Rating: 
Summary: Yes, folks, it's the Full Screen Pan&Scan Version.
Review: Okay, I'm an unrepentant nut for Studio Ghibli films, and this is one of the best, most watchable and re-watchable of Hayao Miyazaki's films. But let me add something to these reviews.That being said, I give the Japanese DVD a 5, even though it contiains 'dubtitles' (subtitles created from the English dub dialog, and not from a more literal translation of the Japanese dialog.) BUT -- you need a special DVD player to play the Japanese version; it won't play in the Region 1 player you have now. But I still give this USA version a 4. The overly childish-cartooney voices of the English dub can't obscure the poignancy of the ending, where the girls confront the fact that their mother could die from her illness, and the more immediate plight of the youngest child getting lost and her older sister's frantic attempt to find her. Nor can the pan&scan version hide all of the artistry of this animation classic. If you have young children or you appreciate the artistry of animation, this DVD !MUST! be in your collection.
Rating: 
Summary: The best Anime ever alongside "Akira"
Review: This is the best Anime that I ever saw! Everything about this movie is awesome! The characters are lovable. The colors are beautiful. This movie kind of reminded me of "Princess Mononoke", I mean the whole thing about forest spirits, just kind of sparked up in my mind. Anyway, parents, if you are SICK and TIRED of hearing about Pokemon and Digimon and Power Rangers and want your kids to be exposed to something nice and cute, then I really recommend you pick up "My Neighbor Totoro". Its rated G, the only thing offensive (its not really offensive but it might offend some parents) is the daughters are taking a bath with their father but the majority of their body parts are covered in suds , so it's not too bad for kids. There's some scariness but its just whenever King Totoro roars. Anyway, check this movie out. As you can read in the other reviews the DVD is very lackluster. I will only be picking it up to last me until Disney releases a very nice Special Edition hopefully with a WIDESCREEN presentation. In case you're wondering why I'm reviewing this in the Video section is because I viewed it for the first time on video just a couple of hours ago. Well anyway, toodles!
Rating: 
Summary: Very Disappointed
Review: I am extremely disappointed that there is not even a Japanese language soundtrack. Totoro is a beautiful movie, but I wanted the DVD so that I could have the Japanese language version with subtitles.
Rating:
Summary: WARNING FULL SCREEN VERSION
Review: Although it is not listed, Fox has released a "full screen" version of Miyizaki's masterpiece. This is an abomination and without excuse, since the original is a mere 1:85 if I remember correctly. My Neighbor Totoro is possibly my favorite animated film and it deserves better than this. I am returning my copy and I hope that one day Fox will get their act together.
Rating: 
Summary: Not much for adults ... but still great!
Review: I wish that they would release more fanciful cartoons like this for adults and children.
I bet the Original version had a more complicated story.
Rating:
Summary: The Most Beautiful Film in Existence
Review: This movie can make me feel better no matter what the status of my life. In fact, most times it not only makes me feel better, it usually brings tears of joy to my eyes. It's a remarkable film and my favorite of Miyazaki's works and that is saying more than anything else I might. The plot is relatively simple. Two young girls, Mei (4) and Satsuki (10) movie into a new house with their father. The house seems to be swarming with spirits of the "Dustbunnies" and the like. However, Mei finds herself a new friend in the cuddliest spirit of them all, the King of the Forest, Totoro. Totoro is an endearing creature, resembling a largish bear-bunny hybrid, and he befriends the girls and helps them with various things. That being said, some people complain about the DVD's lack of features. Indeed, it is a tragedy that we're not privy to the savory Japanese release, something I was fervently awaiting myself, but it's not as if we're being robbed. It's a ten-dollar DVD! The same price as the VHS and it lasts longer and I've yet to hear of a problem with this edition of the DVD (as with the Neon Genesis movie). Disney really takes the films for granted (almost refusing to release the amazing "Spirited Away" for a time), but the fans with wear them down I believe and we'll see a special edition soon. Need proof? Disney was forced to push back the release of "Princess Mononoke" to DVD because there was an outcry against them for not including the Japanese language track. Take THAT Disney! In closing, the only other thing I can offer is this: more often than not, I'm watching this without the audience of my younger siblings. Actually, they've only seen it once. I keep the treasure mostly to myself. Although I might enlist them to help me with a tree-grow dance this spring...
Rating:
Summary: Waaaa - Panned and Scanned!!! Where's my Movie!
Review: I saw Totoro at a movie series at Towson University in Baltimore, MD, with my (at the time 2 yr old) son. He loved it. I kept an eye out and when I saw the DVD release I pounced on it. When it showed up, it was panned and scanned - what's up with THAT? Aside from that, it's a great movie, great for kids, or kids and adults or even just adults (I must admit I bought this for BOTH of us). Since this is the best that's available on this continent I'd say go ahead and buy it, but if you have the ability to let those that have the power (IE, the mouse with the big round ears and gloves) know, let them know you want the whole movie - it's worth it!
Rating: 
Summary: What's the deal?
Review: I want to thank the reviewers who warned against this version on the grounds that it offers nothing over the VHS version. If you are an adult who loves the beauty of Miyazaki's films, you'll be disappointed by the unnatural English sound track of poorly translated Japanese dialogue and cutsified kiddie voices that sound like an amateur version of Saturday morning Smurfs. (the ONLY Miyazaki movie that recieved professional treatment in the English version was Princess Mononoke - 5 STARS!!)
For those of you that have REGION CODE FREE decks (or computers with software like "region free" that kills the code), I recommend buying the films from the Japan Amazon site.... Although slightly more expensive, ALL DVDs contain English subtitles and often they have the goofy soundtracks as well. They are also widescreen- not letterbox. Another plus is you don't have to wait - They're all available Now - even the newest Sento Chihiro no Kamikakushi-"spirited away", which includes English Subtitles)
Make no mistake. Miyazaki's movies are NOT DISNEY. Miyazaki does not paint his villains and heroes in black and white. Just as in real life, he shows that there is no such thing as pure good- or pure evil. Often the scariest character in his story becomes a subtle hero.
In short, I would recommend Miyazaki's movies 100 percent. However, for some reason, his best work is not being presented to the foreign consumers in its full glory.
Rating:
Summary: Terrible DVD of a great film
Review: Aaaargh. Being a Studio Ghibli fan, I had preordered this
from Amazon as there are few of the Studio Ghibli films
available on DVD. Unfortunately, what the Amazon listing doesn't make
clear is just how technically bad this DVD release is. It is a hacked-down 4:3 version, with only a 2-channel
English audio track (no Japanese or other audio). There
isn't even a subtitle track (not even english for the
hard of hearing). The video and sound quality isn't good either. Also, don't expect any extras relevant to the film. As the other reviews (obviously from other editions)
say, this is a great film. However, this is not a DVD
to get.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie - Terrible DVD - Shame on FOX
Review: Under the less-than-knowledgable assumption on the part of FOX Home Video that this is a less-than-average kids flick, they have taken a monumental family movie and reduced it to the shelf space of Barney (the purple dinosaur). One has to ask why? I'm not necessarily asking for deleted scenes or any of the nice attributes that the Japanese release had, but don't we (the American consumer) at least deserve the widescreen version as an option? Come on FOX get with the times.
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