crownofsprats Ok, look, maybe dreamy scenes of languid foreplay between a lady and a fish-being are now mainstream enough to get best picture, but this is the animation category we're talking about - they never let the weird ones win that. This had no chance against something as mainstream as Zootopia. They try to keep the picks geared largely towards children (which means that alcoholism and manslaughter are still on the table, as evidenced by the first 20 minutes of fellow nominee My Life As A Courgette), so the fact that this broke through the lego brick floor and got the nod really vouches for its quality.Not that there's any adult content here. That's lacking, along with dialogue, or any dramatic tension in the overall story arc. But if your eight year old has the patience to sit through this, you probably did something right as a parent. If this was the kind of thing kids were used to watching all the time, our society would be a more thoughtful, humane place. Don't worry, it's not preachy - it's just a simple fairy tale, and like all good fairy tales, it invites a spectrum of interpretations. (People's interpretations of films like this can reveal quite a bit about their character, as evidenced by some of the other reviews.) It's also gorgeously animated, so watch it for that, if nothing else.

mauritsverheij Guess I maybe should've given this maybe a 9 or a 8 or a 7 stars, no less. Just so you don't get to hyped up about what to expect. But it really is a beautiful something. It is something you have to be in the mood for. At least that counts for me. But I am happy to have watched it. Was really amazed. Even though I do like animation (not all) this was a style I had not seen much. But again, really nice. Words aren't enough. Love how true to nature the drawing is. Loved the story too, something to maybe watch again someday to get a full grip on what they wanted to show. Though it is simply just a real nice story in the first place. So yeah, points extra for the amazing artwork and lovingly story. Gave it a 10! And actually, I think it really does deserve the whole 10.

mikelovell Where to begin. I can count the number of films on one hand I've watched that have resonated with me on a spiritual level; The Red Turtle joins that elite group. If you appreciated Darren Aronofskys' masterpiece The Fountain, you'll be mesmerized by this incredibly delicate and deeply profound animation that is justifiably adorned with the Studio Ghibli stamp of approval.Short but incredibly rich in its simplistic approach to detail; joyful and tragic at the same time - The Red Turtle is not just a twist on Robinson Crusoe, but rather a multi-layered fable that below the surface addresses mankind; its misunderstanding and contempt of nature; its fear of relinquishing control, accepting and finding forgiveness; its ability to learn lessons - and ultimately learning how to become one with its environment.The Red Turtle is a tear-jerking, beautiful yet devastating love story on a galactic level between Man and Nature manifested in breathtaking detail; it has a duality that children and adults will appreciate, and doubtless it will leave the majority of viewers emotionally spent come the end, regardless of age.As someone wiser than myself once said, "A thing of beauty is a joy forever." - and that rule applies most certainly to The Red Turtle. 9.2/10

Vanilor This is the most barren, boring, and tedious of a film that Studio Ghibli has ever made. I am a long time fan of Studio Ghibli, with Spirited Away being my favorite, but it seems they are really struggling lately. They are branching out into directions most people don't want. The Red Turtle strays into the realm of avant- garde cinema, in that there is no dialogue, no plot, no explanation for anything you see, and no pay-off for sitting through an hour and a half of ambiance. I don't understand what they were trying to accomplish by completely avoiding dialogue. Dialogue is crucial for character development and communication between characters. Cast Away did a great job of getting around the problem of only having one character, by creating the character of Wilson the volleyball. Imagine Cast Away without Wilson, without any tension, and moving along at a snail's pace, with an ending as meaningless and nonsensical as the ending of Lost, and you've got the Red Turtle. It's a pointless, meaningless film, and it's a black mark on Studio Ghibli's reputation.