With Pandalicious and MagicMysticGrl going on and on about Miyazaki stuff, I figured it was time for me to jump in and add a few more cents to the pot. So with no further adieu I bring you Kurenai no Buta a.k.a Crimson Pig a.k.a Porco Rosso.Please believe me when I say that I like this movie. I don't love it, I am not enamored with it, I like it. I find the plot interesting but not intriguing and appreciate the comedic moments for what they are; fun breaks in an otherwise solemn feature film, but Porco Rosso does not touch my inner child [and not in the naughty, naughty way you pervs] in the same way as Princess Mononoke or even My Neighbor Totoro. Let me explain.
Crimson Pig is the story of a man, the reluctant hero type, making a living as a bounty hunter in the Adriatic Sea during the 1920's. He is wanted by the fascist Italians for deserting his military post [as a fighter plane pilot]and has this unspoken desire for the chanteuse at the Hotel Adriana, Gina.
We learn that not only have Gina and Porco known each other since they were young children, but that each has feelings for the other, but neither will admit that to the other. This creates an ongoing flirtation and romantic tension between the two that runs throughout the film. To add even more tension is the stereotypical American Flying Ace Curtis. Now, why on this partly green Earth Disney decided to use an Englishman to do a Texan accent I have no clue...but I LOVE Cary Elwes to death, so I will shutup now. Curtis falls in love with every woman he meets, and then meets Gina and proposes. Gina brushes him off hinting that she's in love with Porco which makes Curtis decide to go after Porco.You may say, "Hey NinJa, you said Porco was a bounty hunter, who or what is he huntin?" Sea Plane pirate pilots. All of the pirate groups want Porco out of the sky because he's bad for their business but none of the pilots are good enough to take him out. [which is why they contracted Curtis to take him out]
There is a lot more to this movie: an explanation of how Porco went from being a man named Marco to the physical form of a Pig, a young plane engineer named Fio who is in love with Porco [at least on some level], and a movie ending that leaves a few more questions than it answers. But as this is only a movie that I like as opposed to love, I leave it there.
If you are curious about Porco Rosso, check the it out. Michael Keaton does a great job as the voice of Porco, but I prefer the French dub with Jean Reno. [Even though I don't speak French]
Is that a shuriken in your pocket, or are you happy to see me?
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