The Secret World of Arrietty {Movie Review}

Usually when I review a movie, it's because I have a passionate feeling about it, one way or another. In the case of The Secret World of Arrietty, I'm pretty much here to note the fact that we watched this movie. It is, of course, based on the book The Borrowers. (Click to read my thoughts on the book.)

We watched this because Jonathan expressed an interest in it, which drove me to finally reading the book so that I could watch the movie in good conscience. We decided to make a family movie night out of it and Nana came over and joined us in the watching. As I mentioned yesterday, this was my mom's favorite book in third grade so she was interested in seeing the adaptation as well.

Least you have any doubts, this is definitely an adaptation! However, if I were ever inclined to be at peace with an adaptation, I would be ok with this one. (That's also in part because I felt neither strongly about the movie or the book. If they had tweaked Anne to the same extent this would be a fiery review.)

I really knew nothing about the movie or what to expect of it. (Sometimes I look up reviews but most times I don't.) I did not realize that it was anime. (I'm laughing at myself. You can too, if you like.) I don't care for anime so that affected my outlook right from the get-go. I've only seen a few anime films and I'm just not drawn to it. Also, the story was set in Japan, which I found disappointing as I really like the Victorian England feel of the book. So this film introduces us to the Borrowers in modern day Japan using anime. I was so lost to the story almost immediately. This is not to say that I couldn't enjoy the story anyway, so I told myself to try and like it. I tried. I tried very hard.

Ultimately, it was a no-go for me. Carol Burnett gave voice to the maid (Hara) who is in charge of looking after a young boy named Shawn who comes to stay with his grandmother in her home in the country. Hara, of course, is the suspicious maid who discovers the Borrowers hide-a-way and calls in the exterminator to dispose of these creatures. Carol Burnett is an awesome actress whose humor is attached to a wild and enthusiastic - and loud - personality. In this type of film she is called to deliver her lines in a very muted tone. It took me awhile to identify her voice, actually. Once I did recognize which character she was, it felt wrong to hear her speak in such even, low tones. I like Burnett. And I like her loud. I imagine though that this was a stretch for her and something new for her to experience as an actress, which would have made the making of this movie enjoyable for her. For me? Not so much. Be loud, Carol! (There was only one scene where the Carol we know shone through and that was my favorite part of the whole movie.) (I liked her voice/character in Horten Hears a Who ever so much more!)

Shawn is the young man who comes to live at the house where the Borrowers live. He came because his parents were busy with work and he had a heart condition which required having someone around to look after him. He is lonely and weak and is desperate to mak a friend in Arrietty. She wants nothing to do with him and holds out on him for some time. She's a feisty young woman and much more aware of how dangerous it is for Borrowers to be seen in the film version versus the book.

As for the Borrower family themselves, I would say that the movie stayed true to their characters, over all. Generally speaking.

Here are the notable differences between the book and the movie:

• Pod is not as old and grumpy in this film as he is in the book. He looks to be in his 40's and is the chief Borrower in the family. However, in the book, the Borrowers feel that the "beans" exist for to provide for the smaller people. In the movie Pod tells Arrietty that they only borrow things that are needed for survival. (Very PC of him, really!) He only takes things like sugar and Kleenex. 
• The house is decorated with flowers and grass from outside. Although there is a little dollhouse in the movie just as in the book, Pod insists that they should not take anything because it is not needed (and the bit about the humans noticing if anything were to go missing). 
• Arriety is allowed outside. In fact, that's where we first meet up with her. She makes a regular habit of exploring the yard and is the one who gathers the flowers for home decor.
• Homily is caught by Hara and put into a jar. In the book, this doesn't happen.

Really though, apart from the style that I didn't personally care for, and some changes to the story, there is nothing bad or objectionable in this movie. Nothing rumpled my feathers and its perfectly fit for family consumption. I know some of you with young children are concerned with how "scary" a film might be. This one was not scary at all. The only moments of tension are when Arrietty is attempting to escape from a bird or a cat when she is out in the yard. Neither one of those incidents were overwhelming tense though. (My sons were admittedly a bit disappointed by the lack of bad guy. They were a bit happier when Hara went a bit crazy and got a bit louder.)

This movie is not bad and I have no complaints about it. I just didn't really like it. I still don't like anime. The film was slow moving and quiet. The characters all spoke in a completely bored, dead pan manner which did not give rise to any excitement. And so I spent most of the film waiting for it to be over simply because I was bored. (How sad is that? I get bored easily sometimes, I confess it!)

The same studio who produced Ponyo and Spirited Away made The Secret World of Arrietty - so if you enjoyed those two movies you might very well find yourself relaxing with this rendition of The Borrowers.

My mom, Jonathan and I agreed that we weren't sure watching this particular version would make anyone want to read the book. I think, given the change of location and time in history, anyone who read the book after watching the movie would be in for something of a surprise! Perhaps per usual, I'm left saying that the book is far better than the movie. However, I hear that there are other film adaptions of The Borrowers out there. Any recommendations as to your favorite?!