Princesse Mononoke: Amazon.ca: Video

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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 Ashitaka, 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. Ashitaka'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 Ashitaka), 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

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4.6 out of 5 stars (626 customer reviews)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Theme refreshing, content deep, May 24 2003

By	Lars Doucet (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Princess Mononoke (DVD)

I think many people have misread the theme of this movie- obviously there is the evil of man in the iron industry, but there is also the evil of nature, as evidenced by the gods of the forest who let their hate for mankind consume them. This is why I love this movie- it is not the traditional American hippie-nature-is-always-good, nor is it trample across the forest. BOTH mankind and nature have lost their way, and the main character, a sort of dark, brooding, savior of sorts comes to tell them that both of them are wrong and if they continue on their path both of them will be destroyed. That's at least what I got out of the movie. I think the visuals are stunning and serve to emphasize the story and theme, and the violence has a purpose for being in the movie, and could not be called gratuitous by anyone's measure. I love this movie because it is quite different from most of the anime that seems to make its way to American shores. I don't know if they're keeping all the best stuff in Japan, but some of the stuff I see is no better than our own American animation in terms of content and execution. Then of course, are the rare gems such as this. Miyazaki is a genius, the equivalent of George Lucas (before the prequels), Steven Spielberg, and Walt Disney (the man, not the company), all rolled into one, with a vision and craft that transcends them all. Magnificent.

Billy Bob Thorton had no reason to be cast for this movie- bad decision, but I won't let it mar my love of the underlying movie.

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5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece, Aug 7 2006

By	Russa Nodrey "Bookaholic" (North Carolina, US) - See all my reviews

I first saw this movie on TV, and I came in in the middle, however I was immediately hooked. I got my mom to rent it from Netflix and then I promptly bought it. I have had it for a bout two weeks and have watched it nearly every day. This is one of the best movies I, personally, have ever seen and it seems to never get old. There are so many small details to miss that you can watch it 10 times and still not see all there is to see. This is one DVD that you can get your money's worth from. I think the kudamo (did I spell that right?), the little tree spirits, are really funny and cute. Buy it!!!!!!!

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5.0 out of 5 stars An animated epic, Jun 25 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Princess Mononoke (DVD)

While Disney is regurgitating the same old formula year afer year and training us for the expected, what are the filmmakers doing over in Japan? They're simply turning out the most creative tales, jawdropping visuals and (especially in Miyazaki's films) the imaginitive UNexpected that animation has ever seen. After growing up spoon-fed with Disney, what I've seen of Miyazaki has effectively hit me over the head with a steel beam.

"Princess Mononoke" is absolutely an animated epic. I really think that "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings" (with their epic journeys, warring factions and unknown lands) had a strong influence on this film, and they give you a good idea of the general plot and feel. Then, throw in samurais and a big helping of Japanese myth (which really isn't any more objectionable to western religion than our own Mother Earth myth, if this is a concern for you). Beyond any feel or ingredients list, though, is an awesomely complex and creative storyline, the like of which I've never seen before in an animated film. I belive that this film is so good that it could easily stand being done in live action and could be huge on the scale of a LoTR movie (no joke). Princess Mononoke just "happens" to be done in animation.

Princess Mononoke really blew me away. I've never been a fan of Japanese animation, but I'm becoming a fan of Miyazaki. The difference is in the story and the creativity. I highly recommend Princess Mononoke to everyone, but especially to the average moviegoer who needs convincing to try it out. The only folks I'd like to warn are those who have a tendency to think or say "this is weird" 20 minutes into a film and give up on it. You have to have a little bit more of an open mind than Disney would like us to have. You'll be rewarded if you closely follow the film and have that open mind.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Princess Mononoke
This is simply an amazing movie. As animated movies go this is one of the best in secent years. It is also suitable both for children and adults. Read more

Published on Jun 18 2003 by ella3_83

5.0 out of 5 stars Vivid, Crisp, Brilliant
First, some concessions. I do not speak Japanese, so I can say nothing about the Japanese language version or the quality of the translation. Read more

Published on Jun 16 2003 by Zachary Gochenour

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent movie!!! ^_^
After watching Princess Mononoke i was blown away.. it became one of my all time favorites.. I know so many reviewers wrote this but.. Hayao Miyazaki is an absolute genius.. Read more

Published on Jun 5 2003 by Caroline

5.0 out of 5 stars If you don't like mild violence, don't watch it!
I finally got to see Princess Mononoke b/c a friend of mine let me borrow it and let me tell you, it's awesome! Read more

Published on May 21 2003 by lakiah