Princess Mononoke [Blu-ray]

Bottom Line First: To get the less than good news out of the way, Miyazaki’s Princes Mononoke is not for the very young. The violence can be graphic and bloody. The themes are not as clear cut as might be found in bed time stories. There is no sex or bad language making this movies acceptable to those who screen for such. And that brings me to the good news. Princes Mononoke combines complex storytelling, adult level plotting, the fine art work of Studio Ghibli and the casting power of the Disney Studios to produce a wonderful movie. Highly recommended and a star even among my other Miyazaki movies. Princes Mononoke could have been another man versus nature and the world out of balance movie we have seen too many times. Instead we have man and nature in conflict but with a near absence of obviously evil industrialists and purely motivated united forest spirits. Gods can become demons, and seen as evil by humans and nature. The tribes within the world of nature are not natural allies and can have their own selfish motives. The human who is supposed to embody evil, Lady Eboshi (Voice acted by Minnie Driver) is a fierce warrior and hard nosed business woman but she is also good to her people and makes a point of finding better lives for people who would be cast offs and shunned in the larger world. On the subject of voice overs, Disney deserves credit having assembled a cast that included Billy Bob Thornton, Gillian Anderson, Claire Danes and Billy Crudup. Made too clear to us in the included specials is the extra effort made by the voice actors and Disney to insure that the American dialogue fits with the animated Japanese speaking characters. As for the work of the director and his studio. What struck me most about Princes Mononoke was the balance between artistic detail and the flow of the story. Hayao Muyazaki has a tendency for story lines that can drag. I prefer to say they speed of motion can be stately. The Wind Rises remains among my favorite HM movies, but like The Wife says it is slow. Even the action movie Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro (Collector's Edition) can drag, usually when the Studio is highlighting it's artwork. In Princess there was no lag in the story line. Scene action and plot development move logically forward even in the moments when the viewer is invited to enjoy the scenery. But what artwork it is! Studio Ghibli is always at its best drawing the sky and aerial views. Ghibli is also the master of fields and forests. Sometimes at the cost of foregrounds, manmade and human details. In Princess all of the elements view together in harmony. It may be that some level of detail has been lost, but if so, only to produce a more balanced picture. Studio Ghibli movies can be fine visual art at the expense of movement, I never felt that watching Princess Mononoke.

Hayao Miyazaki’s 1997 film, “Princess Mononoke,” tells a work of historical fantasy set during the Muromachi period in Japan, following Prince Ashitaka as he becomes embroiled in a conflict between the gods of the forest and the humans consuming its resources. When a demon poisons the prince, he must travel to find the source of the poison. Along the way, he encounters the monk Jigo, who wants to hunt the Great Forest Spirit. They see a wolf pack with a human girl, San, among their number. When the wolves attack, Lady Eboshi and her men repel them and bring Ashitaka to Iron Town, a fortress on a mountain that the inhabitants have stripped of its trees to build and contain their massive forge. San and the wolves come to kill Eboshi for hurting the forest, but Ashitaka prevents the humans and forest gods from killing each other. He is injured and San brings him to the Great Forest Spirit for healing. Even as he recovers, the boar gods plan an attack on the humans. Jigo enlists Lady Eboshi to use the boars to find the Great Forest Spirit, which he succeeds in beheading, throwing the world out of balance. The story is a lovely metaphor for environmentalism and balance, recalling other films that addressed those themes in the 1980s and 1990s. Further, while some characters may act as antagonists, there are no true villains. Lady Eboshi may harm the forest, but she cares for people that society would normally stigmatize. Jigo may want to hunt, but he can also admit when he’s wrong. The wolf gods, boar gods, and ape gods may be scary at times, but they act under duress from industrialization. In “Princess Mononoke,” Miyazaki crafted a particularly great film worthy of both casual and scholarly attention.

Well, February has seen the first announcements that Princess Mononoke will get a DVD release, and it is apparently more than a rumor, but I'm not holding my breath. As to the movie itself, I must admit I purchased a DVD player just in anticipation of this film (I figured if Castle of Cagliostro was getting a DVD release, so would Mononoke). So as to the movie itself, no amount of praise would really be adequit. Somewhere in the back of my brain is some idea I formed as a child as to exactly what a powerful and moving film should be--but it is an idea that came to be discarded because let's face it, Star Wars or Disney after puberty doesn't live up to the magic it had at 5 years old. Surprise, surprise, at age 27 I've seen something that reminded me of what it was like to be 5 years old again. Miyazaki has been able to do this consistantly not just because he is a master storyteller (something so many american films could desperately use) but because his films immerse you in a world that in a very short time you fail to notice is a cartoon. As advanced as Disney animation is, all it's marvels seem bent on impressing, not on immersion, such that while impressed we cannot help but remember (sometimes painfully) that we are watching a cartoon. Mononoke on the other hand will win the audience over with the still beauty of its settings long before they've even grasped the fantastic story line. I must also mention that Mononoke has a simply amazing soundtrack that is free of upbeat musical numbers or pop songs. With what to my ears sound like a few bows to Rimsky-Korsakov, Hisashi's score to this film is as delicious as the film itself, standing well on its own merit, but in conjunction with the film it is utterly unparalleled. Very rarely does it seem that a film solidly hits on every count, and even when it does happen, the force of the film in it's totality is often not so great. Mononoke however is not just a solid film but a very strong film as well. If there is a weak point here it is the english dub, and yet I for one found the dub very enjoyable and convincing...yet in a film where everything is perfect, this will no doubt be the point which will earn the most criticism. Anyway, I've said enough. If you havn't seen this, you must. Worth buying a DVD player for this movie alone if they'll just get around to releasing it.

If you're a collector or a fan of Studio Ghibli, this Princess Mononoke Limited Edition Steelbook is an absolute must-have. Miyazaki's epic tale of the clash between industrial civilization and the Gods of the forest has never looked or felt better on a shelf. The steelbook itself is gorgeous. It features a matte finish with striking minimalist artwork that captures the film's tone perfectly. It's truly a standout piece in any media collection. Unlike standard plastic cases, this feels sturdy and durable. It's a slight investment compared to the standard edition, but for a film like this, it's worth every penny.

Mi película favorita de anime de la historia, opción obligada para quien tenga interés por este género aunque en realidad es recomendable para todo el mundo aunque no se tenga especial interés en el anime. Es una película muy completa: entretenida, profunda, inspiradora, bonita, dura a momentos y con una gran banda sonora. Me llegó la edición española en perfecto estado tal y como se anuncia. Al principio me preocupé un poco al ver que me la enviaban desde Italia pero no hubo ningún problema. Compra muy recomendable

Un clasico de la animacion del estudio Ghibli. Multiples lecturas acerca del orden natural, la industrializacion y sus perjuicios y beneficios; desearia que este bluray hubiera traido la version en ingles, ya que fue adaptada por Neil Gaiman y los actores de voz hicieron un gran trabajo.

Purtroppo nella versione in Spagnolo non è disponibile nessun altra lingua tranne il Giapponese (non abbiamo utilizzato il DVD!)

Wer von sich aus sagt er könne mit Anime nichts anfangen oder generell glaubt Animationsfilme seien Kinderkram, der sollte seine Sichtweise doch mal überdenken und sich ernsthaft mit dem Medium auseinander setzen. Denn gerade im Anime-Bereich gibt es unzählige Juwele, die so kreativ, tiefsinnig und atemberaubend schön sind dass es nahezu verrückt ist dass diese stellenweise nur einem Nischenpublikum bekannt sind. Ein eben solches, wenn auch zugegebenermaßen einem breiten Publikum bereits bekannten, Juwel stellt zweifelsohne Hayao Miyazaki’s „Mononoke Hime“ dar. Produziert vom legendären Studio Ghibli, stellt die Fabel der schönen Dämonenprinzessin San und des tapferen Prinzen Ashitaka einen DER Anime-Spielfilme schlechthin dar. Story im Groben: Der junge Stammesprinz Ashitaka wird bei der Rettung seines Dorfes vor einem rachsüchtigen Dämon von dessen Fluch getroffen. Mit der Gewissheit diesem zu erliegen, verlässt der mutige Ashitaka sein Dorf, mit der vagen Hoffnung sein Schicksal doch noch abwenden zu können. Auf seinen Reisen bemerkt er dass es um die Welt schlecht bestellt ist: Tod und Verderben greifen um sich. Die Gier und Kriegstreiberei der Menschen hat die Finsternis in die Ländereien einkehren lassen. Sein Weg führt Ashitaka nach Westen, wo er in einen Konflikt zwischen den Arbeitern einer Eisenmiene und den mystischen Tiergöttern verwickelt wird. Die Leute aus der Eisenmiene, angeführt von der stolzen und starken Eboshi-Sama, zerstören durch die unablässige Rodung des Waldes, sowie dem Schürfen nach Mineralien den umliegenden Wald. Das provoziert wiederum den Zorn der Schutzgottheiten wodurch der Konflikt zu eskalieren droht. Ashitaka versucht verzweifelt den Krieg der beiden Fronten zu verhindern- was ihn zur geheimnisvollen Prinzessin Mononoke führt, einem Menschenmädchen, welches für den Wald und seine Bewohner in den Kampf ziehen will. Meine Meinung: Dieser Film ist ein unbestreitbarer Klassiker und Meisterwerk und definitiv einer DER Einstiegsfilme was das Medium Anime betrifft. Von den facettenreichen Figurenzeichnungen, der tiefgründigen Story, den fantastischen Animationen, der unermesslichen Detailverliebtheit von Figuren und Hintergründen, welche die Damen und Herren des Studio Ghibli noch ganz klassisch von Hand gezeichnet hatten bis hin zur meisterhaften Filmmusik des berühmten Joe Hisaishi ist dies ein durch und durch beeindruckender Animationsfilm, von welchem selbst Disney noch so allerhand lernen könnte. Es ist auch der mit Abstand erwachsenste Film des Studios, welches auch zuvor schon nie davor zurückschreckte ernste Themen zu behandeln ohne diese dabei zu beschönigen. Hier fließt nicht nur Blut, hier werden auch schon mal Gliedmaßen abgetrennt. Die Altersfreigabe ist daher durchaus berechtigt (wobei ich denke dass auch Kids ab 10 Jahren mit dem Streifen klar kommen). Puristen wissen: der O-Ton ist überragend. Das soll aber nicht darüber hinwegtäuschen dass die deutsche Vertonung auch ihre Daseinsberechtigung hat. Dies dürfte so ziemliche eine der besten deutschen Synchros zu einem Anime überhaupt darstellen. Fazit: Dank Netflix sind die Ghibli-Filme momentan wieder in aller Munde. Das finde ich schön, eröffnet es doch die Möglichkeit das Anime einem breiteren Publikum zugänglich gemacht wird. Und nur so als Tipp am Rande: es gibt nicht nur die Ghibli-Filme. Neben Filmen von Satoshi Kon, Makoto Shinkai oder Mamoru Hosoda gibt es noch eine Vielzahl genialer Serien: Death Note, Attack on Titan, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood- und das ist nur die Spitze des Eisbergs. Was Mononoke Hime angeht, so bleibt nur zu sagen dass dieser zu Recht als einer der wegweisenden Klassiker schlechthin gehandhabt wird. Miyazaki setzte sich, und seinem Studio, hiermit ein Denkmal für die Ewigkeit. Kein magischer Disney-Feenstaub, davon heben sich die Ghibli-Filme bewusst ab. Dafür aber ambitioniert und geradezu monumental. Gehört in jede gute Sammlung.