Rating: 
Summary: One of the most amazing films...
Review: This film is probably one of the most beautiful animated films I have seen. It is a kid's movie, yet I'm sure that adults will enjoy it too. The views of Laputa, even though it is animated is breathtaking, and the technology in the movie is quite imaginative. It is about a boy named Pazu who finds a girl one day named Sheeta. She is apparently chased by all sorts of people, government agents, etc and he helps her...she has a pendant that seems to be a Levistone, and they set off to find Laputa along with a crew of "pirates"...I don't want to say more but that's the basic outline...
The music is probably my most favourite music ever...Joe Hisaishi really shines as the composer here (the music he did for Princess Mononoke was amazing too, but I liked this soundtrack much more) he has some fun tunes like Pazu's trumpet music, some sad tunes like the main theme, and a totally heartwrenching theme (I think it's called Sea of Cloud) that is incredible in its simple piano tones.Beautiful movie...the fact that Amazon has put up a page for the English language Disney version makes me more hopeful that it will indeed come out soon (and hopefully on dvd)
I guarantee you'll enjoy this film--young or old.
Rating:
Summary: Castle in the Sky DVD (aka = Laputa )
Review: I have an import version of this movie.
IT IS ONE OF THE BEST ANIME I HAVE EVER SEEN.
The animation is Very good, but what makes this Anime 'One of the best' is its Story. If you have not seen this Title and you like anime I suggest you buy it, or at least make an attempt to see it. (I plan to Buy the US Release of this title as well. If Disney Ever gets around to makeing it.)
{I think they have the rights to the Miyazaki films} I am not sure but I think that Princess Mononoke is the only Miyazaki film to be release on DVD in the US so-far.
(note: "Kiki's Delivery Service" was released on vhs. GET IT TOO!)
Rating:
Summary: Castle in the Sky....
Review: Is it just me, or do those very words, without even knowing what they refer to, contain a whimsical, imagination-inspiring power to them? "Castle in the Sky" is by Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, who I've come to believe is one of the most masterful storytellers alive today, and maybe of all time. It begins with a young girl, Sheeta, drifting down from the sky into the arms of a young miner named Pazu. From there begins an incredible adventure as these two search for answers to the girl's origins while running from both air pirates as well as mysterious agents. I don't intend to reveal much of the plot here, but suffice it to say, this movie reignited the feelings I used to have as a child when watching such classics as "The Wizard of Oz" and the "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" (which I also just recently purchased on DVD. The movie was created several years ago, but was recently brought to America, with a wonderful redubbing into English, thanks to Disney Studios. If you're looking for visuals like the mind-blowing, computer simulations in recent Disney hits such as "Finding Nemo", this isn't it. However, if you're a fan of traditional cel animation, this film may be one of the best ever produced. Miyazaki's attention to detail, his ability to bring these two dimensional characters to life, is awe-inspiring. For me, the greatest thing about this movie is that it's reminded me of the kind of fictional magic I hope to create myself one day, and makes me wonder if it's too late in my life for me to become an animator. The bad thing about seeing a movie like this, is that I know that I could never produce anything nearly as beautiful. Fortunately for me, if I ever get the opportunity, I'm just stubborn, determined, and delusional enough to give it a shot anyway.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully strange story with fascinating images
Review: This is a wonderful movie. The story is enchanting, with fantastic flying machines and cities in the air. The land and air are full of strange and mysterious people who range from the kind and good to the power hungry evil types. What is especially nice about the characterizations in this film is that only a few are wholly good or wholly evil, most are a mix and are trying to work out their place in the plot of the story. The story opens with an action sequence without any explanation about what is happening. This causes us to focus our attention and to try and figure out what is going on and what all these strange people and machines are. In some ways it seems like a 1930s serial, in others futuristic, and in others ancient myth without connection to the world in which we live. While this isn't as beautiful as "Spirited Away" or even "Princess Mononoke", it is still head and shoulders above nearly everything you see passing as an animated movie nowadays (with a couple of exceptions). My kids encouraged me to get this DVD and they enjoyed it immensely. I expected to like it, but enjoyed it more than I expected. Miyazaki has a unique imagination and has a powerful ability to use his wonderful images to tell the story in delightful and beautiful ways that go beyond conventional live action movies - no matter the special effects budget - or even most animation. Watching his stories is a special experience that I am grateful to him for sharing with me.
Rating: 
Summary: "A girl just fell from the sky, boss!"
Review: The difference between most animated features and those made by Hayao Miyazaki is that the famed director-animator always tries to incorporate insightful themes and ideas into his works. "Castle in the Sky" is no exception.
While at his job one day, a young man named Pazu (voiced by Mayumi Tanaka) is surprised to see a girl float down from the sky. The girl is named Sheeta (voiced by Keiko Yokozawa) and she is in possession of a strange piece of jewelry. Pazu befriends Sheeta but the mystery behind her appearance deepens further when it turns out she is being pursued by the government and a group of pirates. The two youngsters soon learn that Sheeta is attracting so much attention because she may hold the key to finding the mythical floating city of Laputa.
"Castle in the Sky" is not only a visual delight but also a well-paced action-adventure story filled with distinctive characters. It is enjoyable on that basic level but a close viewing of the film makes you realize that there is so much more at work here. Its exploration of the importance of nature in our lives and the ease in which one's humanity can lost in the quest for technological superiority makes "Castle in the Sky" something much more than just a cartoon. Those not familiar with Miyazaki's body of work should take a look at this film to get an idea of astonishing amount of creative talent this man possesses.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie - bad translation
Review: I had the good and bad fortune to see the premiere of the English dubbed version of this movie with friend of mine at a Science Fiction conference a long time ago.
Good because he had an excellent grasp of the Japanese language and had seen the Japanese version; bad because he kept yelling at the screen "That's not what they said!". Not knowing much Japanese, I really couldn't tell if he was right or wrong, but it seemed that the movie didn't quite work the same way as it did when I watched it in Japanese. I owned a copy of the Japanese version of this movie and so I watched it again - there is definitely something different betwen the two. The original's just a bit longer (some of the more violent bits have been cut) and the voice acting is a whole lot better. Why is it that we always use adults for children's voices? Overall, the Americanized version just seems a bit blander.
If you possibly can, try to see a copy of this movie in its original language.
Rating:
Summary: A great animated family film
Review: This is one of the best animated family films of all time, IMHO. Moreover, virtually all of the serious rivals for this title came from the same creative mind of Hiyao Miyazaki and his Studio Ghibli. Specifically, other great animated family films include "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Kikki's Delivery Service." "Spirited Away" is quite good, but a bit too creepy for typical family fare - better for teenagers and adult. The one thing that sets "Laputa: Castle in the Sky" apart from Kikki and Totoro is that it is far more of a tension-filled adventure ride. Some of Myiazaki's other films, such as Princess Mononoke are not really for kids, although they are fine films in their own way.
Why is this film so good? Because it's a complete package: the animation is very well done, and the story is truly engaging and compelling.
Most Japanese anime is imaginative alright, but it is also decidedly dark or cynical or violent; and the animation itself is often jerky, stylized, and juvenile. None of these problems plague Castle in the Sky. It has imagination to burn, and the characters are well drawn, if slightly exaggerated versions of realistic people. (None of those trench-coat wearing posers) There is plenty of adventure, but not blood and gore. The animation is smooth, detailed, and cinematically composed - not a lot of flat shots. The backgrounds are wonderful.
The voice acting in the dubbed English version is first rate, particularly the two leads, Pazo (James Van der Beek) and Sheeta (Anna Paquin). And frankly, after hearing Van der Beek, I could not stand the high, thin voice of the original Japanese actor. The sound engineering is good, too. The voices are clear. Use your studio sound, if you've got it.
One aspect that I particularly enjoyed is that much of the back story is left unexplained. Laputa was once inhabited, and is now abandoned. Why? We never know. We know as much as we need to know, and then we just have to accept the rest, which is easy to do because the invented world is so fully realized. Indeed, it is fair to say that the world is more fully realized than most of the minor characters, who are for the most part one-dimensional stock characters (e.g., gruff general, silly sidekick, kooky old miner, etc.) . Some reviewers have complained that the main characters and the villain lack some depth, and they are right; but so what? This is great entertainment, not high art.
Highly recommended for people aged 6 to 60 who would love a clean, exciting, imaginative adventure.
Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Piece of Work
Review: This is perhaps my favorite of the Miyazaki films that I have seen. Smooth pacing, excellent plot, brilliant dialogue and astounding visual and literary symbolism. The animation is increadible, given the film capabilities for the time it came out, and is a real treat for the eyes. Hisaishi-san's music is beautiful, as always. Need something for your kids can watch that isn't mindless drivel? Need something for you to watch that isn't mindless drivel? Get your hands on Castle In The Sky: Laputa. It won't be a waste of money.
Notes
Horrible English dubbing, even as anime dubbings go.
The music in the English dubbing is a rescoring done by Hisaishi-san.
Great basis for family discussion.
Rating:
Summary: The Greatest animated film I have ever seen
Review: Castle in the Sky is an animated masterpiece that captivated me from the very beginnning. It has a remarkable introduction.
We see a vast, very detailed aircraft hovering hundreds of miles in the air at night. We then see a pretty little girl with a red band in her brown hair, wearing a dark blue dress. She's looking gloomily through a window.
Suddenly, Air pirates on jet ski-like aircrafts come flying in towards Goliath (which is the name of the aircraft the girl is in). They land on Goliath, break into the ship, and run across the long halls with their large guns. They're being led by an old yet engertic woman whose name we later find out is Dola. The green clothed Japanese soldiers of the aircraft Goliath soon have a gun fighting war with the feisty pirates.
Meanwhile, Sheeta (the name of the little girl) is still sitting in the chair, wondering what is happening outside of the room. She turns and stares at the evil man with her in the room whose name we later find out is Muska.
Muska quickly shuts the door of the room, locks it, walks over to a square telephonic device lying on a table and then says strongly with his back turned to Sheeta,
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Movie
Review: This movie mainly focuses on all the characters' never-ending dream to find the city in the sky. The flying machines didn't really appeal to me, but I found the characters to be entertaining, and the animation to, of course, be beautiful. If you have seen other movies by Hayao Miyazaki, you will notice similarities in the way he draws his characters. For example, at one point in this movie, Sheeta looks exactly like Kiki from Kiki's Delivery Service.
I would recommend Spirited Away and Kiki's Delivery Service over Castle in the Sky, but it's more likely that boys will enjoy this movie more then Kiki's Delivery Service, since a boy is one of the main characters in this movie, and there are so many gizmos and gadgets that make up the flying machines and such.
Overall, I would say Hayao Miyazaki is a very talented artist/director, and needs to continue producing such great movies!
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