Spirited Away [VHS]

Spirited Away [VHS]
by Hayao Miyazaki

Spirited Away [VHS]

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Product details

Actor: Daveigh Chase, Mari Natsuki, Miyu Irino, Rumi H?ragi, Suzanne Pleshette
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cinematographer: Atsushi Okui
Writer: Hayao Miyazaki
Producer: Donald W. Ernst
Producer: John Lasseter
Producer: Lori Korngiebel
Producer: Toshio Suzuki
Producer: Yasuyoshi Tokuma
Edition: VHS Tape
Audio: English (Original Language), Analog
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
Running Time: 125 minutes
Release Date: 2003-04-15
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Publisher: Walt Disney Video
Studio: Walt Disney Video

VHS Movie Reviews of Spirited Away [VHS]

Movie Review: It's really hard not to love it
Summary: 5 Stars

Anime is always stereotyped as nothing but ADD-indused action, annoying music, characters that surprisingly look the same, and a bad example of style-over-substance. This isn't the case with Miyazaki's Spirited Away. This is a very distinct anime film. Not only is it devoid of many stereotypes that anime in general is associated with, but it's a highly imaginative tale, with some fascinating details that you regularly don't see in Naruto or Bleach (both of which I dislike, by the way). Here's the story: a ten-year-old girl named Chihiro and her parents are moving into a new residence, and she's the only one who condemns the decision. Once they get lost by taking a shortcut through the forest, they come across a mysterious bathhouse. Things start to get worse as Chihiro's parents transform into pigs as they indulge themselves with food, and the way back to their car has been blocked. There is only one way out of this: get a job at the bathhouse that is now up and running again, and hopefully her parents will turn back into their normal selves.

With a length of just over two hours, Spirited Away is a visual spectacle of fantasy, drama, and comedy. Miyazaki brings his vivid imagination to life with memorable characters, gorgeous settings, and sequences that feel like they've come straight out of a dream (the train station is one example). I did have a couple of problems with this movie, however. The main character, Chihiro, got on my nerves a few times. She is a third-dimensional character, yes, but can't she PLEASE stop crying and screaming whenever she feels sad and scared?! The other problem I have with this movie is the music. I don't why, but sometimes the music doesn't sound very melodic. It's not the sort of music that you would remember for all time.

Well, despite those two flaws, this is still an excellent animated film. It may not be one of my favorites, but I can still acknowledge that this is one of the finest films to have ever been created since the beginning of this new millennium. Everyone should have a chance to watch it.

Grade: A-

Movie Review: Great Movie
Summary: 5 Stars

The turns and twists are not expected and the dialogue is very good for an animated film. Very enjoyable.

Movie Review: Masterpiece best japanese animation movie ever beautiful
Summary: 5 Stars

more than 5 stars every time i watch this movie i cry i can see myself as Chihiro shoes touch my heart miyazaki's masterpiece never get tired of warching it never will.the story is captivating, and the characters feel like they are a part of you.This anime is not only for animation's fans, but for everybody.

This is my favorite movie of all time and I'm so happy to own it!You cannot miss this one! Love the story, the animation, the music and everything! a total classic. i loveeeeeeeee watching love story nothing cant beat this one. i hope one day i can fall in love like that.ETHEREAL, AND TOTALLY ENCHANTING.A Truly *Wonderful* and *Magical* Movie!!! i am going to stop right know no words can say my feelings towards this movie if you dont have it by it really after this reveiw i am goin to watch it i love miyazaki and all of his movies.

Movie Review: The Power of Animation Creates It's Own World
Summary: 4 Stars

My biased against Disney doesn't help me dislike this movie, as this is an imaginitive piece of animation, shows you that the anime genre can be actually art instead of kiddie fare and a breeding ground for cheesy samuri and ninja-wannabe f@gt@rd$. Sure, Spirited Away has a somewhat slight story, but my god, is this a visually stunning work that throws you into a whole different world, like other (though stories vary-I don't really care for Princess Mononoke) movies by Miyazaki. I initially didn't like this movie very much, as my biased did kind of screw me over, being how much I hate the Disney corporation for (only Pixar is saving the Disney corporation, and they almost ____________ Pixar over) buying Miramax, releasing garbage and sequals, and just being plain gay. The only saving grace of Disney is Pixar and Fantasia (one of my favorite movies ever). But I digress.

Spirited Away focuses on a now lonely and isolated young girl named Chihiro. This girl is going through the immature yet easily to identify feeling of leaving these behind and not wanting to start anew. Annoyed by everything, she isnt'ready to have a new experience at all, always thinking about how it sucks to leave behind friends, her old house, and other staples of childhood. However, when her parents are magically turned into pigs, Chihiro is ready to take a great journey, through the world of spirits, and a transformation of herself.

Alright, while the story is slight, the characters are interesting, even though the humans in the movie are much less impressive than the world and it's characters. Chihiro is just a girl that is growing up, and while her behavior is a bit immature and needs an improvement, it's a very accurate portrayle of a young girl, a young girl who you like and understand considering her age. It makes her transfomration all that more satisfying to see. She isn't a brat either, because brats aren't likeable. The moral is nice as well, as watching Chihiro grow up a little is a nice thing to see. Spirited Away isn't much of a social commentary as, say, Fight Club or A Clockwork Orange, it has some slight slight social commentary infused (such as the pigs).

You may notice that I use the world "slight", quite a bit, and while slight things aren't always a bad thing, it's a bit It's execution works so well, that the story becomes charming when brought into the world of this movie. This place is an imagitnve world where spirits come to rest, and we are in for some creatively wicked spirits. This movie is also trippy, with walking vegetable-like creatures, bouncing heads, talking skulls, and otherworldly atmosphere. It might freak out those who are not used to these kinds of things (I love mind_________), sure, but surely great to look at.

SO really, what's in store when you watch this visual feast? Well first off, Studio Ghibi are masters at animation, as this is richly hued, richly designed, and looks gorgeous. Their are subtle touches everywhere, and it's so smooth you could cut it like butter. Even the food looks delicious when Chihiro's parents look at the Technically speaking, it's great, but the art direction further cements this movie. Heck, the whole setting of the film is otherworldly and masterful to look at. Look at the cover, with it's almost pueblo style architecure, and it's just one thing that stands out as far as architecture goes. This is major eye candy, and watching this, you go there. That's one thing I like about the movies is their ability to let you enter a rabbit hole into different places and Spirited Away does so with ease. It's one of the things that made me start loving movies, after years of shunning them because all I largely knew was the typical hollywood movie. Thanks for nothing, mom!

One thing though, I felt the DVD did not overflow with spectacular bonus features(if DIsney wrote that, I wouldn't be surprised). Like other Disney movies, they have higher prices, and it doesn't surprise me they price it as it is (just look at the way they price single disc Pixar movies. Pitiful). However, Spirited Away is still great, and finding a copy used is a great way to spit in the face of the Disney corporation. Besides, Disney can't stop Miyazaki from making movies, and he would have made this movie even if it wasn't for Disney. And Disney should not stop you from buying this anime title. While it's not the only anime that exists (stupid naive Americans), Spirited Away is a great anime title, a great starter movie for those who think of Dragonball Z and Naruto (I hate Naruto). And it's a movie that the whole family can enjoy as well, while still giving adults plenty to fixate over.

B

Movie Review: Miyazaki - not for anime lovers (only)
Summary: 5 Stars

Spirited Away is not related to the thousands of other anime films out there. Miyazaki is a storyteller first and foremost, weaving dramatic, comedic tales. Spirited Away, and most of the other Studio Ghibli films, are made pretty much - for everyone. If you're between 8 and 100 years old, you'll probably enjoy this film. Depending on your age, you'll see a slightly different film. Spirited away combines traditional Japanese culture, post war culture, 90s culture, magic, spirits... no robots or space creatures in this one and although Miyazaki touches on Steampunk in some of his other films, there's not really any in this film. Everyone I've ever shared this film with, young and old, has absolutely loved it. Miyazaki's use of children (or childlike characters) in the lead roles - and the fact that his films are animated, leads a lot of people to assume that these are films for children, and while they are great for children, they are certainly not kid movies. Highly suggested.

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Summary of Spirited Away [VHS]

From one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the history of animated cinema comes the most acclaimed film of 2002. Hayao Miyazaki's latest triumph, filled with astonishing animation and epic adventure, is a dazzling masterpiece for the ages. It's a "wonderfully welcoming work of art that's as funny and entertaining as it is brilliant, beautiful, and deep" (Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal). SPIRITED AWAY is a wondrous fantasy about a young girl, Chihiro, trapped in a strange new world of spirits. When her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, she must call upon the courage she never knew she had to free herself and return her family to the outside world. An unforgettable story brimming with creativity, SPIRITED AWAY will take you on a journey beyond your imagination. "To enter the world of Hayao Miyazaki is to experience a kind of lighthearted enchantment that is unique to the world of animation" (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times). It's a fantastic tale the whole family will want to experience over and over again.

The highest grossing film in Japanese box-office history (more than $234 million), Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away (Sen To Chihiro Kamikakushi) is a dazzling film that reasserts the power of drawn animation to create fantasy worlds. Like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and Lewis Carroll's Alice, Chihiro (voice by Daveigh Chase--Lilo in Disney's Lilo & Stitch) plunges into an alternate reality. On the way to their new home, the petulant adolescent and her parents find what they think is a deserted amusement park. Her parents stuff themselves until they turn into pigs, and Chihiro discovers they're trapped in a resort for traditional Japanese gods and spirits. An oddly familiar boy named Haku (Jason Marsden) instructs Chihiro to request a job from Yubaba (Suzanne Pleshette), the greedy witch who rules the spa. As she works, Chihiro's untapped qualities keep her from being corrupted by the greed that pervades Yubaba's mini-empire. In a series of fantastic adventures, she purges a river god suffering from human pollution, rescues the mysterious No-Face, and befriends Yubaba's kindly twin, Zeniba (Pleshette again). The resolve, bravery, and love Chihiro discovers within herself enable her to aid Haku and save her parents. The result is a moving and magical journey, told with consummate skill by one of the masters of contemporary animation. MPAA Rated: PG ("Some scary moments") --Charles Solomon

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