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Few anime filmmakers can rival Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. Their films are breathtaking works of art captivate and inspire, appealing to audiences of all ages with their diverse stories and stunning animation. However, anime isn’t for everyone.

Some find the style too exaggerated or dislike the recurring tropes often seen in the medium. Yet even those who claim anime isn’t for them may reconsider after watching these Studio Ghibli films, realizing the genre is far more diverse than they ever imagined.

Ponyo Will Bring the Entire Family Together for a Wondrous Studio Ghibli Adventure Streaming On Hulu

One extreme misconception those who dislike anime have is that films are for adults only. They've seen genres like ecchi and harems, and have decided from that information anime won't fit their lifestyle. However, some Studio Ghibli films are perfect to watch with the whole family.

Ponyo is the adorable...

Studio Ghibli has provided us with one remarkable anime film after another over the span of 4 decades. Despite its lengthy run, the studio has barely ever served any failures. But I think Tales of the Earthsea could be called one of the rare misses of the studio.

Directed by Goro Miyazaki, Hayao Miyazaki’s son, Tales of the Earthsea is based on the Earthsea series by Ursula K. Le Guin. Once again, fans had high hopes for the movie, but this time, they were led down by the Ghibli film, something no one had expected.

Is Studio Ghibli’s Tales of the Earthsea really as bad as everyone claims? Tales of the Earthsea is heavily compared to other Ghibli movies | Credits: Studio Ghibli

Tales of the Earthsea debuted in 2006, and immediately afterward, it received mixed reviews from its audience and critics. Its animation, music, as well as visuals were worthy of the Ghibli name.

Hayao Miyazaki might be a renowned director and animator, but if there’s one thing that isn’t synonymous with him — being a perfect parental figure. The Ghibli co-founder has always had a rocky relationship with his family, and it was his son, Goro Miyazaki, who aired the family’s dirty laundry.

Miyazaki has earned fame via his beautiful movies, two of which have won Oscars. But in his strive to create these movies, he has been neglectful of his own family. Perhaps the biggest victims of his workaholic nature have been his wife and son.

Hayao Miyazaki Was Not Happy with His Son’s Directorial Debut Tales of the Earthsea | Credits: Studio Ghibli

Goro Miyazaki made his directorial debut with Tales of the Earthsea. The movie, inspired by Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea series, is often considered one of the weakest Ghibli movies. By the time the author’s rights were gained,...

Hayao Miyazaki is an eccentric man with rigid opinions. Many people from the anime industry have openly discussed how hard it is to work with Miyazaki. The director is not scared of criticizing what he doesn’t like and is famous for taking a stand against the usage of CGI in his creations.

But while his opinions about the anime industry are valid, given his expertise in the field, many are unsatisfied with the way Miyazaki treats his son. During the production of Tales from Earthsea, Goro was stuck in a dilemma as its director, but Miyazaki never helped his son and even stopped talking to Goro after the movie was released.

Why did Hayao Miyazaki Have a Fallout with Goro? Tales from Earthsea was directed by Hayao Miyazaki’s son, Goro Miyazaki | Credits: Studio Ghibli

Tales from Earthsea is inspired by Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea series and...

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Studio Ghibli films are renowned for their enchanting worlds, rich characters, and deeply emotional narratives that captivate audiences worldwide. These films are beloved by children and adults alike. However, despite their critical acclaim and beloved status, several storylines in these films have elements that are questionable or lack clear explanations.

From the unclear rules governing Kikis magical abilities in Kikis Delivery Service to the true nature of the Forest Spirit in Princess Mononoke, these elements are puzzling or inconsistent. These ambiguous plot points leave viewers with lingering questions and a sense of incompleteness, which is, in some cases, crucial for the film.

Updated by Christy Mathew on November 3, 2024: Studio Ghibli movies are heartfelt and beautifully depict the stories of several characters. The studios have made many films, but some tend to have certain questionable aspects. This list consists of questionable storylines...

"Stargate" was a tweener of a box office hit. Directed by Roland Emmerich from a screenplay he wrote with Dean Devlin, the film made $197 million globally on a budget of $55 million in 1994, which is very good but not the kind of runaway smash that automatically gets a sequel. Though Emmerich and Devlin had loose plans for a trilogy, several things got in the way, namely "Independence Day" and the opportunity to spend three times the budget of "Stargate" on a "Godzilla" remake and star-studded disaster movies. Did they choose wisely?

Fans of "Stargate Sg-1," the television spin-off that aired for five seasons on Showtime before moving over the SyFy for another five seasons, would emphatically state "No." Emmerich and Devlin might've had nothing to do with the series, but its dedicated fanbase didn't care. They got caught up in the galaxy-traversing exploits of Richard Dean Anderson and his Sg-1 crew,...

While Kristin Kreuk is most well-known for portraying Lana Lang on Smallville, she’s had quite a varied career since starting acting in 2000.

Kreuk began with teen dramas and classic fairytale films, then moved to sci-fi films and procedural dramas.

No matter the role, she’s a force to be reckoned with and lights up the screen.

(James Dimmock/ Fox)

Since she began acting nearly 25 years ago, Kreuk has gone from acting project to project with little break. She’s become one of Canada’s leading leading ladies and has earned that right in the United States, too.

Kreuk will be starring in Murder in a Small Town beginning Tuesday, September 24.

Tracker Would Benefit From Ditching Its Familiar Formula In Season 2by Paullette Gaudet Quick Fix: Why a Shift Towards Shorter TV Episodes Could Be In Our Futureby Thomas Godwin The Equalizer Season 5: What Is Next For Robyn & Dante?...

Earlier this week, A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin set off a drama bomb when he bluntly criticized HBO's Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon in a blog post. It's clear that he has problems with how the show has adapted his book Fire & Blood. Martin drilled down on how the show's decision to cut a certain character from the book could have negative butterfly effects down the line, and teased that there are "larger and more toxic butterflies to come, if House Of The Dragon goes ahead with some of the changes being contemplated for seasons 3 and 4."

This was surprising to hear because Martin, who's as big a celebrity author as exists right now, has always been very supportive of the TV shows based on his work. He may have expressed a quibble here and there about Game of Thrones when it was running,...

Ursula K. Le Guin was a prolific author known for her contributions to speculative fiction. Her works often explored themes of gender, power, and the environment, and she was an advocate for women and indigenous peoples' rights. Le Guin's notable works, such as "A Wizard of Earthsea," "The Left Hand of Darkness," and "The Dispossessed," showcase her storytelling abilities and the impact of her writing on the genre.

Ursula K. Le Guin was a prolific author in the sci-fi genre, but her best books encapsulate much more than the traditional narratives readers associate with science fiction. Two of her most famous series are the Hainish Universe and the Earthsea novels. They incorporate fantasy elements and take place on far-flung planets or within unbelievable versions of reality, but the characters that inhabit them feel undeniably real. She focused on issues of environmentalism, colonialism, gender expression, and xenophobia. Her novels might have...

The question of how dragons fly with damaged wings complicates the already complex debate on how House of the Dragon's titular beasts fly in the first place. Scientific studies have proposed various theories about draconic flight, including denser air on fantasy planets and internal gas-filled organs. Despite having holes in their wings, the dragons in House of the Dragon likely rely on a mix of biology and magically amplified strength to remain airborne.

There's nothing in fantasy that quite grabs the imagination like a dragon. The dragon is the pinnacle of fantasy, greater even in the zeitgeist than witches and wizards, who while beloved to the point that they have whole communities based around them (as do dragons), rarely reach the heights of power within fantasy as their scaley, equally magical dragon counterparts. From Lord of the Rings to Earthsea to Dota: Dragon's Blood, the trope is eternal and...

Hayao Miyazaki was difficult to work with and had a strained relationship with his son, Goro Miyazaki. Goro Miyazaki was pressured into directing the film 'Tales From Earthsea' and received criticism when it didn't meet expectations. Despite their difficulties, Hayao and Goro Miyazaki continued to work together, with Hayao offering advice and Goro creating his own animated series.

Hayao Miyazaki is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli and one of the most beloved anime directors of all time. That being said, a number of people he's worked with over the years have come forward to confess that he was difficult to deal with and work with, including Miyazaki's son, Goro Miyazaki. Miyazaki is a fantastic artist, but he is also a very strong critic. Modern animators using CGI technology have met with Miyazaki's scorn, while the Academy at the 2003 Oscars was left cold when Miyazaki refused to attend the ceremony.

Rereadability is key - a great fantasy book can be enjoyed over and over, with new discoveries each time. Comfort reads matter - shorter, familiar stories hold as much value as lengthy sagas in the fantasy genre. Uncover hidden depths - series like The Wheel of Time offer subtle foreshadowing and surprises on multiple readings.

Fantasy books have been popular in literary circles for generations, and while some series eventually fall into obscurity, others will simply never get old. There are a lot of factors that contribute to this. Of course, a good story filled with magical worlds, races, and creatures is a must. Additionally, the character-building must be exceptional, with personalities that are either easy to love or lovely to hate. Still, excellent re-readability is the most important quality a fantasy book must have to remain loved for generations.

A great book that will stand the test of time...

Studio Ghibli's co-founder Hayao Miyazaki undoubtedly deserves the lion's share of credit for the studio's success. If an endless supply of quotes, stories, and the Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki documentary are to be believed, the legendary director is Ghibli's North Star for each creative endeavor. While there have been many attempts by the now elderly Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli at large to pass the baton off to other creators, it's Miyazaki who still looms large as its figurehead.

Despite the undeniable prowess of its co-founder, the studio still boasts a roster of equally captivating films helmed by other talented directors. Though Miyazaki may have won multiple Oscars on Studio Ghibli's behalf, his iconic status shouldn't eclipse other creator's entries. With no shortage of classic films to Studio Ghibli's credit directed by different folks, fans, and newcomers alike should delight in exploring the full menu of films by the beloved Japanese animation studio.

Goro Miyazaki's Tales From Earthsea and Earwig And The Witch are considered the worst Studio Ghibli films due to their lack of depth, contrived storytelling, and unlikable characters. Ocean Waves and The Secret World of Arrietty suffer from weak plotlines and underdeveloped characters, despite their visually interesting animation. Whisper of the Heart and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya are standout films not directed by Hayao Miyazaki, showcasing emotional storytelling, stunning animation, and strong character development.

While Hayao Miyazaki might be the biggest name associated with Studio Ghibli, he’s not the only director they’ve ever had. Ever since its founding, Studio Ghibli has produced films featuring a wide variety of directors, and even when Miyazaki isn’t involved, they usually end up staying true to the spirit of what makes Studio Ghibli so great.

Since its founding, Studio Ghibli has produced a total of 14 films not directed by Hayao Miyazaki,...

Gorō Miyazaki’s foray into computer generation, a magical tale of a gleeful brat adopted by a witch, falls far short of Ghibli’s hand-drawn output

Eighty-year-old animation legend Hayao Miyazaki once described computer-generated imagery as “thin, shallow, fake”. Now Studio Ghibli has made its first ever fully CG feature, and it’s, well, erm … The politest thing to say about Earwig and the Witch is that it’s not a patch on Ghibli’s hand-drawn output, with plasticky-looking characters and an aimless plot. More painfully still, the film-maker responsible is Miyazaki’s son, Gorō Miyazaki (who previously directed the pretty decent Tales from Earthsea and From Up on Poppy Hill).

To be fair, Earwig was made for Japanese TV, but there are so many echoes here of Ghibli films past that it’s impossible not to compare and despair. Like Howl’s Moving Castle, the script is based on a...

Exclusive: Signature Entertainment has picked up a raft of film and TV content for the UK market, including Drake Doremus drama Endings, Beginnings with Shailene Woodley, Jamie Dornan, Sebastian Stan and Matthew Gray Gubler, and Jake Gyllenhaal-produced Sundance horror Relic.

The company has also struck deals for classic library titles including Muriel’s Wedding, Luc Besson action pic Taxi and cult sci-fi series Children Of Dune via separate pacts with TF1 and Sonar Entertainment.

Toronto premiere Endings, Beginnings, from Parasite producer Cj, charts a turbulent and passionate love triangle. Acquired from UK sales outfit Protagonist, it will get a day and date theatrical release in August.

Well-received horror Relic sees Emily Mortimer (The Bookshop) star as a daughter haunted by a manifestation of her mother’s dementia. Acquired from Film Constellation, the film will be released in the UK later this year.

Meanwhile, Signature has struck a deal with TF...

On the September 5, 2019 episode of /Film Daily, /Film senior writer Ben Pearson is joined by /Film managing editor Jacob Hall and writer Hoai-Tran Bui to discuss the latest film and TV news, including Ben Wheatley’s Tomb Raider sequel, Crazy Rich Asians 2, The Handmaid’s Tale sequel, an Earthsea TV show, and Will Poulter […]

The post Daily Podcast: Tomb Raider 2, Crazy Rich Asians 2, Earthsea, Lord of the Rings, and More appeared first on /Film.

As more fantasy classics are finding their way to screens of various sizes, another iconic series just landed in solid hands.

A24 has lined up as a financier for the series, leading the effort to adapt Ursula K. Le Guin’s expansive “Earthsea” series into a TV show as the project looks to find a network home. Jennifer Fox, producer on “The Bourne Legacy” and all three of Dan Gilroy’s films to date, will also produce the new series. Deadline first reported the news.

The Earthsea Cycle, one of Le Guin’s most famous literary creations, spans a series of novels and stories, beginning with 1968’s “The Wizard of Earthsea.” Le Guin eventually wrote different five novels within that world, the last one published in 2001. Fox first acquired the rights to the series last spring.

This will be Fox’s first major TV producing effort after serving in the...

Standing alongside J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series as one of the fundamental pieces of high fantasy storytelling is Ursula K. Le Guin‘s Earthsea series, a collection of novels set in a fantasy archipelago of hundreds of islands where magic lays in a delicate balance. Or, at least it should be. Forgotten in classrooms and ignored […]

The post An ‘Earthsea’ TV Series Based on Ursula K. Le Guin’s Novels is Being Conjured by A24 appeared first on /Film.

Kirsten Howard Sep 4, 2019

Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea fantasy book series may be heading back to the small screen.

Michael Clayton and Nightcrawler producer Jennifer Fox has made a deal with Euphoria's production company, A24, to develop a new adaptation of Ursula Le Guin’s best-selling Earthsea books for TV (via Deadline).

Fox was originally looking at turning the Earthsea series into a string of films, but has changed direction to target the small screen. Syfy, then known as the Sci Fi Channel, previously had a rather underwhelming go at making an Earthsea miniseries back in 2004. Studio Ghibli's 2006 film, Tales From Earthsea, was loosely based on the mythology of the book series.

The Earthsea fantasy series is made up of five novels and eight short stories, and covers themes of magic and nature at work across hundreds of islands.

read more: 5 Lesser-Known Series From Popular Authors

"Ursula Le...

Could we have the next Game of Thrones on our hands? Author Ursula K. LeGuin's Earthsea fantasy book series, which ran from 1968 to 2001, is in development as an adapted television series from A24 and producer Jennifer Fox. Per Deadline, A24 will serve as the studio behind the book-to-tv adaptation and will finance the project. Fox will serve as a producer. The in-development project will be shopped around to networks soon, too. This will be the second time LeGuin's Earthsea series has been adapted for TV, following a 2004 series which …...

Fans of Ursula K. Le Guin's "Earthsea" fantasy series will be pleased to know that A24, the distribution/production company behind Ex MacHina, Room, The Witch, Hereditary, Midsommar, and more, will be developing a TV series based on the novels along with Oscar-nominated producer Jennifer Fox (Nightcrawler). [Seemore] Per Deadline, Ursula K. Le Guin gave Jennifer Fox her blessing…...

Exclusive: A24 and Oscar-nominated producer Jennifer Fox are teaming to develop Ursula Le Guin’s acclaimed Earthsea fantasy books for television. A24 is the studio and will finance the series project, which will be shopped to networks soon. Fox is producing.

Fox originally optioned the book series last year. Before she died in January 2018, Le Guin had given the producer her blessing to turn her work into a series of films. The adaptation since has been re-envisioned as a television series. An Earthsea miniseries based on the book series, with the teleplay co-written by Le Guin, aired on Sci Fi Channel in 2004.

The Earthsea books are an introspective fantasy series that Le Guin began in 1968 with the publication of Book 1, A Wizard of Earthsea, and finished in 2017, with the final short story “Firelight” published in 2018 in The Paris Review.

The book series, which has drawn comparisons to...

Exclusive: Elementary and Trainspotting star Jonny Lee Miller and Oscar and Grammy-winner Common (The Hate U Give) have been set to star in Nine Lives, the movie adaptation of Ursula K. Le Guin’s sci-fi novelette of the same name.

Set on a moon-base for off-world drilling, the darkly comedic story follows two jaded workers whose excitement at the prospect of incoming human company is dashed when they are instead sent ten clones. Shoot is being lined up for next summer.

Screenplay comes from debut writer-director Siri Rodnes and Tom Basden, who was BAFTA nominated for Fresh Meat. Rodnes will also direct. Producers are Gavin Humphries of Quark Films, who was recently Bifa-nominated for Pin Cushion; and former Sony International producer Josephine Rose (Slaughterhouse Rulez) of Bandit Country, whose upcoming slate also includes fantasy-horror A Spriggan with John Boyega as executive producer. Nine Lives has been selected as part of...

Joseph Baxter Nov 14, 2018

Nine Lives, a novelette from the late sci-fi great, Ursula K. Le Guin, is being developed as a movie.

The legacy of the influential sci-fi author, Ursula K. Le Guin, appears to be highly coveted in the immediate aftermath of her death this past January, with live-action adaptation projects continuing to join the queue. While prospects are glistening for a movie adaptation of The Telling, as well as a properly-reverent movie adaptation of Le Guin’s sprawling magnum opus, the Earthsea novels, the latest project is a bit more of an esoteric choice from her works, a 1969 novelette, called Nine Lives.

Nine Lives is expected to commence production in the summer of 2019 with U.K. producers Gavin Humphries (Pin Cushion) of Quark Films and former Sony Pictures International producer Josephine Rose, reports Deadline. Tom Basden will co-write the script with Siri Rodnes, an actress and burgeoning filmmaker,...

Exclusive: Sci-fi giant Ursula K. Le Guin’s acclaimed novelette Nine Lives is being reworked as a feature by UK producers Gavin Humphries (Pin Cushion) of Quark Films and former Sony Pictures International producer Josephine Rose.

Tom Basden, BAFTA-nominated for Netflix series Fresh Meat and a regular actor and writer on ITV2 comedy Plebs (recently picked up for remake by Seth Rogen), is co-scripting the adaptation with Nfts alum Siri Rodnes, who will also direct. The team is in discussions with cast.

Set on a moon-base for off-world drilling, the darkly comedic Nine Lives follows two jaded workers whose excitement at the prospect of incoming human company is dashed when they are instead sent ten clones. The story’s themes of cloning, individualism and the importance of social connection hit home when the story was published by Playboy in 1968 and still resonate today.

Rodnes, whose 2016 short Take Your Partner was BAFTA-nominated and played in Berlin,...

Exclusive: Jennifer Fox, the producer behind the Oscar-nominated legal thriller, Michael Clayton, has optioned the film rights to fantasy book series, Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin, who agreed to allow Fox to translate her work into a series of films before she passed away in January.

The series, which was first introduced in the 1960s, is comprised of five novels and eight short stories set in a fantasy archipelago of hundreds of islands, imperiled by those who use magic to gain power and upset its delicate balance. Most of its characters are people of color and the emphasis is on understanding nature and human nature, not possessing power over them.

Le Guin has published twenty-one novels and received many honors including the Hugo, Nebula, National Book Award, The Library of Congress’s Living Legend Award and the National Book Foundation Medal.

Theo Downes-Le Guin, son of the author, will executive produce the project.

In 2014, Studio Ghibli temporarily halted film production following co-founder Hayao Miyazaki’s retirement, but that hasn’t stopped the studio from staying active in other ways, such as earlier this year when they co-produced Michaël Dudok de Wit’s “The Red Turtle.” Now, Variety reports that Amazon Studios has just picked up the American rights for another Studio Ghibli production: “Ronia the Robber’s Daughter,” a kids TV series directed by Gorō Miyazaki. The American dub of the series will benarrated by actress Gillian Anderson, best known for her role as Agent Dana Scully on “The X-Files.”

Read More: Studio Ghibli: The Techniques & Unimaginable Work That Goes Into Each Animation Revealed

Based on Astrid Lindgren’s children’s fantasy book by the same name, the 26-episode series follows the adventures of a young girl who grows up in an enchanted woodland as the child of a band of thieves.

From the start of A Wizard of Earthsea, we know that Ged, also called Druny and Sparrowhawk, will become one of the greatest wizards of all time, dragonlord and Archmage, a figure of song and legend. So when he carelessly unleashes a shadow on the world and has to go on the run, we know that he is going to defeat it in the end. It is a testament to Ursula K. Le Guin’s writing ability that tension and anxiety still runs through Ged’s travels, scrapes, and near-misses.

Ged was born on Gont in the Earthsea Archipelago and learns some magic from his aunt, a witch, although female magic is held in low esteem on Gont. When he uses magic to save his village from Viking-like invaders, he attracts the attention of Ogion, a powerful wizard on the island. But Ged is ambitious and cocky and hungry for knowledge and power.

Marc Buxton May 24, 2019

Game of Thrones might be our favorite fantasy show ever, but here are the 10 best fantasy series that could possibly be even better...

Now that the Game of Thrones has come to an end on screen, it's time to start speculating on which fantasy book series might pick up the TV adaptation mantle once Game of Thrones is gone.

Game of Thrones is one of the greatest fantasy epics ever written and it makes for the perfect episodic television experience, but it's far from the only fantasy book series that deserves to be on TV. There are plenty of other epic fantasies that would make killer television shows, and they would grip fans just as much as Martin's tale of dragons, White Walkers, knights, magic, and betrayal has.

Hollywood is already taking notice, with everything from The Kingkiller Chronicle to The Dark Tower getting movie and TV adaptations.

Welcome to the finals of EW.com’s Ya novel bracket game, a March Madness style tournament that will determine the best Young Adult novel of all time — as voted by you.

And then there were two — Harry Potter and The Fault in Our Stars. Will Potter take home the crown of best Ya novel of all time, or is John Green’s heartbreaking work the one that will win it all?

See the road to the finals in our full bracket here, and vote in the poll below. For more, check out staff picks of books that didn’t...

Canadian actor Shawn Ashmore definitely knows about the universal struggle of good vs. evil.

As mutant Bobby Drake, a.k.a. Iceman, he's battled Stryker and Magneto in the "X-Men" films; Ashmore also opposed a tyrant king in the magical "Earthsea" miniseries. In the "Mother's Day" remake, he was terrorized by a sadistic family. Now, in his current role as FBI Special Agent Mike Weston, he's busy hunting down serial killer Joe Carroll in "The Following."

HuffPost TV spoke to Ashmore on the phone about the intense crime thriller, how it feels to finally throw some punches, and the return of Weston after his near-death experience.

HuffPost TV: During pilot season, what initially grabbed you about "The Following" premise and your character, Mike Weston?

Ashmore: Everything grabbed me about "The Following." I read the script and loved it. My jaw hit the floor several times. I couldn't believe some of the twists that were happening.

"The Man From Nowhere" (2010)

Directed by Lee Jeong-beom

Released by Well Go USA

Matt Singer said there's a sequence in this Korean revenge thriller that has "already taken up permanent residence in the Movie Hall of Fame section of my brain," so what more do you need? "Mother" star Won Bin stars as the man who is framed by local gangsters and seeks to retrieve the young girl he lives next door to after she's been kidnapped.

"Abducted" (2011)

Directed by Jon Bonnell

Released by Brain Damage Films

Originally called "Match.Dead," this 2009 thriller details the perils of online dating when a teen girl (Kathleen Benner) arranges a date with a man she soon learns is a psychopath (James Ray). Alan Smithee is the credited screenwriter on IMDb, so one might not want to go in with high expectations.

"Babysitters Beware" (2011)

Directed by Douglas Horn

Released by Phase 4 Films

If you're the...

By Bryan Buss

(March 2011)

March 1

“127 Hours” (Fox Searchlight, R) — This true story of a mountain climber who gets pinned in a crevasse by a boulder earned raves (and an Oscar nomination) for star James Franco’s tour de force performance (in addition to nabbing noms for Best Picture, adapted screenplay, original score, editing and original song). The realism and intensity — not to mention the gore — in one particularly brutal scene led to patrons fainting, which may have kept some viewers away, as the film grossed only $15 million.

“Burlesque” (Screen Gems, PG-13) — This pairing of songstresses Cher and Christina Aguilera could have been camp nirvana, but despite the story similarities (small-town girl goes to the big city to become a star and learns life lessons the hard way), this derided musical didn’t cross the line from bad to entertaining often enough the way “Showgirls” did. Critics found the story timeworn,...

By Bryan Buss

(March 2011)

March 1

“127 Hours” (Fox Searchlight, R) — This true story of a mountain climber who gets pinned in a crevasse by a boulder earned raves (and an Oscar nomination) for star James Franco’s tour de force performance (in addition to nabbing noms for Best Picture, adapted screenplay, original score, editing and original song). The realism and intensity — not to mention the gore — in one particularly brutal scene led to patrons fainting, which may have kept some viewers away, as the film grossed only $15 million.

“Burlesque” (Screen Gems, PG-13) — This pairing of songstresses Cher and Christina Aguilera could have been camp nirvana, but despite the story similarities (small-town girl goes to the big city to become a star and learns life lessons the hard way), this derided musical didn’t cross the line from bad to entertaining often enough the way “Showgirls” did. Critics found the story timeworn,...

It's interesting to discover that Tales From Earthsea, the latest Studio Ghibli title to be distributed by Disney, was originally released in 2006. Especially since it seems like in four years, someone could have found a way to make its story a little more interesting. (But then again, maybe that's why it took four years to get shown in the States.)

Operating enthusiastically on the liberal side of the divide between casual viewers of Japanese animation and diehard anime (and more specifically, Miyazaki) fans, Tales From Earthsea is every bit as beautiful and well-rendered as its predecessors. But its pastoral, unhurried approach to adapting Ursula K. Le Guin's final two novels in the Earthsea series feels about as exciting as if Peter Jackson had decided to shoot the Lord of the Rings trilogy from the point of view of the tree people, the Ents, only to smash cut to the...

Two and a Half Torches (Out of Five) Back 2006, Japan's famous Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, Ponyo) finished a movie called Tales From Earthsea, based on Ursula K. Le Guin's classic Earthsea series of books. But legal wrangling kept it from being released in the U.S. -- the U.S. film rights to the books were held by the SyFy Channel which had produced a truly horrible TV adaptation of le Guin's work back in 2004. Tales From Earthsea finally opens in the U.S. today, released by Disney with voice-overs by Timothy Dalton and Willem Defoe (the preview screening I attended was in Japanese with subtitles). We could've missed this one.

Check out the trailer as well as new images from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures' "Earthsea" animated adventure. The Goro Miyazaki-helmed film features the voice talents of Timothy Dalton, Willem Dafoe, Cheech Marin and Mariska Hargitay. Film opens on August 13th in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Honolulu. The film is rated PG-13. “Tales from Earthsea” is based on a book series by Ursula K. Le Guin that is considered one of the greatest in fantasy literature. Goro Miyazaki’s father, Hayao Miyazaki, was inspired by the book series for much of his work, including his 1983 comic book “Shuna’s Journey,” as well as key films “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind,” “Castle in the Sky” and “Princess Mononoke.”...

On August 13 Walt Disney Pictures will release Goro Miyazaki's Tales from Earthsea, an adaptation of Ursula K. Le Guin's novel "A Wizard of Earthsea" centering on Ged (voiced by Timothy Dalton), who was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea. He was once called Sparrowhawk, a reckless youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. The film follows him on his path as he masters the mighty words of power, tames an ancient dragon, and crosses death's threshold to restore the balance.

Along with Dalton, Mariska Hargitay, Willem Dafoe and Cheech Marin also provide voice work for the American version. The original Japanese release first hit theaters in Japan in July of 2006 and marks Goro Miyazaki's feature directorial debut. As the son of acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki (Ponyo, Spirited Away) this is a film to certainly keep...

Studio Ghibli’s “Gedo Senki”, aka “Tales from Earthsea”, Goro Miyazaki’s adaptation of Ursula K. Le Guin’s “Earthsea” novels from 2006 is finally coming ashore to the good ol USA, with Disney set to unveil the film in (unfortunately) limited release on August 13, 2010. (You can thank the SyFy Channel for that little bit of delay.) Something bizarre has come over the land. The kingdom is deteriorating. People are beginning to act strange… What’s even more strange is that people are beginning to see dragons, which shouldn’t enter the world of humans. Due to all these bizarre events, Ged, a wandering wizard, is investigating the cause. During his journey, he meets Prince Arren, a young distraught teenage boy. While Arren may look like a shy young teen, he has a severe dark side, which grants him strength, hatred, ruthlessness and has no mercy, especially when it comes to protecting Teru.

Four years after its Japanese release, Tales from Earthsea is finally coming to America. Back in 2006 and 2007 most of the world got to see Studio Ghibli’s “Gedo Senki”, an adaptation of Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea novels. The film could not be released in the Us, however, because SyFy owned the screen rights to the Earthsea property. Now that those rights have expired, Disney is giving the film a limited release in the U.S. on August 13th. We are proud to premiere the gorgeous poster for the film.

Tales from Earthsea was directed by Goro Miyazaki, son of the legendary Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Ponyo). The elder Miyazaki is the greatest director of animated films the world has ever seen and it will be very interesting to see how much of his brilliance was passed on to his son. To find showtimes and to see the amazing...

Walt Disney Pictures will release Goro Miyazaki's Tales from Earthsea on August 13 and we've got a list of the theaters you'll be able to see the animated adventure as well as a gallery of images from the film. Timothy Dalton, Mariska Hargitay, Willem Dafoe and Cheech Marin voice the English version of the film, which is an adaptation of Ursula K. Le Guin's novel "A Wizard of Earthsea." The book centers on Ged, who was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea. It's the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance. The movie will play at the following theaters: New York: Angelica/Manhattan 11:30am 2:00 4:30 7:00 9:30 12:00am (Fri / Sat) Los Angeles: The Landmark...

Tales from Earthsea gets a domestic release dateCartoon Brew reports that Disney is going to theatrically release Goro Miyazaki's Tales from Earthsea (Gedo Senki) in the U.S. on August 13th. Touchstone Pictures is releasing this film.

An adaptation of Ursula K. Le Guin's novel "A Wizard of Earthsea," the first book of the award-winning Earthsea cycle which includes "The Tombs of Atuan," "The Farthest Shore" and "Tehanu".

Tales from Earthsea centers on Ged, who was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea. He was once called Sparrowhawk, a reckless youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world.

It's the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.

Tales from Earthsea comes to theaters August 13th, 2010 and stars Junichi Okada, Aoi Teshima,...

The good news: Disney is finally giving a domestic release to Tales From Earthsea, the 2006 film directed by Hayao Miyazaki's son Goro Miyazaki that adapts stories by Ursula K. Le Guin. The bad news: it will still be Tales From Earthsea, which wasn't up to the high standards set for Ghibli films by the elder Miyazaki. Cartoon Brew (via AICN) notes that Disney will release Tales From Earthsea on August 13 as a Touchstone film. The film has been released elsewhere in the world following the 2006 Japanese premiere, but could not be distributed in the Us thanks to a SyFy Channel rights agreement for Ursula K. Le Guin's work. We'll be seeing the English dub, which features voice work from Willem Dafoe, Timothy Dalton, Mariska Hargitay, Cheech Marin and many more. English dubs from Ghibli are often quite good, as these things go, so that's something. But Earthsea isn't...

On Saturday, February 27, Syfy kicks off its run of original movies based on popular fairy tales with Beauty and the Beasts . Estella Warren and Rhett Gilles star in this retelling that features Belle and the titular beast taking on a witch and its murderous troll. The movie was written by Gavin Scott, who co-wrote Small Soldiers and The Borrowers in addition to penning Earthsea and The Mists of Avalon . Mr. Scott spoke with Shock Till You Drop about the project's origins, how he approached writing such a familiar story, the necessary elements of a successful genre piece and more. Shock Till You Drop: How did you initially come to be involved with this project? Gavin Scott: Partly it is because I have a strong New Zealand connection. I grew up there and the...

The Tortured, the upcoming horror film directed by Robert Lieberman (Fire in the Sky, All I Want for Christmas), gets an original score composed by Jeff Rona. The two previously collaborated on Lieberman's TV movies Earthsea and NetForce. The film is produced by Twisted Pictures, the company behind the Saw series. The Tortured stars Jesse Metcalfe, Erika Christensen and Bill Moseley and is a story about two parents gruesome revenge on a pedophile who killed their child. Jeff Rona is also doing the music for upcoming TV series Persons Unknown for Fox, and the computer game God of War III.

Sci Fi Channel has pinned senior vp stripes on development executives Erik Storey and Tony Optican.

In addition, Christina Sanagustin has joined the network as vp development after having recently served as a current programming executive at WB Network.

Storey, Optican and Sanagustin are based in Los Angeles and will focus on expanding Sci Fi's slate of original series and longform projects.

Storey, who joined Sci Fi in 2001 as vp programming, oversees the original series Battlestar Galactica and has shepherded several of the channel's miniseries, including The Triangle, Legend of Earthsea and Children of Dune. He is working on the pilot Warehouse 13, which is in preproduction.

Since joining Sci Fi in 2003, Optican has overseen the development and production of such series as Eureka and Stargate: Atlantis as well as the recent hit miniseries Tin Man. His newest project is the pilot Revolution, also in preproduction.

"Tony and Erik have been incredibly valuable contributors to Sci Fi's success story over the past few years," executive vp original programming Mark Stern said.

Smallville alum Eric Johnson has landed the title role in Sci Fi Channel's upcoming series Flash Gordon.

The 22-hour series, a contemporary take on the popular comic strip franchise, is slated for an August premiere. It will feature Johnson as space traveler Flash Gordon embarking on all-new adventures.

Peter Hume penned the first two episodes, which will be directed by Rick Rosenthal (Smallville). Production is to begin May 1 in Vancouver.

Flash is being produced by Reunion Pictures under an agreement with property owner King Features Syndicate. RHI Entertainment is distributing the series internationally. RHI's Robert Halmi Sr. and Robert Halmi Jr., who recently worked with Sci Fi on the miniseries Legend of Earthsea, are executive producing, with Hume also expected to exec produce. Matthew O'Connor and Tom Rowe will serve as producers.

Casting is under way for the other roles, including Flash Gordon's fellow space travelers Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov.

The Flash Gordon comic strip was created in 1934 by Alex Raymond and is being distributed internationally by King Features.