The best animated movie I've ever viewed

Rating: 10/10 (5 October 1999)

I've seen The Princess Mononoke from a taping on video of it's television screening in Japan (early 1999). Though I can't speak fluent Japanese yet, I found the movie to be one of the most captivating animations ever and a truly moving experience. The powerful imagery and heroic portrayal of the main characters San and Ashitaka lingered in my mind for many days after. With the aid of a partial Japanese and full English script from the net, I was finally able to fully understand and therefore appreciate the story.
Mononokehime (original Japanese title) is truly a masterpiece from director Hayao Miyazaki, in the tradition of Nausicaa (13 years ago). Ultimately a love story (in my opinion), it also takes a look at a era when Japan was in a state of great change through technology (though not always progression), and parallels the fast and confusing state of the modern world. In these times, there are elements all trying to carve out an existence from a world of depleting resources.
The humans in Princess Mononoke wish to create their own safe havens, in which they can live for ever (at the expense of the forests). The forest gods feel their territory ever-receding and wage war to reclaim it. Ashitaka seeks to free himself from a curse of death. San, the Mononokehime is the embodiment of the conflicting mind, torn between humanity and the forest. Through her we see that compromise is not possible, yet for each party to concede defeat is even less a possibility.
The movie is so complex, if you wish to delve, but is also as an animation, the most visually stunning. The animation is flawless, and the backgrounds perfect and every attention to detail is given. After watching this film, other animated movies seem truly flat. The film is also violent, and I hope that no scenes are cut from it (I understand it is being distributed by Miramax), and also fear that hype surrounding the high profile voice actors might draw attention away from the true significance of this film.
I look forward to watching it at the cinemas. If only I could find an Australian release date somewhere. This was written at the spur of the moment.