2. A (not so) in-depth discussion about Ghibli

2. A (not so) in-depth discussion about Ghibli

Author: A.S.K. May 23, 2020 Duration: 42:59

With our second episode, we ask the question "Why are Ghibli movies famous?"   Being the self-proclaimed experts that we are - we "randomly" choose 6 movies for this discussion and completely forget to talk about the main theme at the end! We discuss Porco Rosso, Spirited Away, Grave of the Fireflies (half-heartedly), Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle and Whisper of the Heart (which surprisingly turns out to be our favourite). With Shreyas breaking from time to time, Kshitij fanboying over Hayao Miyazaki and Rathi triggering generations of Ghibli fans, this is truly an interesting episode.  

Here are some highlights from the episode:   

Standoff 2.1: Does Spirited away tackle "complicated emotions"?  

Some reasons as to why Rathi thinks Mononoke is a "good" movie : https://www.theodysseyonline.com/why-princess-mononoke-is-the-best  

Breaking down the train scene in Spirited Away: https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/4trvjh/the_train_scene_in_spirited_away_which_basically/utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x  

The concept of "Ma" (and other collected thoughts of Gajapure) : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wu6baaoL6cRc8ZzETXbAd7z6LetHWGeFahrLaWi6mi8/edit#bookmark=id.jmyhympc3yan  

Comparing Howl: the book and the movie: http://www.thereadventurer.com/-home/book-vs-movie-howls-moving-castle-by-diana-wynne-jones  

Miyazaki's movie-making philosophy (again we refer to the research of Gajapure): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wu6baaoL6cRc8ZzETXbAd7z6LetHWGeFahrLaWi6mi8/edit#bookmark=id.41yof6rxzaq1  

The scene that Rathi liked in Whisper of The Heart (around 11:50 in the movie): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30kG6jocUFk  

Why Porco Rosso felt different and the Roald Dalh short story: https://www.filminquiry.com/hero-porco-rosso/  

The name Ghibli (surprising fact that the Ghibli fanboy does not know!): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caproni_Ca.309  

The Immersive Realism of Studio Ghibli: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6Q6y4-qKac  

Cat riding elevators?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lunMj9zuB18  

The Bechdel test for measuring the representation of women in fiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsNHAeRZQL4  

The Male-Female dynamics that Miyazaki wants to portray (a final plug to the effort that the fanboy put in): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wu6baaoL6cRc8ZzETXbAd7z6LetHWGeFahrLaWi6mi8/edit#bookmark=id.eobjwwb0brtw  

Standoff 2.2: Was the end a misunderstanding that arose from Rathi's nitpicking at Shreyas' hastily put together opinion or was it due to something else entirely?


Every Saturday, Aditya, Shreyas, and Kshitij-three friends navigating the uncertainty of post-college life-gather for A Random Mexican-Standoff. The premise is simple: bring a passionate, often fiercely held opinion about any piece of art, media, or culture into the room. What follows is never simple. Each conversation is a spirited, unscripted clash of perspectives, where a debate over a beloved film's ending can spiral into an exhaustive analysis of its soundtrack, cinematography, and cultural impact. The terrain of these friendly skirmishes is wildly unpredictable, covering everything from the sublime to the seemingly trivial with equal intensity. You'll hear the energy of three voices diving headlong into the things that genuinely move them, dissecting video games, books, music, and movies with a depth that borders on obsessive. This isn't a formatted review show; it's the sound of lifelong friendships tested by passionate disagreement and solidified by shared curiosity. Tune in to this leisure-focused podcast for the feeling of pulling up a chair at a lively, ongoing argument among friends, where the only guaranteed outcome is a thoroughly examined opinion. New episodes arrive weekly, each a fresh battlefield for their latest cultural fixations.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 14

A Random Mexican-Standoff
Podcast Episodes
4. Is the Dichotomy between Fun and Seriousness as Rigid as it seems? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:17
In this episode, we try to understand the nuances of getting serious about something you are passionate about. To help us tackle this and other such serious questions we call upon our friend Akhil, who is invested in all…
3. Parasite: An Attempt to Deconstruct a Masterpiece [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:36
In our third episode, we attempt to analyze the critically acclaimed movie "Parasite" directed by -Bong Joon-ho. This movie is famous for its satire on the pervasiveness of greed and class discrimination in today's socie…
1. Firewatch - Campo Santo proves that less speaks more [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:28
For the first episode, we discuss Firewatch - how it's unique game design leads to personal experiences. While there are obvious spoilers for the game, it shouldn't ruin your first playthrough. And before we forget, did…