Tales from Earthsea

Hayao Miyazaki. Someone world-renowned for his anime films that don't seem like anime films, but more like gorgeous pieces of art. That thinking was dashed after I saw "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea," which ironically, seemed to have none of his trademark magic. I thought that film was the start of his descent, but I was wrong. That dubious "honor" goes to "Tales from Earthsea."
While it does have some common elements of the Miyazaki film like stunning visuals, protecting the earth(sea), surprisingly strong female leads, and malevolent evil being represented as nasty goo, the story itself falls a little flat.  The film is actually an adaptation of some books from a fantasy series known simply as "Earthsea." Thus, it is a piecemeal tale with plot points not making sense sometimes, and strange character shifts.  At first you think the film is about the disgraced prince who inexplicably kills his father. Then you think it's about the wandering wizard that speaks and sounds like Qui-Gon Jin (I was surprised to find out that it wasn't him actually, but Mr. Pricklepants himself, Timothy Dalton) because he saves the prince and they travel the gorgeous, only-drawn-by-Studio-Ghibli landscapes together. But nope, when it comes down to the wire, it's the somewhat unlikable girl with a Prince-Zuko-burn scar who saves them all and gives a pep talk to the prince who got tricked by the evil wizard into doing bad stuff.
2nd of all, the film does come off as preachy, with the emphasis on why so much crap is happening in this world is because mankind is upsetting the balance in the great Circle of Life.  Also, the terms "light" and "darkness" are thrown around so much you'd think this was a Kingdom Hearts game.
Some critics say the blame goes solely on the new director and screenwriter, Miyazaki's own spawn, Goro. Even Miyazaki himself says "Son, I am disappoint," and they supposedly have some friction, which leads him to make "Ponyo" as a sort of apology. Back to Miyazaki Jr. though, it could be said that while he could be to blame for this movie, he learned from the best so maybe this could've been a sign of his father's not-so-genius becoming apparent in his son.
Overall, if you're a hardcore Hayao Miyazaki fan, this film ranks a little below "Princess Mononoke" in my book; full of Miyazaki elements, but ultimately forgettable.

Also, the twist surprise was done in "Spirited Away" first.