Princess Mononoke 1997

     Ashitaka is a young warrior protecting his village from a boar-god/demon.  He is attacked by the demon and suffers a wound to his right arm.  He has purple marks on his arm that will spread to his body and eventually kill him.  This incident forces him to leave the village and he is banished forever.  To try to save his life, he journeys to the forests of the west and he hopes the god of the forest will be able to help him.  He learns Lady Eboshi and her followers are planning to use their guns against the god of the forest and Princess Mononoke.  The Princess was raised by a wolf-god and she believes she is a wolf but she is human.  Ashitaka can see both sides of this fight and he tries to make peace to save the god of the forest. 

     This is an epic movie set in medieval Japan at the beginning of the Iron Age.  It is very good, interesting and full of myth and dreams.  Its not really a battle of good and evil but humans, the forest animals and nature gods all looking differently at life.  The characters and the forest are really brought to life with the wonderful animation.  4 1/2* (I really liked this movie)  

134 min, Animation directed by Hayao Miyazaki with the voices of Billy Crudup, Billy Bob Thornton, Minnie Driver, John DiMaggio, Claire Danes, John DeMita, Jada Pinkett Smith, Gillian Anderson, Keith David, Corey Burton.

Note:  Imdb 8.4 out of 10, 92% critic 94% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 4*.

Special Note:  This film has broken a number of box office records in its native Japan.  The Studio Ghibli is the originator of the work on this film and Disney has purchased the studio’s output for worldwide distribution.  The version released by Disney has the voices in English.  It's really funny to hear Billy Bob Thornton speaking for the animated character of an older short plump Japanese man.