Princess Mononoke

Miyazaki is man best describe in one word: "Fanastic"! His animation work is by far the best when it comes to movies and animation series. The choice of overall story-line, main characters, support characters, and individual story-line for each character is done so perfectly that there no mistake what going to happen, and it getting you thinking from beginning of movie or episode what going to happen next or how is this going to end. Princess Mononoke incorparted everything that I just mention above, to me is one best animation movie done by him. I would also rank in top three for best animation movie of all time. The price was well worth it and company who I purchased it from sent it just a describe Used-"Like New". It also arrived on time as describe by the company who I order my copy from. You won't be waste any money when you order Miyazaki "Princess Mononoke"!

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.

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! Depicts mans struggle against nature in a battle between mankind and the very spirit of an ancient forest in Japan.

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!

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.

Those who are into anime will love this. It comes with a nice animation, a lovely story, and lesson for us all.

Princess Mononoke was an AMAZING movie in every way, shape and form. I'm very interested in the Japanese culture as well as Japanese anime. And I'll definately be watching more movies like Princess Mononoke!

Another compelling tale by Miyazaki. I always love his heroes because they relentlessly try to do the right thing. One word of caution is that this film is a bit darker than his others without much comedic relief/lightheartedness.

First off, I have to say that I am not a big fan of anime, both movies and TV series. Most of them are incredibly over-the-top, some are just plain strange, a lot of them are style-over-substance, and many of them have characters that are WAY too sexual in terms of appearance. The plots themselves are odd to begin with; most of which are as bad as those that we find in more recent cartoons here in the United States. The craze that surrounds these anime films and shows are just wild; it's almost unbelievable. I do respect that other people love these forms of entertainment, but to me, anime is not, and has not been, my thing.

...Why are you rechecking my last name?...

Well anyway, there are some few animes that I really admire, and Princess Mononoke is one of them. This is one of the fewest animated films in which it's targeted at an older audience. It's not a family film: it has blood and no childish humor. It has a strong message: it focuses on humanity and how it's destroying the natural and spiritual side of the world. It is never over-the-top: no quick, colorful shots or strange techno music whatsoever. It's a classic in its genre, and it's Miyazaki's greatest creation, in my opinion. If you're tired of the Akira-like flashy lights, or lack of logic a la Bleach, or maybe even the Pokemon-like cuteness that you find in many children's anime, then Princess Mononoke can be the perfect alternative.

Mind you, though, that even though I see this as one of the greatest anime films ever created, it's not one of my top favorites. I did find the film a bit slow in some parts, and there were some moments about environmentalism that felt too preachy. And San was very annoying in some scenes. I just wished she could be quiet when the film goes on. But those are all the flaws that I can find, and they really are few. Princess Mononoke is, without any doubt whatsoever, one of the greatest animated films to ever come from Japan, and is one of the greatest in general. Kudos to Miyazaki for creating this gem.

Everything was great! The product came sooner than expected and was in perfect condition! Thanks!

I love this movie. It came reasonably quick and in perfect condition. This movie is highly recommended!!

From Disney's adaptations to Miramax Films, the credit for these fantastic films goes to their creator, Hayao Miyazaki. Princess Mononoke gets 5/5 hands down. His imagination has absolutely no limit and I look forward to his next film sensation. In the meantime, I recommend other movies like Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, and Castle in the Sky. Let your imagination run wild.

A stunning anime! This was wonderful! I really enjoyed this one! I can't say anything else about it, exept... wow!

My kids enjoyed this movie though some parts bored them. I could not stand Billy Bob Thortons voice roll in this. He was terrible and some others from the animals were really bad and fake. If you dont like violence dont watch. It was a little anti-war which was a bit irritating, but overall it is worth watching. Spirited Away is my favorite.

If you think Man is evil and you're a tree hugger, you'll love this movie. Tried to watch it for pure entertainment but couldn't because it was soo boring. Thought it would be a good anime to watch because of all the STARS, guess all the STARS came from tree hugging liberal.

THIS WAS A GOOD MOVIE. I LOOOVVVEEE MIYAZAKI MOVIES!!!! IT WAS EVEN A LITTLE SCARIER THAN HIS OTHER MOVIES, BUT STILL HAD THE UNDERLYING NOTION OF GOOD VERSUS EVIL AND THE EVILS OF WAR AND NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PLANET. I THINK HIS BEST IS HOWLS MOVING CASTLE. THIS IS PROBABLY HIS THIRD BEST MOVIE.

I really can't rate this one since I bought it as a gift for my grandchild who thinks it is the greatest. That's what a gift should be.

Seller promised two day delivery, and it did come as promised. In fact, it was the first delivery I received, among the batch of orders I made on the same day. Condition was also "very good", like promised.

of all th einterviews i read -everyone said this was an out standing movie-i bought it and i didn't think it earned 4 or 5 stars!i think it takes sometime to get into this movie,i just have to say i was dissappointed in the movie and for the price i don't think it was worth it.

If you have never seen a film by this man, this is an excellent place to start!

I had just order movie one month age, and I watch this movie. It is so good movie.

This is an incredible story about a prince who becomes an outcast of his dying village, through a mark left on his arm by a rogue god. If you haven't seen this film, I highly recommend anyone to see this film. You will be left at the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

As a relative neophyte to anime, I had assume the art form was limited to Pokemon and similar low-production value animation with similarly low-budget storylines. I was wrong. Oh, how I was wrong.

_Princess Mononoke_ is one of several "anime" films written and drawn by Hayao Miyazaki, who is a master of the art form. The characters are a long, long way away from the ridiculous "cartoons" I associated with anime - his are on a whole other level of detail and form. The storyline, as well, was much deeper and complex than I had given the genre credit for. The protagonists are not entirely "good", and the antagonists are not entirely "evil" - an honest representation of human nature, I thought - well beyond what I was expecting. The story's complexity furthered by the myriad themes: the costs of human greed, the price of environmental degridation, and the conflict of doing what is right for the individual versus what is for the greater good.

What was most surprizing, however, were the shinto overtones to the story in both character and in animation: the interplay of light and dark on characters, the relationship between "spirit guardian" and mankind, and the casting of a Buddhist monk as an antagonist.

I enjoyed the film tremendously, as did my 7 year-old daughter (for whom much of the subtleties were lost on, but who remained riveted by the masterful storytelling.) While _Princess Mononke_ is not my favorite Miyazaki film, it warrants 5 stars nonetheless.

I bought this video for my son who has watched it at least twice since we received it. The story is very good and it is fun to listen to big name stars (Billy Bob Thornton) doing the voice for Japanese characters. The DVD arrived on time and in excellent condition just as the seller promised.

Another interesting movie from Hayao Miyazaki. This story is about what hatred can do to your soul and how your attitude affects you and those around you. It encourages cooperation and although everyone doesn't live happily ever after, ends with a satisfying conclusion. These movies always contain some moral or cultural message for viewers. My kids are 12 and 16 and they want to collect everything Miyazaki has done. Others they enjoy: Kiki's Delivery Service, Castle In the Sky, Spirited Away, Porco Rosso, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl's Moving Castle. I'm so glad Disney has become involved in getting these films out to the masses.

This movie is amazing! Everything about this movie is great, though I must admit it can be gory at times. One of my favorites.

This movie was beautifully made as a whole. I found the plot to be fantastic and it stuck with me for awhile as I contemplated my own actions. Isn't that what a good story does? As with another reviewer, this was not what I expected to see by the title, which turns out to not be a problem with the beautiful artwork/graphics and a storyline that hooks you deep.

This movie was good enough to even hook my mother, whom showed up as it started. She does not like anime in the least and is never quiet when watching any movie. This one kept her silent until the end and all she said was "Wow, that was really good." Enough said.

Everyone should be able to view Hayao Miyazaki animation. This film is no exception. You must see these films more than once. Put the setup in Japanese and English subtitles to get a better effect. Watch the films once for the story and then for the background animation. Superb!!!!

I can't wait for Studio Ghibli's next film to come to the U.S.. It is currently showing in Japan.

Very good movie i recommend anyone to buy it whether your a fan of Anime or not. Also thanks to amazon on a very speedy delivery. VERY SATISFIED!!!

This is everything you would expect from a Hayao MIYAZAKI film. A gem for the Studio Ghibli fans ^_^
Any film from Hayao MIYAZAKI will be anime at it's finest!

Okay, so I've just gotten into anime, and have only seen about 30 anime movies, but this is by far the best I've seen to date. I bought Howl's Moving Castle a while back and decided to get everything I could involving Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli and I was a amazed that I liked this movie even better than Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away. I'm a nature lover too, so this movie really hits the right note with me.

I was a little unsure of what to expect from the title of this movie, but it certainly wasn't about a princess. The plot of this film was very good. I have yet to watch it with subtitles and I expect that it will be much better with them. Billy Bob Thornton is terrible, plain and simple. Minnie Driver seems out of place in her role as well. Let's face it, the English voiceovers completely lack conviction. At least some of the other anime films with English dubs that I have seen sound like they actually give a crap about what they are doing. The main character, however was excellently voiced IMO.
As far as the plot goes, it is excellent. You may want to read up on some Japanese tradition/legends before watching as most westerners brush off a plot about nature as hippie rubbish. This film has a good message and should be embraced, with or without the crappy dubs.
The animation is top notch for the time period that it was released. The opening scenes are some of my favorite and I am sure you'll see why.
All in all, the film is like a violent disney movie with an actual message that should be received by most kids 12 and older (unless you cottle your kids and could nag the paint off of the walls, in which case go and sit your kids down in front of Handy Manny or something while you wait for Sex and the City to come out on DVD (if you found that offensive, you know in your heart that it is true, so stop lying to yourself already!)). I would not recommend this film to children that are any younger than this age due to the eerie violence that ensues at some unexpected parts. Oh come on, just pay the 15 bucks and see it. You probably won't regret it. I didn't.

Studio Ghibli had been belting out movies since the early 1980s. They delt with everything from epic fantasy to coming of age films. But, nothing would have prepared the world for 'Princess Mononoke'. Not only is this film the 2nd highest grossing film in Japan, it is also the film that finally gave Studio Ghibili notice in the United States.

'Princess Mononoke' shows the epic battle of man against nature and how the constant motion of human evolution has the ability to destroy the purity of nature. Though there are no physical elements of good against evil the true villans in this film are greed, power and anger. You see characters like Asuyaka, who comes from a race of humans that have strong bonds with nature. Lady Hiboshi who wants to move the human race forward with science and technology only to create the perfect human utopia. Then you have Princess Mononoke, a girl who was tossed by her parents to the wolf gods out of fear, but only to be raised as a daughter of nature and learn the magic of the ancient ways. These characters clash for the purpose of moving forward, but also for the chance to co-exist. I feel that is what makes this film so appealing because of the similariteis in life. The topics of polotics, science and religion always cause a stir in us eventhough there can be ways to have them all work united.

This was a diffenent film for Miyazaki, but you still manage to see the magical elements that make his signature work. It is a film rich in detail and emotion. You get lost in the vast landscapes and the relationships of the characters you sometimes forget you are watching an animated film. Though this movie may not be for everyone because of the PG-13 rating for the epic battles and language, there are still elements that bring out Miyazaki's true colors and this film is a marvel worthy to be seen.

As a huge fan of Miyazaki's work, this was far from disappointing but truly worthy of praise. It excites the mind and the imagination with the story and captures a truly fascinating world unlike any other I've ever encountered in fantasy. It is beautifully animated even if in only 2-D, it is fluid and fanciful all the way through. However, concerning Miyazaki's other pieces, this one is more graffic and includes some more vicious demon work than other so-called demons in other pieces. Creatures and people are slaughtered or wounded and although blood doesn't gush, some might squirm. I felt a tad of revulsion, but not at the story itself. It thrills. It inspires. It's worth watching again and worth every penny. The dubbing is well done and I love it all.

I owned this DVD for 8-10 months before i unwrapped and watched it--I didn'T like "Spirited Away" (you tell me why; I don't know). But I loved "Grave of the Fireflies" from the same studio, and "Whiper of the Heart," which I think Miyazaki had a hand in.
Miyazaki takes the complexities of a simple problem (must the need for mechanization and what we make of natual resourses ruin nature?) and weaves a story of the most glorious creatures one has ever seen, imagined or not had the imagination to imagine. And although there is a hero and a heroine, nobody else is all good or all bad. I loved all the characetrs, from the girls rescued from a brothel to the (GULP!) Night Walker. Move over, Lawrence Olivier in Henry V (sorry; I was just thinking of the most beautiful things I'd ever seen).

There is a problem wih my DVD player, and I couldn't get the original soundtrack. I had no problems with the excellent actors in the English version (I think the Japanese are second only to Bergman in dubbing), but having read the reviews, I will watch it in japanese tomorrow at my friend's house.

LATER: The ENGLISH (dubbed) version is much better---because, first, the actors are all adequate to the task, but second, and more important, there is only so much subtitle you can fit on the screen at one time, and the subtitles to the Japanese version tend to be minimalist. The Japanese language is spoken rather quickly, and while the English-speaking actors could keep up, the subtitle-writers could not (besides, they have to take the reading speed of the audience into consideration as well).. (There have been movies where I have learned things from the subtitles that I hadn't even known were in the movies---this is NOT one of them!)You will learn a lot more of what's going on in the speech and thought of the characters--unless you know Japanese--if you watch the English language version.

this movie is a classic. the animation is spectacular and the story very well done. I happen to be somewhat into japanese culture as of present, but before i was so into it, and people who i know now who are not into it, sometimes japanese media goes over their heads. the cultures are kind of different and place importance on different things and when a person used to seeing one kind of story or moral repeated over and over in different ways sees something else... well they may not immediately appreciate it (an example of this would be how at the end he doesn't end up with the girl. this happens in almost every western movie because we are very focused on the 'happy ending' fairytale, validating the storyline with the 'kiss at the end', but that doesn't happen in all cultures). however, i found princess mononoke to somewhat transcend this confusion, because the story is so relatable and well told. i found it to be so when i first watched it, which would be late elementary school, and feel this way even more now.

the story can be translated in many ways, but the general message i got out of it was the modern attempting to erase tradition. the people of iron town worked hard to destroy the forest because by doing so they could earn a living in the new world making iron. the only way they could do this however was to cut down the forests, which meant that they would have to kill the gods from the old world, who were already dying out. the thing is that the lady osono (or whatever) is painted in something of a bad light as she is cutting down the forest and killing the gods, but she is an amazingly strong humanist and a proactive woman in a time and place where women weren't liable to have that status (the status might help to paint her as a 'bad guy' however, because even though we are making progressions, many people are still very sexist... i would bet you that if not you yourself, someone you know thinks that women are by nature evil or devious... in 2008). So when looking at it in this light osono is opting for humanity. she takes in those lepers, she saves brothel workers from whatever fate they would face in brothels, etc. and yet she's the bad guy. interesting to note at any rate.

ashitaka is a great protagonist. a pacifist to the end. he goes on his journey to find something to remove his curse, not for selfish reasons i don't think, but to right the wrong. he's a pretty selfless person. at the beginning of the movie, the reason he got the curse was because his sister was in the way of the boar, so he had to shoot it, but before that he was trying to talk to it. this is basically how he acts throughout the movie. he tries to get things done without violence, but if it comes to it, he will resort to violence to protect himself or those he cares about.

didn't really notice the environmental message when i first saw it. i was more focused on cultural loss. but recently, with the environmental bludgeon the media has been playing around with, i noticed just how 'for nature' this movie was. traditionalism would of course take the stance against industry which would be a way to save the forest, so it makes sense, but i guess i just went into it too symbolically. it does have a pleasant environmental message however, better than a lot of other animated environmental movies.

so, to sum up, this is a great movie.

This movie has been my favorite since I was about ten. It is very good, and I loved it since me and my brother watched it for the first time. I would get it at the library again, and again, well i got bored getting it there, so i decided to buy it, and im so glad that I did.

good storyline, my kids watch it all the time, it's a little long but very enjoyable, this movie catches your attention. This is a movie you will watch over and over.

I didn't think I was going to like this lesser known Miyazaki film. I don't know what was wrong with me - I've liked all his others. "Spirited Away" is my favorite of his more popular movies. This story didn't look anything like that.

And it's not. This story is about the struggle of nature against human civilization, and man against animal, animal against man. Its message is very real today.

Beside the underlying story, what really had me taken was the thought put into this tale - all these interesting things you might never think of. A young girl raised by wolves (and she rides them!), and animal "bosses" or elders that are enormous compared to their followers (reminds me of typical video games where the boss is huge). The art was beautiful, just beautiful.

I've got the urge to watch this movie again, just to "live" in that world for a couple of hours once more.

I found this animated movie quite moving. I highly suggest you view it. It's quite magical.

Princess Mononoke is a must have for any die hard anime collector. This movie presents a moral based storyline with action that makes for a great movie. Out of all of Hisaya Monshige movies, this would have to be one of the best anime's ever made.

The first time I saw this I was mesmerized! I watched it in Japanese with english subtitles and it was beautiful. I later on watched it with the english voices and wasn't as moved. I don't even know where to begin with a detailed review but trust me... this is a must see!!!

I have seen all of Miyazaki's films but Princess Mononoke is the one I come back to the most. It doesn't get better but I just find it more entertaining. It begins serious and keeps it's tone through out. Some of the characters are talking animals. However, this is not on the level of saturday morning kids cartoons. This is a very mature anime film. The thing I want to point out right off the back is this may not be for a very young audience. Due to violence, a bit of cursing and gore. Seriously be very careful when showing this to young kids. I warned my friend about it before I let him borrow it. And his 7 year old is having bad dreams about the scene with all of the red eyed apes. And this has been going on for a while now.

The story begins when a village is being attacked by a demonic creature. The main character kills this creature and in the process he is cursed. He is then banished from his village and he seeks to put an end to his curse.

The story and the pacing is very good and well thought out. The action scenes aren't many but they happen for a reason to further the plot. The action scenes consist of a bit of sword play, archery, and guns. And I'm talking arms and heads getting shot off. There is more than enough going on to keep the interest level high. The main characters are likable but no one is really developed. But I didn't find the lack of development damaging. I think it worked out well all the way to the end.

The animation is very fluid and well detailed. Some scenes do a better job showing the strength of the animation. The soundtrack doesn't hold up well when compared to other Miyazaki films. But what little bit it has works out pretty well. The english voice cast is a mixed bag. Some of the voices are very well acted. My favorite voice talents come from Jada Pinkett Smith, Keith David, and Billy Crudup. While Billy Bob Thornton(especially) and Claire Danes were punishing my ears. It's rare that it happens but I actually prefer the japanese voices.

Princess Mononoke is a very good anime film that can appeal even to non fans. Some people actually say it's confusing. If you find this confusing and plan on getting into anime. Then you better be very careful where you dump your cash and do some research. There's series out there that will put your brain in knots, while this is very simple. Still, Miyazaki films are the best place to start for new fans.

There's nothing worse than watching anime dubbed in English. Throughout the course of the film instead of hearing film dialogue, you'll hear "Clare Danes here, I'm Clare danes?" "Billy Bob Thorton, Billy, Billy Bob Thorton, you know Slingblade, Bad Santa? Yes this is my voice in this movie." Awful. English dubs never match the tone of whats on screen. The fact that the original Japanese language audio track isn't offered on this DVD is just unforgivable.

We bought this movie, and a few others like it. I love it. It's incredible- the animations is stunning. Maybe even better than Spirited Away. It does say PG-13, but my nine year old watched it- not really anything that's not in the movies (less frightening that Lord of the Rings- if your kid can watch those kinds of things- mine hasn't yet- then they will probably be okay watching this).
If you're child is younger, Kiki's Delivery or Totoro is a great option.
The only way this movie could've maybe been better is if they stuck it on an IMAX screen. (That would be a great way for the US to be introduced more widely to anime.)

I bought the video for my 12 y.o. son to give to his best friend as a Christmas gift. Both boys are anime fiends. I think he'll love the movie.

All of Miyazaki's films are good. As a rule the worst are better than the best you get from other producers. This is one of the better films from the master and I recommend it.

"Princess Mononoke" is a fantastic film for pre-teens through adults. Highly recommend this movie if you liked "Spirited Away".

This is another fabulous film from the gifted Mr. Miyazake. It makes you laugh, cry and ends by filling you with hope -- as do all of his films. This was one a huge hit in Japan when it came out and was only eclipsed by another of his films, Spirited Away (which is also wonderful, by the way). 5 stars all the way and 4 paws up!