This may be my favorite animated film.

Everything Miyazaki is known for, from his visuals to his recurring themes and great characterization, are in perhaps their best form here. Princess Mononoke is an epic that is just as insightful as it is mesmerizing.

On the cover of my copy of 'Princess Mononoke', the movie is described as 'The Star Wars of Animated Features' - which is really misleading. 'Star Wars' was a simplistic cowboys and indians movie with spaceships. 'Mononoke' is a challenging movie in which characters perform evil deeds from good motives, and only Ashitaka, the central male character, behaves without malice. And even here, his refusal to take sides in the battle between the nature Gods and the human forces of destructive technology can be very frustrating for the viewer - at least for this viewer.

In other words, this movie simply refuses to portray the antagonists as good or evil, though it is hard not to side emotionally with the wolf-raised warrior princess and the forest Gods. Ultimately it may be a challenge for the viewer to show the same neutrality that Ashitaka does.

After a decade working with more intimate and often more lightweight movies, director Miyazaki returns to the epic sweep of his early fantasies, and this time finally nails it. 'Princess Mononoke' takes the environmental themes of 'Nausicaa' and suffuses them in the extravagant mythological imagery which would continue in 'Spirited Away'. 'Mononoke' is very different than that movie however, or from any of the director's other films, in its quite frequent graphic violence, and if 'Porco Rosso' is perhaps his most adult-oriented movie, 'Princess Mononoke' is maybe his darkest.

In fact I must admit I don't find this a very uplifting film. There are moments of amazing beauty in it, but it seems almost a doomed beauty, and somehow the reconciliation posited at the film's ending felt only half-convincing, and fell short of making me feel as good as I think it was supposed to. That's about the only reason I can think of for not giving it a perfect 10, but near enough to warrant 4 stars. The only other issue I have witrh it isn't the film's fault. I just thought that Disney's English dub could have been better, with some characters excellant, and others just adequate. But there's an easy solution to that. Watch it with subtitles.

There is a little CGI in 'Mononoke', but it's hardoly noticeable. For the most part it is gorgeous classical animation, with the stunning backdrops and attention to detail which is a surefire thing in any Miyazaki film. It's a little tighter and less rambling plot-wise than most of his other work, without getting into the overt complexity that a lot of anime is guilty of. Sure, you are confronted with utterly bizarre demons, spirits, curses, Gods and so forth, which would be totally alien to most Western viewers, but they are explained quite sufficiently, so just sit back and enjoy the trip.

With this film Miyazaki seemed to have exorcised the themes which were trying to get out in 'Nausicaa' 13 years earlier, and added a newly discovered obsession with Japanese tradition and mythology as opposed to Western themes.

History may well record this as his finest film. For me his last three have all been very close, but I think this is the one which will define him.

There is no word in any language that can describe how great this movie is. This movie is stunningly beautiful. I sometimes had to remind myself this was animated. There were times while watching I thought this was a real live movie. It's probably one of the best acievements of Miyazaki's. The music will move you along with the gorgeous backgrounds. After this movie, you will feel like one with nature. This movie highly recommended. You will watch it over and over, appreciating it each time.

I think this movie redefined "stunning" for me... after watching it I was certain that no I could longer write reviews using that word because nothing would ever compare. Princess Mononoke does stuff with animation that I didn't think was possible.. scope and level of detail that's just unheard of in western animation. I kept recalling something I heard once as I watched the movie.. that Disney doesn't like animating tigers because the stripes make it more difficult. Fair enough.. however that fact only makes the beast covered with swishing, worm-like tendrils seem that much more amazing.. or the plant life that grows and withers at the Forest Spirit's feet.. or the sweeping vistas that dominate this movie.

This isn't to say that the movie didn't have its flaws. One flaw that I have come to accept when watching anime is that there is always going to be something lost in the translation. Half of telling a story is about fitting it to the audience you're telling it to and we are not the Japanese audience that this film was meant for.. certainly Disney has done an admirable job refitting it for North American tastes, but not everything is translatable. That is both its charm and its failing. In particular the end of the film didn't feel quite right--too unresolved and inconclusive. I also thought that too much attention was spent in trying to find big name stars to do the voice dub and as a result the voice casting seemed off in places. The roles of Moro and Jiko in particular.

That said, it is still a movie definitely worth seeing. Quite simply it is a work of art given motion and I encourage anyone who wishes to see what truly mind-blowing animation looks like to take the opportunity to see this film.

Princess Mononoke is a surrealistic and strangely beautiful film, both visually and in theme.

Ashitaka, the hero, is banished from his village after he is cursed by a demon--a demon he killed only in defense of the village. He travels, seeking only peace and the cure for his curse, but the curse causes his occasionally necessary violent actions to have gruesome and extreme results.

The story of Ashitaka's quest for peace is contemplative and revealing, encouraging the viewer to consider the motivations of the warring forces of nature and technology. There are no absolute heroes or cackling villains in this film. Ashitaka's journal is a frustrating struggle to understand and reconcile the opponents. This film requires more thought and attention than most.

In addition to the wonderfully complex characters and intense plot, the visual appeal of the film is nothing short of spectacular. Mysterious, surreal scenes of forest magic vie with the sights and lifestyles of ancient people...horrific scenes of war alternate with moments of extreme serenity and strange beauty. The score of the film is well-done and flawlessly integrated with the film.

Frankly, I can't think of a single bad thing to say about this film.