Rating: 
Summary: A Film All Ages Can Connect Too
Review: Spirited Away is a film that people of all ages should be able to connect to. The story involves Chihiro, a young girl who ends up in the world of spirits. Spirits represent pretty much anything you can think of in life from plants like the Radish spirit to emotion such as the lonely No Face. Throughout the movie we see Chihiro grow from a self centered child to a more mature self. This movie shows this quite literally how if you don't know the means of basic survival, chances are the world is going to eat you up. It's the kind of messages kids need to get these days rather than thinking they're going to get a job from something like Spy Kids. Sure this film may be scary for some kids, but for the good majority it's a taste of reality with plenty of enjoyment to go with it.
Rating:
Summary: the movie for all ages
Review: many will think this is a childs movie when they first see the previews. but it is actually far more than that.here is a breif summary. a girl is moving and her and her parents make a wrong turn so they think the place they end up at is an abandoned theme park which actually is a mythical world. so she gets lost sorta and the only way to stay to find her parents is work at a spiritual bathouse. so its a great movie if you like other miyazakis works you will love this.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Movie of 2002
Review: In 2000 I was introduced to the world of Hayao Miyazaki when "Princess Mononoke" made its debut on DVD. That movie was so incredible I chose it as the best film of 1999. (I missed it in theaters when it was playing during its Christmas run). After that, I watched every Miyazaki movie available on video. I never thought he could possibly make a better film than PRINCESS MONONOKE, but he has done it with SPIRITED AWAY, It's the best movie of 2002.Why did I choose this movie as the best film for that year? Why not? Remember in 1992 Disney's "Beauty & The Beast" was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, the only time that has ever happened. And since then, Disney has learned what the Japanese have known for decades: Animation isn't just kiddie entertainment. It is a serious art form. It can make your imagination soar, and show you things that are impossible for any live action movie. Both of those things are done with every Hayao Miyazaki movie, but SPIRITED AWAY, like PRINCESS MONONOKE does something else. It has a combination of a powerful story, characters that I really care about, and all these astonishing eye-popping visual scenes that caused me to completely forget I'm watching the movie. I truly felt like I was IN the movie. That's my annual requirement for the best film of the year. Those visual images I cannot describe without spoiling the movie for you. I also cannot give you any background of the story. I began watching this film without any real knowledge of the story except for this. A little girl finds herself in a world like "The Wizard of Oz", and "Alice in Wonderland". Period. That's all I knew, and that's all I will tell you about it. I have seen and own six of Hayao Miyazaki's movies. THE CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO(1980) is a hilarious action comedy that also introduced me to the world of Monkey Punch's Lupin the 3rd. CASTLE IN THE SKY (1986) was just released and is also a visual wonder. (It is clearly an influence on the animators of Disney's "Atlantis") MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO 1988) is one of the all time greatest children's movies available and one of the best films I ever saw. (As a video clerk it is one film I'm constantly recommending for parents with very young children.) KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE (1989) is an entertaining and terrific family film. And PRINCESS MONONOKE (1997) I've already talked about. The best film of 1999 (when it came out in America) Now SPIRITED AWAY (2002). No wonder Hayao Miyazaki is an animation god at the Disney studio. He has claimed he made this movie for 10 year old children. That may be the youngest age limit for the audience, (It's PG rating is appropriate, because some scenes may scare the littlest ones.) but the audience is far bigger than that. SPIRITED AWAY didn't do anywhere near the business it did in Japan: The biggest hit of all time in that country. And I bet it was one of the biggest hits in countries all over the world before and after its American release. It would never have come here had it not been for Pixar's John Lasseter. And I hope that he will continue to bring other Miyazaki films to the US that were never brought here, including NAUSICAA IN THE VALLEY OF THE WINDS (1984), (a movie that is considered to be one of his greatest films, but was practically destroyed in a severely edited version in 1985), and PORCO ROSSO(1992) Both of those films and any future Miyazaki movies should be brought to American films. We haven't seen anywhere near enough of this animation master's work. Disney has done a wonderful job in bringing this movie to DVD. Like PRINCESS MONONOKE, it is a film that demonstrates the sharpness and attention to detail that DVD can bring you. And the sound is actually better in SPIRITED AWAY than the other film. PRINCESS MONONOKE had a rather muffled English version. It was good, but the Japanese version sounded more dynamic. The English version of SPIRITED AWAY is so good in sound quality that the Japanese version is only slightly better. Thus, I found I could enjoy both versions equally. Only small changes were made to the dialogue, and none to the images. If this review has made you interested in seeing SPIRITED AWAY, that's great. And believe me, don't refuse to see it just because you hate animated films. If you are someone who hates this genre you're probably watching the wrong animation. Check out SPIRITED AWAY, then see all the other Miyazaki movies I've mentioned. (note) A splendid book about Hayao Miyazaki is available by Helen McCarthy: HAYAO MIYAZAKI, THE MASTER OF JAPANESE ANIMATION.
Rating: 
Summary: a disppointment
Review: It's a well painted animation. But the storyline is indeed a big disappointment.
Rating: 
Summary: This movie is WAY overrated
Review: It's not a horrible movie, but certainly nothing extraordinary. I found the story to be minimal, with a lot of wasted time between the very beginning and the very end, which was entirely predictable. Clearly, Hayao Miyazaki is one of those opium writers, like the Alice in Wonderland guy. The whole movie is basically a shroom trip, just like Princess Mononoke. Lots of cool visuals. The best part is the beginning, where Dad is driving the family around in his Audi S4, aggressively tackling the dirt road and boasting of his Quattro IV all wheel drive system. :-)
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: I was floored. I am not a fan of anime normally, but I found myself wrapped up in this movie until the end. If you watch carefully, there are little dramas unfolding within the larger dramas. It's funny, heartwarming, breathtaking, beautiful and leaves you with oh so many messages about the human will, perserverence and more.. I bought the VHS tape and promptly ordered the DVD. Awesome!
Rating:
Summary: Refined talent leads to masterpiece
Review: From start to finish (and everything in-between) Spirited Away not only demands your full attention, but also captures you imagination long after the viewing is over. I hesitate on calling this a *movie*...it sounds so cliche...so dull. This is a cumulation of a fantastic story...amazing art that tingles the senses...and a moving soundtrack. All alone are tributes to themselves. Together they form the masterpiece that is this film. I do not review here often and when I do, I tend to score low. That said, I do not give this movie 5 stars lightly. Great film making is very much alive thanks to the talents and hard work of Miyazaki and crew.
Rating:
Summary: New Vision, Ageless Story
Review: I'd heard all the buzz surrounding SPIRITED AWAY and finally got around to watching it this weekend. Wow. Miyazaki, Japan's animated film auteur, has created a film with a new, amazing vision -- coupled with an ageless story. Young Chihiro is a timid, scared girl. When her family explores an abandoned theme park, Chihiro is magically "spirited away" to another realm where gods, monsters and spirits live. A mysterious character named Haku befriends her and teaches her the ropes of this new spirit world. Soon, Chihiro is working in Yubaba's bath house -- a spa for the gods! All along, though, she just wants to see her parents again and return to the human world ("there's no place like home"). Chihiro, like Dorothy (Oz) or Frodo (Rings), must learn to find her strength and courage and does so by telling the truth, doing kind acts, and, ultimately, following her heart. As an American, used to seeing the Disney films, SPIRITED AWAY's style is at first a little different. The animation is not fluid and realistic like Disney. However, the colors, direction, and story-telling transport you into Miyazaki's world. Some of the images are downright surrealistic -- oversized chicks, bouncing heads, the "stink monster". Miyazaki's imagination never ceases to impress and entertain. Some of his creative ideas are very funny, as well (Yubaba's baby!). I'm an adult and enjoyed SPIRITED AWAY very much. I couldn't see anything in the film that would be offensive to young kids or families. Some of the film might be scary to them -- but, heck, so is THE WIZARD OF OZ (flying monkeys! Ahh!). By the way, I watched SPIRITED AWAY with its original Japanese soundtrack and English subtitles. Knowing that the film originated in Japan made me not want to hear the dubbed American voices and translation. The subtitles allowed me to hear the film in its original language. Of course, the DVD provides both options, so to each his own! Mostly, though, SPIRITED AWAY has an amazing new vision that I'd never seen before. I liked it for its surprising creativity.
Rating:
Summary: GET A GRIP!!
Review: OKay first of all you all are WAY over rating this movie! this movie is for kids! not you OLDER people! you all sound 30-40! am i right?! okay this is a kids movie as i said and you have to realize that kids see things way different then you old folks! kids see things as innocent and catch things that older people would never see it shows the kids that you can't be greety, and you can over come your fears and most inportantly how to love! ! ! its FILLED with imagation! lessons that we all need to know ! unlike most of you! which is a big thing in the real world! i think this movie is one of the best movies I'v seen! BELIEVE me i have almost all the disney movies ever made!( litteraty ) and this disney movie is one of the best the best without walt disney! for the frist time thank God! ..... I know you people really dont care but if you take time to write your letters to the people that actually care then maybe you should read my letter first! this movie is soo good I don't understand why all the people are saying that the end was not so good but I loved it ! Everything in the movie from start to finish i loved ! and Im 16 and I think i know what im talking about even my little cousin that is 4 thinks its just the coolest movie! who cares if its lilo's voice! i never saw the movie so i can care less but it fits with the character in the movie and thats all the matters ! SO GET OVER IT! geeze!
Rating:
Summary: An incredible animated movie
Review: "Spirited Away" won the Oscar for 2002's Best Animated Film. It richly deserved this award, for it is by far the best movie of its type in years. It may not be funny like 'Monsters Inc." or entertaining like "Shrek", but for sheer beauty and artistic integrity, it's almost impossible to top. Since words, like any other medium, have built-in limits, you will have to experience it for yourself to see what I am saying. Imagine this: A little girl is riding in a car with her parents. They are headed to their new house. Dad makes a wrong turn, and they wind up traveling along a dirt road which ends at what appears to be a deserted train station. Dad decides that it's really the entrance to a failed amusement park. He and Mom decide to go exploring, and the little girl, filled with trepidation, has no choice but to go along. After awhile, the little family discovers a restaurant that is still operating. The parents gorge themselves until they are turned into pigs. Suddenly alone, the child finds herself in a place full of witches, ghosts, goblins and other assorted spirits. Aided only by an unearthly boy, she must now save her parents and find her way out of this surreal place. The movie was made in Japan by animation master Hayao Miyazaki and his crew. It became the highest grossing movie of all time in that country. The people at Disney bought the American rights and lovingly added an excellent English soundtrack. The company's marketing department apparently was at a loss as to how to sell such an unusual animated movie. It was seen by relatively few Americans in theaters. I suspect that this masterpiece will find its audience here via video and DVD.
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