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Princess Mononoke |  | Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Actors: Yôji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, Yûko Tanaka, Kaoru Kobayashi, Masahiko Nishimura
Studio: Miramax
Category: DVD
List Price: $22.99
Buy Used: $8.18
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Rating:  839 reviews
Sales Rank: 536
Format: Animated, Color, DVD, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), Japanese (Original Language), French (Original Language)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 134 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: D19300D
ISBN: 0788820613
UPC: 717951007414
EAN: 9780788820618
ASIN: B00003CXBK
Theatrical Release Date: 1997
Release Date: December 19, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A beautifully realized tale of civilization versus nature, PRINCESS MONONOKE is a true epic by Japan's master animator Hayao Miyazaki. While protecting his village from a rampaging boar-god, the warrior Ashitaka (Billy Crudup) is cursed with a rapidly spreading scar that threatens to end his life. Seeking a cure and a reason for the animal-god's attack, he journeys into the sacred depths of the Great Forest Spirit's realm. On the edge of this once serene forest, however, the Tatara clan have begun to destroy the surrounding land to produce iron. In retaliation, San (Claire Danes), the adopted daughter of the wolf-god Moro (Gillian Anderson), has begun raiding the Tatara fortress to stop their encroachment. Soon Ashitaka is caught in the middle and must stop the war between the humans and the forest dwellers before they destroy each other. Miyazaki, who was personally responsible for 80,000 of the film's 144,000 hand drawings, uses the story's lush feudal setting as a character unto itself, filling the screen with vast mountainous landscapes and gorgeous wooded glens that recall his early film, NAUSICA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND. The film also features battle sequences that are reminiscent of the stunning live action warfare in Akira Kurosawa's RAN. The startlingly fluid movements of these mythological characters are detailed far beyond any other hand-animated production, easily making this one of the most spectacular animated films ever made.
Amazon.com essential video
This epic, animated 1997 fantasy has already made history as the top-grossing domestic feature ever released in Japan, where its combination of mythic themes, mystical forces, and ravishing visuals tapped deeply into cultural identity and contemporary, ecological anxieties. For international animation and anime fans, Princess Mononoke represents an auspicious next step for its revered creator, Hayao Miyazaki (My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service), an acknowledged anime pioneer, whose painterly style, vivid character design, and stylized approach to storytelling take ambitious, evolutionary steps here. Set in medieval Japan, Miyazaki's original story envisions a struggle between nature and man. The march of technology, embodied in the dark iron forges of the ambitious Tatara clan, threatens the natural forces explicit in the benevolent Great God of the Forest and the wide-eyed, spectral spirits he protects. When Ashitaka, a young warrior from a remote, and endangered, village clan, kills a ravenous, boar-like monster, he discovers the beast is in fact an infectious "demon god," transformed by human anger. Ashitaka's quest to solve the beast's fatal curse brings him into the midst of human political intrigues as well as the more crucial battle between man and nature. Miyazaki's convoluted fable is clearly not the stuff of kiddie matinees, nor is the often graphic violence depicted during the battles that ensue. If some younger viewers (or less attentive older ones) will wish for a diagram to sort out the players, Miyazaki's atmospheric world and its lush visual design are reasons enough to watch. For the English-language version, Miramax assembled an impressive vocal cast including Gillian Anderson, Billy Crudup (as Ashitaka), Claire Danes (as San), Minnie Driver (as Lady Eboshi), Billy Bob Thornton, and Jada Pinkett Smith. They bring added nuance to a very different kind of magic kingdom. Recommended for ages 12 and older. --Sam Sutherland
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 839
 Watch is withOUT audio...1star for animation. February 19, 2010
LadyJ (Chicago, IL)
0 out of 8 found this review helpful
This movie didn't make any sense to me, except for the tree/nature hugging undertone. It seems all over the place with storylineS. I wouldn't be able to explain what is the movie about if I had to. Is it about the kid from this long lost tribe and his coming of age? Is it about Iron Town and the exploitation of nature and its resources? Is it about giant wolves and pigs/demons?...among other possible themes. I didn't get it. But the animation sequences get the only credit, in my book. I say rent it first then decide if you want it in your collection.
 Homage from James Cameron February 9, 2010
Allen Chiwai Yeung (Oakland, CA USA)
I just watched the DVD today, I probably not the first person to mentioned this, so here goes. 25 minutes into the movie, I said to myself, haven't I seen this movie like in the last 6 weeks, OH YEAH!!, It's AVATAR ! the story line, the characters, the overt themes, the forest background, the little faires. Enough said, I still enjoyed both films. By the way I just found out that James Cameron is a huge J-Anime fan. Thank you.
Classic anime, great animation, great story! February 6, 2010
A. LAZIN
Classic anime, great animation, great story! Depicts mans struggle against nature in a battle between mankind and the very spirit of an ancient forest in Japan.
Buy from Media Geek!! January 4, 2010
Frugal McDougal (binghamton, ny United States)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I absolutely love this movie. It is definitely on my top 5 movies list, (and I have a very eclectic taste for movies and library, therefore). There's just something about this movie that is very powerful. The meanings are both obvious and yet subtle and complicated. It's much more than a typical man vs. nature scenario, depicting an all too familiar greedy mankind and a seemingly fragile system. I could go on and on about it, but I actually wrote this for a different reason. Whereas this is one of my favorite movies and even those who aren't fond of animations could love this as much as I, I would like to correct something I did wrong. I accidentally left the wrong feedback for Media Geek and now Amazon won't let me redo it. Therefore I am attempting to make amends here!
I suggest that you watch this movie. If you are here to purchase it, may I also suggest that you buy it from Media Geek. They not only offer a fair price, but their customer service goes above and beyond anything I have experienced in all my years and years and years as a consumer. I am a very honest person and mean what I say.
So, step 1. Buy Princess Mononoke! Or at least watch it!
Step 2. Buy it from Media Geek!
The end. Thanks for reading!
One of the best animated movies ever November 7, 2009
H. Jin (Melbourne, Australia)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
To appreciate how exceptional 'Princess Mononoke' is, just try to imagine Disney doing something like this. Imagine how overbearing and preachy its message would be, or how sickly cute and perfect they would make San, or how the owner of the ironworks would be a ruthless, ugly, rich old guy. In contrast, `Mononoke' is a thought-provoking film that refuses to settle for easy answers, and contains very complex and well-drawn characters.
One thing to note is that this is quite adult-oriented compared to some Miyazaki films such as `Kiki' or `Totoro'. Although there's nothing gratuitous, there is a surprising amount of violence, and some mature themes. That apart, this film explores typical Miyazaki themes; including environmentalism, alternate history, Japanese mythology, and feminism. And like all Miyazaki films, `Mononoke' is superbly drawn and animated, incorporating some fairly subtle CG effects for the first time. In the original Japanese, the voice acting is universally excellent. (Although people have problems with some performances in the English dub, I can't comment as I always watch anime in its original language).
For the characterisation, the movie aggressively turns history on its head by having strong, capable women in powerful positions (even if Ashitaka is cast as the traditional `hero'). Lady Eboshi especially is a fascinating character, as she is a genuine antagonist. Her position puts her in direct conflict with Ashitaka and San not because she is evil, but simply because her needs clash with theirs. San herself is extremely aggressive for a heroine, and the various forest animals are even more ruthless and determined. The film constantly blurs the line between protagonist and antagonist; Eboshi destroys the forest but provides work and shelter for social outcasts, San and Moro defend the forest creatures but resort to violence to do so. There is no `right' and `wrong' in this movie, just competing agendas. Such depth and thoughtfulness is welcome, and is one reason why I consider Japanese animation to be above its American counterpart.
If I had to make one criticism of this film, it's that there might be one too many competing agendas. We have Ashitaka and his quest, San, Eboshi and the ironworks, Moro and the wolves, the boars, the monkeys, the forest gods, Jigo, and the Emperor's mercenaries. There is an awful lot happening in this movie, and the various alliances and battles do require some concentration to follow. This alone means `Mononoke' is more suited to an adolescent/adult audience than for children. The pacing and storytelling is perfect, though, meaning the movie is not really difficult to fully appreciate or understand, provided you put in a little effort.
In my opinion, `Princess Mononoke' is Miyazaki's best film, and that's saying something. Outstanding animation, well-drawn characters, intricate plot, and some thought-provoking themes, all presented in a more mature and complex style. An amazing piece of work, and one of the best anime ever made.
Five stars all the way.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 839
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