Mixed bag, good far outweighs the bad...

Rating: Null/10 (13 March 2003)

I agree w/ most of the positive reviews here by an large. Great artwork, fine characterizations, some very nice moments where they stop the action and let the forest breathe, the action good too.
Maybe some spoilers??? Sure-why not?
What Doesn't work:
*Forest Spirit dies at the end? despite regaining his head? Ummm, okay-that kinda makes the whole chase unecessary to the plot, then doesn't it?
*The whole invading army of pigs/boar. I thought it was handled quite well-but let's face it-I still had MSTK visions in my head-where's Ms Piggy? Porky? etc. They were going for something noble and all that there-but it does get sidetracked by, among otherthings, the pigs putting on warpaint and the like. Sure guys.
*Did we need the entire Tentacles of Spew all over? I think they overdid that.
*Gillian Anderson as a talking wolf-okay but not as good's either Minnie Driver or Billy Crudup. Voicework overall fine. I thought Billy Bob did a good job too-yeah he Drawwwwwwls a bit, but that is what that kinda character would do.
*Lepers, hookers and dumb ox drivers, oh my. Eclectic town Eboshi/Driver had there.
Besides these few complaints-I liked it alot-the deer/goat/thing the hero rode, Wolf-gal, etc. It's a very nicely done flick.
***1/2 outta ****. Very Japanese too.