Some Like It Scott

Miyazaki Countdown Part 7 - Princess Mononoke

Hello everyone and welcome to Some Like It Scott's second Countdown miniseries on 2023, a podcast first focusing entirely on the works of Japanese animator, Hayao Miyazaki: the Miyazaki Countdown. To honor one of the living legends of animation, the countdown crew of Scott, Scott, and Jay will watch all 11 of Miyazaki's films to-date, rewinding all the way back to his directorial origins with 1979's action-adventure heist thriller LUPIN III: THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO, all the way to his then-final film, 2013's biographical epic romance drama, THE WIND RISES. Join us each week over the next 11 weeks, as we build up to what is Miyazaki's self-proclaimed now-final film (we'll see...), the fantasy epic, THE BOY AND THE HERON.

 

In Part 7 of the Miyazaki Countdown, Scott, Scott, and Jay discuss the film that catapulted Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli to international recognition, the 1997 fantasy epic, PRINCESS MONONOKE. Set in the late Muromachi period of Japan (14th-16th century AD) and centering on Ashitaka, one of the last young princes of the indigenous Emishi tribe, PRINCESS MONONOKE opens with a demon-possessed boar god attacking Ashitaka's village. He manages to fend the boar off, but at great personal cost, as the boar passes the curse to Ashitaka before he is slain. One of the elders of the Emishi tribe give Ashitaka a choice: set out from the village heading west in search of the cure to this curse and never be allowed to return to his homeland, or surely perish as the curse consumes him. Ashitaka of course takes the former option, and heads west, with only a single lead: a heavy iron ball in the stomach of the boar that appears to have caused the demonic corruption. On his journey, Ashitaka encounters Jigo, a mischievous monk who informs him that the Great Forest Spirit may be able to help cure him. When Ashitaka heads that direction, he encounters a new settlement - Iron Town, a refuge for societal outcasts like lepers and prostitutes - run by the enterprising Lady Eboshi, who is in conflict with the local wolf god of the forest, Moro, her two cubs, and a young girl, San, that Moro has taken in after she was abandoned in the forest as a baby. Ashitaka finds himself stuck in the middle between both sides of the conflict and must find a way to convince each side that peace and compromise are the better option than continued destruction of either the forest or the local people. Easier said than done for Ashitaka, and the countdown crew give their thoughts on what may be Miyazaki's most nuanced film to-date, discussing a number of complex themes about balance and duality, as well as economic development and environmental preservation. Those ideas, the most expansive plot of his since NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND, and the production and musical score create a recipe for plenty to discuss.

Ep. 252 - Killers of the Flower Moon

Hello and welcome to an all new episode of Some Like It Scott! On this week's episode, the two Scotts talk about Martin Scorsese's long-awaited return, 5 years in the making, with the historical epic crime drama, KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON. After discussing the star-studded ensemble cast, the almost-meta nature of the 206 minute runtime, and the searing historical narrative and themes, the co-hosts turn their attention to a recent overhaul of the 2023/2024 release calendar as the SAG/AFTRA strike still has not been resolved, as well as the surprise announcement of THEY FOLLOW, the sequel to the hit 2014 indie horror film from David Robert Mitchell, IT FOLLOWS. See time codes below:

 

4:40 - KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON review

1:19:40 - Release date revisions

1:32:56 - THEY FOLLOW announcement

 

Next week: ANATOMY OF A FALL (Theaters)

 

Patreon: www.patreon.com/MediaPlugPods

Miyazaki Countdown Part 6 - Porco Rosso

Hello everyone and welcome to Some Like It Scott's second Countdown miniseries on 2023, a podcast first focusing entirely on the works of Japanese animator, Hayao Miyazaki: the Miyazaki Countdown. To honor one of the living legends of animation, the countdown crew of Scott, Scott, and Jay will watch all 11 of Miyazaki's films to-date, rewinding all the way back to his directorial origins with 1979's action-adventure heist thriller LUPIN III: THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO, all the way to his then-final film, 2013's biographical epic romance drama, THE WIND RISES. Join us each week over the next 11 weeks, as we build up to what is Miyazaki's self-proclaimed now-final film (we'll see...), the fantasy epic, THE BOY AND THE HERON.

 

In Part 6 of the Miyazaki Countdown, Scott, Scott, and Jay discuss one of the stranger films - at least in terms of origin - in Hayao Miyazaki's filmography, the adventure-fantasy film, PORCO ROSSO. Originally conceived as an in-flight animated short for Japan Airlines but eventually converting into a feature-length film, based on a manga of Miyazaki's own creation (à la NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND), PORCO ROSSO is a 1929-set period piece following the titular pig, Porco Rosso, an Italian World War I veteran fighter pilot-turned-bounty hunter. Porco lives a pretty chill life, lounging on a private patch of island somewhere off the coast, rescuing innocent civilians from the throes of airborne pirates whenever he is called upon. One day, after defeating the Mamma Aiuto Gang and treating himself to a dinner at the Hotel Adriano, run by his friend and maybe-love-interest Gina, Porco butts heads with an arrogant and hot-headed American hired gun, Curtis, who's been contracted by the local pirate gangs to aid in their next attack. Needless to say Porco and Curtis, who makes a pass at Gina, do not hit it off, and their conflict extends to the sky, where Curtis attacks Porco, severely damaging and crashing the iconic crimson plane and setting off a feud that tests Porco's honor as an ace in the sky. The countdown crew give their thoughts on Miyazaki's relatively low stakes return to the adventure genre, what themes may still lurk underneath the surface of this high-flying adventure, and if Porco joins the cast of memorable characters in Miyazaki's movies.

Miyazaki Countdown Part 5 - Kiki’s Delivery Service

Hello everyone and welcome to Some Like It Scott's second Countdown miniseries on 2023, a podcast first focusing entirely on the works of Japanese animator, Hayao Miyazaki: the Miyazaki Countdown. To honor one of the living legends of animation, the countdown crew of Scott, Scott, and Jay will watch all 11 of Miyazaki's films to-date, rewinding all the way back to his directorial origins with 1979's action-adventure heist thriller LUPIN III: THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO, all the way to his then-final film, 2013's biographical epic romance drama, THE WIND RISES. Join us each week over the next 11 weeks, as we build up to what is Miyazaki's self-proclaimed now-final film (we'll see...), the fantasy epic, THE BOY AND THE HERON.

 

In Part 5 of the Miyazaki Countdown, Scott, Scott, and Jay discuss the conclusion of Hayao Miyazaki's incredible 3-year run with the 1989 fantasy coming-of-age anime film, KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE. In a rare adaptation from Miyazaki, based on the Japanese children's fantasy novel of the same name by Eiko Kaduno, KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE takes copious liberties in its telling of the coming-of-age story of a 13-year-old witch, who sets off from home with her talking black cat "familiar" named Jiji, under the good omen of a full moon. Like her witch mother before her, Kiki must spend a year in a city with no other witches in it, learn a skill, become independent, and thereby prove her worth and abilities as a witch contributing to society. Like all great coming-of-age stories (and adventures too for that matter), Kiki is quickly beset with setbacks: a great storm forces her to take shelter on a train overnight; an aviation-loving boy named Tombo is extremely forward with Kiki on the street after becoming enamored with her flying abilities; and Kiki of course has no idea what she's going to do and what of her skills she can leverage to survive and thrive in her new port-city home. The good news is that Kiki doesn't have to do it alone. She has her trusty familiar, Jiji, and a very kind bakery owner who provides Kiki with housing and a job while Kiki figures it all out. All that's left is for Kiki to navigate a new city, looking for a new job, with barely any friends! Easy enough. The countdown crew give their thoughts on Miyazaki's first real crack at a coming-of-age film, where Kiki ranks in the animation king's lead character ensemble thus far, and just how immaculate the vibes are combining the vision for the film's port city setting and Joe Hisaishi's strings-heavy European-inspired score.

Ep. 251 - The Royal Hotel

Hello and welcome to an all new episode of Some Like It Scott! On this week's episode, the two Scotts talk about THE ROYAL HOTEL, the sophomore feature from writer-director Kitty Green (THE ASSISTANT), who crafts another tale of female anxiety in the face of an oppressively misogynistic male society starring Julia Garner. After discussing the Green-Garner partnership, the success of a more expansively set tale, and whether the Australian outback is an effective setting for Green's themes, the co-hosts turn their attention to news of a MLK Jr. biopic in the works, as well as the 2nd of 3 updates from this year's New York Film Festival. See time codes below:

 

10:21 - THE ROYAL HOTEL review

1:04:23 - MLK Jr. Biopic

1:08:55 - NYFF 61 Week 1 / Weekend #2 Update

 

Next week: KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON (Theaters)

 

Patreon: www.patreon.com/MediaPlugPods

Miyazaki Countdown Part 4 - My Neighbor Totoro

Hello everyone and welcome to Some Like It Scott's second Countdown miniseries on 2023, a podcast first focusing entirely on the works of Japanese animator, Hayao Miyazaki: the Miyazaki Countdown. To honor one of the living legends of animation, the countdown crew of Scott, Scott, and Jay will watch all 11 of Miyazaki's films to-date, rewinding all the way back to his directorial origins with 1979's action-adventure heist thriller LUPIN III: THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO, all the way to his then-final film, 2013's biographical epic romance drama, THE WIND RISES. Join us each week over the next 11 weeks, as we build up to what is Miyazaki's self-proclaimed now-final film (we'll see...), the fantasy epic, THE BOY AND THE HERON.

 

In Part 4 of the Miyazaki Countdown, Scott, Scott, and Jay discuss one of Hayao Miyazaki's most iconic films: the family anime fantasy film, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO. Set in rural Japan in the 1950s, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO captures a slice of life of the Kusakabe family: father Tatsuo and daughters, Satsuki (10 years old) and Mei (4 years old), who recently have moved out of a larger city into the countryside, closer to Tatsuo's wife's hospital, where she is convalescing and recovering from a long-term illness. Satsuki and Mei adapt to their new life: they explore the house in search of "dust gremlins" hiding in the dark corners of the structure; they meet their neighbors - a matriarch named Granny and her children and grandchildren; and one day while Satsuki is at school, Mei wanders into the adjacent forest and stumbles upon a fantastical spirit she names Totoro, based on the sounds it makes as she plays with it. Rather than disbelieve or question her experience, Satsuki is jealous and wants to meet Totoro for herself, and Tatsuo encourages Mei and Satsuki to be watchful for these forest spirits that inhabit the land. The remainder of the film is less a quest to re-encounter Totoro and its fellow forest spirits, and more a compelling case of childhood adventure and a stark reminder that the childlike wonder and innocence of Satsuki and Mei could likely do us all a favor. The countdown crew discuss these notions, share their thoughts on the deeply emotional undertones of the film and its narrative context, and ponder the spiritual elements of Totoro and its fellow forest spirits.

Miyazaki Countdown Part 3 - Castle in the Sky

Hello everyone and welcome to Some Like It Scott's second Countdown miniseries on 2023, a podcast first focusing entirely on the works of Japanese animator, Hayao Miyazaki: the Miyazaki Countdown. To honor one of the living legends of animation, the countdown crew of Scott, Scott, and Jay will watch all 11 of Miyazaki's films to-date, rewinding all the way back to his directorial origins with 1979's action-adventure heist thriller LUPIN III: THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO, all the way to his then-final film, 2013's biographical epic romance drama, THE WIND RISES. Join us each week over the next 11 weeks, as we build up to what is Miyazaki's self-proclaimed now-final film (we'll see...), the fantasy epic, THE BOY AND THE HERON.

 

In Part 3 of the Miyazaki Countdown, Scott, Scott, and Jay discuss Hayao Miyazaki's first official Studio Ghibli film: the 1986 fantasy adventure anime film, CASTLE IN THE SKY. Written and directed by the Japanese master, CASTLE IN THE SKY immediately thrusts viewers into the action, as a gang of air pirates led by a woman named Dola infiltrate a government airship carrying a prisoner aboard named Sheeta. Dola's gang incapacitates Sheeta's handler, a government operative named Muska, but in an attempt to escape capture, Sheeta falls off the side of the airship. In midair, however, the precious crystal Dola's gang was attempting to steal activates and slows Sheeta's fall, until she gently lands in the arms of Pazu, a young local miner, who takes her to his home for her to rest and recover. The next day, as Sheeta and Pazu get to know each other and their shared connection to a mysterious floating city in the sky called Laputa, Dola's gang arrives at their doorstep and pursues them, with the military in toe, led by Muska. It's a race to recapture Sheeta and find out exactly what her mysterious crystal's powers are and whether they ultimately lead to the fabled castle in the sky. The countdown crew share their thoughts on Miyazaki's third outing, how he continues to set a standard for the genres he explores, and the particular magic of his template for fantasy-adventure.

Ep. 250 - The Creator

Hello and welcome to an all new episode of Some Like It Scott! On this week's episode, the two Scotts talk about THE CREATOR, a brand new sci-fi film with original IP from the mind of Gareth Edwards (GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS, ROGUE ONE). After discussing John David Washington's leading turn, how the near-futuristic AI semi-dystopia works, and whether the story and themes fully hold together, the co-hosts turn their attention to the announcement of a new award at the Golden Globes (cringe!) and one Scott gives an update on the first weekend of this year's New York Film Festival. See time codes below:

 

7:12 - THE CREATOR review

56:38 - New Golden Globes award announced

1:04:00 - NYFF 61 Weekend #1 Update

 

Next week: THE ROYAL HOTEL (Theaters)

 

Patreon: www.patreon.com/MediaPlugPods

Miyazaki Countdown Part 2 - Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Hello everyone and welcome to Some Like It Scott's second Countdown miniseries on 2023, a podcast first focusing entirely on the works of Japanese animator, Hayao Miyazaki: the Miyazaki Countdown. To honor one of the living legends of animation, the countdown crew of Scott, Scott, and Jay will watch all 11 of Miyazaki's films to-date, rewinding all the way back to his directorial origins with 1979's action-adventure heist thriller LUPIN III: THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO, all the way to his then-final film, 2013's biographical epic romance drama, THE WIND RISES. Join us each week over the next 11 weeks, as we build up to what is Miyazaki's self-proclaimed now-final film (we'll see...), the fantasy epic, THE BOY AND THE HERON.

 

In Part 2 of the Miyazaki Countdown, Scott, Scott, and Jay are joined by fellow Hayao Miyazaki (and Nausicaä) fan Paul Oyama to discuss Miyazaki's sophomore directorial outing and first crack at a world and characters of his own invention, the 1984 post-apocalyptic fantasy anime film, NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND. Set in a distant future, 1000 years after an apocalyptic nuclear war that destroyed the majority of civilization and caused an ecological genocide, NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND tells the story of a 16-year-old princess, Nausicaä, from a local village-nation called the Valley of the Wind. The titular heroine excavates waste in and around the nearby Toxic Jungle that slowly grows and devours the remnants of human civilization. After rescuing her friend, Lord Yupa, from an attacking monstrous trilobite Ohm, they return to the Valley of the Wind. One night, however, the Valley's peace is disturbed when an airship from the neighboring nation-state of Tolmekia crash lands in the valley, carrying the embryo of one of the "Great Warrior" bio-weapons that were used in the apocalyptic Seven Days of Fire, 1000 years prior. Also aboard the ship was the hostage Princess of Pejite (another neighboring nation) that begs Nausicaä to destroy the embryo. Before Nausicaä can make heads or tails of the situation, Tolmekia invades the Valley setting Nausicaä on a course to try and prevent a second apocalyptic conflict. The countdown crew - and Paul - reflect on the quick evolution of Miyazaki's themes and filmmaking, whether Nausicaä and her fellow characters hold together under scrutiny, and whether the epic fantasy scope of the film delivers.

Ep. 249 - Dumb Money

Hello and welcome to an all new episode of Some Like It Scott! On this week's episode, the two Scotts talk about DUMB MONEY, the new film from Craig Gillespie educating the masses about the 2020/2021 GameStop Short Squeeze driven by subreddit r/WallStBets. After discussing the narrative choices, ensemble cast, and filmmaking style, the co-hosts turn their attention to the end of the WGA Strike and the news of the Mean Girls Musical film adaptation hitting theaters in January.

 

Next week: THE CREATOR (Theaters)

 

Patreon: www.patreon.com/MediaPlugPods