An amazing Miyazaki film.*May contain spoilers*

Rating: 9/10 (13 November 2005)

Once I saw the trailer,I knew this movie had what it takes to be apart of the Miyazaki collection.I watched this movie with my family and explained what the movie was about.
Spirited Away is about a 10-year-old girl named Chihiro who is arriving in a town which is now her home.Like any other kid at Chihiro's age,she is very sullen and whiny about moving from her friends and her home.When her dad tries taking a shortcut to the house instead,they end up at a strange tunnel.Both her parents decide to take a look around and as reluctant as Chihiro is,she tags along.Beyond the tunnel lies an old theme park.It seems like a beautiful and peaceful place but when night falls,another world awakens from their sleep.Unfortunately,Chihiro and her parents are trapped in this world.Her parents are transformed into pigs after feasting on the delicious food originally cooked for the spirits.However,they are not completely doomed.Chihiro meets a boy around her age named Haku and is told that she must get a job to survive in this world of spirits,sorcery and self-discovery.Who is Haku? What will happen to Chihiro's parents? How will Chihiro escape back to the human world? I won't spoil any of you anymore,just watch the movie and be spellbound.
What doesn't this movie have? It has deep and hidden themes,great animation,music with different moods,a well-developed storyline and an innocent childhood romance.
Themes:There are so many themes but there was one which is expressed much more.Personally,I felt that this movie was based on people who are "two-faced".Chihiro begins as a spoiled,whiny and cowardly brat but later,the viewers see that she is compassionate,loyal and filled with great courage beyond belief.Although Haku appears to be sinister and cold,he is still a protective and trustworthy friend to Chihiro.No Face is normally a lone wanderer but when exposed to the bathhouse,he is literately a monster.There is Yubaba and Zeniba.In this movie,Zeniba is the good twin and Yubaba is the bad twin.However,Zeniba is just as selfish as Yubaba and Yubaba is just as trustworthy as Zeniba.They both just happen to show just one of those sides.What I'm trying to say is that now matter how people appear to be,they are neither good nor bad but they simply lie in the middle.
Animation:Like many of Miyazaki's films,each character is drawn with great care.Chihiro is drawn just like a typical 10-year-old.Her expressions also add an anime touch.Haku is the most beautifully drawn character in both dragon and human form.As a dragon,he was drawn so gracefully like the kind of dragon you see in your dreams and fantasies.Even as a human,his eyes were so beautifully.The animation brings each scene to life.You could just feel the rush of Haku and Chihiro running,you could just feel the sludge of the Stink Spirit and you could just feel the joy and serenity of Haku and Chihiro flying and falling through the sky.
Music:Some music was sad,some was happy and some were just plain freaky but no matter which music was playing in the movie,you would somehow feel the emotion in each scene.
Romance:If none of you have never seen a Miyazaki film,then you probably wouldn't known that in most of his films,the two main characters have some sort of romance.It is the same in this case.That may seem a bit predictable but you don't care because of what he makes out of the romance.In his type of romances,there is always depth, innocent love and a good beginning friendship.The romance is never forced upon them.I also don't know how but he makes the characters say the word "I love you" without actually using those exact words.
I have watched this movie about seven times and to my surprise,I have not been bored yet.My favorite scenes had to be when Chihiro and Haku fall down together and when Haku comforts Chihiro near the flower area. I'll be honest,there are some scenes which may be scary but there are only about two scenes which may frighten the younger audience.I still recommend this movie for the whole family but maybe not for kids younger than five.Trust me,my five-year-old cousin did not find all of it scary. I'll give this a 9.5/10.