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Princess Mononoke Actors: Yôji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, Yûko Tanaka Director: Hayao Miyazaki Number of Items: 1 Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen Format: Color Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Running Time: 134 minutes Studio: Miramax Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Region Code: 1 Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2000-07-20 Buy from Amazon |
 "Don't be so literal, this is artistic metaphor at its best"I have to respond to those who freak out about the "superstitions" of this film. Being a totally non-magical thinker myself I can understand the first-order reaction. But frankly, you need to see the metaphors. When the spirit gods express anger at "humans", this is metaphorically our own conscience questioning and evaluating what we are doing. It's that simple. If you can do that, you will be able to LOVE this film. SEMI-SPOILER: The first great thing about it is that there are no mustache-twirling villains. Everyone's motivations are human, they're doing what they think is best. That's just the appetizer. Great stuff!  "A little corny, but still good"First of all, I'd like to warn parents (as other reviewers have) that this is an adult animated feature, and NOT a cartoon. As such, there are some VERY graphic, violent scenes, including decapitations and dismemberments. That being said, I have to say that this was a very impressive effort by Mizayaki, but perhaps not quite as engaging or imaginative as Spirited Away (those are the only two Mizayaki films I've seen). I have to agree with some of the other reviewers that the ending was a bit sugar-coated, but for me it was not enough to ruin the overall experience. This film's political message is a bit preachy, and it runs a little long (nearly 2 1/2 hours), but all in all, this is a very entertaining film. Recommended (but NOT for young children). "Chill out people!"Wow, so there seems to be a lot of controversy on this film. Yes I definitely agree with the fact that it is not for young children. So for the rest of us who can watch it..just watch it and move on. I have never been into animee (sp?) movies, but I really like this one. Okay so I really dug the little forrest spirits. Too cute. Back to my point though, people try to read too much into movie meanings and messages. GET OVER IT! Just enjoy the story and worry about more important things in this world. These reviews where people are going into their crazy beliefs and crap are hillarious. Movies are for entertainment purposes only kiddies. "VISUALLY SPECTACULAR, HOT-BUTTON MESSAGES, BUT.."The reviews for this typical Miyazaki blockbuster are so rabidly of the WOW mentality that you may expect something mind-blowing. 'Manage your expectations and enjoy the bloody ride' is my advice. In terms of sheer execution this is one of the best anime capers you'll see, replete with beasts of mythic proportions, lush forests, sparkling waterfalls, and some mind-numbing inter-galactic slaughter. I could wager in a blink that this is what inspired Tarantino to do that little anime insert in Kill Bill Vol 1. Plus, the film has some swank credentials under its belt: the Japanese voices are dubbed, not just subtitled, by big *American* stars -- Billy Bob Thornton, Minnie Driver, Claire Danes, Bill Crudup, etc -- who lend their laryx to a host of universally relevant issues such as the plight of indigenous people and nature in the face of unchecked business interests, the death of spirituality in the name of social progress, misogyny in its many variations, etc. But I have my gripes. The film is violent. Very violent. Sometimes senselessly violent. I had to frequently turn my volume knob to the left. There are gigantic guns, and blood and guts splatter the landscape every minute. Most of this soon seems overdrawn (and the film is looooong) with all this supposedly cool action amounting to precious little in terms of any clear message about good versus evil. The underlying purpose is summed up brilliantly by a roadside beggar when he says something like the world is cursed, but we still find a reason to live. I also found something lacking in the animation itself. While exquisitely vivid it seems to lag in its flair for capturing natural motion. Disney or Pixar movies pore over a sense of suppleness when an eye is raised or a muscle is twitched by a character. Miyazaki's animators on the other hand haven't penetrated beyond the skin, the moving creatures feel inarticulate and jerky, particularly when played against the very 2D painted backgrounds. But that still doesn't stop me from recommending this powerful cult flick, a must if you're an anime acolyte. If not, then be prepared for a Tarantino x 100 and you'll do fine.  "Be literal, "artistic" metaphors are stupid!!"Don't listen to rhogen, he's not smart. So what if all the characters have human actions, this movie is full of dizzying contradictions and superstitious crap!! Those who think in a literal way are much smarter than those who don't. I'm not an Evangelist Christian from Mississippi who thinks Princess Mononoke is full of paganism, I'm a Soviet Marxist who thinks Princess Mononoke is full of anti-human new-age supersition and metaphors that are silly and nonsensical. Miyazaki screwed up and should keep his enviromental anti-human commentary in Japan, like killing people will help trees grow. Watch Akira (Streamline version), Ninja Scroll, and Ghost In The Shell. All of those anime have adult and provacative content, but don't have anti-human new-age spiritual crap, "artistic" metaphores, and they don't make you puke out your lunch. |
