Kurenai no Buta (1992, JAP) C-97m. *** D: Hayao Miyazaki. Starring (the voices of) Shûichirô Moriyama, Tokiko Kato, Sanshi Katsura, Tsunehiko Kamijô. Miyazaki's follow-up to the wonderful MAJO NO TAKKYUBIN / KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE (1989) is a nostalgic adventure set in the late 1920s. In the age of sea-plane pilots (and pirates), Porco Rosso aka The Crimson Pig is a lonesome bounty hunter roaming the Adriatic Seas. Then an American pilot bursts onto the scene and challenges the flying pig. When he is shot down, he must find someone to repair his plane and gets help in a 17-year-old girl. Good, not great Miyazaki, more for adults this time. Nice score by Joe Hisaishi. English titles: PORCO ROSSO, and CRIMSON PIG.


© Ron Altman