lesser versions

Chocolat (1988)
3 Stars

Nothing Nigendwo in Afrika didn't do better.

Nobody Knows (Dare mo shiranai) (2004)
4 Stars

A live-action, less-dramatic, modern-day version of Grave of the Fireflies.

Lost Highway (1997)
3 Stars
Directed by David Lynch
Starring Bill Pullman, Patricia Arquette

Plays like an early draft of Mulholland Drive.

Steamboy (Suchîmobôi) (2004)
3 Stars
Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo

Otomo's take on Laputa, without the interesting characters or dramatic force of Miyazaki's work.