A mature masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (12 April 2001)

Miyazaki-san has taken the soul of the Japanese landscape and its attendant Shinto mythos and spun a mighty tale. It still has the wonder of his other features, but this one is different, mixed with a kind of Shakespearean grandeur and tragic intensity. It's almost ruthless in its lack of sentiment, but because of this it achieves, at least to this viewer, a visionary breakthrough into unfamiliar territory. This one will stay through the years and if you attend well enough, haunt your dreams.
Kudos to Miramax for taking it so seriously and doing a good job with the dubbing. Still, the American English just does not really match. It is too laid back, softened and rounded. It really dulls the impact of this film. The Japanese in Mononoke hime is quick and powerful, full of meaningful silences that the painting harmonizes with. In English this basic rhythm of the film is all out of kilt.
Anyway, you can tell I liked it!