The Castle in the Sky

Reviewed By: Carla Land

Disney DVD/ Studio Ghibli

Review based on 2 disks (movie and extras)

What it’s (basically) all about: Sheeta has made a grand entrance into Pazu’s life- she fell from the sky into his arms with a glowing crystal around her neck. Now these two kids are on the run from pirates as well as the army and they’re all looking for the mythical floating city of Laputa. The fate of the earth below depends on which of them finds it first.

Nitty Gritty: Another Miyazaki film with aviation as a key point, this movie clocks in at over two hours long. The action is occasionally broken by long shots and artistic sequences, but overall once things get rolling it hold your attention.

There is no bad language or any gory action. There are guns and explosions, and Colonel Muska does kill an entire battleship’s worth of military personnel (some get attacked in the air, others dropped to their deaths from the floating island of Laputa). He also shoots off Sheeta’s pigtails with incredible accuracy.

Special features include the opening previews for other Disney DVD/ Studio Ghibli releases, an introduction to the film by Pixar’s John Lasseter, original Japanese trailers (which come with English subtitles), and the “Behind the Microphone” cast interviews with some of the cast. Incidentally, the cast includes Anna Paquin as Sheeta, James Van Der Beek as Pazu, Mandy Patinkin, Cloris Leachman, Andy Dick and Michael McShane as the pirates, and Mark Hamill as Muska, the ultimate bad guy. (This may explain the incredible accuracy…)

Disk two consists of the original Japanese storyboards with either the English or Japanese soundtrack (your choice).

Survey says: As with most of Miyazaki’s movies, put this one in your children’s collection.

Personal Ad: It may sound crazy, since he’ll forever be Luke Skywalker, but there really is no one who plays a better villain than Mark Hamill. He really makes this film, in my opinion. You can’t go wrong with a great villain.