PRINCESS MONONOKE, a film animated by Hayao Miyazaki, is a two hour adventure that you should not miss. Recommended to me by my brilliant daughter, I can only regret the time it took for me to acquire this DVD! It is fantastically beautiful, a treat for all the senses. The story is the timeless tale of how man interacts with nature. The conflict is whether man destroys or lives in harmony.

Before I attempt a mundane analysis of this experience, with the usual features, let's talk about the different ways to experience this movie.

I have watched it three times, in various modes, offered by the DVD. I watched it first with the American voices, (that I could recognize) and the subtitles that reflected the translation. I watched it the second time with the literal translation from the Japanese and the American voice- overs. I watched it the third time in the original Japanese voices
and the literal translation captions. The last was the truest reflection of the pacing and the rhythm of the flick, although it probably helped that I already knew the story.

THE PLOT

Ashitaki, young warrior and protector of his village, encounters a boar turned demon-god, who he kills to protect his village. He is injured by the encounter, with a scar that he is told by the Oracle, will kill him. He goes in search of the Deer God (or Forest Spirit) to be healed. In his quest, he learns of the origin of the conflict that created the boar-demon.

A human group, led by Lady Eboshi, is systematically destroying the forest to make a living from an iron works. They are in conflict with the animals, then able to speak and plan. The animal-gods know that the destruction of the forest will be the end of their existence. Ashitaki lands in the middle, and his mission is to see it it through "eyes unclouded". The animals are led by San, Princess Mononoke, who was raised by wolves.

Until a third group's interests surface, this conflict seems difficult, but there is hope that the two sides can live in harmony. Enter a third interest..the emperor who is after the Forest God's head to achieve his own immortality! There are many possibilities for this story to end. I will leave it to you to discover them.

THE CHARACTERS

ASHITAKI (American Voice Billy Crudup) A young man brave and honorable, a fierce warrior and defending what he knows to be good in both the human and the animal sides. Yet he himself has an interest in the fierce and beautiful San. A well done character, in any language.

PRINCESS MONONOKE (American Voice Claire Danes) A young woman rescued by wolves, when her parents tossed her as a baby to the wolves. The parents were killed defiling the forest. She leads the animals in their fight against the encroaching village.

LADY EBOSHI (Voice of Minnie Driver) In this one character, I appreciated the voice of one of my favorite performers. Lady Eboshi is not evil. She has gathered a society of misfits from the "towns", where they were in deep misery and has found a way for them to succeed, by the iron works. She is not bad, but she is misdirected. She is fiercely protective of her village and the people in it, including the lepers who had been living in despair, and the brothel girls who were given back their dignity.

JIGO(Voice of Billy Bob Thornton) In this character, I also appreciated the American actor, who in this case added to the humor and the understanding of the conflict. Of all the characters, this humorously drawn "monk" is the one who interprets the actions in a way we can understand. He adds humor to a situation that is deadly serious.

THE DEER GOD (or FOREST SPIRIT). The giver of life and of death. Never a word passes from his lips, but in his two aspects he is wonderfully drawn. In one aspect, beautiful and compassionate. In the other, devastating and destructive(in the way of nature, not of man).

THE WOLVES Speaking and acting in the proud spirit of wolves. White wolves, again wonderfully drawn and realized by Miyazaki, led by the Wolf-goddess Moro, who San calls "mother".

THE APES even without individual characters, they are an important aspect of the natural, sentient element. They plant trees in the denuded forest. The humans destroy the plantings.

THE BOARS, portrayed as a noble and fierce species, who do not submit to their future role as barbecue lightly. Well done in all their manifestations.

THE KODAMA or Tree Spirits. In these little "spirits" filled with life and imagination, is the power of imagination without form. They appear as rocks with holes for eyes, and yet by their movements, and clacking sounds, they are alive!

YAKUL The Red Elk, that serves as steed for Ashitaki. Never a word spoken, yet is loyal and true, by his actions and dedication. Yakul will always be one of my favorite animated characters.


There are a hundred reasons to recommend this flick, for all ages. It is a complex yet universal story , it has a romantic subplot, there is humor, their is conflict and above all there is the beauty of the art of Miyazaki. The film experience is enhanced by a delightful musical score.


RECOMMENDATION

Get this movie! Buy it, don't just rent it! You will want to watch it over.

**Note: Suitability for Children..it can be watched by any age group



Recommended: Yes