PRINCESS MONONOKE

If you have never come across the work of Hayao Miyazaki you are in for

a wonderful surprise. The Japanese anime director and writer has earned

global fame for his extraordinary work - the latest, 'Spirited Away' won

an oscar - and Princess Mononoke bears all the hallmark style of this

great creator.

It is a story of humans pitted against gods and spirits, set in a

lavish, beguiling landscape. Disney it isn't... Miyazake's work has a

luminous, transcendent quality with a consistent gift for the visually

memorable. There are moments in this film when you completely forget it

is animated, the visual quality is that good.

This production features some surprisingly heavyweight Hollywood stars

dubbing the English language version, but your attention will remain

firmly fixed on the haunting forest landscapes.

A must-see.