Sunday, January 10, 2016

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)


IMDb plot summary: Warrior/pacifist Princess Nausicaä desperately struggles to prevent two warring nations from destroying themselves and their dying planet.
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Starring (in the English dub) Alison Lohman, Patrick Stewart, Edward James Olmos, and Uma Thurman.

One of the bigger Studio Ghibli movies I hadn't seen yet, this is a fascinating post-apocalyptic story. Nausicaa is a great character, a bold and compassionate young woman who is easy to root for. The animation in this is fantastic, especially the intriguing creature design and the stunning flight sequences. It's one of Miyazaki's best stories as well, interesting and creative and very moving, especially in the final scene. Overall, one of the most likable Ghibli films I've seen.

4 stars.

How it entered my Flickchart:
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind > Punch-Drunk Love
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind > Eat Pray Love
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind < The Holiday
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind < Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind > Kiss Me, Stupid!
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind > Changing Lanes
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind > The Virgin Spring
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind < The Fountain
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind < Great Performances: Cats
Final spot: #391 out of 2414.

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