rank a director

[Onderhond]

For many folks it was their first anime or even Japanese film

Is that true? Could be different for other parts of the world, but I feel Mononoke only got big after Spirited Away here. And people who do got to see it around and about its release were usually already familiar with prior famous anime titles, like Ghost in the Shell and Akira. I'm sure it was an entry film for some people, but never really heard or read that it was such a big gateway film for anime in the West.

[Fergenaprido]

For many folks it was their first anime or even Japanese film

Is that true? Could be different for other parts of the world, but I feel Mononoke only got big after Spirited Away here. And people who do got to see it around and about its release were usually already familiar with prior famous anime titles, like Ghost in the Shell and Akira. I'm sure it was an entry film for some people, but never really heard or read that it was such a big gateway film for anime in the West.

Maybe of a certain generation? I honestly don't remember which film I heard of first, but I saw Mononoke first and remember that it was more widely available in English. I think they're both more kid-friendly than Ghost in the Shell and Akira, though, which meant a lot of parents were willing to take their kids to see it in theatres or rent the DVD even if they were unfamiliar with anime previously. I think it was Disney that commissioned the English dubs, so that association goes a long way for parents (or at least it did back in the late '90s/early '00s as the Disney Renaissance was ending).

[Onderhond]

I think they're both more kid-friendly than Ghost in the Shell and Akira, though, which meant a lot of parents were willing to take their kids to see it in theatres or rent the DVD even if they were unfamiliar with anime previously.

Mononoke is still rather violent (and somewhat abstract at the end), not exactly the type of film a parent would take its kid to? Though for sure, it's nothing like Akira or GitS

I do agree it's somewhat of a breakthrough film for Ghibli in the West/US (but nothing like the impact Spirited Away had), and Disney's distribution in the US might've helped, but I never got the feeling it was a real landmark or gateway release.

I know that in Asia Totoro was already huge upon release, in France you had people like Jean Reno doing dubs for Porco Rosso, so I'm going to assume Ghibli's popularity there preceded the release of Mononoke.

[AB537]

I think I've seen all of Miyazaki's features, largely because Netflix helpfully added much of the Ghibli library a couple of years ago, at least in Canada. Probably the best animation director of all time in my book, with incredible art in every frame even when the story isn't really for me. A couple of tentative rankings, especially Spirited Away, where I saw the film longer ago. In every case, I watched the English dub. Looking forward to his next one!

Great

Very Good

1. Mononoke-hime - Princess Mononoke (1997)
2. Hauru no ugoku shiro - Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

Good

3. Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi - Spirited Away (2001)
4. Kaze tachinu - The Wind Rises (2013)
5. Kurenai no buta - Porco Rosso (1992)
6. Kaze no tani no Naushika - Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Above Average

7. Rupan sansei: Kariosutoro no shiro - The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
8. Majo no takkyûbin - Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)

Okay

9. Gake no ue no Ponyo - Ponyo (2008)

Not Good

Don't Remember Well Enough to Rate

Tenkû no shiro Rapyuta - Castle in the Sky (1986)
Tonari no Totoro - My Neighbour Totoro (1988)

[Fergenaprido]

I think they're both more kid-friendly than Ghost in the Shell and Akira, though, which meant a lot of parents were willing to take their kids to see it in theatres or rent the DVD even if they were unfamiliar with anime previously.

Mononoke is still rather violent (and somewhat abstract at the end), not exactly the type of film a parent would take its kid to? Though for sure, it's nothing like Akira or GitS

I do agree it's somewhat of a breakthrough film for Ghibli in the West/US (but nothing like the impact Spirited Away had), and Disney's distribution in the US might've helped, but I never got the feeling it was a real landmark or gateway release.

I know that in Asia Totoro was already huge upon release, in France you had people like Jean Reno doing dubs for Porco Rosso, so I'm going to assume Ghibli's popularity there preceded the release of Mononoke.

I could also have it backwards, that it was Spirited Away that was the breakthrough, and then Mononoke immediately got and English dub and release to ride its coattails.

[TraverseTown]

Just finished his filmography this past year!

1. Kiki's Delivery Service
2. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
3. Howl's Moving Castle
4. Spirited Away
5. Castle in the Sky
6. My Neighbor Totoro
7. The Wind Rises
8. Ponyo
9. Princess Mononoke
10. Castle of Cagliostro
11. Porco Rosso

[blocho]

I am genuinely surprised by how many of you rank Princess Mononoke higher than Spirited Away

Snopes fact check coming in:

Spoiler

People who ranked + rated Mononoke higher than Spirited Away: 1
Lakigigar:
Princess Mononoke (1997) - 4.0*
Spirited Away (2001) - 3.5*


People who ranked Mononoke higher, but at the same rating: 4 [blocho and Good_Will remain a bit unclear, blocho could as well just be sorted chronologically within the tier]
blocho:
Good
Princess Mononoke
Spirited Away

Cinepolis:
2. Princess Mononoke (1997) - 8/10
3. Spirited Away (2001) - 8/10

Torgo:
(10/10)
1. Mononoke
2. Chihiro

Good_Will
10
Mononoke-hime
Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi


People who ranked Mononoke lower than Spirited Away, but at the same rating (down to the decimal!): 2

Ferg:
3. 8.2 - Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi [Spirited Away] (2002)
4. 8.2 - Mononoke-hime [Princess Mononoke] (1997) (dubbed)

YUME:
★★★★ | 8.4
03. Spirited Away (#122)
04. Princess Mononoke (#176)


People who ranked Mononoke below Spirited Away: 4

beavis:
1. 5 - Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001) Spirited Away
3. 4,5 - Mononoke-hime (1997) Princess Mononoke

Lonewolf:
Masterpiece
1. Spirited Away (2001): 10!
Excellent
4. Princess Mononoke (1997): 9.0

Onderhond:
07. 4.0* - Spirited Away [Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi] (2001) (#764)
09. 3.5* - Princess Mononoke [Mononoke-Hime] (1997)

pitchor:
1. Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi 7/10
2. Mononoke-hime 6/10

Verdict:
Nothing out of the ordinary here so far _{(considering Mononoke is the slightly better film )}

Chronological for me. I gave them the same rating.

[Arkantos]

5/5

Spirited Away

Nausicaa
Kiki's Delivery Service
Princess Mononoke
My Neighbour Totoro

3/5

Castle in the Sky
Howl's Moving Castle

[Good_Will_Harding]

I think they're both more kid-friendly than Ghost in the Shell and Akira, though, which meant a lot of parents were willing to take their kids to see it in theatres or rent the DVD even if they were unfamiliar with anime previously.

Mononoke is still rather violent (and somewhat abstract at the end), not exactly the type of film a parent would take its kid to? Though for sure, it's nothing like Akira or GitS

I do agree it's somewhat of a breakthrough film for Ghibli in the West/US (but nothing like the impact Spirited Away had), and Disney's distribution in the US might've helped, but I never got the feeling it was a real landmark or gateway release.

I know that in Asia Totoro was already huge upon release, in France you had people like Jean Reno doing dubs for Porco Rosso, so I'm going to assume Ghibli's popularity there preceded the release of Mononoke.

I could also have it backwards, that it was Spirited Away that was the breakthrough, and then Mononoke immediately got and English dub and release to ride its coattails.

I can only speak for myself, but I saw Mononoke first, on VHS in the late nineties, and it was indeed my introduction to the works of Ghibli, as well as a handful of other kids around my age that I knew. It received a dubbed theatrical run courtesy of Miramax, but the more child friendly Spirited Away was disturbed by Disney in the US a few years later.

[beavis]

I want to throw in this one as a quicky: Quentin Dupieux

1. 8,5 - 4 - Au poste! (2018)
2. 8 - 4 - Wrong (2012)
3. 8 - 4 - Fumer fait tousser (2022)
4. 8 - 4 - Rubber (2010)
5. 7,5 - 3,5 - Mandibules (2020)
6. 7,5 - 3,5 - Réalité (2014)
7. 7 - 3,5 - Le daim (2019)
8. 7 - 3,5 - Incroyable mais vrai (2022)
9. 7 - 3,5 - Wrong Cops (2013)

Remarkably prolific for these type of genre-adjecent absurdist comedies, and always enjoyable. One standout movie so far, but he has greatness hidden somewhere still, i hope. Ratings out of 10 and out of 5.

[pitchorneirda]

1. Rubber - 7/10
2. Le daim - 6/10
3. Incroyable mais vrai - 5/10
4. Au poste ! - 4/10
5. Mandibules - 3/10

[OldAle1]

I've just seen Rubber and Mandibules - really liked both a lot though and certainly hope to catch up to more.

[Lonewolf2003]

I have seen nothing yet from Quentin Dupieux. But he is on my radar.

[GruesomeTwosome]

Dupieux (aka Mr. Oizo):

1. Le daim / Deerskin - 7.5/10
2. Mandibules / Mandibles - 7/10
3. Rubber - 5/10

[Torgo]

I have seen nothing yet from Quentin Dupieux. But he is on my radar.

Whaaat
Latest addition to my favorite directors list. Don't let my numbers fool you, there's no second guy like him, the gripes I have with some of them aside. Also, we need more filmmakers working at this length if it suits them so well. Cut the unnecessary 1:45h bullshit!

1. Deerskin (2019) (7,5/10)
2. Mandibles (2020) (7,5/10)
3. Reality (2014) (7/10)
4. Wrong (2012) (7/10)
5. Rubber (2010) (6,5/10)
6. Au Poste! (2018) (6,5/10)

[Caracortada]

1. Deerskin 6/10
2. Reality 6/10

[Fergenaprido]

1. 7.8 - Au poste! [Keep an Eye Out] (2018) - liked it well enough, but not enough to actively seek out his other work. Yet.

[flavo5000]

Mononoke is still rather violent (and somewhat abstract at the end), not exactly the type of film a parent would take its kid to? Though for sure, it's nothing like Akira or GitS

I do agree it's somewhat of a breakthrough film for Ghibli in the West/US (but nothing like the impact Spirited Away had), and Disney's distribution in the US might've helped, but I never got the feeling it was a real landmark or gateway release.

I know that in Asia Totoro was already huge upon release, in France you had people like Jean Reno doing dubs for Porco Rosso, so I'm going to assume Ghibli's popularity there preceded the release of Mononoke.

I could also have it backwards, that it was Spirited Away that was the breakthrough, and then Mononoke immediately got and English dub and release to ride its coattails.

I can only speak for myself, but I saw Mononoke first, on VHS in the late nineties, and it was indeed my introduction to the works of Ghibli, as well as a handful of other kids around my age that I knew. It received a dubbed theatrical run courtesy of Miramax, but the more child friendly Spirited Away was disturbed by Disney in the US a few years later.

Mononoke and My Neighbor Totoro definitely came out in the US before Spirited Away as did Kiki's Delivery Service. I actually still have the Disney Kiki VHS release from the '90s in my basement somewhere. Grave of the fireflies also got a US release before Spirited Away.

Having said all of that, Spirited Away was the first Miyazaki movie that I think got a nation-wide theatrical release in the US. It was definitely the first one I saw in the theater.

[AB537]

Same as Lonewolf2003, haven't seen anything from Dupieux but I'm aware of him and have been meaning to check out some of his stuff.

[Y U M E]

Quentin Dupieux

★★★½ | 7.6
Au Poste!
Réalité

★★★¼ | 7.2
Wrong

★★★ | 6.8
Rubber

★★¾ | 6.4
Mandibules

★★½ | 6.0
Incroyable Mais Vrai

★★ | 5.0
Le Daim


In recent years the output has increased but the quality decreases... Au Poste! is at the tipping point 8.0<->7.6, the movie is definitely Poelvoorde's best part!

[beavis]

recent years he seems even more free to pursue random ideas, even in one movie. As we seem to rank him fairly similarly it is interesting what you'll make of his latest, Fumer fait tousser, which is indeed very random, but I really enjoyed that one. With the super sentai look there is also a link to Japanese cinema, but don't expect too much of that

[Torgo]

My God, there's yet another for 2022! He's pumping them out like they're music videos

[Onderhond]

You could say I like his work.

01. 4.0* - Keep an Eye Out [Au Poste!] (2018) (#342)
02. 4.0* - Mandibles [Mandibules] (2020) (#403)
03. 4.0* - Rubber (2010) (#478)
04. 4.0* - Reality [Réalité] (2014) (#580)
05. 4.0* - Deerskin [Le Daim] (2019) (#614)
06. 4.0* - Incredible But True [Incroyable Mais Vrai] (2022) (#638)
07. 4.0* - Wrong (2012) (#680)
08. 3.5* - Wrong Cops (2013)
09. 3.0* - Steak (2007)
10. 3.0* - Nonfilm (2002)

[Arkantos]

We haven't done Chaplin yet, right?

5/5

The Gold Rush
City Lights
The Great Dictator

4/5

Modern Times
Limelight
Shoulder Arms
The Kid

3/5

Monsieur Verdoux
The Circus
A King in New York
A Woman of Paris

[Onderhond]

The absolute worst.

01. 1.5* - Shoulder Arms (1918)
02. 1.0* - Monsieur Verdoux (1947)
03. 0.5* - The Great Dictator (1940)
04. 0.5* - Modern Times (1936)
05. 0.5* - City Lights (1931)
06. 0.5* - The Gold Rush (1925)
07. 0.5* - The Pilgrim (1923)
08. 0.5* - The Kid (1921)
09. 0.5* - Sunnyside (1919)
10. 0.5* - A Dog's Life (1918)
11. 0.5* - The Champion (1915)
12. 0.5* - The Circus (1928)

[pitchorneirda]

1. The Great Dictator 8/10
2. Monsieur Verdoux 7/10
3. The Kid 7/10
...
4. Modern Times 5ish/10
5. The Gold Rush
6. City Lights
7. The Gold Rush

[Silga]

I've only seen The Great Dictator which for me is a perfect and utterly important film. 10/10

[Torgo]

I won't bother rating all his shorts and my scores for the silent features are too dated by now, but let me say that his both late non-Tramp talkies, Limelight and Monsieur Verdoux both were great and exceeded my expectations quite a lot. I'd love to see more Chaplin films from this era, hadn't he slowed down so much.

[AB537]

Generally not one for silents, but I find comedy works better (at least for me) ~100 years later. Some good sound films too.

Great

Very Good

The Gold Rush (1925)
The Great Dictator (1940)

Good

The Kid (1921)
The Circus (1928)
Monsieur Verdoux (1947)
Limelight (1952)

Above Average

The Immigrant (1917)
The Countess of Hong Kong (1967)

Okay

A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate (1923)
A King in New York (1957)

Not Good

Don't Remember Well Enough to Rate

City Lights (1931)
Modern Times (1936)

[Good_Will_Harding]

(One of) the absolute best.

10

The Great Dictator
City Lights
The Kid
The Gold Rush

9

A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate
Monsieur Verdoux
Limelight
Modern Times

8

The Idle Class
The Circus
A King in New York

7

A Dog's Life
Sunnyside
The Immigrant
A Countess from Hong Kong

Not seen most of these for about ten years or so. Particularly the shorts, many of which I hardly remember by now.

[Fergenaprido]

Features
1. 8.4 - The Great Dictator (1940)

2. 8.0 - Limelight (1952)
3. 8.0 - Modern Times (1936)
4. 7.8 - City Lights (1931)
5. 7.8 - Monsieur Verdoux (1947)
6. 7.8 - The Circus (1928)
7. 7.6 - The Kid (1921)

8. 7.4 - The Gold Rush (1925)
9. 7.2 - The Pilgrim (1923)

I put off his later two for years so was surprised when I ended up liking both of them much more than I thought. The Kid also went up upon rewatch.

Shorts

1. 8.2 - The Masquerader (1914)
2. 7.6 - The Adventurer (1917)

3. 7.4 - Easy Street (1917)
3. 7.4 - The Cure (1917)
3. 7.4 - The Idle Class (1921)

6. 7.2 - A Woman (1915)
6. 7.2 - The Immigrant (1917)
6. 7.2 - A Dog's Life (1918)
6. 7.2 - Pay Day (1922)

10. 7.0 - Sunnyside (1919) - I have a note that this I saw the 29-minute version.
11. 6.6 - One A.M. (1916)
(--. 6.6 - Kid Auto Races at Venice (1914) - dir. Henry Lehrman)
12. 6.2 - The Pawnshop (1916)

I still have plenty of shorts left and a few key features, but I think I've seen the best of what I'll enjoy of Chaplin already. I'll get around to them, especially A Woman of Paris, eventually.

[beavis]

not a huge fan of his style of (physical) comedy, although his later works are quite strong, he was good in what he did and seemed to have something to say too.

1. 4,5 - Monsieur Verdoux (1947)
2. 4 - Limelight (1952)
3. 3,5 - A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate (1923)
4. 3,5 - The Circus (1928)
5. 3,5 - City Lights (1931)
6. 3,5 - Shoulder Arms (1918)
7. 3 - The Gold Rush (1925)
8. 3 - The Great Dictator (1940)
9. 3 - The Kid (1921)
10. 3 - Modern Times (1936)
11. 3 - Burlesque on Carmen (1916)
12. 2,5 - A King in New York (1957)

ratings out of 5-stars
also saw three shorts:

One A.M. (1916)
The Immigrant (1917)
Easy Street (1917)

[Y U M E]

Chaplin

★★★ | 6.8
Shoulder Arms
A Woman of Paris - A Drama of Fate

★★¾ | 6.4
The Great Dictator
Limelight

★★½ | 6.0
The Gold Rush
The Pilgrim

★★¼ | 5.5
Burlesque on 'Carmen'.
The Circus

★★ | 5.0
The Kid
Modern Times
City Lights
A King in New York

★½ | 4.0
A Countess from Hong Kong

¾ | 2.5
Monsieur Verdoux


And 22 shorts... Maybe he had something to say like beavis states, when I try I can think of some things, but... the direction is often sentimental and cringy and his own acting most of the times downright awful.

[Torgo]

¾ | 2.5
Monsieur Verdoux

Ah damn! We had such a run of high praise for his 1947 & 1952 work. Even that guy who didn't like Chaplin that much overall gave it a rating TWICE as high as any other feature of his!
Well ..

[Caracortada]

Chaplin: The list is long because of the shorts.

1. Modern Times 10/10
2. The Great Dictator 10
3. The Gold Rush 10
4. Limelight 9
5. The Kid 9
6. Monsieur Verdoux 9
7. City Lights 8
8. The Immigrant [short] 8
9. Work [short] 7
10. One A.M. [short] 7
11. The Tramp [short] 7
12. A Dog's Life [short] 7
13. The Rink [short] 7
14. The Pilgrim [short] 7
15. Musical Tramp [short] 7
16. A Countess from Hong Kong 7
17. The Champion [short] 7
18. Shoulder Arms [short] 6
19. Pay Day [short] 6
20. The Idle Class [short] 6
21. A Day's Pleasure [short] 6
22. By the Sea [short] 6
23. His Musical Career [short] 6
24. The Circus 6
25. A King in New York 6
26. Tillie's Punctured Romance 6
27. The Vagabond [short] 6
28. Recreation [short] 6
29. Laughing Gas [short] 6
30. His New Profession [short] 6
31. A Burlesque on Carmen [short] 6
32. A Woman [short] 6
33. Easy Street [short] 5
34. Sunnyside [short] 5
35. The Adventurer [short] 5
36. A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate 5
37. The Cure [short] 5
38. Police [short] 5
39. The Masquerader [short] 5
40. A Night in the Show [short] 5
41. Behind the Screen [short] 5
42. A Jitney Elopement [short] 5
43. The Rounders [short] 5
44. Twenty Minutes of Love [short] 4
45. The Face on the Barroom Floor [short] 4

[prodigalgodson]

I'll join the camp preferring his later work. Too many monotonous gags and too much twee sentimentality in his silents for me.

Limelight 9
The Great Dictator
The Gold Rush 7
Monsieur Verdoux
The Kid 6
City Lights 5
Modern Times 4

Should probably rewatch most of these at some point.

[Lonewolf2003]

Chaplin is one of the directors with a big reputation in film history I don't completely connect with. They are all okay to fine, but none is better than that which is low for me for someone with such a huge name. I appreciate his humane tones, but his physical comedy doesn't always work for me and is less impressive to me than Keatons. Did a run on him in '21, so all rating are fresh.

Features only.

Masterpiece
-

Excellent
-

Good
-

Fine
1. The Circus (1928): 7.5
2. Limelight (1952): 7.5
3. Monsieur Verdoux (1947): 7.5
4. City Lights (1931): 7.2
5. The Kid (1921): 7.2
6. Modern Times (1936): 7.2
7. The Gold Rush (1925): 7.0
8. The Great Dictator (1940): 7.0
9. The Pilgrim (1923): 7.0
10. A Woman of Paris (1923): 6.8

Okay
11. A King in New York (1957): 5.8

Mediocre


Poor


Bad
-

Terrible
-

[Cinepolis]

He's alright.

1. The Kid (1921) - 8/10
2. The Gold Rush (1925) - 7/10
3. Modern Times (1936) - 7/10
4. City Lights (1931) - 7/10
5. The Great Dictator (1940) - 6/10

[Y U M E]

Somewhere on this world it's still the 20th of January, so I hope Mr. Lynch is celebrating is 77th Birthday in Honolulu! Otherwise "happy birth-plus-one-day" from Europe David.

David Lynch

★★★★½ | 9.2
Wild at Heart

★★★★¼ | 8.8
INLAND EMPIRE

★★★★ | 8.4
Lost Highway
Mulholland Dr.

★★★¾ | 8.0
Rabbits

★★★½ | 7.6
Eraserhead
The Straight Story

★★½ | 6.0
Blue Velvet
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

★★ | 5.0
The Elephant Man

★¾ | 4.5
Dune


N/R
Twin Peaks series
Lumière et Compagnie short

Strangely I don't connect with Blue Velvet though I did see it three times (once on the big screen). Still haven't seen any of his shorts. Nor the Twin Peaks rebirth from 2017. Maybe this autumn there will be some time... I haven't seen anything from Jennifer Lynch either (so no "Like Father Like Daughter"-contribution this time)

[Onderhond]

Quite a few films I like and love, but few that held up on rewatch.

01. 5.0* - Rabbits (2002) (#43)
02. 4.5* - Eraserhead (1977) (#249)
03. 4.5* - Mulholland Dr. (2001) (#280)
04. 4.0* - Inland Empire (2006)
05. 4.0* - The Straight Story (1999)
06. 4.0* - Lost Highway (1997)
07. 3.5* - Blue Velvet (1986)
08. 3.0* - Chacun Son Cinéma (2007)
09. 3.0* - Dune (1984)
10. 3.0* - The Grandmother (1970)
11. 2.5* - Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)
12. 2.5* - The Elephant Man (1980)
13. 1.5* - Wild at Heart (1990)
14. 1.0* - Lumière and Company [Lumière et Compagnie] (1995)