Beautiful. Absolutely Beautiful.

Rating: 10/10 (3 June 2000)

I had heard so much about this movie that I traveled an hour and a half to Dallas with my friend to see it in the theater, and I can honestly say that it was a 5 hours well spent. Hayao Miyazaki has created a true work of art in this film, and its questions will stay with you long after its viewing. Please do not dismiss its power on the basis of it being Japanese animation, long a realm merely championed of geeks and fanboys...
This world is so completely realized that it gave me goosebumps on occasion. The plot cannot be summarised in a mere blurb-it involves an ancient curse, demons and forest spirits, society and modernization, greed and sacrifice. And that's leaving a heck of a lot out. I especially like that the evil is so hard to define, kinda like real life, eh? Who are you gonna side with? The forest protectors are violent and cruel, but what they defend is surely worth defending in such drastic means. Irontown may be destroying the land thus, but those people have to work somehow, and Lady Eboshi's motives are humanitarian therein. These are some of the conflicts the hero has to puzzle through, and you may find along with him that there is no clear answer.
In short, I recommend this movie highly, to anyone who enjoys film that makes you think. Sure, there's action, quite a bit of it too intense for children, but it's never wanton. 10/10, and a huge thank you to Miyazaki and his animators for this beautiful vision brought to life. Oh, and the American voice acting's not bad at all either.