Rating: 
Summary: Wide Awake Dreaming
Review: I've never been stoned or drunk in my life, but from what I've seen of others, the feeling cannot be entirely dissimilar to a viewing of Spirited Away.This is a work of purest and brilliant imagination. A Yellow Submarine with Pinnochio-quality animation. I won't attempt to describe the plot - it's like trying to describe a dream that you can't quite remember. Suffice it to say that this film doesn't have SOMEthing for the entire family, it is a film that young children, teens, and adults can all FULLY enjoy without embarassment or self-conscience. A perfectly realized other-world saga on the level of Lord of the Rings, but without the gore. The new century is but a few years old, but this will probably be in the "Best of the Century" when they start compiling such lists 90 years hence. This is the Wizard of Oz for the third millennium.
Rating:
Summary: The Wizerd Of OZ of Our Time....
Review: Ten year old Chihiro is moving from her home to Japan with her mother and father. When Chihiro's dad takes a short cut strange things began to happen.
Chiiro meats a strange young boy named Haku.Haku is a spirit like all the other people and creatures that Chihiro meats in this film.
Chihiro had to get a job or else she wouldn't survie.She soon lived among Linn in the Spirit World.
Humans are not allowed to live in the Spirit World and thus Chihiro is in great danger when others around her start to suspect things are different about her.
After Chihiro learned that Haku stole a magical seal.Chihiro vows to give it back to the owner, but out of love for Haku.
With her friend No-Face and some other cute little tag-a-longs.Chihiro goes to see Granny in hope that she can forgive Haku for stealing her magic seal.
A truly beautiful story and is great for all ages. Any one who is still a child at heart will love this
Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies I have ever seen!
Review: This move was truly a pleasure to watch. I had heard many good things about this movie, and I finally decided to pick it up, and I am very happy that I did. This movie is truly excellent. If you enjoy this movie you will also enjoy Castle in the Sky, Kiki's Delivery Service, and My Neighbor Totoro. I am 21 years old and I can enjoy these movies, they truly are excellent. I highly reccomend this movie, you won't regret purchasing it, I can promise you of that!
Rating: 
Summary: Spirited Away To Where?
Review: I had read mostly nothing but positive reviews for this movie. I rented it because when it won the Academy Award for Best Animated Picture, I was shocked because I had never heard of the movie before. I have an open mind about most things and I enjoy learning about new cultures and as a film buff I'm usually impressed when filmmakers press the art in a new direction. However, after watching SPIRITED AWAY all I can say is, what's the big deal? Maybe it's because I don't know a whole lot about Japaneese culture. Maybe it's because outside of the cartoons I saw on television as a kid, I haven't seen much Anime. Maybe it's because I'm one of many, but only one of a few willing to speak out about how bad this movie is. Maybe it's because I know that a story has to make sense to be enjoyable. Whatever the case, SPIRITED AWAY doesn't make much sense and it really isn't that great of a movie. Granted, the animation is spectacular. I don't think anyone will argue with you there. Japaneese animation is a totally different style than American, but it is impressive nonetheless. No, the animation isn't the problem. The problem is the story. It starts off intersting enough. I mean, within the first fifteen minutes of the movie, the heroine's parents have turned into pigs and she finds herself in a spirit world being hunted by a witch who has a really big head and flies like a bird. Things still aren't too bad when she meets the spider-like boiler man and his army of magical coal specks. However, after that things really get wierd and they just don't make any sense. Not only that, but the film's ending feels extremely rushed and after sitting through a confetti of mismatched hodge-podge for over an hour, there was no catharsis and the film just ended. Did Disney edit something out when the Americanized this puppy? Or were the writers just so bad that they realized "Oh, this is getting pretty long, we better end it." In fact, the best way to describe SPIRITED AWAY is that it feels more like the pilot of a series than a stand alone film. As for all the issues and depth that the move supposedly deals with, bah humbug. I understand that the movie is a tale about growing up, about the evils of our materialistic society, and all that other jazz. Nevertheless, these symbols just don't make sense. Once again, maybe it's my unfamilarity with the Japaneese culture, but even allegories have to make sense; if they don't make sense then they don't work. The same goes for the wonderful creatures and beautiful landscapes; you can invent all the creatures you want but if the story isn't captivating it won't mean a thing. For example, what's the deal with a young human girl falling in love with a river spirit who turns into a dragon part of the time? I hate to be the odd man out here, but outside of the excellent animation and a few interesting moments, there really isn't anything in SPIRITED AWAY that is worth watching.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, but stick with the Japanese soundtrack.
Review: Whilst I agree with the reviewer who claims that the Disney dub of this movie is rather insipid compared to the original story, he fails to mention that the original soundtrack is available also with a decent subtitle translation. I would reccomend all adult viewers and children of a sufficient reading ability to stick with the original Japanese soundtrack, it is vastly superior in terms of mood and storytelling. The extras on this DVD are a mixed bag, but there are many of them.'Behind the Microphone' and 'The Art of Spirited Away' are both Disney efforts and lay on the cheese rather thick. There are a few points of interest in these documentaries regarding the process of translation, but at the end of the day they are both rather mundane fillers. Most annoying is the assertion in,'The Art of Spirited Away', that: "People have said that the characters in Spirited Away are based on Japanese Myth, but they are actually based on people Miyazaki has met." Whilst it may be true that the personalities and characteristics of the characters are based on real people, the characters themselves are 100% based on Shinto Buddhist mythology. Disney seem to be distancing themselves from this fact, perhaps in order to deter religious extremists who may look upon Buddhism in a negative light and give Disney a hard time. The Nippon TV special is excellent. It provides a remarkable view into the workings of Ghibli Studios and the creation of the movie itself. It shows a corporate animation giant being run like a family business with remarkable success. I wonder if any Disney staff are jealous? Stroyboard to Scene comparisons are another welcome addition. The only extra I would have like to see added would have been a commentary by Miyazaki. The TV special more than compensates though. On the whole Disney are to be congratulated on presenting Spirited Away ('Sen to Chihiro' in Japan) letterboxed and in its entireity, unlike Fox's apalling treatment of 'My Neighbour Totoro' . Just stick with the original soundtrack and you're in for a great time. Oh yeah, the film itself....It's an absolute classic.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Amazing
Review: I got this DVD not knowing if I would like it or not. I heard that it was supposed to be really good so I decided to get it. I was hesitant because I am normally not a fan of anime and movies like that. However, once I started the movie I realized how amazing it truly is. From the beginning I was hooked to the movie and couldn't stop watching it. It is a visual wonder. The animation is spectacular. Everything about the movie is excellent. I would suggest this movie VERY highly.
Rating:
Summary: I was spirited away!!
Review: Disney made a brilliant choice when they decided to bring the works of Miyazaki to the U.S.! I remember when I was ten watching Warriors of the Wind for the first time. It was truely an art form, even if it was edited beyond belief! Anyone who liked Warriors of the Wind will truely enjoy Spirited Away. Chihiro is moving to the suburbs with her mother and father, and they decide to make a stop on the way to explore. What they find is an old abandoned theme park with the alluring smells of food drifting on the wind.When Chihiro's parents finially find the food they were seaching for they gourge themselfs on it without asking permission and turn into pigs!Now Chihiro has to work for a spirit who runs the park to free her parents. Giving up her name and losing her memory in the process.I will not give away the whole plot, but I will say that children and adults alike will come to love this movie with it's brilliant animation and beautiful soundtrack.Spirited Away has an amazing likeness to Lewis Caroll's Alice in Wonderland, in it's quality to keep you guessing on what can happen next. Watch it, and I promise you will be running out to see the rest of Studio Ghibli's masterpieces!
Rating:
Summary: Simply WOW
Review: This movie is simply amazing. I could care less if it's geared towards a younger audience, the wonderful world in this movie is too good to miss out on.
Rating:
Summary: No Classic.
Review: Rated 2.5 This film has a very weak protagonist, it's all very strange and tries to be a sort of Japanese Alice In Wonderland/Disney film, but it never approaches that sort of quality. It might be good as pap for children, preferable to most modern Disney films but the characters are very frightening, which I enjoyed most of all. It's also a cheesy pretentious morality tale of the seven deadly sins. The girl meets some characters that she hardly learns anything about and by the end, this 10 year-old girl is supposed to have fallen in love. It has many surreal images, but don't expect too much. And don't expect coherence, plot or wonder.
Rating: 
Summary: SPirited Away
Review: I feel that I should let it be known that I am a fan of Hayao Miyazaki's work and might be a little biased. My friends were upset that disney is putting out his films, but hearing the director talk about the stipulations in their contract with DIsney I feel that these fears are mostly unwarrented. This film is very enjoyable. It is visually captivating and the main characters are all intresting. Many of the themes presented are similar to those disney includes in their films. It is a story of growth on the part of the main character, who overcomes various obstacles in her quest to save her parents and go home. It is Hayao Miyazaki's imagination in presenting this tale that makes it a worthwhile watch. THe DVD bonuses are also enjoyable. It gives you insight into how and why DIsney brought these films to the US. THe documentary of the making of the Japanese version is also worthwhile for the insight it gives you into the process of making such a film, but more importantly it gives you an insight into the culture and the cultural changes going on in Japan. (when Miyazaki is trying to explain to his staff what he wants visually). It it worthwhile for those who are old enough and who can stand subtitles, to watch it in Japanese and then later to watch it again in english so you can absorb more of the visuals.
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