Mcm comic con

http://www.mcmcomiccon.com/london/


MCM comic convention is on the 25th - 27th October at the Royal Docks in London. I really wanted to go this year but I cant afford it. To me, the real fun of the mcm is cosplay. Pretty much everyone is dressed up which creates such an amazing atmosphere.
Special guests include James Cosmo ( Jeor Mormont - Game of thrones) Miltos Yerolemou ( Syrio Forel - GOT)  and Troy Baker, if you don't know who he is then you don't play enough games, he's the reason I want to go this year. He voiced Booker DeWitt - Bioshock Infinite, The Joker - Batman Origins, Joel - The Last of us, DOA- Hayabusa, Pain and Yamato - american dubbed Naruto and many other voices in games and TV.  There are a lot more guests that you can see on their website, but they're the only ones I really care about this year.
They also have many different sections within the convention like Japan EX, comic village and Vidfest UK.
If you can go I would definitely recommend it! And I will be incredibly jealous!

Early Entry: enter from 9:00

Tickets: £16.50 if bought in advance
On day: £20
Weekend: £29.50

General Entry: enter from 11:00

on the day adult (15+) - £10
Child (11-14) - £6
10 and under goes free.

If you are an aspiring artist you can rent tables to display your work as well.

Princess Mononoke

'Princess Mononoke' (1997)



I think the word 'long' is suitable for this movie but also 'beautiful'. This movie is so amazing, it's got the 'Spirited Away' feel with all the spirits and fantasy style but is also nothing like it.
When Ashitaka, a young man from a small village, is attacked by a demon possessed creature he becomes infected himself. With only a matter of time, he sets out to find himself a cure. But on his journey he comes across a mining village, run by a very strong lady, Lady Eboshi. This colony is at war with the forest and while staying there Ashitaka meets San who has come to infiltrate the village and kill Eboshi in anger of her chopping down the forest to create the town.
The town is full of social outcasts and houses former brothel workers and lepers who she uses to create firearms to defend against the gods. Ashitaka tries to go after San but in the battle she becomes conscience. As a result of this, Ashitaka carries her out and away from the town, and as he leaves he gets shot.
San is a hostile princess of wolves so is not so welcoming or polite towards Ashitaka but he bares with her non the less. He thinks she may know a way to save him.....but will she tell him?

Definitely one to watch. It is long but if you enjoy it enough, you shouldn't really notice.

PomPoko

'Pompoko' (1994)

Pompoko is about shape shifting raccoons whose home is being threatened. To prevent this catastrophe from occurring, they all team up to fight the humans and put a stop to the construction.
There isn't much else to say about this movie without revealing the whole plot really. I remember thinking that I found this film boring but, yet again, maybe I'll watch it again. The actual plot and from all the things I remember about it, it would be the kind of thing I would now find funny. Having the raccoons as shape-shifters is a really good idea, makes it that much more interesting and quirky and a lot of fun, especially the carnival thing they do that reminds me of 'Paprika'. So I have now talked myself into wanting to re-watch it. Its now on my 'to buy' list.

The Cat Returns

'The cat returns' (2002)



Yeah. I wasn't really a fan of this one. I want to watch it again, just to double check my feelings. I remember it freaking me out a bit with the cat king - I guess it was a while ago now when I watched it last.
Haru (voiced by Anne Hathaway) saves a cat she is rewarded by the cat prince which of course means, she's engaged to him. The only way to regain her freedom lies in the help of The Baron and Muta (Moon).

There's this bit at the (above) where she has to go into the 'Cat World' which slowly morphs her into a cat herself, but it also reminds me of 'Labyrinth'.

My Neighbour Totoro

'My neighbour Totoro' (1988)

Omg. If you haven't seen this film then you should. I think pretty much everyone who has seen only one Ghibli has seen this one.
My neighbour Totoro pulls on the heart strings just because its so. cute. and there are some sad bits in and because I watched it consistently I am therefore unable to watch it any more. The slightest sign of sad or cute makes me burst into uncontrollable tears, so basically from start to finish. This can get one rather soggy, so I've banned myself for a while.
The movie follows two young girls, Satsuki (voiced by Dakota Fanning) and Mei (voiced by Elle Fanning) which in itself is adorable as they're sisters anyway and the video clip of them doing the lines in the studio together is great.
I need to stop getting sidetracked - So the girls move with their dad into the country while their mums in hospital. The house is old and is practically falling down but they still love it and spend a lot of time playing outside. When Satsuki goes to school, Mei plays by herself. She see's a small creature and follows it (like Alice down the rabbit hole) and ends up .....well, falling, down a hole by a giant tree and lands on Totoro.s belly. Totoro looks like a bear, raccoon? with slight bunny ears. He's asleep and not really phased by her sudden appearance so goes back to snoozing and so does she. When she awakes she's in the middle of the forest all alone. Satsuki finds her and brings her home where Mei tries explaining to them what's happened and her dad says he must have been a tree spirit. From this point, Totoro makes more appearances, but only the girls can see him and he takes care of them through some tough times.
Watch - I insist! For bits like the famous rain scene, you'll never walk in the rain the same again.

Whisper of the Heart

This movie is one of my favourite Ghibli's ever! It's just...so nice.
It's the first instalment with 'The Cat returns' being the second.
The story follows a young girl Shiziku (voiced by Brittany Snow) who wants to be a writer, spending more time reading than studying. Every book she borrows from the library has already been checked out previously by the same guy. She begins to think they are soul mates and tries to track him down. She later meets a young boy (voiced by David Gallagher) called Seiji, who is a bit cruel to her so she automatically holds a grudge for quite a while, but, as expected, they get to know each other better and all is not so bad, all thanks to Moon, a cat that rides the train with Shiziku and through her curiosity, she follows him and he leads her to an antique shop which just happens to be owned by Seiji's Grandfather.
Through this their relationship unfolds and it all ends well, which is what we like to hear. It's such an easy watch. Brilliant.

Tales from Earthsea

Tales from Earthsea (Gedo Senki) was directed by Goro Miyazaki but is still created with the same amazing Ghibli look and feel of his father. I have to admit, I saw this awhile ago now so the memory of it is slightly hazy. I was going to put it on and remind myself but then realized ...I don't have it. This made me sad, but I guess I have to get over it.
Arren is a young boy with some emotional difficulties, he has a dark side which can make him uncontrollable and lack any kind of mercy. The world is going through some tough times and people are changing as a result and when you add dragons into the equation, things start to loose control.
Ged (voiced by Willem Defoe) is a wandering wizard who later meets Arren and they wander together meeting villain's and facing dangers as a team, although there are those who threaten the comradery - will they succeed in helping the world?

This isn't one of my favourite Ghibli's but I did like it - definitely worth a watch.