Princess Mononoke [DVD]

I came late to the party for appreciating Miyazaki's brilliant films, and this was the one that got me hooked. Princess Mononoke is one of those rare films that allows the audience room to decide for themselves. In this review I could extol the amazing animation, fantastic voice acting from both the American and Japanese casts, or the captivating original story, but I'd like to keep things short and simple and praise the masterful handling of the themes. Princess Mononoke tells the story of a man who ventures from a distant land to two warring nations in search of a cure for his demonic ailment. He admonished by the village elder before going forth with this message "You must see with eyes unclouded by hate. See the good in that which is evil, and the evil in that which is good. Pledge yourself to neither side, but vow instead to preserve the balance that exists between the two." The idea here is that a third party is going to offer an impartial perspective on a conflict between two others. What we discover from this perspective is a lot of grey. One of the conflicting parties is run by a matriarchy who runs a society that on the surface appears to be inclusive and progressive. Women are highly regarded for their ability to contribute to the stability and efficiency of the village while the men help in hunting and gathering resources. Even the disabled and social outcasts have a place of respect in this society as weapon makers. The issue lies in their disrespect and exploitation of nature and those who dwell in the forest. Miyazaki's deft ability as a storyteller though doesn't pigeonhole this movie in the long line of environmental preservation films. He puts forth the other sides valid points of how using nature has created jobs, societal progress, security and stability for the workers and their families. It is the great quandry that we still struggle with today. We need nature but we need progress. How do we balance our needs with the preservation of nature? The brilliance here is Miyazaki doesn't force a viewpoint down the viewers throat. He understands that this is a complicated subject and that both sides have valid points for their ideas. Therefore the question is passed off to the viewer on how to establish harmony between the two sides without simply pushing for one over the other. The singular feature of Miyazaki's storytelling is that it respects the intelligence of the audience and doesn't take the position of preaching for any agenda. Ideas are seamlessly crafted into the narrative in such a way that it doesn't seem ham fisted or painfully obvious. Mixing social issues with a story without coming off as preachy or transparent is no easy task for even the greatest of filmmakers, but Miyazaki is an expert in a league of his own. You cant go wrong with Mononoke or any of his wonderful films. Pick it up.

"Princess Mononoke" stands as a cornerstone in Studio Ghibli's illustrious collection, often serving as the gateway film for many devoted fans of the studio. This masterpiece, like many Ghibli works, has a way of capturing a piece of your heart. At its core, the film weaves a profound narrative about the critical importance of respecting, valuing, and protecting nature and wildlife. It skillfully taps into ancient spiritual beliefs, portraying the forest as a living entity with its own spirit. Each animal species is depicted as a distinct tribe, intelligent and deeply connected to the spiritual realm. The story revolves around a conflict between humanity and nature, personified by a remarkable woman who initially misunderstands nature's response to deforestation and habitat destruction. As the tale unfolds, she comes to recognize her error, leading to a restoration of balance between the natural world and human civilization, embodied by the great forest spirit. It's worth noting that the film doesn't shy away from portraying violence and gore, adding to its emotional depth and intensity. These elements, combined with its complex themes, make it more suitable for mature audiences. Younger viewers may benefit from parental guidance to fully grasp and process the film's deeper meanings. "Princess Mononoke" is not just an animated feature; it's a thought-provoking journey that challenges our perception of our relationship with nature. It's a testament to Studio Ghibli's ability to create visually stunning, emotionally resonant stories that leave a lasting impact on their audience.

GKIDS release of Mononoke Hime is superb. The Bluray quality has a very high bitrate and it comes with a DVD disc too. Both discs use the same source footage; they went back to the original archived film master and remastered both the visuals and sound. BluRay features 1080p High-Definition Widescreen (1.85:1), while the DVD features Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1). Was also super happy to find that the language options include the Original Japanese sub, Miramax English dub, and French dub (sadly no Spanish). Subtitles include English for the Japanese sub "English SDH", English for the Miramax dub "English", and French "Francais". Audio on the DVD is in Dolby Digital 5.1 for all three languages, while audio on the BluRay is in DTS-HD 5.1 for the English and Japanese, but Dolby Digital 5.1 for the French. All Ghibli purists, you'll be happy to know that if you select Japanese as the audio, the footage displays the Japanese version of the film. The opening titles and end credits are all the original footage, and the music plays counter-tenor Yoshikazu Mera's recording. The English dub will play the translated version of the song sung by Sasha Lazard. The French dub lacks its own version of the song and so still plays Mera.

ジブリの中では一番好きな作品で、前にDVD を持っていたのですが無くしてしまい、こちらを購入。最初日本語じゃないと思ったのですが変更して音声だけ日本語に出来ました！良かったです☆

This is one of my favourite Anime Movies. If you like Anime then this movie is worth picking up.

beau film

英語版の声がいい！ハウル、ラピュタはずっこけたが、これはいいですね。モロもしっくりきます。最高です。 もののけ姫は海外の方にどう映るのでしょうか。 英語版は宗教的に登場する祟り神などは、悪魔という表現になってしまいますから、日本人の祟り、苦しみ、憎しみといったイメージが共有できているのかはわかりません。

Defiantly a must have and must watch for anyone looking for a breathtaking adventure. This was my first Studio Ghibli anime movie as a kid years back, and has brought so much nostalgia!