This is a charming, small-scale story about a young man dealing with an unusual family situation involving his father. The dad’s behavior is quite odd, and it's unclear what kind of relationship they have. There’s also something unsettling regarding the younger sister—could she be pregnant with their father’s child? It might be related to cultural differences; I honestly don’t understand why the older man changes his…

I’m going to risk some criticism by saying that this newest work from Hayao Miyazaki didn't quite click for me. The film centers around "Mahito," who goes to live with his father, a factory owner, during World War II. It becomes clear early on that his mother has passed away and he is gaining a new stepmother named "Natsuko." When she vanishes unexpectedly and "Mahito" learns his presence is being sought by an unusua…

THE BOY AND THE HERON is an impressive film visually, though it has some trouble weaving together all its different threads and subjects. From a technical standpoint, there’s really nothing to criticize; the imagery is stunning, with each frame carefully crafted and full of meaning. The animation itself is exceptional, pulling audiences into a magical realm. The music and sound effects work well alongside the visuals…