Rating: Summary: Wow... Review: This is an amazing movie. The sub is fantastic and the dub is just as good! A great movie for all ages.
Rating: Summary: EYE POPPER! Review: THIS HAS TO BE THE MOST ADDICTIVE OF ALL JAPANESE MOVIES! POKE'MON 1 WAS SUPER, POKE'MON 2 WAS SO-SO BUT THIS,IS DA BOMB!! THE ANIMATION IS GREAT, THE STORY LINE IS WONERFUL, AND SURE, IT'S 2 HRS. LONG, BUT SO WHAT?!?HOWEVER,PARENTS SHOULD MOST DEFNITELY NOT TAKE KIDS 2-5 YEARS OF AGE TO SEE THIS. THEY RATED THIS PG FOR A GOOD REASON!! I'M 10 AND I COULD NOT SIT STILL THROUGH SOME PARTS OF IT. DON'T LET TODDLERS SIT IN FRONT OF THIS ALONE! OVERALL,THIS IS AN EYE-POPPING MOVIE!!!!
Rating: Summary: Odd Review: I had high hopes of this DVD, and I wasn't disappointed. The story, animation and feel of the movie were so unusual and enthralling that I sat through 2 veiwings back to back. It makes such a change from the usual fare of Disney(ish) films issued for families, not that all Disney films are bad, but they do tend to be a bit bland and formulaic. This film keeps you thinking. Some younger kids will find it a bit hard going. Why did I have to get this film imported from the US tho? Neill
Rating: Summary: Objective point of view! Review: Ok, this is a review from an animation lover. This is the first Miyazaki film I've seen, so I'm not going to compare it to his other films or even to other animated films. I bought this DVD becuase of the hype Spirited Away generated, and out of plain curiosity. I love Disney, and animation in general. Though 99% of the reviews I read about Spirited Away gave it 5 stars, to me the movie is 3.5 stars. Why? well becuase basically it didn't make me feel anything. there are funny parts, there are scary parts, but the whole thing leaves you wanting more just becuase it delivered so little. Many charecters come and go, without purpose, leaving you wondering why are they here? how did they end up in this place? what is their story? and that is true, as the movie ended, I discovered that we should only care about Chihiro and not the rest of the charecters, which I find wrong and almost instantly kills the supporting cast. I now know the ending, and knowing that there's isn't anything else this movie can give me, I doubt I'll want to watch it again. As for the DVD, well major disappointment. I'm sure that the contents could've been easily squeezed into one DVD. Even the Treasure Planet ONE DISK DVD has more extras. And though the claim here is that "quality is more important than quantity", I disagree. The Making Of documentary (which is made by a Japanese TV station, and is in Japanese with English subtitles) is very nice, and very pleasing to see such a fresh documentary; it's structure, commentary and everything else is entierly new and very pleasing. The sad part is that many animation/movie related subjects weren't mentoined. Computer animation, abandoned sequences, history of charecters or anything to take us deeper into the myth and wonder of "Spirited Away", is nowhere to be found. Only 4 features in a whole DVD is really very little. One of them is a Storyboard To Scene Comparison featurette, and another is a series of Japanese trailers (both add up to around 10 minutes) and the "making of" runs at 40+ minutes. I still like the movie, but I don't love it, and actually doubt It'll make my top 30 best animated movies list, still the animation is superb, the dubbing is perfect, and as a whole it really takes you to another world. Sadly it leaves a lot to desire, and I believe it only scratches the surface of what could've been the best movie ever (animated or any other kind) This is my personal point of view, and I'm sure many will disagree, but I tried to be as objective as I could. Thanks.
Rating: Summary: Enchanting! My first Anime purchase! Review: My wife and I love this film. Anime isn't usually "our thing," but this film goes beyond all else!
Rating: Summary: A work of art for the whole family Review: We just rented "Sprited Away" and I am buying it today because my whole family - 6 and 3-year-old kids included - want to watch it again and again. As lifelong animation/comics fans, my husband and I were overcome with the beauty of this film. The artwork is superb! The storyline, infused as it is, with Japanese myth and legend, is engrossing and deliciously perplexing. I know just enough about Japanese culture to follow along - I think. As for previous posters' opinion about the film being too scary for children - well, I suppose that depends on your kids and your parenting philosophy. My kids were gripped by the movie, and yes, scared at parts. Even I was freaked out when Chihiro comes back to find her parent's turned into pigs, just as night falls and the spirits start to wander. But they were fascinated as well. (And my three-year-old boy loves nothing better than a good stink monster or a scary No-Face). And I think they take note that this girl (I imagine her as being about 9) conquers her own fears to master her environment, make friends and ultimately save her parents. I suppose in a world milk-fed on Disney pap and feel-good network TV, "Spirited Away" is too much for some Americans. However, I'm one parent who's happy to expose my kids to films of this quality. Not to mention myself.
Rating: Summary: Exquisitely weird Review: As a big Miyazaki fan, it probably goes without saying that I really enjoyed this movie. The movie is not a rehash of previous Miyazaki stuff at all. While Chihiro is reminiscent of both Kiki and Satsuki from Mimi o Sumaseba, there's an appearance of the makuro kurosukes (originally from Totoro) and the atmosphere a bit reminiscent of Mononoke Hime, this movie makes you think much more than any of the previous Miyazaki films. There are many layers of meaning and symbolism in the film, and it joins a short list of anime classics like Akira, Lain and Metropolis which cannot be fully appreciated without viewing several times.
Rating: Summary: Spirited Away Review: If you have never seen any of Mr. Mayazaki's works, get ready to be amazed. From all of the movies that I have seen, mind you I have only seen four of them (Princess Mononoke, Castle In The Sky, Kiki's Delievery Service and Spirited Away, they are all great, awesome, incredible. Spirited Away is basically about a girl named Chihido who stumbles into a world over taken by different types of spirits when going to her new house. When her parents undergo a transformation she must find a way to get them back to the way they were. In order to do that she must find work at the bathhouse and soon befriends a mysterious boy named Haku. Haku tells Chihiro that he will help her return her parents back to normal. So the adventure begins. That's basically the start of it. I hope this review will help you. And if you really haven't EVER SEEN Hayao Mayazaki's works this will be atsonishing!!
Rating: Summary: Another Masterpiece Review: The lastest offering from Studio Ghibli - Spirited Away continues the unpararelled streak of hitting cinematic home runs. Apart from Disney's Lilo and Stitch (which incidently also features the voice work of Daveigh Chase), Disney's recent run of feature length animated films has yet to produce a film which could be compared with anything Studio Ghibli has made. Spirited Away has something for everyone: action, beautiful animation, great storyline and Bruce Lee-esque emotional content. Like Princess Mononoke and Kiki's Delivery Service the main protagonist is a young girl who unlike nearly all girls in western animation has her own unique personality. I would like to recommend this film to anyone and everyone. Although there are some scenes that may frighten young children (like Chihiro's parents being turned into pigs) some parental supervision may be needed. But don't let the the scary scenes dissuade you from showing this film to kids as the themes of loyalty, hardwork, friendship and courage are worth the small scary scenes. Like Willy Wonka (but less scary).
Rating: Summary: What can I say? Review: Amazing? You betcha. Breathtakingly beautiful? Doubly so. Able to be enjoyed by all ages, except the very very young (like age 3)? Yeah! I'm 27 years old and I enjoyed it, as have all my friends of varying ages. You can enjoy Spirited Away on a variety of levels - the animation is so detailed, so expressive. There's also the story which is intriguing and surprising. The characters are, of course, mesmerizing. I highly recommend it!
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