75
Metascore
12 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 100The A.V. ClubDavid EhrlichThe A.V. ClubDavid EhrlichBuilding to an emotional wallop that’s almost on par with anything found in one of Miyazaki’s or Takahata’s films, The Kingdom Of Dreams And Madness is pornographically interesting for Studio Ghibli fans; as a delicate depiction of the artistic spirit, it’s equally essential viewing for everyone else.
- 90The Hollywood ReporterClarence TsuiThe Hollywood ReporterClarence TsuiSunada has managed the incredible task of editing all these anecdotes into a flowing whole, an unfettered celebration of cinema as a concoction of vision, persistence, collective faith and, of course, some canniness about how the world operates. Rather than diminishing the seventh art's magic, Sunada's documentary enhances it.
- 80New York Daily NewsElizabeth WeitzmanNew York Daily NewsElizabeth WeitzmanThis seemingly ordinary biographical documentary about the retiring animation master unfolds, at a deceptively gentle pace, into a work of immense beauty.
- 80Village VoiceSimon AbramsVillage VoiceSimon AbramsSunada's critical distance makes Kingdom of Dreams and Madness the clear-eyed celebration that Ghibli's artists deserve.
- 75McClatchy-Tribune News ServiceRoger MooreMcClatchy-Tribune News ServiceRoger MooreThe Kingdom of Dreams and Madness is a great name for a documentary about Hayao Miyazaki and his animation house, Japan’s Studio Ghibli.
- 75RogerEbert.comBrian TallericoRogerEbert.comBrian TallericoIf you’re not enraptured with the work of Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and the rest of the artists at Ghibli, it may not be precisely what you’re looking for, but Sanada captures something poetic about art and creativity that could speak to anyone, animation fan or otherwise.
- 63Slant MagazineElise NakhnikianSlant MagazineElise NakhnikianThe documentary is hesitant to show the great work that resulted from Hayao Miyazaki's "grand hobby," never including clips from the classics referred to throughout.
- 60The New York TimesBen KenigsbergThe New York TimesBen KenigsbergThis affectionate documentary is more of a bonbon for longtime fans than an entryway for a broader audience.
- 60The DissolveTasha RobinsonThe DissolveTasha RobinsonLike Ghibli’s features, Kingdom is a friendly, elegiac, approachable movie. But it lacks the studio’s well-polished sense of energy and commitment.