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Yoji Matsuda,
Yoji Matsuda,
Yuriko Ishida,
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Hayao Miyazaki,
Hayao Miyazaki
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: Miramax
: Anime, Foreign, Anime Feature Films, Animation, Cel, Studios, Ghibli
: 134 min.
: English, French, Japanese
: English
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This $20 million animated adventure/fantasy quickly became the highest grossing Japanese film in Japanese film history (making $150 million in Japan during its first seven months). Set in the 14th century, the ecology-themed epic was directed by Hayao Miyazaki whose previous films were acquired by Disney for U.S. distribution plus other territories. Princess Mononoke depicts a mystical battle between Animal Gods of the forest and humans during Japan's Muromachi Period. Young Ashitaka receives a fatal infection after a demonic wild boar attacks his northern village. Seeking a cure, he sets out to locate the deer-like god Shishigami. Along the way, he sees the rape of the Earth by a mining village. The constant plundering by the village has brought the wrath of the Wolf God, Moro, who attacks the village along with San, a human who was raised by the wolf god. She communicates with the nature spirits -- which is why she is called Princess Mononoke ("spirits of things"). Ashitaka wants these opposing forces to co-exist, and he hopes to bring peace between San and the ironworks owner, Lady Eboshi. However, he is thwarted as higher powers, intent on killing the Shishigama, intrude, and a battle erupts over the future of all nature. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
You might also enjoy:
Panda! Go Panda!
If you want to introduce very young kids to Miyazaki, this cutefest's a good bet
The Castle of Cagliostro
Miyazaki's feature debut is very different, quite entertaining
Watership Down
British animated feature with similar environmental values and mystical feel
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| Breathtaking. Watch with "eyes unclouded."
by JTurner1
April 17, 2004 - 9:46 AM PDT
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4 out of 4 members found this review helpful
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In its theatrical Japanese release of 1997, Princess Mononoke was the hugest box office grossing movie of all time in the land of the Rising Sun until it was overtaken by James Cameron's Titanic, and, four years later, director Hayao Miyazaki's own Spirited Away. No wonder. This movie, like an earlier project of Miyazaki's, Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind, explores man's relationship with nature, hatred causing destruction, and, more importantly, real characters (in other words, no real "hero" or "villain") trying to get by in a world continually torn by war.
This is not a movie for young children, as there are disturbing shots of decapitations, amputations, and occasional blood spurts. Sometimes these elements of violence turn squeamish viewers away from Anime (especially when they're done gratuitously), but Hayao Miyazaki presents it not to sicken people but to show it for the horror that it is (plus, in this film, the violence is not overdone). Take, for example, the scene where the protagonist, Prince Ashitaka of the Emishi Tribe, possessed by a curse he received from killing a Demon God (in trying to protect his village), tries to stop samurai attacking innocent people, and in doing so shoots the arms off of one man, and, later, takes off a man's head with two arrows. The sight is horrifying to see, but the deed also increases Ashitaka's demon mark on his arm, which is slowly preparing to take his life. This is a truly horrible depiction about the dangers of violence.
Also worth noting is Princess Mononoke herself, a human girl named San raised by the Animal Gods, and her struggle against Lady Eboshi of Iron Town, who is destroying the forest merely for her people's own good (the folks are outcasts, including lepers and prostitutes). San distrusts and despises all humans, and is especially determined to destroy them all (particularly Eboshi)... or die trying. When she's rescued by Ashitaka, however, a conflict within her begins to surface: are *all* humans evil, or is there at least one who is trustworthy? If there is any character who could be considered a villain, it would be the monk, Jigo, who wants the head of the Spirit of the Forest to bring to the Emperor. Such a deed would destroy the entire forest (as we find out in the film's chilling climactic scenes) but even Jigo has his own motives, too. He is not so much evil as much as he is just "trying to get by". This pretty much sums up the conflicts between all our characters here.
Princess Mononoke may not have enjoyed similar box office success here in America, but at least it was translated excellently. As with Disney's other English language tracks for Miyazaki's films, this one is very, very well done. Acclaimed writer Neil Gaiman worked on the script, rewording it only to a) fit the mouth flaps, and b) make it understandable to a non-Japanese audience who would probably not comprehend a lot of the cultural nuances found in this film. Added to which, the voice cast includes a wonderful list of stars; Billy Crudup is perfect as Ashitaka, eliciting just the right amount of warmth, kindness, compassion, wisdom, and courage, while Claire Danes delivers passionately angry, conflicted turmoil to San. (Folks said she was miscast, but I beg to differ; her character is *required* to be outraged and aggressive, and Danes does have a strong voice to carry such emotions.) The rest of the cast includes Billy Bob Thornton as Jigo (a grossly underrated performance; his Southern drawl adds to the character), Minnie Driver (elegant choice!) as Lady Eboshi, Gillian Anderson as the Wolf-Goddess Moro, and Jada Pinkett-Smith as the friendly (if no-nonsense style) worker Toki. The translation flows smoothly to those who are not familiar with Japanese folk tales, and the story succeeds in making its point, too.
This movie may not be for everybody, as it is the kind of film that may disturb young children, but older audiences will find themselves absorbed in the artwork, which showcases gorgeous, unmatched imagination, from the finely detailed forests to the cute little Tree Spirits who appear and disappear at will to the Forest Spirit itself -- a huge deer who makes plants grow with each step he takes. And at night he becomes a ghostly specter known as the Nightwalker, traveling higher than the trees. Such images warrant the purchase of this film. Better yet, its message is not too preachy, and rarely do animated movies (save those from Japan) showcase characters as being, well, human beings.
Miramax's DVD release lacks in the extras department, featuring only a theatrical trailer (where Miyazaki and Mononoke are both mispronounced) and an interesting but short featurette involving principal members of the voice cast and the dub director, Jack Fletcher (screenwriter Neil Gaiman appears briefly). However, this is more than made up for by an absolutely breathtaking visual transfer, and, for the purists, three choices of language tracks, including the original Japanese. There are also "literal" subtitles, too.
As a Miyazaki movie and a visual tour-de-force, Princess Mononoke is a must-see. |
| Beautiful
by edgeglx
July 16, 2003 - 10:29 AM PDT
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2 out of 2 members found this review helpful
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| Miyazaki has scored again with this epic animation feature. The characters are beautifully rendered and fully fleshed out by Miyazki. As the film progress, you can't help but feel for the characters, be they the forest, the evil boar or the hero/heroine. Nobody is truly good or evil in this animation, and in this sense, I would say it is suitable for older children, who are more able to grasp the grey nature of the real world, where one is not necessarily always right or wrong. Brilliant and beautiful. |
| My favorite movie of all time.
by MegaOtaku
May 23, 2003 - 1:20 AM PDT
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6 out of 6 members found this review helpful
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Princess Mononoke is a difficult movie to catagorize. It has elements of both action, adventure, drama, and certainly fantasy, but the most accurate way I can think of to describe it is... its a Hayao Miyazaki movie. And like most of Miyazaki's films Princess Mononoke does not like to conform to any one genre. Which is the way it should be, this is a piece of art that shouldnt be forced to be confined to something as shallow as a category. Which makes it very hard to say to people If you liked this, youll like this film. because there really isnt anything like it. Just watch it and find out what it is, and wether you like it or not. Because you wont be able to tell by reading a little 50 word synopsis.
What I will say is what is means to me. No matter how many times I watch this film, I never get tired of it, just like the first time I'm always transfixed by it. The animation is fantastic, the music is the best film score I have ever heard. But its the way Miyazaki handles each scene that is what really makes this film incredible. Seemingly simple scenes like San feeding Ashitaka, or Ashitaka carrying San out of the Iron Works that just took my breath away. To even get 1 scene like that in a movie is an accomplishment, but most EVERY scene in Princess Mononoke does that. And the ending is one of the most amazing cinematic moments Ive ever experienced.
Its been my favorite film of all time for over 2 years, and I see no sign of anything even coming close to matching it. But enough talk, go see it. NOW! |
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