away…personally I prefer the stories with
narrative variety. I enjoy the Ghibli’s that focus on more than a single heroine; they tend to focus
on more dynamic relationships and show more complex growth. I’ve always felt Chihiro’s
supposed “true love” for Haku was forced or rushed, while other’s take more time to explore the
relationship between characters.
Regardless, the movie is still amazing (though not the best Ghibli).