The movie is loosely based on the Earthsea books of Ursula K. Le Guin - a series of novels and short stories that we attempted to read as a child, but found too serious and wrapped-up in their inner mythology for our hyperactive attention-span.

However, a Ghibli film stands and falls on its own merits, not that of any work upon which it may have been based; and it was quite without prejudice that we sat down to watch the DVD.

Despite a shaky start, with a somewhat cumbersome dragon battle and a strange murder, the motive for which didn’t seem entirely clear, the first fifty minutes or so of the movie were a joy. The artwork was beautiful as we have come to expect, especially the town scenes, and a sense of adventure had begun to build.

So, with the movie at pretty-much half-time, we hit “pause” and went to make a cup of tea; but when we returned, it was almost as if someone had switched the discs. The plot ground to a juddering halt; and the intricate town and landscape scenes were exchanged for a cardboard castle, devoid of any real detail.

The motivations of the characters are never really explained, and the viewer is left wondering if reading the books, or watching the director’s commentary, might be actually required, which really ought not to be the case in ANY film.

And as for the ending... well, without wishing to post spoilers... where did THAT come from?

So, will we buy the NEXT Ghibli DVD? Absolutely! Will we be hoping it is better than this? Absolutely!