Princess Mononoke
by Hayao Miyazaki
List Price:
Our Price: $13.00
You Save: $9.99 (43%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Director: Hayao MiyazakiBrand: Buena Vista Home Video
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); Japanese (Original Language); French (Original Language)
Format: Animated, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 134 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2000-12-19
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Miramax
Accessories:
- My Neighbor Totoro [VHS]
- Kiki's Delivery Service (Widescreen Edition) [VHS]
- Princess Mononoke: Music From The Miramax Motion Picture
Movie Reviews of Princess Mononoke
Movie Review: Breathtaking Miyazaki masterpiece--watch it with "eyes unclouded".
Summary: 5 Stars
It is difficult for me to select a favorite Miyazaki movie because I happen to be fond of all of them, but if I were to choose, PRINCESS MONONOKE would definitely be one lucky candidate. This aesthetically breathtaking, multi-layered epic about the legendary clash between man and beast set in a forest-covered world became Japan's hugest box office grossing movie ever upon its 1997 release. Taking the whole movie into account, it's really not hard to understand why. Not just a depiction of what happens when hatred gets out of hand and/or when nature is threatened, this is a lavishly animated spectacle as well as a compelling exercise of portraying its characters neither as perfect heroes or deplorable villains, but flawed, believable people displaying tangible emotions.
The film's action begins when a courageous and compassionate Emishi prince, Ashi-taka, becomes infected with a deadly curse after killing a demon attacking his village. In the hopes of finding a cure, Ashi-taka sets off toward the West astride his faithful elk, Yakul, and finds himself caught in the midst of a war. On one side is a proud clan of human commanded by the ruthless Lady Eboshi, who is clearing the forest mainly for the sake of her own people (a group of outcasts which consist of lepers and brothel girls). On the other side are the Animal Gods of the forest who want to destroy the humans and protect their natural environment, led by the intimidating wolf matriarch Moro. Her human cub, Princess Mononoke herself, aka San, harbors a grudge against all humans and desires to kill them all (namely Eboshi)... or die trying. When Ashi-taka rescues her, however, she finds herself developing feelings for him that she's never felt before--are *all* humans truly evil, or is there at least one who can be trusted?
Families who have been spoiled by Disney movies may probably have a hard time determining who is "good" or who is "evil", but as mentioned, this is not Miyazaki's intention. His movie is meant to display the flaws of human beings and their inability to understand how their own inner demons and/or consummation of another world can bring about deadly consequences. The only character in the movie that comes close to being a villain is a squat monk known as Jigo, who wants the head of the mystical Forest Spirit in exchange for riches. But even then, Jigo has his own motives; he is not so much evil as much as he is just "trying to get by".
It is probably a little daring to say that out of Miyazaki's films, this is probably his most "adult" film to date, for it contains more violence than most of his other work. For example, in one scene, Ashi-taka, possessed by the curse on his arm, tries to stop samurai from attacking innocent people, and in doing so slashes off one man's arms, and later, another's head with two arrows. Horrifying and disturbing as the sight is (as well as some occasional blood spurts), such moments are included only to show its devastating effects. Some Japanese animated features tend to go overboard in depicting such gory sequences; in the case of PRINCESS MONONOKE, however, the violence never overpowers the meaning of the story, and is actually done in a way that is neither gratuitous nor squeamish. Even so, this is a movie that is arguably best appreciated by older viewers rather than youngsters.
For those who love to watch Studio Ghibli productions for their state-of-the-art production values, PRINCESS MONONOKE will do little to disappoint you in this area. Every frame is painted with imaginative visuals and exquisite detail that I have rarely seen matched in other animated films. Not only are the forests lush and magical but the creatures who inhabit it are difficult to forget, especially the cute little Tree Spirits who appear and disappear at will as well as the Great Forest Spirit himself--a tall, human-faced deer whose every steps make plants grow. At night he becomes the Nightwalker, a ghostly specter that towers over the trees. This is one of the many spectacular moments of wonder that, if anything, warrant the purchase of this movie--in addition, of course, to the compelling, multi-faceted characters and equally sweeping storyline.
PRINCESS MONONOKE was picked up for distribution by Miramax several years ago, and while everyone loves to fault them for the many mistakes they made in handling this movie (such as giving it only a non-existent marketing campaign), I'm sure there are those who will argue that Disney's English tracks for Miyazaki's movies are some of the best around, and this is no exception. Acclaimed writer Neil Gaiman's adaptation is not only faithful to Miyazaki's original screenplay (changing around only a few things here and there for comprehension purposes for audiences unfamiliar with its Japanese customs), but also just about every word of dialogue seems to avoid the somewhat clunky, odd-sounding lines that some dubs can sometimes suffer from. The English voice cast chosen to speak his script consists of various famous stars; these include Billy Crudup, Minnie Driver, Gillian Anderson, and Jada Pinkett-Smith. All provide solid vocal performances; some folks have issues with Billy Bob Thornton as Jigo and Claire Danes as San, but IMO both are every bit as good as the aforementioned actors.
The DVD presentation of this movie is phenomenal; the visual clarity is spectacular, and the English, Japanese, and French audio tracks are all reference-quality. On the other hand, the minimal extras are a bit of a sour note. All that's included are a theatrical trailer (where Miyazaki and MONONOKE are both mispronounced) and a skimpy featurette featuring comments from the principal members of the voice cast as well as ADR director, Jack Fletcher (Gaiman appears briefly). Hopefully Disney will one day revisit this masterpiece and give it the luscious two-disc treatment it deserves.
Summary of Princess Mononoke
Claire Danes (THE MOD SQUAD), Minnie Driver (GOOD WILL HUNTING), and Billy Bob Thornton (ARMAGEDDON, SLING BLADE) head a cast of hot Hollywood stars who lend their talents to this exquisitely animated, overwhelmingly acclaimed adventure epic! Inflicted with a deadly curse, a young warrior named Ashitaka (Billy Crudup -- WITHOUT LIMITS) sets out for the forests of the west in search of the cure that will save his life. Once there, he becomes inextricably entangled in a bitter battle that matches Lady Eboshi (Driver) and a proud clan of humans against the forest's animal gods, who are led by the brave Princess Mononoke (Danes), a young woman raised by wolves! Also starring Gillian Anderson (THE X-FILES) and Jada Pinkett Smith (SCREAM 2), this monumental struggle between man and nature will have you transfixed as stunning artistry blends with epic storytelling to create a uniquely entertaining motion picture!Before it ever arrived in the U.S., this epic, animated 1997 fantasy had 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
Similar DVD Movies
Whisper of the HeartBuena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2006-03-07; DVD
Best price: $18.88
Price in other shops:
The Cat ReturnsBuena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2005-02-22; DVD
Best price: $18.75
Price in other shops:
PonyoBuena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2010-03-02; Published: 2010; DVD
Best price: $12.53
Price in other shops:
Porco RossoBuena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2005-02-22; DVD
Best price: $18.00
Price in other shops:
Kiki's Delivery ServiceBuena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2010-03-02; DVD
Best price: $18.33
Price in other shops:
Castle in the SkyBuena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2010-03-02; DVD
Best price: $18.70
Price in other shops:
My Neighbor TotoroBuena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2010-03-02; DVD
Best price: $16.96
Price in other shops:
Nausicaa of the Valley of the WindBuena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2005-02-22; DVD
Best price: $18.99
Price in other shops:
Howl's Moving CastleBuena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2006-03-07; DVD
Best price: $19.20
Price in other shops:
Spirited AwayBuena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2003-04-15; DVD
Best price: $20.71
Price in other shops: