Flawless

Rating: 10/10 (2 April 2003)

My first encounter with the director Hayao Miyazaki was 7 or 8 years back when Anime burst onto the American scene. That first encounter was the horribly butchered version of Miyazaki's "Nausicaa of the valley of wind", re-titled in the states as "Warriors of the wind"
It was not until a few months ago, upon the initial release of Spirited away, did I realize I had seen one of his films (albeit terribly cut)
So this brings you up to date with my new appreciation of Miyazaki and Spirited away. Upon the lack-luster release that Disney did in fall 2002, I was unable to see the film before it disappeared from my local market (I came so extremely close several times)
So thank god for the Academy awards!
Because of it's win at the Oscars for best animated feature I was able to finally take witness to this oddity of a film. And I use the word in the best sense. The very best, indeed. To an American audience it most likely feels very strange, but incredibly familiar at the same moment. It is routed in the deepest and oldest places of, not just Japanese mythology, but all old world stories.
This is where we find the very human story of Chihiro, a ten year old girl in the midst of a move to a new home. For almost any kid, it is a real bummer. Old friends gone, new and scary things ahead. And this is in the most literal and metaphoric sense of the word. The world that Chihiro ends up traveling to is a full of spirits, witches, and other silly creatures, feels like any old fashion fairy tale. But amidst the magic there are strong messages of self-discovery, friendship, love, greed and acceptance among other things. The film runs deep and should require at least one repeat viewing for every one who sees it. As was the case with me, the film grows on you.
The animation is quite possibly the best in years coming from any country. It looks very different from your run of the mill Japanese Anime. The thoughts that had gone into all this detail is amazing and it is quite breathtaking.
Thus it is a film that will stand up to the test of time with an ardent air about it. Defiant, magical, interesting, dramatic, funny and flawless...