Spirited Away - Page 2

I saw this film this afternoon, and left this film with mixed feelings. I'm wondering if as time goes on, I'll like it more. I've seen none of Miyazaki's other films, so cannot compare it to anything he's done, nor can I say if this film is any more or less imaginative than his other films. Therein lies the key for me: imagination. Spirited Away is rife with it. Every ten minutes something new appears on the screen, and I'm thinking, howinhell did he dream that up? There are problems: we never learn about No Face, who or what he/she/it is, and why it does what it does. But this doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the movie necessarily. I think I felt a combination of awe for Miyazaki's amazing animation, wonderment for the images and characters he creates, and a bit of hesistation in thinking that some of these characters are so way over the top. Honestly, I think my astonishment at what I saw on the screen for 2+ hours may have actually detracted from my enjoyment of the movie while I watched it.) My minor reservations aside, see this film. I can tell you that the many children in attendance today at the theatre seemed to like the film (especially the ones who wouldn't shut up and kept asking their parents questions - argh!). Now I know I must see his earlier work.

Article Author: Randy Reichardt

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