"That's a nice-a donut."

Monday, August 22, 2005

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind was acclaimed Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki's first big hit movie and led to the creation of the successful animation company Studio Ghibli. It is an interesting composition on the environment and the need for ecological preservation and compassion.

Princess Nausicaa is a gifted, strong young woman; a born leader and only child of King Jil of the Valley of the Wind. It is a peaceful village, but one of the last civilizations on the planet since most of mankind was wiped out during the Seven Days of Fire 1,000 years before. Now, insects rule the Earth and Nausicaa and her people live near the ever-expanding forest. It is a "toxic jungle," filled with poisons and dangerous monster-like insects - including the scary ohmu creatures. The poisons will eventually make everyone sick, and so other neighboring villages are on the offensive. Nausicaa and her pet fox-squirrel (sort of like a cat) must overcome the threat of war by humans and by the angry insects, a mysterious giant warrior that has been preserved ever since the great war (and may hold the key to solving the problem of the toxic jungle), as well as death and destruction, in order to try to save the day.

As with most of the Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli films, Nausicaa is very imaginative - in both its animation techniques and in its story. The backgrounds and details in the locations and the way people look and dress is very intimately detailed. It is as if the story is being told by a child, most of whom are filled with imagination and wonder and a remarkable sense of creativity. The interesting counter to this is that Nausicaa is a rather adult movie in several ways. It explores some complex issues in which the human species' ultimate fate may hinge, and violence is an unfortunate but almost unavoidable side effect.

Though, perhaps it's just somewhat dated, but the movie is sometimes a little hokey. At times it seems like a feature-length 1980s B-cartoon, like MASK or He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Now, that's not necessarily a bad thing, but let's face it: the dialogue isn't Miyazaki's best. Further, the mostly instrumental, synthesized soundtrack provides for a very-80s feel. I also feel that the movie is a little weaker during the scenes that do not include Nausicaa, who is a great character and one that could easily have spawned an ongoing television series.

Much of the film is a comment on war and a metaphor for the world's pollution and general disregard for maintaining the environment. It is a theme that is even more relevant today in a world of global warming and energy crises, among other things. And given that hand-drawn animation is almost as extinct as the dodo bird, one can easily appreciate the time and devotion that went in to making an inspired movie like this. Though it isn't my personal favorite Miyazaki film, I can still recommend it without hesitation.

The Verdict: B.

Michael Bentley 11:54 AM

Archives

March 2005   April 2005   May 2005   June 2005   July 2005   August 2005   September 2005   October 2005   November 2005   December 2005   January 2006   February 2006   March 2006   April 2006   May 2006   June 2006   July 2006   August 2006   September 2006