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Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Director: Hayao Miyazaki Number of Items: 2 Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen Format: Color, Widescreen, Animated Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Running Time: 118 minutes Studio: Buena Vista Home Vid Region Code: 1 Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2005-02-22 Buy from Amazon |
 "Where the Wind Takes Us"In an age of stunning CGI films, I was afraid that Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, with its hand drawn animation, might be showing its age. I am happy to report that I was wrong. With lush landscapes that will come to no surprise to devotees of Miyazaki's work, Nausicaa is filled with a vivid palette of colors, and vivid colorful characters. The English dub is fantastic, as well. Alison Lohman is perfect as the gently brave Princess Nausicaa. Patrick Stewart is a perfect fit for the wise and revered Lord Yupa. Edward James Olmos is utterly believable as the loyal and feisty Mito. And Uma Thurman is fabulous as the cold and cynical Kushana. And the story still stands the test of time, being itself an ageless tale. The extra features are also worth the time and energy, especially the interviews with the voice cast, and the brief history of Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. This is a movie for the whole family to enjoy. "Another masterpiece."Nausicca was another fine animated movie from this studio. The movie carries you on a journey through physical places as well as emotional. I still say "Spirited Away" is the best work from this studio. "Better than anything Disney ever did"Miyazaki's movies extol virtue. The lead character in this work derives her power from an understanding of the world in which she lives and from her unselfish service to others. Interestingly and in contrast with most movies this director rewards the good characters and punishes the bad without ever seeming formulaic. This movie is set in a post-apocalyptic world and reflects a strong environmentalist mindset--take care of the Earth and all that--but it is much more. As opposed to written works, movies do not have the time to explore characters and have to use shorthand to clue you in--the Japanese do this well. You would have to go as far as Kubrick's 2001 to find another movie as bizarrely imaginative as this one. My wife shakes her head when I keep bringing these Miyazaki movies home, but I've got to say that I find them so much more enjoyable than the typical movie offerings because they are so imaginative. Whether about bathhouses for spirits, flying pigs, evil cat kings, etc., these movies all demonstrate the value of being good and honorable--they are worthy entertainment. "ONE OF THE BEST ANIMES I'VE EVER SEEN"Personally, I've only seen the Japanise version for I own an import, but this is defentilly my favorite ghibli film. It has a great storyline, wonderful charactors, great graphics for an 80's film, and a BEAUTIFUL score (I want the soundtrack). This anime is one you want to see more than once (beleive me I watch it all the time). So if you see this movie domestic or import it doesn't matter GET IT! "a short endorsement"there's obviously plenty of good, long reviews here. i'll just say that i caught most of this on pbs (why? i don't know, but it was on tv, i swear) one summer when i was a teenager (it was still a newish movie then), and the flying scenes blew my mind. i couldn't get it out of my head for years! i lived in a small town and didn't have the resources to find out what it was. i ran across the manga ten years later and a bootleg of the film shortly after that. i've been a devoted miyazaki fan since. this movie is beautiful, despite any gripes about massive plot compression (read the manga!), voice dubs (watch the japanese version!) or comparisons to later ghibli films (watch them all!). just watch this movie and it will make you feel good. |
