The Wind Rises

Miyazaki rises down to Earth in his exceptionally realist rendition of Grave of the Fighter Jets.  Dream sequences justify animated medium, and stunning visuals keep an otherwise slow story from crashing and burning.  Lacks magic of previous ghiblets but presents colorful alternative perspective on oft generalized black and white history.

Howl's Moving Castle

Another creatively conceived world rendered in what may be Miyazaki’s most astonishing visuals yet. Interesting American casting including far too masculine Bale. But viewer spirits pull away as Castle disintegrates to a Howling mess in the third act and then rewrites the textbook on deus ex machine to save itself.

Ponyo

Miyazaki’s Little Mermaid lacks universality of plot that makes his other films great. Targeting young audience doesn’t justify senselessness of plot and dialogue. Worse still, Miyazaki experiments with new animation to unimpressive result and American redub is his worst yet. And how pray-tell did Aslan’s wizard mate with Galadriel’s ocean?