Yôji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, Yûko Tanaka

Directed by renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki, this anime has broken a number of box office records in its native Japan. Essentially a statement on the ecological devastation brought on by human advanc...( read more  read more... )ement, the story follows the battle between Princess Mononoke and a mining village.

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94% liked it

189,249 ratings

Critics

93% liked it

81 critics

PG-13, 2 hrs. 15 min.

Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki

Release Date: December 31, 1997

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DVD Release Date: December 19, 2000

Stats: 12,555 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (12,555)


  • September 21, 2009
    Can I go out on a limb and say that a number of Miyazaki's movies are over-rated. No? Well, that I'm afraid, was what I was thinking when I got around to seeing this. I'm pleased that, this film at least, transcends my general thoughts on his movies.

    Like other famous Japanese a...( read more)nimated films that include aspects of Ghost in the Shelland Akira, and Final Fantasy, but more especially Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke is deeply rooted in Shintoism, much of which goes straight over the heads of Western audiences. While I found this difficult to enjoy in Spirited Away, here, I found the Shinto aspects much more of a curiosity and the the story itself can be read at an environmental level and Ashitaka's quest for the removal of his curse is handled expertly.

    There's no getting around it: the animation is generally superb in this film (if not always free from being disturbing). However I can't help wondering about various motifs in anime that I find something of a cliche: compare, for instance, Tetsuo's loss of control over his body in Akira, with Ashitaka's loss of control over his arm here.

    Would I recommend it? Yes, absolutely. If you want a good introduction to Miyazaki, this is the one I'd check out.
  • September 17, 2009
    Original and fantastically imaginative! I no longer question the appeal of Japanese anime, especially when it's this good.
  • August 18, 2009
    Another beautiful animation from Hayao Miyazaki. This one is a message film, and the message is one that nice people won't argue with but I found it a little overbearing and long-winded. However, I think this may have been the result of watching it with dubbed English audio. The ...( read more)translations, while kind of cute in their formality when you read them as subtitles, seem trite when spoken. Another distraction for me is Billy Bob Thornton. How does it turn out that the character he voices actually kinda looks like him? Do your self a favor and watch this with the original Japanese audio. It's a tremendous, and epic, film with animated cleavage and a couple decapitations. Don't get pulled out of the magic by "Here's Billy Bob again!" awkwardnesses.
  • August 5, 2009
    San, The Princess Mononoke: It's over, the Forest Spirit is dead now.
    Prince Ashitaka: Never. He is life itself. He is here with us now, telling us, it's time for both of us to live.

    A wonderfully animated film that brings the viewer into a world full of color and excitement. I...( read more)t is structured as an epic tale and features a very good American voice cast (if one prefers this version to the original and better Japanese audio track). While it runs a bit long, the look and imagination shown in this film clearly helps in explaining why writer/director/animator Hayao Miyazaki is very highly praised.

    Set in medieval Japan, the movie begins with a beast emerging and attempting to attack a village. The beast is stopped by Prince Ashitaka, who is harmed in the process by having his arm become cursed with a demon that will eventually kill him. Ashitaka takes it upon himself to leave his village and deal with what caused this beast to run rampant in the first place. Ashitaka's journey eventually takes him to a iron mining village and he finds himself caught in the middle of a war between people of the village and its neighboring forest, which a number of gods reside in. The forest is also the home of a human raised by wolves, known as Princess Mononoke, who may help Ashitaka in his quest.

    Prince Ashitaka: Look, everyone! This is what hatred looks like! This is what it does when it catches hold of you! It's eating me alive, and very soon now it will kill me! Fear and anger only make it grow faster!

    With apparently over 550 colors used in this film, it is a wonderful looking picture that has been completely hand drawn. The various creatures created for this film, particular the use of boars is wonderfully realized in a way that only animated films can portray. The portrayal of the characters themselves are not necessarily complex, but effective enough to keep them distinguishable.

    Clearly some themes are present in this film as well, mainly revolving around forest devastation and the function of human technology, but its not distracting. What really takes notice is how exciting this film can get. The bursts of intense action seen in this film managed to catch me off guard and keep me very excited. But along with this action, the story unfolded in a way that is somewhat standard in terms of the hero's journey, but contained enough of a fresh spirit of imagination that I cared what would happen and how.

    While stretching out its run time in the middle, I was very entertained by this film and look forward to the next few films in Miyazaki's world.

    Lady Eboshi: Now watch closely, everyone. I'm going to show you how to kill a god. A god of life and death. The trick is not to fear him.
  • July 7, 2009
    Visually and aurally gorgeous, thematically dense and poetic, this is one of maestro Miyazaki's best films.
  • November 19, 2009
    This movies music is very good!
  • November 17, 2009
    Epic, mythological story of man vs. nature. As said countless times, "Princess Mononoke" is not just a simplistic tale of good vs. evil, but it is rather a representation of Miyazaki's view on the mutual relationship of the two. Maybe it's just me, but the battle sequences have s...( read more)ome Kurosawa vibe in them. A great, and subtly philosophical film with superb animation.
  • November 16, 2009
    Cool storyline in a Great movie the best Hayao Miyazaki film ever to date (2009).
  • November 14, 2009
    really great anime movie.
    adventure, sacrifice, bravery, legend, and a little bit romance
  • November 5, 2009
    Miyazaki's all films are excellent.

Critic Reviews


March 19, 2002
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

The imagery, ranging from sublime mountain-smashing power to firefly delicacy (individual waterdrops splashing on a rock) is exuberant and intoxicating. full review

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Princess Mononoke is a great achievement and a wonderful experience, and one of the best films of the year. full review

January 1, 2000
David Edelstein, Slate

The movie has a scope that makes Hollywood's homiletic, follow - your - dream fables look even more solipsistic. full review

January 1, 2000
Ty Burr, Entertainment Weekly

A windswept pinnacle of its art, Princess Mononoke has the effect of making the average Disney film look like just another toy story.

View more Princess Mononoke (Mononoke-hime) reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • y2j2580
    December 15, 2008
    Great...! This animate appeals the people to treasure and protect the jungle...The animals in this animate were sacrificed their live to protect their 'home'. Nowadays, we can see that, there are a lot of animals are facing extinct. Their habitat destroyed by the selfish people. People cut down the trees for the industrial development....
  • CallumSanderson
    December 5, 2008
    2 words Ama.. Zing!
  • keltar93
    October 25, 2008
    why didn't anyone tell me japanese cinema was not only good, but epic?!?
  • kristyann1
    October 6, 2008
    Very dark and lots of violence!!!
  • flubber896
    April 3, 2008
    i frekin love this movie
  • GymNetic25
    March 28, 2008
    A Very Spiritual Driven film that I def need to see again and again. Another Miyazaki film that will be a classic. When watching this I def did not expect what I saw. How truly original and visually stunning this turned out to be. I know some out there don't like Anime but I think his films are in a genre by themselves. Def see all of his films you won't be disappointed...
  • theresaanime
    March 10, 2008
    the storyline is really great! it's a pity to not watch it!
  • HoosierBear28
    November 21, 2007
    I LOVE THIS MOVIE>> AND THATS IT! ^^ WATCH IT! YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!
  • rombomagic69
    October 31, 2007
    This movie is gorgeous!!...I love Sam and lady Eboshi!...XD
  • Dragon2Vampire2Phoenix2
    September 23, 2007
    an absolutly awsome movie

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Princess Mononoke (Mononoke-hime) Trivia


  • What movie is there two characters called Ashitaka and San  Answer »
  • Gillian Anderson, voiced a character in the Studio Ghibli film, Princess Mononoke (Mononoke-Hime).  Answer »
  • What animated movie do Billy Crudup and Claire Danes voice the two main characters?  Answer »

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