Best Studio Ghibli Film

Rating: 9/10 (16 August 2014)

My little sister convinced me to watch this; I'm a big fan of the books The Cat Returns and No Place For Eco-Sinners, she told me this movie was extremely similar.
A young girl, looking maybe 11 or 12, is sullen and angry at her mom and dad for moving her out to what appears to be a rural Japanese community. She is nervous of her new school and won't admit it. While driving, her mom and dad take a wrong turn and end up in the woods, finding a creepy and mysterious tunnel. They get out to explore, and not wanting to stay alone in the woods, Chihiro (the girl) follows along.
The family comes across a bizarre abandoned village and find a diner. The parents begin eating the food and get addicted, but Chihiro, disgusted by them and wanting to leave, wanders off to explore. She finds a bath house, and bumps into a strange boy who yells at her to leave. She tries, but by then a strange force has separated the village from the rest of the earth and her parents have somehow become pigs, leaving her to fend for herself. The strange boy turns out to be very caring towards her; his name is Haku and he shows her how to get a job at the bath house, which is run by a magical but greedy old lady and filled with the spirits of everyday objects. Chihiro has her name taken from her and becomes 'Sen', making friends with another worker there named Lin. She has no idea but a strange spirit called No-Face is following her around.
As days go by Sen gets used to the new world, even starts to like it. But one day she sees Haku being hunted down by an evil witch, and when he's injured and bleeding to death Chihiro has to undo the dark deal he has signed up for, while rescuing her parents at the same time.
Spirited Away is an amazing and spectacular adventure with lovely soundtrack and unforgettable characters. I've viewed both the Japanese version and the English dubbed version, both are pretty decent as far as voice acting. For the English one Jason Marsden (Dash-X from Eerie Indiana), voiced Haku. Lin's English voice actress was very good too, as was the greedy with Yobaba's.
There are a few plot holes; if you don't know the religious and spiritual views and stories behind the movie it can be difficult to grip what is going on at times.
Spirited Away is a great animated film, almost as good as Akira (1988). I think it's a beautiful adventure for all ages, although there is mild violence. And no, nothing dies in the movie, Chihiro gets home, rescues her mom and dad, helps Haku and leaves the spirit world. It's totally worth watching, a story of friendship, loss and reuniting.