Princess Mononoke DVD: Review By stevegibbs

Rather like a Japanese Lord of the Rings, Princes Mononoke uses an epic fantasy to bring to life the issue of technology versus nature and tradition. With his customary dramatic flair and attention to detail, director and storyteller Hayao Miyazaki, weaves a captivating spell set in feudal era Japan.

Prince Ash*taka is afflicted with a curse which will eventually kill him. To find its cause, and hopefully a cure, he sets out on a quest to a distant forest. He soon finds himself in the midst of an all-out war between a town of ironworkers and the spirits of the forest. The humans are adamant that industrial progress must be maintained, at whatever cost. The forest spirits feel differently, of course, since they represent all that is ancient and unchanging. Ash*taka eventually befriends a mysterious wolf-girl, Princess Mononoke, who is a fierce defender of the spirit world. As he earns her trust, he takes on the difficult role of meditor between the spiritual and physical realms.

Theatrical trailer

This is the theatrical trailer for the English dubbed version, rather than the original Japanese.

Production Featurette

Again, produced for the English market, this brief Miramax featurette focuses on the American voice-over talent. A little disappointing; I'd hope to see some more about the animation, design and the whole original production.

Presented in 1.85:1 Widescreen. This is a beautiful transfer, allowing the viewer to experience the wealth of detail and rich color that Miyazaki movies are known for. The use of color contributes greatly to the telling of the story; from the gritty, dark industrialism of Iron Town to the muted, peaceful pastels of the forest. Mononoke works not only as a great movie, but also as a stunning work of art in motion.

Presented in Digital 5.1 Surround. This is a quality track, with an excellent mix between the intense clashes of battle and the quietness of undisturbed nature. Good use is made of the surround capability, without drawing attention to itself.

The first time I saw Princess Mononoke in the theater, it was a rather overwhelming experience. I didn't know what to expect. I certainly wasn't ready for what director Miyazaki had in store. It is a movie that bears repeat viewings, especially if you hope to absorb all the detail that has been shoe-horned into it. And being able to appreciate it again and again on DVD, well, it just doesn't get much better! As far as the DVD goes, the movie andpresentation are top quality. My only disappointment was with the extra features. I had really hoped to see something more on the creation of the movie and the incredible artistic work. Maybe that's being kept for a super-deluxe edition some day in the future.