Spirited Away [DVD] [2001]

I was rather delighted to have this DVD which I have been looking forward to for quite some times.Having watched the film, I am confident to say that the quality of the DVD which I promptly received is perfect. I was also pleasantly surprised, to find out that the DVD also includes a number of bonus scenes as to how this film has been created by Hayao Miyazakithe, the Japanese animator and filmmaker.

A life-fulfilling epic that is the majesty of all anime-the height of its glory-the representative of all that is in our dreams, our fantasies, our desire to escape and see beyond the boundaries of our consciousness and our minds and our world. 'Spirited Away' will take you on a journey that is completely unique and yet totally encapsulating.Really, no review can quite describe what it is about it-the drawing is beautiful, intensely so, and the story is fast-paced, thrilling, comic and moving (in a way that makes it watchable to almost anyone), but it's near-impossible to pin down just what is so enthralling about this film. Perhaps it is because it presents what we all want-to see something beyond ourselves and beyond what our five senses can detect. Another world? Maybe. A love that is so perfect? Maybe so. Or perhaps it is that the execution and direction is so minutely brilliant, so detailed and yet so sweeping that the film has a genuine, real quality that draws us in despite the fantastic nature of the plot.If I can say anything, it is to repeat the advice of other reviewers to watch this film with subtitles rather than dubbing, which is in my opinion a travesty of betrayal to the makers and the whole idea of the plot, but that may be an exaggeration. As a general fan of anime I can say that subtitles are infinitely superior to the dubbing counterparts.Otherwise, don't miss a moment. Don't watch in it bits. Just sit down, relax, and let it draw you in. I cannot recommend this film more highly, and hope that it may bring the same feeling to you as it did to me.

Wow!!!!! What an adventure! What a story! What a fantasy! I wish I could watch this animation when I was young like Chihiro! But even now being 28 years old, I am impressed.... So, what's special in this movie? Why everybody likes it?1) Well, first of all, there is a very unusual story. It's just not what you expect from fairytales or what you are accustomed to expect from fairytales. The story is intriguing and is absolutely unpredictable. Each next scene will make your eyes and mouth wide. That's why you'll be glued to the screen the whole 2-hour time while the movie goes. So, I am not going to tell you what's the story is about, as I want you to be excited in the same way I was when I watched it for the first time...2) Humour. There are plenty of moments there, which will make you laugh. The humour is very intelligent and that's why it's very pleasant and enjoyable. In the course of the movie you'll see various characters. Most of them will make you smile without saying a word!3) Main characters. I don't know whether you've seen already "Tokyo Godfathers". If yes, then you know how quality drawn characters can be. The 10-years old Chihiro is so real here. Well, actually, my favourite character there is not Chihiro, but wonderful granny Yubaba!!! Oh, she is so cool and witty! Quite a special character I must say, but so lovely! She is so smart and funny that I wish she could be my grand mother!!!4) Music. You know, with such an original score, you don't really need to watch anything. Just listen to this masterpiece of the famous Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi!!!! Splendid! You will not hear a single electronic sound, but what you'll hear are beautiful orchestral, piano and violin themes. This movie got rich and quality soundtrack.Conclusion: this movie is a masterpiece. I am very happy I watched it and I am glad I got this DVD.

WAY better than anything made by Disney. So much imagination in one movie! Can't recommend enough!!!

Spirited Away is the kind of film that shines through not because of it's technical achievements, but it's story. And this is all down to the fact that Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli are masters at storytelling, with their only rival in that area being Pixar, and until Toy Story 3, was in my opinion the best animated film I had ever seen. But because Spirited Away is a traditional animated film in the sense that it is 2D, it therefore belongs as the pinnacle of 2D animation. There are however, moments where this film exceeds many of Pixar's own films, in that each and every notable character in this movie is life-like in everythng other than appearance. They all have good and bad qualities in them, just like real people do. This is especially relevant for the lead charcater Chihiro, who in the film, has been transported to an alternate reality and her parents have been taken away from her. So in order to return home with her parents she must work in a bath house which is uder the control of the witch Yubaba, the one who took her parents away.The story is very Alice-in-Wonderland-esque, but is so much more than that. It is very easy to forget that this film is animated, as you really care for the characters, especially Chihiro, in a way that I have only experienced, other than in this film, in Toy Story 3. It is without a doubt the best anime movie I have ever seen, and is the running for one of the best animated movies of all time. It's a difficult film to describe without giving away spoilers, but in short, the animation is brilliant, the characters are realistic, the story is fantastic and for a dub the voice acting is very good (although I recommend watching it in both english and japanese, both of which are on this DVD). Spirtied Away is the benchmark all animated films should aim to be. 5/5