Studio Ghibli is a powerhouse of beautiful stories, stunning visuals, and relatable characters. I love Studio Ghibli and their movies. One of my favorites, perhaps unsurprisingly, is Princess Mononoke. I cannot do justice to this movie in a simple review, but I'll try my best to convince you to see it because it's worth your time.
The story's main character is not the titular Mononoke, rather, it is a young prince named Ashitaka. He is cursed by a demon when he tries to protect his village. This curse will eventually kill him and cause those around him to suffer. As such, the village banishes this young man. The wise shaman woman tells Ashitaka that he must "learn to see through eyes unclouded by hate" before sending him away.
As he journeys, Ashitaka discovers a town run by a woman named Eboshi. She has carved this town out of the wilderness and has made it prosperous by refining its vast iron resources. This puts her and the townspeople in direct conflict with the spirits of the forest and the various animal creatures that inhabit the surrounding area. Neither side is willing to compromise and insist that the other side leave. One of the leaders of the forest that spearheads the resistance to the humans is Mononoke. She was raised by the wolves and has a distinct hatred for the humans who have made her "people" suffer. Ahitaka spends the movie trying his best to bridge these two very different worlds; both of which hurt him and want him gone. He tries to see through eyes unclouded by hate while preventing all-out war.
This movie has an excellent message. It has a nuanced environmental message that actually works. It doesn't say that one side is right and the other side is wrong. Instead, it shows that there can be some kind of balance. In a world so divided by people that think in black and white, this message is more relevant now than ever before. The real world is all about compromise and the result of failure to compromise is always destruction.
If I were to compare this movie to Avatar or many other western environmentally conscious (or unconscious) films, this one has the best take. Avatar, Fern Gully, and that ilk tend to say that mankind is evil and if we just planted more trees and didn't develop as a society, life would be hunky-dory wonderful. This shows a very one-sided view of the world which isn't at all accurate. I like the nuance and mutual respect each side is given in Princess Mononoke.
Now I need to talk about the art. As with anything Ghibli, you can expect there to be gorgeous natural landscapes, sweeping vistas, and phenomenal detail. The nature shots in this movie are spectacularly beautiful. There was a great attention to detail shown in every aspect. The moss on the trees, the textures of the leaves, and the colors of the forest is all shown in all of its unique complexity.
The music is probably the best out of any Ghibli film I've seen. There is such majesty to the way the music swells while the animation shows off its beauty. The song that really stuck with me is called The Legend of Ashitaka. It is an absolutely beautiful piece. I recommend you listen to it here:
I love this film. For any moviegoer who appreciates quality and outstandingly beautiful work, please see this movie and encourage all of your friends to watch it. It should be bought, not rented. Seriously it is worth your money. I would rate it a 98/100. Watch it and be amazed.
H. Logan Christensen
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