Spirited Away

Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable, otherworldly experience...
Review: A wonderful story where an 8 year old girl gets stuck in a spirit world, which can be a very frightening place. But with courage,ingenuity, and a little help from some new friends, she can find her way home. Chihiro is a bit like Alice in Wonderland, but where Alice seemed to remain untouched by her experience (which makes it more suitable for very young children), Chihiro grows more confident and brave as she faces her fears.

A four-year old watching this can find the stuff of nightmares, so I do not recommend this for K or Pre-K kids.

Rating:
Summary: Creepy Movie
Review: This is, by far, one of the creepiest movies that I've ever managed to actually sit through. I love anime, but can't quite understand why this one has become quite so popular. The backline (with family) is a great story, but the whole spirit storyline gets very farfetched and downright creepy. This could cause nightmares in children and adults.

Rating:
Summary: This film is a masterpiece.
Review: This Film is a masterpiece. Forget that it is Japanese. Forget that it is Animated. Buy it now. Because when you watch this movie you will forget all thoose things as you enter a new world that is incredible. The only drawback is that the film is not for younger children. But older children and Adults will be stunned at how good this film is.

Rating:
Summary: This is a very good movie
Review: I think this movie is excellent.The sound affect, the art work ,and the voices.They are very good.In my personnal opinion, Janpanese animation films are always the best.

I hope people who watched this movie,had enjoyed it.

Rating:
Summary: Hated "Spirited Away", but loved this!
Review: I couldn't stand this movie for many of the same reasons already discussed here, so I won't bore you with that. I can, however highly recommend an anime film, and that is "Night On The Galactic Railroad". It has everything that "Spirited Away" lacks - coherent plot, beautiful animation, good pacing and it's child appropriate. Purchase a copy while it's still available - you won't regret it!

Rating:
Summary: Not my intrest
Review: People think this stupid film is good. Well, not to me. I wish it wasn't. I saw some clips of it and this film doesn't even sound that cool. The only part that can intrest me was the Japanese animation because I'm part Japanese, but that doesn't coverup the whole bland and boring film. If you want another animated movie to see in the future that's not this one, then go see Finding Nemo. Spirited Away isn't that good. IT'S HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: A plea to future viewers.
Review: First of i would join the ongoing hordes of fans that will tell you this is a MUST HAVE film. You will no doubt have heard how utterly beautiful this is,that its a delightful story and you will marvel at the small tiny details that,on most animation films wouldnt have been added or even thought about, you WILL watch this over and over and notice more and more.
I cannot rave about this film enough BUT...and heres the kick, it HAS been ruined by Disneys awful western dubbing-im sorry but it has! Disney/Pixar may rave about how they painfully tried to keep it true to Miyu's eastern version but thats the point IT IS AN EASTERN FILM!!its full of Asian characters and culture it should never have been dubbed.
So i implore you,beg you,plead with you to watch this in THE BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE IT WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN with the subtitles that way you will really appreciate the wonderful world of Spirited Away.

Rating:
Summary: "Spirited Away" Elevates SPIRIT and Takes You AWAY
Review: This highly original and very entertaining film swept almost any award there was for animated feature films, including the Oscar and even Berlin Film Festival. (How refreshing, after too nihilistic and erotic "Intimacy"!)

With a little discernment, "Spirited Away" is suitable for children (although not too young, maybe from 8 years up) and for adults, too -- if they have not their sense of fantasy 'amputated' from their minds. Yes, it's that good!

At the beginning, a little bit spoiled girl named Chihiro is moving with her parents to a new place, a new home. She does not seem too enthusiastic about that. But then the three stop their car and looking around, they find a deserted amusement park(?). From then on, a special string of events starts to unfold, and Chihiro -- now named Sen -- is first resented as a representative of human race, but later wins hearts of almost all inhabitants of the weirdly compelling world of various creatures, apparently based on Japanese mythology. In a way, the girl leaves her childhood behind her and becomes a young woman.

Combining the improbable with the inevitable, the ancient and the modern, the films contains many societal references and especially in its second half becomes a 'spirited', at times utterly fascinating journey into fantasy (in my native Slovakia it ran under the title "The Way to Fantasy").

I can recommend this film to real movie connoisseurs. Although I liked "Shrek" and "Finding Nemo" recently, I liked this one more! Indeed, few films in my adult life have appealed to the "child" in me more than "Spirited Away".

Rating:
Summary: It says PG right on it!
Review: This is a great movie, but it is obviously not for everyone, especially those who lack a creative spirit. I read one review that downcasted the Japanese for not making the characters look Asian enough! And another said that this movie is too "different and weird." How sad. Others complained that this movie is too scary for kids (it says right on it - PG: For Some Scary Moments). And indeed there are! Don't rent it for your 4-year olds and complain about that it if they get scared. Anyway, to my opinion about the movie:

BAD: This movie isn't perfect, and there are a few MINOR things that bothered me. First, the noses. When Chihiro turns sideways, her nose looks oddly shaped and flat.

And last, the relationship between Yababa's sister and Chihiro wasn't developed enough. They share a scene with each other for about 5 minutes before Chihiro has to leave, and they are saying their good-byes as if they have been with each other for years!

GOOD: The creativity of this movie is astounding! That's probably why some people don't like it. Maybe it's just too creative for some people. (Look at our music industry, for example. Since when did people enjoy a little creativity in music? But I won't go there). Anyway, there are a lot of weird creatures and spirits and a talking frog! You should also see some of the food the parents eat, as well as everything else, but there are too many things to type about.

And also the originality of this movie... I haven't seen any movie even remotely like this one. If you have noticed the protaganists and antagonists, they are not the typical good vs. evil. Like Yababa (the main antagonist). I don't think she is evil, although she does unlikeable things. She is, however, trustworthy and she takes care of her giant baby! And the protaganist (Chihiro being the main one) is at first unlikeable (her screaming over everything... sheesh), but you grow to sympathize with her and like her throughout the movie. And one character (No-Face) switches from neutral to protagonist to antagonist to protagonist again.

Also, the weird plot and setting (they enter this other world that seems to be in another world...). It's kind of hard to explain without giving everything away. You really have to see it for yourself.

And the dubbing/voice acting was actually all right! I really liked the voices for all the characters, from the actor for Chihiro who really puts emotion into her character, and to Yababa with her throaty voice. Everyone was perfect.

Also, I'm really glad with Miyazaki, because it feels like he was making this movie for himself (this movie does not follow any formula like in a lot of American movies). There are a lot of climaxes and resolutions in this movie and it feels as if he made up this movie as he went along, which in this case is a good thing.

Overall, a great movie. Just don't complain about this movie because it has violence or the characters didn't look Asian enough. That's what G movies are made for- people who cannot enjoy creativity and a piece of art that was made for Miyazaki's pleasure. This is definitely not for close-minded people.

Rating:
Summary: Best Animated Film Every Made
Review: Snow White comes in second I'm afraid. THIS is the best animated film ever made. It is absoutely amazing on every level, and will be enjoyed by adults as much or more than by children. In fact, children under 7 will probably be too frightened. A man in the theater when I saw it had to take his weeping child out after the first 15 minutes.