Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
(1984)

Rated PG
My Rating: 4 Stars

Hayao Miyazaki

Alison Lohman
Patrick Stewart
Uma Thurman
Chris Sarandon
Shia LaBeouf

I had never even heard of Japanese Anime before a friend of mine dropped off his entire collection of Hayao Miyazaki's creations for me to watch. Since then, I have been treating myself to an important chapter in the history of film.

I like to have a beginning and an end, so I am watching them in order of production. The first one was, of course, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. I have since watched most of his other films but I must admit, none of them had the magic of Nausicaa. Her character is one that people everywhere can aspire to. The story itself is unique. I believe the world view of Hayao Miyazaki is something we can learn from, even if we might not be in 100% agreement with him. This is definitely a children's film but it is so cleverly done that it appeals to all ages and will remain well known for many years.

Summary:
1000 years after an the collapse of civilization as we know it, most of the world has been taken over by a toxic jungle full of poisonous spores and insects of enormous size. The world's population have nestled themselves into little kingdoms away from the jungle's death... but slowly and as surely as the clouds that block the sun, it suffocates them and leaves their bones for weary travelers to find.

Princess Nausicaa is a teen-age, independent young woman whom we first see exploring the desert landscape via glider. She is a fearless flyer and her heart beats with the wind that keeps the poisonous spores away from her small kingdom. Over the desert and into the jungle, her lithe body and glider are one as her eyes search for her prize. Today, she seeks answers for her father's illness. It weakens him daily... his hands once so strong cannot grip his sword. But the very worst of his sickness is that he can fly no longer.

On the edge of the jungle, Nausicaa's glider is abandoned as she slips and slides into the strange light of the underworld. It is so beautiful, yet without her mask, it would kill her in minutes. As she explores, Nausicaa discovers a resource that will make her people very happy: a perfect Ohm shell. To give the men incentive to come bring the Ohm shell to The Valley of the Wind, she takes one of it's eyes to bring back home with her. But as she turns to go, she catches a glimpse through the eye. Enchanted, she lays back on the Ohm's shell with the eye over her and, amidst the other eyes and ridges, watches the beautiful but deadly spores drift through the jungle's shadows ...

Something breaks into her daydreams. Her heart beats wildly; anger is stirring. The first hint of trouble has come to the world of Nausicaa... but also the first hint of whom she is to become.

Life is never dull for Nausicaa. Mainly because she doesn't allow dullness. Her heart is solely for her people, her family, her kingdom. Her faith in nature and humanity allow her hopes to speak to all who know her. And all who know her cannot help but love her in the end. We see her in rage, fear, defeat, love... we feel her joys and pain. I mourned her.

I can't help but be amazed at this story. In some ways, I laughed at it because it was childish. But I loved it for  being childish because I learned from it. I normally cannot enjoy something that isn't top quality; although this film was far ahead of it's time, it is definitely not a recent production. However, I did not mind that. One little bit. :-)

Things I Liked:
1: The idea that being in harmony with nature should be at the core of our existence.
2: The love that Nausicaa had. Love wasn't part of her. It was her.
3: The bad guys aren't really bad. They're just misguided. ;-)
4: We create many of the problems in nature... and ultimately, our lives.
5: The fact that they used Chris Sarandon  for the villain. The entire movie, I kept saying, "isn't that...? I'm sure that's Prince Humperdinck!" :-)
6: Story, voices, music, etc, etc.

What I Didn't Like:
1: Evolution was really stressed.
2: The Japanese religion is very much part the story. Some of it is truth but some of it isn't. As with any film, eat the meat and spit out the bones.


Do I recommend this film? Yes. :-) View and enjoy!

The Princess Bride -- 1988

The Princess Bride

(1988)

Rated PG violence, torture and some innuendo

My Rating: 5 Stars

Cary Elwes

Mandy Patinkin

Chris Saradon

Christopher Guest

Wallace Shawn

Andre The Giant

Robin Wright

Carol Kane

Billy Crystal

“There's not a lot of money in revenge.”

Our family has favorite movie and it is called The Princess Bride. Well, why shouldn't it be? Of all satires I've ever experienced, this movie is by far the best.

Summary:

[Young grandson has been sick with the flu and Grandfather arrives to cheer him up. He brings with him a very special gift.

“A book?” asks Grandson, blankly. Grandfather regards him sternly and says that in his day, books were the video games and TV. Then he proceeds to open said book and read from it aloud, to Grandson's chagrin. “Fine. I'll try to stay awake.”]

Buttercup was a beautiful maiden who lived on a farm with her horse and stable-boy/servant, named Westley. She loved to take long daily rides on her horse and torment the stable-boy because all he ever said when she told him to do something was, “As you wish.”

Then came the day when an amazed Buttercup realized that when Westley said, “As you wish” what he really meant was, “I love you.” But what was even more amazing was the realization that she loved Westley back. Thus, the two fell into true love.

[“Are you trying to trick me?” Grandson asks suspiciously. “Is this a kissing book?”]

They would have been very happy but Westley had no money for marriage, so he left for high seas, promising to return. But alas! News arrives that his ship has been attacked by the dread Pirate Roberts. And Roberts never takes prisoners.

[“Attacked by pirates is good,” says Grandson, approvingly.]

Heartbroken, Buttercup succumbs to the wiles of Prince Humperdinck and they are engaged to be married. Buttercup (now, Princess Buttercup) did not love Prince Humperdinck and always missed her one true love. Her only consolation was in taking rides on her horse, which is how she ended up getting kidnapped one day by three (unlikely) villains.

[Grandfather looks up from his reading, “Ah. You're getting tired. I'll stop for now.” Grandson, pleadingly: “No... no! I'm fine. Really.”]

This movie has it all: beautiful maidens, dashing heroes, evil princes, six-fingered villains, giants, revenge, mind games, thieves, Fire Swamps, poison, weddings, romance, R.O.U.S's, torture, miracle pills, chocolate, murder, castles... and of course, “twoo wuv”.

What I Liked:

1: The humor. If I'm ever feeling the least bit down, I watch this and it makes me smile.

2: The beautiful dresses Buttercup wears.

3: Even though the story makes fun of love, you are left feeling with a hope that you may have true love, too.

4: The music. It's dorky... and appropriate.

5: Miracle Max (Billy Crystal). So, so, funny. “Nobody's hearing nothin'!”

6: The swordfights. I love the swordfights!

7: The satire.

8: The acting is excellent.

9: The story is perfect.

What I Didn't Like:

1: One use of bad language.

2: One inappropriate mention of Buttercup's anatomy.

Note: neither of these were overdone.

If you like fairy tales and satires, this film is for you. Prepare to laugh yourself silly and wince as your favorite tales are torn to shreds.

“Chocolate makes it go down easier.”