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Princess Mononoke
Yes, this version was put out by Miramax, a division of Disney. Yes, there are
furry animals. Yes, they talk.
But they'll also bite your head off. For fun.
Princess Mononoke is Japanese animation, a genre that is beginning to show an
influence on the American cinema. If you have had little experience of anime
before, Princess Mononoke is an excellent introduction to this diverse and
complex realm. For the anime fan, it will be an easily recognizable
masterpiece.
The movie creates a visual impact in the opening scenes, with detailed
environments and a clean-lined style of character familiar to those who have seen
such works as Nausicaa and Totoro. The first antagonist derives a fair amount of
fear from sheer visual effect. Hayao Miyazaki, the driving creative force
behind the film, personally drew 80,000 of the pictures, and the master's touch
is evident in sights, characters, and story.
This first scene also begins the plot virtually without noticeable explication,
a smoothness of storytelling that is maintained throughout the story. Indeed,
to this reviewer the pace and tempo of the film is possibly its finest feature:
reminiscent of a piece of great music, with rhythm and silence interacting to
create a larger whole.
The voice actors, in part due to the weight Miramax holds in the industry, are a
lineup of familiar names. Keith David and Billy Bob Thornton masterfully
portray two characters, and the voices of Jada Pinkett and Gillian Anderson lend
depth to the personalities of Toki and Moro. Noticeable to all fans will be
the breadth of expression produced not only by the actors but by Meil Gaiman's
superb redaction of the original script. As much as possible of the original
nuances that made Princess Mononoke Japan's top box-office draw(before Titanic)
are preserved in the direction, acting, and scripting of the English version;
and the resulting quality shines.
In fairness, I should list any complaints. ... ... ... At times, the
action seems simplistic. But it's difficult to tell if this is a flaw, or an
artifact of the nature of the characters: animals, spirits, and humans at the
dawn of the Iron Age. The movie is *not* for younger children, since the
violence is at times graphically depicted. Children 10 and over, however, should
enjoy the film, and even be receptive to its message about humans and nature.
Older audiences will appreciate the movie on numerous layers.
Overall rating -- * * * * *
Reviewer failed to include a name to attribute this but Rev. Cyohtee agrees
overall :)
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