Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"What happened to my spell? Only love can break it", 6 Nov 2007
There are many outstanding aspects about this film that contribute to place it among the best anime productions I have seen in my life. It all starts with the animation, since the attention to detail in Miyazaki's work is seldom experienced. I could not help gasping when in one of the scenes I saw the perfect reflection of Chihiro on the window of a train in which she was traveling. These are the kind of details that give the production a realism that is really hard to find. The second crucial element is the story itself, which is proof of a prodigious imagination, and which without a doubt can be experienced several times without generating boredom in the spectator. Finally, and maybe this is the most striking aspect of all, this is a movie that can be appreciated by audiences of all ages, because there is something to take away for everyone. I can only imagine how interesting it will be for my daughter to watch this film as a kid, teenager and adult, since there are things to discover at each level of maturity.
Chihiro, the main protagonist of the story, is a ten-year-old girl who is moving with her parents to a new city. She is the typical kid nearing adolescence, and therefore, is unhappy with the world, her parents in particular, and shows no interest in anything. When looking for their new house, a wrong turn leads them to a mysterious place that looks like an abandoned theme park, but when night falls quicker than expected, Chihiro finds herself all alone in a world full of spirits. There are no words to describe the astounding magical world in which she is immersed, and the transformation the character undergoes is as mesmerizing as it is revealing.
When a few years ago I watched "Princess Mononoke" I thought I had experienced Miyazaki at the top of his game, but this film gives it a run for its money. Bottom line is that both works should be required watching for every fan of the genre. People that are looking for an introduction to anime can find no better place to start than with "Spirited Away". The only drawback is that it will create a tough benchmark for future experiences to match.
In terms of the Extras, the disc that has the film, also has a piece on the Art of Spirited Away, where Miyazaki shares some of the "secrets" behind his inspiration and peers and coworkers talk about the wonderful qualities of this magnificent director. In most cases I would say that the praise was scripted and disregard it as such, but in this case it really rings true, and it is entertaining and insightful to watch. This segment also includes commentary on the challenges faced with the translation, and on the steps that were put in place to conserve the original intent of the film. This is extremely important, especially in the anime / manga genre, where sadly, lousy translations that mangle the product are not uncommon.
The Extras in the additional disc were not really worth watching, and I felt like they were there just as a way to make this a two-disc edition. Nevertheless, the rest of the product is so outstanding that I could not bring myself to lower my rating.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Miyazaki Masterpiece, 26 Sep 2007
Spirited Away is a wonderful anime by Ghibli, beautifully animated and with a story line that does, while being at times slightly confusing, capture the heart.
The characters are lovable and the settings are gorgeous, if you have never watched a Ghibli film before, start with this.
This movie was the first Studio Ghibli movie I watched and, if you have never watched one before, i highly recommend any, but this is one of its best and is one of the most wonderful stories for both a young and old audience. A Ghibli masterpiece.
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Masterpiece, 6 Jun 2007
My first look at Miyazaki's work, (as it is for for many westerners no doubt) and I was blown away. The animation is out of this world, both in quality and in imagination. The story line is original and different and follows a girl trying to bring back her parents from a curse where they are turning into pigs and follows her adventures as she tries to achieve this. The world she travels in is beautiful, weird and magical to watch. Well worth a look by anyone, but be warned you may get hooked and there is a host of other Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki work out there to tantalise and delight.
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