Movie review of the 'The Wind Rises'

If you haven't seen 'The Wind Rises' and you're a Hayao Miyazaki fan then you need to get a move on it! Released in Japan in 2013 it has finally made it's way to America's silver screen.
A beautiful story about dreams, this has been said to be Miyazaki's final film as a director. May he keep creating by story? Maybe, I sincerely hope so.
I and my husband saw this film February 28th in theaters. He surprised me with it because I had no idea a Miyazaki film was even coming out! So as we sat in the theaters me with my rose tea warming my hands I was bouncing with excitement.
Then the film started...
It's a very loose interpretation of the biography of Jiro Horikoshi, a boy that loves airplanes.
When the film first began and it shows this young boy with his dreams of flying airplanes I at first was a little let down to be honest. In my head I thought 'I have no interest in engineering, or airplanes,' but I kept watching.

This story takes you back to Japan before WWII, unlike many of Miyazaki's films it contains no magical influences. There are no mermaids, no little people, Totoro's or gods of the forest. It is just Man and his dreams of flight.
I will do my best to not give away any spoilers in this review, but please forgive me if one or two slips out!

Like I said when the film started I thought it was just going to be about airplanes and I was a little bummed, but as I kept watching I realized that it wasn't just about 'airplanes' it was about how Jiro (the main character) saw airplanes. How he saw the mechanics of airplanes, and flight. It gave me a new and very beautiful perspective of the creations of Man. How Jiro saw lines and how he saw machinery is not like I saw it, and the way his perspective is expressed fully helped me realize how wrong I was to think it was going to be about 'just' airplanes.

This story follows Jiro Horikoshi and his journey to building the fighter plane known as 'zero.' It shows through his perspective his countries depression, their war plans and how little any of that has to do with his dreams.
Following his life from a boy to a man in college studying engineering, to when he gets his first job, to his first failure, his first love, and his first triumph. Along the way it introduces a collection of lovely unforgettable characters that will bring you into the world of early Japan.
This story makes you fall in love, again and again.
I will say this isn't the best movie to take the kids to, giving to more of an adult theme it follows the classic story telling of an old black and white film. Letting you feel that mystery and awe. Telling the story through clips of Jiro's life as he journey's through what they call 'the artists ten years.' It gives me flashbacks of watching 'Casablanca' more than what we would consider a 'modern' film.
So if you're planning on watching this in theaters my advice is: leave the kids at home, grab your love, or a love of yours and enjoy this film with them. I highly recommend something wonderful and warm to drink while you watch (it's been rather chilly here so that might have something to do with that!), and some salty sweet popcorn to enjoy.
 This movie is about so many things, dreams, craftsmanship, dedication but I would say it is entirely about love and passion. While a country is crumbling, a war is looming, and a way of life is ending, it has little-to no involvement with what truly matters. Love, passion, truth, and the beauty of life.

I really don't want to give anything away, watching it without any notions about it from commercials or spoilers was one of the magical things about this experience for me, so I will not rob you of your chance for the same here. All I can say is if this really is Hayao's last movie then he chose to go out with a bang and flying colors. 

A story teller after my own heart, I will never forget the stories he gave to us, and I sincerely hope this is not his final chapter for the silver screen.