Castle in the Sky

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A J Studio Ghibli delivers another captivating story. This time quite militaristic for the younglings. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/07/24 Full Review Jay W I absolutely love "Castle in the Sky". It was thanks to this film that I sought out all of Studio Ghibli's films. There is a lot to love about this film. The animation is beautiful. The music by Joe Hisaishi emits awe and wonder at times. At other times it can be intense and exciting, like you're playing a boss battle in a video game. The music is used sparingly, but when it is used, it perfectly punctuates every emotional beat. The English voice acting across the board is top notch. Everyone from the main character, James Van Der Beek, to additional voices by Scott Menville put in "A+" performances. Yes, it does seem like Anna Paquin's British Accent comes and goes, but I find that endearing. Special highlight to Cloris Leachman and Mark Hamill, who are both voice acting legends in my book. Speaking of Mark Hamill, this is one of the only Studio Ghibli films that has a straightforward villain character. Some don't have villains, and others just have morally complex antagonists. But this film has a villain and its a great villain at that. Muska always seems like he is up to something sinister, and when his plans finally unveil themselves, it is awesome. I also love the force of three different antagonists' groups, the army, Muska and the Dola Pirates. Of all the Studio Ghibili films, this one most closely follows what I would consider the basic 3 act story structure. But I don't consider that a bad thing. The story has enough creativity, twists and likable characters that it pulls it off with excellent delivery. This movie would be an excellent starting point for anyone trying to get into anime. Pazu and Sheeta's friendship is the glue that holds this story together. They each have their own motivation for pushing forward, but it is their bond that creates change in themselves and the Dola gang. They build up Pazu's character in a great way, showing us how he is competent, friendly and willing to work. They don't just say, "I'm into airplanes" so then in the third act the audience can buy he can fly a plane. They put in a lot of legwork to demonstrate his skills and upbeat nature. This movie also has one of the top 3 best animated openings. It is a terrific cold open that lets the audience know all they need and ask all the questions that keep them hooked. If you need a lesson on how to begin a story, this one is the example to use. I regret that I didn't watch this film when I was growing up, this is the type of film I would have loved as a 10-year old. If you have, or ever have had a childhood, this film should be a lot of fun. And on top of all of that, it has deeper things to say about humanity and nature than your typical "Kids' Film". It is over 2 hours long, but never feels like it drags. My only nitpick would be that the cartoon physics through different parts of the film lower the suspense of anything tragic happening. Nothing as cartoonish as what you'd see in the "Fast and Furious" franchise. These nitpicks are not allowed. Not in my castle on a cloud. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/26/24 Full Review Micah H With exciting adventure, strong characters, and a powerful theme, Castle in the Sky is likely to charm audiences of all kinds. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/24/24 Full Review Wyatt E This is truly a great movie, it has a great story, great animation that is really truly beautiful, you can honestly pause at any moment in the movie, and it looks like a masterpiece of art. I really love this movie and highly recommend it, a definite must watch. To put it into shorter words, it's like Indiana Jones with airship's. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/02/24 Full Review Katherine Claire T This is the best movie of all time, an underrated masterpiece piece. If this movie did not come out, no studio Ghibli films would have come out. If you dislike this movie, you have not even payed attention to it. This is the perfect movie for anytime of the year for any person who doesn’t suck. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/01/24 Full Review Tongo M The animation is kind of boring Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/25/24 Full Review Read all reviews

Castle in the Sky

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