Castle in the Sky [dir. Hayao Mayazaki]

1986, 124 minutse
w/ Anna Paquin [English voice over]
[Inspired to see this film immediately by the following fake Criterion cover made by rottentomatoes.com member JediMoonShyne, I escaped into my sixth world created by Mayazaki and it certainly did not disappoint. The film tells the wonderful story of a young miner who saves a floating princess with a powerful secret. She is being chased by both pirates and "the government" and Mayazaki includes his usual anti-war themes, satirizing a Natzi-like army. The key to the plot is a legendary but thought to be fictional civilization that floats in the sky hence Castle in the Sky, and the picture climaxes when it reaches this environment. This review is pretty much all over the place but forgive me for Miyazaki is simply a genius and this difficult to describe as anything more or less than great. Joe Hisaishi's score is incredible. K go see it.]

***3/4