Porco Rosso – Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Stephen Hornbrook

Synopsis

Take flight with “Porco Rosso,” a valiant World War I flying ace! From tropical Adriatic settings to dazzling aerial maneuvers, this action-adventure from world-renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki is full of humor, courage and chivalry. When “Porco”—whose face has been transformed into that of a pig by a mysterious spell—infuriates a band of sky pirates with his aerial heroics, the pirates hire Curtis, a rival pilot, to get rid of him. On the ground, the two pilots compete for the affections of the beautiful Gina. But it’s in the air where the true battles are waged. Will our hero be victorious?

Commentary

“Porco Rosso”, or the Crimson Pig, is a lighthearted film featuring beautifully painted Adriatic backdrops and stunningly drawn seaplanes. The jovial sea pirates offer some dimwitted entertainment, while the relationship between Porco and Fio is charming and engaging. The final dog fight and brawl between Porco and Curtis takes you from the sky to the ground. High flying aerial maneuvers wow the crowd only to be followed by a neverending boxing match between the two along the shoreline. Like Miyazaki’s final release, “The Wind Rises”, “Porco Rosso” plays homage to the early days of aviation, particularly the early Italian Caproni Ca.309 Ghibli, a light reconnaissance aircraft and inspiration for Studio Ghibli’s name.

Overall the English voice overs are pretty good, but I actually found Michael Keaton’s performance lacking in soul and life, even for the character or Porco. “Porco Rosso” is a fun film, with a touch of history, humor, and charm. A great movie for the whole family to enjoy.

Technical

The lush greens and brilliant blues of the Mediterranean are well represented in the Blu-ray transfer for “Porco Rosso”. I noticed a touch more noise to some shots on Porco Rosso, which keeps the video score from being a perfect 5. Still, another wonderful presentation for a Studio Ghibli by Disney.

Clean crisp dialog in this DTS-HD MA 2.0 soundtrack. The seaplane engines sound good, but could have benefitted from a quality LFE track. Flyby sound effects are matrixed into the surround channels but don’t sound as good as discrete 5.1.

Extras

Original Japanese Storyboards, Original Japanese Trailer, Interview with Toshio Suzuki, Behind the Microphone