Amazon.com essential video: This epic, animated 1997 fantasy has already made history as the top-grossing domestic feature ever released in Japan, where its combination of mythic themes, mystical forces, and ravishing visuals tapped deeply into cultural identity and contemporary, ecological anxieties. For international animation and anime fans, Princess Mononoke represents an auspicious next step for its revered creator, Hayao Miyazaki (My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service), an acknowledged anime pioneer, whose painterly style, vivid character design, and stylized approach to storytelling take ambitious, evolutionary steps here.
Set in medieval Japan, Miyazaki's original story envisions a struggle between nature and man. The march of technology, embodied in the dark iron forges of the ambitious Tatara clan, threatens the natural forces explicit in the benevolent Great God of the Forest and the wide-eyed, spectral spirits he protects. When Ashitaka, a young warrior from a remote, and endangered, village clan, kills a ravenous, boar-like monster, he discovers the beast is in fact an infectious "demon god," transformed by human anger. Ashitaka's quest to solve the beast's fatal curse brings him into the midst of human political intrigues as well as the more crucial battle between man and nature.
Miyazaki's convoluted fable is clearly not the stuff of kiddie matinees, nor is the often graphic violence depicted during the battles that ensue. If some younger viewers (or less attentive older ones) will wish for a diagram to sort out the players, Miyazaki's atmospheric world and its lush visual design are reasons enough to watch. For the English-language version, Miramax assembled an impressive vocal cast including Gillian Anderson, Billy Crudup (as Ashitaka), Claire Danes (as San), Minnie Driver (as Lady Eboshi), Billy Bob Thornton, and Jada Pinkett Smith. They bring added nuance to a very different kind of magic kingdom. Recommended for ages 12 and older. --Sam Sutherland
Description: Claire Danes (THE MOD SQUAD), Minnie Driver (GOOD WILL HUNTING), and Billy Bob Thornton (ARMAGEDDON, SLING BLADE) head a cast of hot Hollywood stars who lend their talents to this exquisitely animated, overwhelmingly acclaimed adventure epic! Inflicted with a deadly curse, a young warrior named Ashitaka (Billy Crudup -- WITHOUT LIMITS) sets out for the forests of the west in search of the cure that will save his life. Once there, he becomes inextricably entangled in a bitter battle that matches Lady Eboshi (Driver) and a proud clan of humans against the forest's animal gods, who are led by the brave Princess Mononoke (Danes), a young woman raised by wolves! Also starring Gillian Anderson (THE X-FILES) and Jada Pinkett Smith (SCREAM 2), this monumental struggle between man and nature will have you transfixed as stunning artistry blends with epic storytelling to create a uniquely entertaining motion picture!
My take on things. This movie has been my favorite since I was about ten. It is very good, and I loved it since me and my brother watched it for the first time. I would get it at the library again, and again, well i got bored getting it there, so i decided to buy it, and im so glad that I did.
Wonderful Surprise! I didn't think I was going to like this lesser known Miyazaki film. I don't know what was wrong with me - I've liked all his others. "Spirited Away" is my favorite of his more popular movies. This story didn't look anything like that.
And it's not. This story is about the struggle of nature against human civilization, and man against animal, animal against man. Its message is very real today.
Beside the underlying story, what really had me taken was the thought put into this tale - all these interesting things you might never think of. A young girl raised by wolves (and she rides them!), and animal "bosses" or elders that are enormous compared to their followers (reminds me of typical video games where the boss is huge). The art was beautiful, just beautiful.
I've got the urge to watch this movie again, just to "live" in that world for a couple of hours once more.
A beautiful tale good storyline, my kids watch it all the time, it's a little long but very enjoyable, this movie catches your attention. This is a movie you will watch over and over.
Great Movie! A must have for anime collector! Princess Mononoke is a must have for any die hard anime collector. This movie presents a moral based storyline with action that makes for a great movie. Out of all of Hisaya Monshige movies, this would have to be one of the best anime's ever made.
An Animation Masterpiece. I found this animated movie quite moving. I highly suggest you view it. It's quite magical.
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