Beautiful, lush and moving

Rating: 10/10 (12 October 2002)

Without a doubt, Hayao Miyazaki is the most inventive and incredible director in or outside Hollywood.
When I heard that "Princess Mononoke" had opened in Japan in 1997, I was anxious to see it. However, when I learned which company had the rights to the North American distribution (Miramax, a division of Disney), I was disappointed.
True to my expectations, the dub was horribly miscast. Billy Crudup's emotionless Ashitaka was unbelievable, Claire Danes degraded San's noble character with a whiny tone and Billy Bob Thornton was the worst choice of the bunch, with a Texan accent that destroyed the character and the setting.
However, even this all-star Hollywood cast could not completely dampen the superior art and story of the film.

(Plot details, not quite spoilers):
The film follows Ashitaka, a prince of a disappearing tribe, who is cursed by a boar god and must journey to the west to find a cure. Along the way, he encounters San (The Princess Mononoke), a young human woman fighting to protect the forest and Lady Eboshi, the head of Tatara Ba (Iron Town). Ashitaka is forced to find a middle ground between the two ambivalent forces.
Although it is an animated film, parents should be aware that, yes, there is violence in the film - but is it possible to depict a war without blood?
Based on Japanese folklore, "Princess Mononoke" is a riveting piece which is moving and touches upon subjects that are still relevant today - questions of war, ecology, morals and principles.
If you're looking for a film with beauty, culture and an actual plot, watch "Princess Mononoke" - and find a subbed version.