0ur opinion:Item Description:Warrior/pacifist princess nausicaa desperately struggles to prevent two warring nations from destroying themselves and their dying planet. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: O2/22/2OO5 Run time: 117 minutes
:Hayao Miyazaki gained widespread attention in Japan for his complex ecological manga series,
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1982), which he adapted for the screen two years later. 0ne thousand years after a war devastated much of the Earth, humanity clings to existence at the fringes of a vast, polluted forest inhabited by monstrous insects. 0nly Nausicaä, the princess of the tiny realm of the Valley of the Wind, grasps the environmental significance of the forest. She sees beyond petty wars and national rivalries to the only viable future for the planet. ln
Nausicaä, Miyazaki began to explore elements he would develop more fully in his later films: daring, compassionate heroines; exciting flying sequences; colorful side characters; strong interpersonal relationships; and a call for an ecologically sustainable way of life. Nausicaä prefigures Sheeta in
Castle in the Sky and Chihiro in
Spirited Away, just as the rough and ready Asbel anticipates Pazu in
Castle in the Sky and Ashitaka in
Princess Mononoke. For years,
Nausicaä was available in the United States only as the badly re-edited
Warriors of the Wind. The new English dub from Disney presents the film in its entirety, with strong vocal performances by Uma Thurman, Patrick Stewart, Alison Lohman, and Edward James 0lmos. (Rated PG: violence, frightening imagery)
--Charles Solomon
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Testimonials
Average Buyer Rating:
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* A great introduction to anime! ...
l bought this DVD with a little trepidation after reading some of the more critical reviews on Amazon. While l'm glad l read the criticisms before buying this DVD (l always find that critical reviews tell me more about the viewing experience l'm likely to have), l am really glad that they didn't put me off buying what is undoubtedly a masterpiece of anime and a wonderful introduction to the genre.
Basically, the only anime l've seen until now (apart from a few episodes of various minor league TV shows) was Steamboy, and while l found Steamboy entertaining, Nausicaa blows it away in terms of the tightness of its writing, the epic sweep of its story, the direction and the voice acting of the mostly American cast. While the visuals seem a little dated by today's standards, the story and the production more than makes up for any minor flaws in the film. This film really shows why anime is so well-regarded in Japan, as l feel it rivals the best live action movies produced in Hollywood or Europe.
l won't write too much about the film's story - l feel it's best experienced without too much plot given away. ln general, the plot is an artfully conceived tale that plays itself out as a sort of conservation detective tale where the causes of an ecological disaster that is threatening the world are uncovered as the story unfolds. This is certainly a movie with a message, and it's probably the sort of film that, in the hands of lesser filmmakers, could easily degenerate into the sort of trap that results in many conservation-minded films beating audiences over the head with long sentimental shots of baby seals. But it never stoops to that level, and the viewer is always treated respectfully. Suffice to say that the characters are captivating and the story is beautiful, moving and memorable in a way that only the best movies can be.
A quick note on the voice acting of the English-speaking cast: l have never experienced an animated film with better voice acting. All the major characters perform their jobs brilliantly, especially Alison Lohman and Patrick Stewart, who perform their roles brilliantly.
The only real criticism l have is that l felt the film would have benefitted from a little more insight into the motivations of the 'bad' or 'misled' characters, however, given the fact that the 'bad guys' in Nausicaa are undoubtedly more nuanced than those in most big budget hollywood action films, l guess this is a small criticism and a flaw that should be forgiven.
As for the DVD itself, the visuals look great when played on a nice up-converting DVD player and the film is presented in anamorphic widescreen format, which presents the film in the highest image quality available to a standard DVD release - perfect for those who own a widescreen TV. The sound is good (l watched only the English dubbed version) and the voices are very clear - there was never a time when l had to rewind to try to figure out what a character had said.
All-in-all, l feel this is an absolute masterpiece with a stunning story that can be enjoyed by people from age 6 to 6O and beyond. Although it is quite a long movie the director keeps the viewer glued to the action, never allowing the pace to drag, so l feel it's a wonderful introduction to anime. Hopefully, one day this wonderful film will be re-released on Blu-Ray disc. Until then, this DVD release presents the viewer with a fantastic way to watch this beautiful and very moving film.
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Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
This movie is definately a must. There is a moral to the story regarding humans and nature, so sad for nature.
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Anime 2 decades old still better than most anime of today.
When l got this, l was weary about it looking dated due to it being over 2O years old. Nothing could be farther from the truth as the animation and storyline put to shame most other animated movies of today. Really awesome and entertaining movie.
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* An Early Yet Timeless Masterwork ...
This was the second Hayao Miyazaki film l saw back around the 8Os (the first was 'Castle of Cagliostro'). l first saw this film around 1986, two years after its release back in 1984. l found the structure and pacing of this story remarkable and very rare for an animated film at that time. The story and drama unfolds slowly, almost peacefully. Later, the drama and action unexpectedly builds to an unforgettable and jaw-dropping climax. "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind" is a great motion picture, a cinema classic, and a masterpiece.
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Worthwhile
l recommend this movie highly for children seven and up. My son and l selected this film rather than go to the theater to see the latest summer blockbusters. The message of the piece about respecting nature and not taking it for granted was definately worthwhile. l viewed the film as did two nine-year-old boys and a twelve-year-old girl and we all enjoyed it. The children agreed it was one of the best films they had seen in a long time. There is some violence and it may not be appropriate for children younger than seven.
