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 Ash*taka, 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. Ash*taka'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 Ash*taka), 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
Best Animation Movie ^ Miyazaki is man best describe in one word: "Fanastic"! His animation work is by far the best when it comes to movies and animation series. The choice of overall story-line, main characters, support characters, and individual story-line for each character is done so perfectly that there no mistake what going to happen, and it getting you thinking from beginning of movie or episode what going to happen next or how is this going to end. Princess Mononoke incorparted everything that I just mention above, to me is one best animation movie done by him. I would also rank in top three for best animation movie of all time. The price was well worth it and company who I purchased it from sent it just a describe Used-"Like New". It also arrived on time as describe by the company who I order my copy from. You won't be waste any money when you order Miyazaki "Princess Mononoke"!
Watch is withOUT audio...1star for animation. ^ This movie didn't make any sense to me, except for the tree/nature hugging undertone. It seems all over the place with storylineS. I wouldn't be able to explain what is the movie about if I had to. Is it about the kid from this long lost tribe and his coming of age? Is it about Iron Town and the exploitation of nature and its resources? Is it about giant wolves and pigs/demons?...among other possible themes. I didn't get it. But the animation sequences get the only credit, in my book. I say rent it first then decide if you want it in your collection.
Homage from James Cameron ^ I just watched the DVD today, I probably not the first person to mentioned this, so here goes. 25 minutes into the movie, I said to myself, haven't I seen this movie like in the last 6 weeks, OH YEAH!!, It's AVATAR ! the story line, the characters, the overt themes, the forest background, the little faires. Enough said, I still enjoyed both films. By the way I just found out that James Cameron is a huge J-Anime fan. Thank you.
Classic anime, great animation, great story! ^ Classic anime, great animation, great story! Depicts mans struggle against nature in a battle between mankind and the very spirit of an ancient forest in Japan.
Buy from Media Geek!! ^ I absolutely love this movie. It is definitely on my top 5 movies list, (and I have a very eclectic taste for movies and library, therefore). There's just something about this movie that is very powerful. The meanings are both obvious and yet subtle and complicated. It's much more than a typical man vs. nature scenario, depicting an all too familiar greedy mankind and a seemingly fragile system. I could go on and on about it, but I actually wrote this for a different reason. Whereas this is one of my favorite movies and even those who aren't fond of animations could love this as much as I, I would like to correct something I did wrong. I accidentally left the wrong feedback for Media Geek and now Amazon won't let me redo it. Therefore I am attempting to make amends here!
I suggest that you watch this movie. If you are here to purchase it, may I also suggest that you buy it from Media Geek. They not only offer a fair price, but their customer service goes above and beyond anything I have experienced in all my years and years and years as a consumer. I am a very honest person and mean what I say.
So, step 1. Buy Princess Mononoke! Or at least watch it!
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