BLU-RAY
REVIEW: FROM UP ON POPPY HILL
9/02/13
OVERVIEW:
This September, GKIDS, in conjunction with Cinedigm (NASDAQ:
CIDM), invites home viewers to experience the latest masterwork
from Studio Ghibli: FROM
UP ON POPPY HILL, from the creators of Spirited
Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery
Service, and many other animated masterpieces. Written by
legendary studio founder Hayao Miyazaki and directed by Goro
Miyazaki, the film marks the first feature-length collaboration
between father and son - and the results are stunning.
Fresh off a triumphant domestic and international theatrical
run, Cinedigm will release this acclaimed gem in multiple
formats: Blu-ray+ DVD 2-Pack , DVD 2-Pack and Cable VOD on
September 3rd, 2013.
The
Blu-ray+ DVD combo and DVD releases of FROM UP ON
POPPY HILL both contain over three hours of bonus
materials and include: original Japanese language and English
language versions with subtitles and dubtitles; feature-length
storyboards; celebrity cast recording featurette with
behind-the-scenes footage and interviews; an interview with Goro
Miyazaki; original Japanese trailer and TV spots; the music
video for the theme song by Aoi Teshima; and a featurette about
Yokohama, exploring the history of the sea-side setting where
the film takes place. Bonuses exclusive to the Blu-ray edition
include a staff speech and press conference by Hayao Miyazaki
days after the Fukushima earthquake; and a 20-page booklet
containing the original project proposal by Hayao Miyazaki and a
letter from Goro Miyazaki.
SYNOPSIS:
The dazzling, hand-drawn FROM UP ON POPPY HILL
is set in Yokohama in 1963. Japan is picking itself up from the
devastation of World War II and preparing to host the Olympics.
The mood is one of both optimism and conflict as the young
generation struggles to throw off the shackles of a troubled
past. Against this backdrop of hope and change, a friendship
begins to blossom between high school students Umi (Sarah Bolger)
and Shun (Anton Yelchin) - but a buried secret from their past
emerges to cast a shadow on the future and pull them apart. From
a screenplay by Academy Award®-winner Hayao Miyazaki, the
English language version is directed by multiple Academy Award®-winner
Gary Rydstrom from a script adaptation by Karey Kirkpatrick (James
and the Giant Peach, Chicken Run, Charlotte's Web) and
features an all-star English voice cast including Gillian
Anderson, Sarah Bolger, Beau Bridges, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bruce
Dern, Isabelle Fuhrman, Christina Hendricks, Ron Howard, Chris
Noth, Emily Osment, Aubrey Plaza, Charlie Saxton, Alex Wolff and
Anton Yelchin. Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy executive
produced.
VIDEO:
Anamorphic Widescreen 1080P
AUDIO:
Japanese
English
5.1 DTS-HD Master
Audio Dolby Digital
Subtitles - English
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Original Japanese Version
Feature-length
Storyboards
Celebrity Cast Recording
Featurette
Interview with Goro
Miyazaki
Music Video
Yokohama Featurette
Original Japanese Trailers and TV Spots
