A visually stunning, unique, and immersive childhood fantasy

Rating: 8/10 (4 September 2006)

I gave this movie an unfavorable review several years ago and while I still feel that some of my criticisms were valid, upon watching it recently I really felt compelled to re-write my review. While there are some areas of the movie that I think are weak, I do consider it a masterpiece. Not because it is perfect but because it does things that almost no other film does and does certain things better than almost any other movie.I found it to be quite random the first time I saw it but that is only because of how different it is. Care and attention to detail have been put into almost every frame and it is bursting with creativity. The story is simple, on the surface, but is it is masterfully crafted with hidden depths. It is like a modern fairy tale. It encapsulates the feelings of childhood while expanding the imagination and offering inspirational ideas that both children and adults can appreciate.
Spirited Away does an excellent job of presenting a world through a child's eyes. I originally criticized it for not explaining many of the aspects of its world. I still think that is true but after multiple viewings I have come to appreciate the way that it puts the main character in a world that is alien while still giving that world substance and a sense of reason that the audience can discover. While the world isn't entirely explained it is very believably crafted. The bathhouse feels like a very real place. Each room feels like it was designed to be functional and that helps to make it feel very real immersive. Chihiro is very much lost in the world she is taken to and so to criticize the movie for being confusing is kind of unfair. Many aspects of the story and world are not well explained but that confusion is created to serve a purpose.
Another thing I criticized the movie for was the ending. I felt that the ending didn't seem to provide any real challenge to the main character and some of the reveals seemed a bit random. I still think that those criticisms are true, however, I think that the character does grow and change a lot through the story. The point of the ending isn't to challenge the Chihiro to accomplish something difficult, it is to get her to face her fear and take responsibility for her choices. In that the story succeeds.
Overall, Spirited Away is a one of a kind, magical experience that I really have learned to appreciate more over the years. When I reviewed it in the past I focused a lot on areas that I felt disappointed rather than focusing on the things that it does very well. Few movies do a better job of transporting the viewer to a fantasy world. Many of my past complaints came from my own lack of understanding rather than actual flaws in the movie. I have grown to appreciate this movie more over the years and I want to give it the credit it deserves.