Is Hollywood listening yet?

Rating: 9/10 (23 November 2004)

As the Hollywood oil tanker continues to sail our cultural seas, spilling Hogwaarts students, aristocratic archaeologists and Charlie's Angels like so much poisonous crude oil, a thought occurs to me... 'why not watch a Miyazaki movie and pretend "Agent Cody Banks Goes To Hades" isn't about to be green lit for $80 million'
Laputa is a feast in every way. Very rarely are children's characters so subtly and satisfyingly created on film. The relationship between the two leads, Pazu and Sheeta, is at the heart of this stunning fantasy-adventure, but also seeking the lost floating city (for different reasons) are colourful pirates and government agents who complete an excellent and ambiguous character dynamic.
The film sits somewhere between Nausicaa and Totoro in terms of Miyazakis themes. It has the epic (and environmental) feel of the former with the latter's more personal focus on children's relationships and how honest friendship can ease the difficulties inherent in growing up. Sound sickly? Well it isn't. Miyazaki has almost supernatural judgment in these matters.
For anyone looking for a film they can watch with the kids, you'll find this hard to beat. Nobody can bridge the generation gap like Miyazaki. Frankly, hardly anybody working today can make movies like Miyazaki.