one of my favorite films of all time

Rating: 10/10 (20 October 2002)

i just saw this film tonight, and i am totally blown away. i was expecting to love this film, because i love all of the hayao miyazaki work that i've seen. there was so much imagination and creativity and life in this film. i could watch it many, many times. the breathtaking backgrounds, the intricate animation, the complex and original story, the intriguing characters: they were all amazing to me. one thing that i love so much about miyazaki's work are the little details, the moments when things pause, and something small but so beautiful happens. or the little details, of how a child moves through a big, grown-up world, that so many other animators don't think about. miyazaki pays attention to and honors so many incredible things, big and small, and weaves them into his very imaginative stories. he has a very talented team of artists and animators working with him. i highly recommend the film. i feel very lucky to be able to see this wonderful japanese film on the big screen in the united states, and to live in the same age as this great animator, hayao miyazaki.