Princess Mononoke

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!

I really love this movie! Its one of my all time favorites!! absolutely beautiful images!

This is one of the best anime films I've seen in years, and I've seen a lot. Beautifully dubbed (although Billy Bob did throw me a little at first) and a near perfect script. I like my books and movies a little more realistic, with believable, flawed characters with some ambiguity in their actions, otherwise, whether it's anime or not, it feels cartoonish. This had everything I was looking for. If you haven't seen this yet, why not??? It's better than a lot of real Hollywood dramas (most in fact0 that come out every year.

Okay, I understand some sentiments against the American voice-cast, well, I don't really understand it, because it is still an amazing film, whatever version you go with. But I can understand where you are coming from in being disappointed with not having the Japanese version to compare with.
That being said, I must say, that should be the only complaint against this movie. It is visually stunning, the storyline is amazing, and the music is enthralling. Those who have said that this is anti-human, green peace propaganda, you couldn't be farther from the truth. True, this show is pro-environment seeing as how the main character was raised by nature. However, it is not against compassion towards humans, the supposed "villain" of the movie, while she does kill the Forest Spirit, is beloved by all who live in her settlement of Irontown, she is a believable character who really is trying to help people, she takes in outcast lepers and helps them to feel needed by giving them work to do, she treats them humanely. She does learn a valuable lesson by the end of the story and decides to rebuild her city, to continue mining the iron, but this time it will be more ecologically sound. The main character is blindly trying to destroy this irontown, but at the end, after the forest is destroyed, she returns to the forest to help it regrow, while her lover and the hero of the story returns to Irontown to help them rebuild. They continue in their relationship even though they are helping the two sides that just the day before had been killing each other. Can you not see the symbolism there!? This movie is about learning to coexist! Which you can't help but see the need for in this world. It's about seeing past your preconceptions of people and situations. The lepers are outcasts that are warmly received in Irontown, and the forest spirits are eventually accepted by the town folk as well, after having gone through a series of eye openers.
The characters are lively and you do come to care about them, just because people don't change their opinions completely around at the end of the movie, like some kind of dysfunctional bi-polar group of people doesn't mean that they do not learn and grow and become more mature because of their experiences. They all experience loss, and learn to overcome their hatreds.
This movie is visually stunning, with beautifully painted backdrops and scenery, granted, the characters do tend to look somewhat cartoonish, but who cares? It is a cartoon! Just so you know! Besides, they aren't looney-tunes kind of cartoonish, they are still excellently drawn and don't look out of place next to their amazing oil-painted world. The music is captivating and haunting, reflecting the torn and somewhat melancholy world where the story takes place.
The voice acting is really good, even if it is Claire Dane, or Billy Bob Thornton (who I think did an amazing job, I loved the monk, he was one of my favorite characters in the whole show). Just set aside your "artistic purism" views and just enjoy what this movie is, if you can't do that, don't worry about this movie then, go and find the japanese version and sit their reading the whole movie. This movie is amazing! By far one of my favorite movies of all time, and definately worthy of your time to see, and your money to buy. 5 Stars, if possible, I would give more.

This movie is very unique, my daughter loves it and has watched it several times now.....a dozen....thank you for a quick send to the nice person who mailed to to us and a BOX for it to go in so it didn't get crushed or broken....very nice....