Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Porco Rosso Blu-ray Movie Review

"I'd rather be a pig than a fascist!"

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown February 3, 2015

With Disney's latest trio of Studio Ghibli titles hitting shelves, only four feature films remain unreleased: Isao Takahata's Only Yesterday (1991) and My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999), Hayao Miyazaki's Oscar-winning Spirited Away (2001), and Hiroyuki Morita's The Cat Returns (2002). And while three of the four are among Ghibli's more obscure projects, it wouldn't be naïve to expect title announcements for each within the next year. In addition to Disney, Cinedigm and, most recently, Universal, have ensured the full Ghibli canon will soon be available on Blu-ray, and in light of rumors that the studio will be shuttering its doors, that's some much-needed good news. But that's the uncertain future. The present, strong and certain, lies with Pom Poko (1994), Takahata's deliriously bizarre, strangely endearing fable of shape-shifting raccoon dogs who declare war on their industrious human neighbors; Tales from Earthsea (2006), a resplendent but fatally flawed fantasy adaptation from Gorō Miyazaki; and Porco Rosso (1992), Hayao Miyazaki's adventurous, delightfully funny celebration of early aviation, starring a larger than life hero fighting to win the hand of the woman of his dreams.

When Porco (Shūichirō Moriyama/Michael Keaton) -- whose face has been magically transformed into that of a pig by a mysterious spell -- infuriates a band of sky pirates with his aerial heroics, the pirates hire Curtis (Akio Ōtsuka/Cary Elwes), a rival pilot, to get rid of him. On the ground, the two pilots compete for the affections of the beautiful Gina (Tokiko Kato/Susan Egan). But it's in the air where the true battles are waged. Will our hero be victorious? 'Porco Rosso's English dub also features the voice talents of Brad Garrett, David Ogden Stiers, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Bill Fagerbakke, Kevin Michael Richardson and Frank Welker.

Porco Rosso's story is a small one, but then that's never stopped Hayao Miyazaki, has it? Based on the director's own 1989 watercolor manga, "Hikōtei Jidai," the film is a stirring, high-flying adventure in eye-popping minimalism that blends light fantasy with post-WWI history without sacrificing humor, heart or dramatic heft. Porco is more than a cloud-splitting bounty hunter and infamous ace fighter too. He's a disgraced man in search of redemption he doesn't believe he deserves; haunted by a mistake from his past that cursed his appearance and left him swimming in regret. He's a fearless hero for hire, but only because he's so determined to pay penance for his wartime cowardice, a duality that makes him a far more intriguing lead and the film's script a more deceptively nuanced slice of historical fiction. The plot is essentially a long lead-up to a climactic dog fight, but it's the little touches of authenticity, combined with Porco's take-em-or-leave-em stoicism and occasional hot temper, that allows Miyazaki to work his magic. (Among the film's more compelling elements is Fio, Porco's new mechanic, and an enthusiastic team of crewwomen, through which Miyazaki explores gender hurdles and quiet triumphs of the era.)

If Porco Rosso falls short it's only in terms of ambition. Its a simple tale told simply, without the sweeping scale, fantastical vistas or epic qualities of more beloved Studio Ghibli productions. Any enjoyment is born in the characters and their relationships, not in the wonder of Miyazaki's world or the diving, rolling and machine-gunning dog fights that fill its skies. There's no real threat of death or sense of finality -- in the film's opening scene, a group of young girls giggle, grin and play aboard a bullet-riddled plane, all while being kidnapped by a band of not-so-ruthless air pirates -- and the ultimate duel between Porco and Curtis is as airy and harmless as everything that precedes it. But there isn't a need for much more, particularly realism, or even the hope that it will somehow worm its way into the story. Porco Rosso finds Miyazaki in something of a literal flight of fancy; a dream that, twenty-two years later, would give way to a more grounded masterpiece, 2014's The Wind Rises.

Part of the comfort of Studio Ghibli films is the vast array of projects. Some are weighty, sprawling and immense. Others are small, sweet and breezy. Moreover, part of their brilliance is in engaging every corner of our imaginations, be it a surreal trip down the rabbit hole, a gripping quest across an unknown land, or a colorful daydream, drawn from a deep desire to soar above the clouds. Porco Rosso isn't Miyazaki's finest, but it's no less essential to the Ghibli canon.

Porco Rosso Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Disney's 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation is utterly faithful to Porco Rosso's original animation, carefully rejuvenating the source elements without altering the filmic qualities that help set the adventure apart. Colors are largely naturalistic, but primaries pop with stunning vibrancy. The blues of the oceans and skies, the pronounced reds of Porco's plane, and the painterly hues of the Italian seaside villages are lovely, as are the transfer's contrast leveling and clarity. The film's line art is neatly defined, without anything in the way of aliasing or ringing, and the backgrounds offer brushstrokes and textures aplenty. A faint veneer of grain has also been preserved and, aside from a few specks, the print is in excellent condition. Significant scratches, nicks and other damage are nowhere to be found, and artifacting, banding and the like are MIA. The result? A near-perfect presentation I'm pleased to add to my collection.

Porco Rosso Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Like Pom Poko and other Studio Ghibli films from the era, Porco Rosso doesn't feature any 5.1 surround options. What it does offer, though, is a pair of precision-crafted English and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo tracks. Dialogue is crystal clear and nicely grounded in the mixes, sound effects and music are integrated without issue or mishap, and the soundscape is quite effective. Would LFE and rear speaker support been assets? Absolutely, especially during the film's dog fights. But as faithful audio presentations go, there just isn't anything here that warrants grumbling.

Porco Rosso Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Original Japanese Storyboards (HD, 93 minutes): Watch the entire film comprised of its original storyboards. This is not a Picture-in-Picture comparison, but a 1.85:1 showcase of the original artwork.
• Interview with Producer Toshio Suzuki (SD, 3 minutes): Suzuki briefly discusses the elements that make Porco Rosso a special film, the personal nature of the project, the characters and themes, Miyazaki as a filmmaker and more.
• Behind the Microphone (SD, 7 minutes): Go behind the scenes with the cast and crew of Disney's dub.
• Original Japanese Trailers (HD, 8 minutes): Four trailers and preview reels.

Porco Rosso Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Porco Rosso isn't among Miyazaki's most prodigious films, but it remains a true treat. Joyously animated, simply penned, and terrifically entertaining, it's a lighthearted adventure worth watching, and re-watching, and re-watching; enjoying all it has to offer without ever demanding a more epic scope or scale. Disney's Blu-ray release dazzles too, with a faithful remaster, a striking video encode, a solid pair of DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 tracks, and a decent selection of extras, including a presentation of the film's original storyboards. So after bounding from hill to hill with Pom Poko, be sure to take flight with Porco Rosso. Both are among Studio Ghibli's more obscure films, but they needn't be.