Disappointed Miyazaki Fan

Rating: 4/10 (2 November 2001)

Miyazaki is truly a genius and so is Jo Hisaishi. But in this film their ambitious intentions get in the way of what usually turns out to be a moving, inspiring and beautiful film.
Mononoke Hime fails in that respect because regardless of what people say about the film's ambivalent perspective on the characters/sides it doesn't really teach us much. It merely shows it and that doesn't provide any sort of enlightenment any more than reading a horrific episode of war atrocities of a little known faraway land in the newspaper does. It doesn't go an to emotional level that his other films do. It merely sits at the ferocious level (or game face) of the characters. Which is why we can't really cheer or sympathize with any of the sides. This leads to an indifference regarding all sides and the ending turns out to be unsatisfying as a result. I never really moved by San and Ash, the townspeople, or the Gods. Surprising since I've found other Miyazaki films one of the most moving experiences in cinema matched by only a few films.
The music while the most grand of Jo's works is forgettable. I cannot remember what the soundtrack sounds like. In contrast, I cannot forget the music of Nausicaa or Laputa.
Again the intentions of leaving something unforgettable gets in the way of what these two artists were accustomed to doing and ultimately turns out to be this film's downfall.