Castle in the Sky Reviews

• Winsome fantasy

  
  By A2B8GXSCB1R05T on 2002-04-17
  "Castle in the Sky" is a masterpiece of one of Japan's finest filmakers. There is a simple artistry to Miyazaki's stories. This is a children's film, but it is in the tradition of children's stories that appeal to all ages. A rare, pure fantasy, the film has the same magic as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" and other early Disney films.

  I first saw this movie when it was released in US theaters as "Laputa the Floating Island." The mythical floating island of Laputa is taken from Swift's "Gulliver's Travels." Like Swift, Miyazaki cloaks a political statement with a fantasy, giving deeper meaning to his story. Environmentalism has always been central to his films, and "Castle in the Sky" is no exception.

  Visual, the film is a literal flight of fancy. Much of the film takes place in the air. Air pirates travel in unwieldy flying machines. Giant dirigibles sail the skies. Travel by kite is an acceptable option. The animation is of the highest quality, as is the sound and acting.

  The story may seem familiar to followers of animation. Miyazaki also work briefly on the script of "Nadia: Secret of Blue Water" using some of the same concepts. The story was also adapted by Disney as their film "Atlantis," sending the characters underground instead of up to the sky. However, "Castle in the Sky" is the story in it's original, best form.

  I cannot recommend this film enough.
  
  

• Anything But Trivial

  
  By A1E94T4GW7O149 on 2004-05-24
  Miyazaki Hayao's Castle in the Sky is perhaps the most difficult but rewarding movie to watch, to contemplate on and to share one's thoughts about. Castle in the Sky is really a manga movie and not just your garden-variety animation offering either. Castle in the Sky moves forward on many levels and yet it pulls back on others. Castle in the Sky in a sense is trapped in its own circularity. Moreover, Miyazaki is a master at playing with the aesthetic of weightlessness. He uses 'natural elements' like the wind in place of a more mechanical source. Miyazaki compels us to consider the plundering of nature. He, moreover, asks us to pause and to reconsider man's need to conquer nature as well as the misuse of technologies. Like Sheeta we grapple with our own weightlessness, our own significance.
  
  Castle in the Sky provides a sustained and critical assessment of our attitudes toward technology. Effectively this generation has inherited what technology it currently uses and lacks discipline and appreciation of the impact of our use of it. In moves similar to those made in Princess Mononoke, it is not so much technology that is the issue but rather the use (or misuse) we subject it to. The enemy is not technology but rather our use of technology that calls us to question our ideas on progress. In a sense, it could be argued that Miyazaki is nostalgic for a bygone era - to return to that zero point when we did not have technology on this scale. As mentioned previously, although less pronounced than Princess Mononoke, both stories converge in their subtle but sustained critique of progress and technology without really being a Romantic elegy of lost innocence. In this sense most anime can be seen to be exploring some postmodern themes -- but in my opinion only Princess Mononoke sustains a postmodern argument. Moreover, as a general rule anime takes into account issues of movement into its scenarios and players and the solutions are varied, of course, depending on specific anime sub-genre. However, there looks to be an overall tendency away from mechanical sources to sources of a more organic genesis. Although the use is more pronounced in Miyazaki's work, it is evident in the Cyborg and Mecha anime such as Ghost in the Shell, Akira and Armitage (all available on Amazon.com).
  
  It could also be argued that both Castle in the Sky and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind are in a sense post-apocalyptic. In this sense most major anime offerings including: Barefoot Gen and Grave of the Fireflies calls to question the use of technology for destruction and ultimately domination. Miyazaki explores his Romantic notions by not only critiquing the use of advanced technology but by setting this movie in the early nineteenth century. The flying vessels all hearken back to a bygone era making the movie's signs almost period. This back and forth between technology and the bygone era disrupts a linear narrative making it, and I say this guardedly, postmodern.
  
  Miyazaki's calling to the question the undisciplined use of technology elevates the movie beyond a good and evil bifurcation. Miyazaki calls to question the destructive force of unnatural creations and for domination by its users makes this (and all his other movies anything but trivial. The truth is, robots and similar technologies, are not in themselves the problem. It is rather to what use these implements are put. In anime we see moving scenes of robots protecting nests, befriending little animals as well as tending gardens as if we ascribe to these non-sentient beings the best of our qualities. Conversely, anime does not shy from the frightening scenes of the very same machines tearing up the countryside. With the juxtaposition, perhaps the mood is set to have us consider a back to nature approach.
  
  Before I close, I wish to deal with the issue to the tragic and epic hero in Castle in the Sky. My sense of it is that Sheeta is, in a sense the epic heroine of the story in her reluctance and almost passive role in the movie. Castle in the Sky is steeped in an experience of floating, gliding and soaring -- hence weightlessness. Sheeta's flying stone is a passive tool in that it prevents her from falling. Sheeta does not fly. In Miyazaki's work -- like My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service flying is a way to achieve weightlessness. Here, Pazu is the one who seeks to soar -- making him seem somewhat of an active but tragic hero. Flying is a key element in Miyazaki?s films and it is the flying machines that are less mechanical and more organic that are privileged. Optimizing the energy in nature is the desired configuration. Miyazaki is one that will survive the ages because his creations are very challenging but nonetheless accessible. Castle in the Sky is hinged on the prospect of a world prior to technology making the movie, at the risk of sounding condescending, anything but trivial.
  
  Miguel Llora
  
  

• A classic ruined

  
  By A1SF6MN5IYTBIN on 2003-06-07
  This movie was released in Japan some 17 years ago, and I saw it in Japanese. You forget that you are watching an animated film.
  So, the disappointment on hearing the new English version + the new music score is what you can imagine as lots of other people who wrote reviews on this DVD. But for your information, the new score is still by the great Joe Hisaishi, who did the original score and almost all other Miyazaki movies. I think Disney requested him that he redo the score upon U.S. release. There is a sound track CD that can be imported from Japan of this new score. This is acctually great. It's just that it doesn't go with the movie. The english version has music sounding almost through out even where in Japanese version intentionally made silence ( for example: where the kite that Pazu and sheet is on gets sucked into a thunderstorm and Pazu sees an illusion of his father), and it completely ruins the entire movie. I don't even wanna get into how bad a job the actors did on voice over. Watch this moive in Japanese with English subtitle, and get the sound track seperately.
  
  

• Disney: Put this film on DVD!

  
  By ADF2HP0TEQU8F on 2002-10-01
  More than four years ago I rented the VHS tape of Kiki's Delivery Service, and there was an ad for Castle in the Sky before it. It was listed as "coming soon."

  Since then, I've gotten the Japanese version of Castle in the Sky on DVD, and I love it. However, I'm still baffled by the fact that Disney has paid professional actors to voice the characters and gotten the film prepared for release in the US -- even advertised it -- and has since then just sat on it.

  It's almost criminal to hold such great films as Nausicaa, Castle in the Sky, and Pon Poko in your possession and not share them with the English speaking world.

  If and when they see the error of their ways and make this film available, do yourself a favor and buy it. We need to let the media juggernauts know how much we love Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli.
  
  

• Most Admired and Adored Miyazaki Film

  
  By A1N75PKX2BJDI1 on 2002-01-25
  Laputa, Castle in the Sky, is the most creative, ambitious, and adventurous Miyazaki film I have ever seen. I like Miyazaki's work very much for its grandeur, originality, and imagination. Sadly to say that Disney has lost its creative edge. It has been copying stories all over the world. Disney promised to release the Castle in the Sky video in 1999 but they failed to keep their promise. (Disney, please include the original Japanese soundtrack on the US release because I don't like the English voice actor behind Pasu.)

  After 16 years since Castle in the Sky was first released in the theatres, I still consider it the creme da la creme of all anime movies. Certainly Laputa's art direction cannot compare to today's S/B CGI and S/B 3D animation. However, the story is much more fascinating and breathtaking than KiKi Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, and even Princess Mononoke. Princess Mononoke is a graphically stunning piece of art but Castle in the Sky is a wonderful story of courage and determination. While there are a few graphically violent scenes in Princess Mononoke, Castle in the Sky is packed with action without graphic violence.

  I considered myself fortunate to be able to see it on the big screen (the original English version.) Castle in the Sky is a grand movie that deserves the big screen. I love the soundtrack of the movie very much. It is very uplifting and motivating. The title song, Carrying You, communicates the same kind of warmheartedness that permeates throughout all of Miyazaki's films.
  
  
  

• I think I know why the Disney is releasing it now
  By ACQWRGPWZGE1O on 2003-01-17
  I totally agree with all the other reviewers, especially the review from....¡¨ Indeed, it is criminal for Disney to hold such great films as Nausicaa, Castle in the Sky, and Pon Poko in their possession and not share them with the people in the States.

  If I were the head of the Disney, I¡¦ll fire their marketing people at once, because they have no vision.

  Me too, I've gotten the Castle in the Sky on DVD from Japan Town long time ago. And I think I know why the Disney does not release it until now. Because the Atlantis and the Treasure Island (the wannabes of the Castle in the Sky) were big failures and box office luck busters, and the Spirited Away has claimed a huge critical and monetary success. Now they finally open their short-sighted eyes, knowing they have the real gems, which are far much better their own bad copycat products and try to tag along with Miyazaki¡¦s master pieces after all that. How Shameless
  
  

• Disney has utterly destroyed a wonderful film.
  By A2PVTRUXIZPBD6 on 2005-05-16
  I first saw Castle in the Sky in the original Japanese while living in Japan in the early 90s. I was instantly captivated. The characters were engaging and immediately likeable, the cliffhanging action was fantastic, the plot was original and rather gripping, and the music was just absolutely gorgeous. If I were rating the original film (titled "Tenku no Shiro: Laputa"), I would readily give it five stars. Miyazaki is easily one of the most original and watchable animators in the business.
  
  That said, this is an atrocious rendition for American audiences.
  
  Overall, the voicecasting isn't too shabby. However, the actor playing the main character - the adventurous boy Pazu - is just plain awful. Not only does he sound more like a 28 year old than a 13 year old, but he has two voice settings: loud and soft, and absolutely no nuance in between. Listening to him is a rather teeth-grinding experience.
  
  The translation of the dialogue from the original Japanese is pretty wretched. A lot of the original meaning was simply discarded and replaced by Disney. The lines of the air-pirate sidekicks were completely altered and not for the better. By the end of the movie, their constant stream of inane babble will have you wishing someone would just jettison the entire airship crew at high altitude. Overall, the dialogue of most of the supporting characters shows extremely poor scriptwriting.
  
  For some odd reason, Disney decided to mute most of the sound effects in this movie. The ominous whirr of massive propellers, the sudden crash of explosive shells, the crisp sound of gun shots. All of it was toned down and muted-out by Disney. This detracts significantly from the excitement of the chases, the thrill of flying, and the incredible cliffhanging moments that made the original movie so much fun. Imagine the most recent summer action movie with the sound effects turned off and you'll get a pretty accurate picture of what Disney has done to Castle in the Sky. This is truly unfortunate since the original movie had some great sound-effects work.
  
  The worst crime of all however, is what Disney has done to the soundtrack. The original Japanese film had one of the most spectacular, haunting and beautiful soundtracks I've heard in any movie.
  
  Disney completely removed this soundtrack and replaced it with their own rendition.
  
  Hints of the old score come through at times, but it is heavily watered-down and sounds almost elevator-musicish. I almost cried when I heard it.
  
  The end result is a movie that little resembles the original film. Dramatic moments of silence are filled in with pointless dialogue, the savage howl of the wind replaced with bland instrumentals, piercing gunshots are replaced with something sounding suspiciously like a child's cap-gun, wonderful dialogue is completely butchered. It leaves one with a sneaky suspicion that Disney deliberately vandalized the film to protect its monopoly on the American animation market by making Japanese films look as bad as possible.
  
  It is quite possible I'll never forgive Disney for this disgrace of an adaptation.
  
  On the other hand, the Japanese language option (with subtitles) retains the original film in all its glory. For that reason alone, this DVD is definitely worth buying.
  
  But please, PLEASE, watch the Japanese version before subjecting yourself to the horrible English-language version. Even if you hate subtitles, this film is worth watching in Japanese. Everyone I've shown it to, both young and old, has been instantly captivated.
  
  Like I said, if I were rating only the Japanese-language version, this review would have been five stars. But the English-language monstrosity thoroughly deserves a one-star rating. On balance, I can't give this DVD more than 3 stars for an American audience.
  
  This is probably the biggest disappointment I've had with films since George Lucas inflicted Jar Jar Binks on millions of unsuspecting Star Wars fans. Consider yourself warned.
  
  
• Bad Bad Bad Talkative Dumbed-down American Version!
  By ARE6IYSBZ3TU8 on 2003-04-20
  Don't get me wrong, Laputa is one of my all-time favorite movies, and not just for animated movies, and I've eagerly awaited the region 1 release of this DVD (I already own the region 3 release), only because I thought Disney will do a decent job of translating this anime masterpiece in a respectful, and most importantly accurate, way like they did for Mononoke Hime. After all, isn't it in the Disney-Ghibli-Tokuma contract that NOTHING can be changed in the process of traslation? Miyazaki's masterpieces are like the music of Mozart, take away or add one note anywhere, and you'll end up destroying the whole thing. But Disney thought they can improve upon perfection and boy did they do a butcher job to Laputa! First they thought the attention span of American audience is so short that they have to fill every quiet moment with musical background, just like in Hollywood movies. While Joe Hisaishi did a superb job with the updated score under the circumstances, it really distracts from the mood of the movie, because those quiet moments are meant for us to ponder, to reflect and to pick out the subtle background sounds from the movie, but all that is lost by filling almost every minute with background music. But the worst offence of all are the awful voices and the bad bad alterations in the dialog. If you put on the Japanese audio track while watching the English subtitle (dubbed version), you can see the difference even if you don't understand Japanese. My estimate is that there are twice the amount of dialog in the American dub as in the original. Places where the characters shouldn't be talking are replaced by useless remarks or explanations. And worse, many of these remarks are spoilers of things to come! Again it seems Disney thinks that American audience is so dumb that they have to have every single thing explained in painful detail. And the American voices of Pazu and Sheeta are just plain awful to hear.

  I understand that Disney always views animation as only for kids, probably of age 12 or under, but Miyazaki's movies are equally entertaining to kids and adults. In fact I first saw Laputa almost 20 years ago when I was 20 yeas old and I loved it then and I still love it as much today. By dumbing down Laputa like Disney did, they're showing great disrespect not only for Miyazaki and Ghibli staff, but to all of us older audiences. It's plainly an insult to our intelligence.

  I do hope that in time a Director's version of Laputa will be released, featuring the unaltered music and dialog in full DD5.1/DTS glory. But until then, I suggest everyone watch the Japanese audio version with English subtitle (the literal translation version, not the dubbed version) to really appreciate this amazing movie for what it is.

  P.S. the one star subtracted for the rating is solely for the bad American version. The original Laputa gets my perfect score in any rating system ^_^
  
  

• Good Story, Facinating Artwork, my Favorite Studio Ghibli Presentation
  By A4NXA2IJNE10H on 2006-09-29
  Rather than rehash the plot yet again, I will give my overall impressions of the movie. I found the story to be very compelling and the artwork, particularly that of the village and the mines (what I like to refer to "Wales in Hell"), is spectacular. Excellent voice talent, including Mark Hamill of Star Wars fame, adds to the overall enjoyment. Like the man once said, "Sometimes you have to lose to win" and this is my favorite Studio Ghibli presentation.
  
  Areas of enjoyment for me, I love the facinating airships (a common feature of Studio Ghibli fantasy releases) which I notice are usually based on some specific prototype out of the past. Also adding a bombastic, yet charming aspect are the pirates and their antics.
  
  As I have mentioned in other reviews of Studio Ghibli features, the Japanese dialog and subtitles are better and more enjoyable than the English translation. It is hard to believe this film is 20 years old (or that I first saw it in Japanese more than ten years ago) but it has the benefit of the timelessness of fantasy. Where do I get my "hikoseki?" (Flying Stone)
  
  
• It's about time Disney...
  By A3T8LBWQGHP5EO on 2003-02-12
  This is easily one of Miyazaki's greatest movies( but he never makes a bad one!). I have the R2(Japanese) version with subs, 2.0 DD, and about 83% progressive, but this version will have DD 5.1 Japanese and English, and be 100% progressive! It will also have a redone soundtrack by it's original composer Joe Hisaishi(which translates to Quincy Jones in American, who is also a great composer!), redone dub with Anna Paquin, James Van Derbeek, and other Hollywood celebs, it will come with a second disc(no there isn't a box or special edition, so preorder now!) that will have storyboard to movie comparison, trailers, and some more stuff! The only thing bad is that Disney will probably put their own movie trailers on the second disc...

  Now that that's out the way, for my review: THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES OF THE 80's, NO MAKE THAT OF ALL TIME!! It starts out with a bang, Mama and her gang overrun a blimp for a necklace that can make things levitate that a little girl named Sheeta has been kidnapped for. They bust into a room and the girl climbs out the window to get away but falls into the sky and falls. We see Laputa engraved on a stone and then see probably the greatest intro to any movie...EVER!! It shows the story of flying castles and what became of this. A young boy spots Sheeta falling and catches her just in time. Thus, the beginning to a great story with amazing visuals, interesting characters, funny scenes, and great character development. This movie or any Ghibli movie will turn non-believers into frothing at the mouth anime fans like you and me! So far Disney has released 1 movie since they licensed 11 Ghibli movies in 1996! They plan to release Castle in the Sky (Laputa), Kiki's Delivery Service, and Spirited Away this year. But they stil have to release:

  Porco Rosso(touching movie about a human turned Pig to isolate himself from a discriminating world...They should release this next year)

  Pom Poko(Racoons fighting to save Western Tokyo from developers trying to bulid over their land!)

  Only Yesterday(A tale of an older woman escaping the complexity of city life to the country and reminiscing about childhood...)

  My Neighbors the Yamada's(A comedy about Japanese culture, no hand drawings in here! Completely CG!!)

  Whisper of the Heart(Probably the most touching love story ever produced)

  Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind(I haven't seen this yet but people say it's his greatest work...I NEED THIS NOW DISNEY!!)

  Totoro(they are going to re-re-re-release this with 5.1, dual language, subbed, anamorphic...I have this already but I need the 5.1!)

  Well that's about all the time I have! Be sure to buy this piece of animated history, something Disney could never make!!
  
  

• A comment on the Disney English version of Laputa
  By A2VFDE9MYGWFOB on 2003-04-19
  5 stars for the Japanese version and 3 stars for the English version.

  The music of the English version of Laputa had failed to create the atmosphere which the Japanese version had done a very good job - especially from chapter 10 to the end.

  The appropiate moments to stop the music and the suitable moments to start the music are totally messed up in the English version. Besides, some of the melodies fail to harmonize with the atmosphere. Moreover, the voice acting of Pazu and Sheeta are simply 'acting' without soul.

  The volume level of the dubbing in the English version is much higher than the music which further downgrades the important role of the music in the original Laputa.

  With the help of the screen selection and audio setup, one can compare the overall effect between the English version and the Japanese version in a fly.

  Anyway, both the music and sound effects in the English version are very disappointing - even a tiny subtle thing like the singing of birds are absent at the begining of Chapter 10. In the Japanese version, with the effect of music and sound, my heart said: "Wow! Laputa." In the English version, my heart said: "Hmm..., it seems like this is Laputa."
  
  

• War, peace, man and nature
  By A3NIQK6ZLYEP1L on 2006-09-24
  The floating city, Laputa, was just a legend, a dream of explorers. But Pazu, given voice by James Van Der Beek, has a goal. His goal was to find Laputa like his father did before him. And then one day a girl, voiced by Anna Paquin, fell out of the sky. And things went weird.
  The story is based on the Laputa of Gulliver's Travels, a flying city of thinkers and scientists, the city in this story has been waiting for the return of its people and rulers for 700 years. A city of wealth, advanced science and powerful weapons, it could be dangerous in the wrong hands. In fact it could be dangerous in anybody's hands!
  The movie has a touch of magic and science fiction, with air pirates, military governments, robotic gardeners filling the scenes with action, adventure, battles and wonder. The setting seems to be a version of our Earth but with many changes. The landscape seems worn, mined out, the towns and cities, of the nonfloating type, look dirty and in great need of repair. There is an underlining message about the environment as well as the need for balance with the Earth but that never gets in the way of the plain old story telling that makes it a delight to watch.
  Fans of Nausicaa will notice the animals in Laputa's garden as being related to Teto and will also notice how many of the uniforms and aircraft designs seem to suggest a link between this film to that one. The robots seem very retro, somehow warm and cold at the same time. Fans of Last Exile, the TV series, may also enjoy this film, as fans of this film may wish to buy the first disc of Last Exile to check it out.
  Extras are cool, allowing us to meet the English voice caste, including Mandy Patinkin, Cloris Leachman and Mark Hamill. A must for any DVD library.
  
  
  
• A Wonderful Tale
  By A29LGHDM4PTVOA on 2006-08-18
  I'm not a specialist of Japanese animation movies; though I have seen a few. I love the world of this movie, it's as dreamlike and beautiful as that of "Princess Mononoke". It's a bit of a mix of 19th century industrial era visuals and what you'd expect from the best sea stories, except that here they are transferred to the sky. Remember those pirate movies? Well you'll find a nice tribute to that in this movie. Having clouds instead of waves is seriously impressive, and a long fall instead of cold waters is not bad either.
  
  I have to say this Japanese work of art is very, very rich. Both in images and references. The very floating island, Laputa, is taken directly from Swift, as is made clear by one of the main characters. You'll also find parallels with the Golem, and other religious connections.
  
  It may be important to say here that I've seen this movie dubbed in French, so I wouldn't know anything of the English dubbed version. But I guess this wouldn't make a substantial difference to my review.
  
  The visuals of this movie are so beautiful and impressive I could spend my whole review just repeating that. It's just wonderful. I totally recommend it!
  
  
• Great thoughtful Fiction with lots of social implication
  By A1ZSZ2D9FEDKZS on 2006-09-01
  I have been exposed to a lot of Japanese commercial animation. That's why I always thought Japanese animation is never good. This one is different. I have to confess that Japanese animation studios (or at least Ghibli studio) has made a lot of progress.
  It follows a great story full of mystery and attractions. you can never guess what happens next. The drawings are very eye catching, things that came out of a very creative mind and you won't see anywhere else. the same applies to the story itself. The action parts are kept to a reasonable amount and do not dominate the story. The main focus of story is on intimacy and sacrifices people do for their good friends.
  One thing that caught my attention is how technology and modernity is portrayed in American and Japanese themes. As opposed to Americans who always show technology as destructive and monstrous, Japanese illustrate technology as cooperating and protective of men and nature. This is a well desired break from the desperate and desolate future world Disney and Hollywood want to show us.
  
  
• Exceptional animated film
  By A1JH5J1KQAUBMP on 2002-12-02
  On a strange alternate earth, a young boy and girl evade capture by pirates and government agents as they try to learn the secret of the flying kingdom of Laputa, to which the girl has a mysterious connection. Although the animation is not as smooth as some of Miyazaki's later films, there are still plenty of mind-blowing visuals and actions sequences here. Although there are plenty of battles and high adventure, the movie also displays the gentle humanism for which Miyazaki is so well-known.

  Disney needs to get more serious about releasing Miyazaki's work in a timely manner instead of pouring its energy into product such as "Peter Pan 2" and "Aladdin 3".
  
  

• The best comes off the shelf
  By A86WT2G7G0O7Z on 2003-01-21
  This is one of my favorite all time movies. This and Nausicaa I feel are Myazaki's best, far superior to Mononoke and Sen. What I look forward to most is hearing the revamped soundtrack. Jo Hisaishi was brought back to write new music to "update" the 17-year old movie and fill in some spaces. Hollywood has some silly rule about not allowing more than so many minutes of an animated film to go without any background music. But at least Disney went to the original composer (I'm sure Myazaki would have it no other way). Hisaishi also composed soundtracks for all of Miyazaki's best known films and the main theme for Laputa (Castle in teh Sky) is maintained. It's a beautiful tune and in addition to how I feel about this film, I think it has the best soundtrack. I know I will be adding the new music to my collection.

  What I don't look forward to is the poor transliteration of the names. Check out fan sights for this movie to see what was wasn't handled the best way. Still, I'm sure this will be better than the dub job done in the late 80's. It's only a shame that this isn't coming to the big screen. Miyazaki is finally getting the respect he deserves and his movies should as well.
  
  

• Castle in the Sky DVD (aka = Laputa )
  By on 2001-12-04
  I have an import version of this movie.
  IT IS ONE OF THE BEST ANIME I HAVE EVER SEEN.
  The animation is Very good, but what makes this Anime 'One of the best' is its Story.

  If you have not seen this Title and you like anime I suggest you buy it, or at least make an attempt to see it. (I plan to Buy the US Release of this title as well. If Disney Ever gets around to makeing it.)
  {I think they have the rights to the Miyazaki films}

  I am not sure but I think that Princess Mononoke is the only Miyazaki film to be release on DVD in the US so-far.
  (note: "Kiki's Delivery Service" was released on vhs. GET IT TOO!)
  
  

• A classic of animation, not to be missed.
  By AVMHM5EQO61DB on 2001-12-07
  'Castle in the Sky' (original title: 'Laputa, Castle in the Sky') is one of the animation masterpieces from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli (creators of 'Princess Mononoke' and 'Kiki's Delivery Service'), now being released in the US for the first time. Here is adventure and romance and comedy, reminiscent of a Spielberg film: a spunky little girl with a mysterious past, a magical pendant, a dastardly plot, a brave companion, a crew of comic-opera sky pirates, all converging on the legendary Castle in the Sky. The animation is brilliant and imaginative, and like much Japanese animation, owes more to the cinematic techniques of serious film than it does to American cartoons. This is an action film, may be too intense for the very young, but older children and adults will love its non-stop style. Some people consider it Miyazaki's best. If you have any interest in animation at all, this classic film is a must-see. [Note: this DVD is not yet released at the time this review was written, and the quality of the DVD transfer is unknown; however, Buena Vista's previous DVD release of a Ghibli film on DVD, 'Princess Mononoke', was a superb transfer.]
  
  
• The best Miyazaki ever!
  By ALZ3T5JVK8DBA on 2001-12-09
  I have seen everything Miyazaki has ever made, with the exception of his most recent, after Princess Mononoke (I don't even know what the title is). I've seen them all in Japanese, and all the English dubbed versions that are available.
  Laputa: Castle In the Sky is my personal favorite, because it has the most amazing quality of wonderment and mystery, while maintaining that idyllic, childhood innocence. Nausica is more epic, Princess Mononoke is more vivid, Lupin III is funnier, and My Neighbor Totoro is cuter. I love ALL of Miyazaki's movies,
  BUT none of them put it all together, and add a classic sense of supernatural mystery like Laputa, and I doubt I will ever change my mind. In fact, I hope (someday, in the far, far future) somebody will have the compassion to put this film in and push the play button before they turn off the machines that keep me alive. That way I can pass beyond the veil with that ultimate sense of beauty, wonderment, and idyllic, innocent childhood I get every time I see this movie.
  
  
• please watch the original version with English subtitle !!!!
  By A21XVCAF5Q1XNW on 2004-06-06
  I'm a Japanese and have watched this film so many time over the last 18 years and remember all its details, since
  this is my favorite film of Hayao Miyazakis'.
  I have now a French DVD together with synclonization and subltitle in English and Japanese original voice.
  I'm shocked and furious about English voiceover version because the BGM music is changed from original Japanese version and I found it the absolute disaster.
  So far when I watced it in French I found no alterlation of BGM.
  I don't have the same DVD which is sold in USA and haven't checked it but I guess this English version in French DVD comes from DVD in USA.
  SO please be careful, please watch this film in Japanese with English subltitle.
  I cannot believe why Miyazaki's prodction allowed the music to be
  changed.
  
  
• Disney spiraling out of the sky in a flaming airship
  By A2EF6O4Y0TUR5R on 2003-05-17
  I got the priviledge of viewing this Anime several years ago through a poor quality fansub that I received from a friend. I must say that this particular movie was the one that left the most indelible impression on my mind as to how Japanese animation is a completely different world than American. The story, visuals and music were all absolutely stunning when I saw this the first and subsequent times. My CD-R containing the fansub is quite beat up due to the repeated viewings, since this is my all time favorite animated movie) It was no surprise that browsing through the DVDs at a chain wholesaler, my eyes grew as big as saucers, my jaw dropped and drool began to appear at the corners of my mouth as this title caught my eye and BOOM, I instantly had to snap this one up above all the others (even Miyazaki's Spirited Away or Kiki's Delivery Service).

  As a huge fan of Miyazaki I was tempted to speed on the way home since I was as eager as a little child to pop this baby in the XBOX. I was absolutely in love with the remastered digital picture. The experience of hearing it in 5.1 surround promised to awe and inspire in a whole new way. Yet something was different about the English track. I couldn't quite pin it down.

  Then Pazu opened his mouth....OUCH! I couldn't believe the assault on my ears! Disney, couldn't you have picked a younger and better voice actor? Then I realized what was bugging me about the movie...THE MUSIC! They changed it! I flipped forward a few chapters to the part of the movie right where Pazu and Sheeta have crash landed on Laputa which IMHO has the best theme of the movie, and discovered that it was much slower and way too orchestrated for that entire sequence.

  Joe Hisaishi is one of the premiere and most respected and recognizable composers (along with Yoko Kanno in my book) in Japan, yet what on Earth happened with the English track? I read in an earlier review that Disney had ordered the entire English track rescored. WHY!?!? I can only imagine in my mind the debate by Eisner and ilk before releasing on us poor Americans: "What is with all this silence and blank space in the soundtrack? Music, we must saturate it with MUSIC! MORE MUSIC! I said MORE!! MORE MUSIC!!!!!" (this would earn the DVD only 3 stars) Disney, when will you ever learn not to tamper with a non-Disney work in an attempt to make it inferior to your own (inferior) movies?

  After about 10 minutes of frantically scanning the different chapters, I was disgusted enough to turn it off and go cry. It was then I found the most redeeming quality of this DVD. They included the ORIGINAL Japanese track with Hisaishi's ORIGINAL score. HOORAY! Who cares if it is not in the full 5.1 splendor, the movie would just not be the same without the original music atmosphere. As long as Disney continues to have the guts to swallow their pride and release the rest of Miyazaki's works with the ORIGINAL Japanese soundtrack, I will purchase every single one of them.

  5 stars go to this movie, in spite of the English track's flaws.
  
  

• English-dubbed Original rates 5 stars! Best Anime ever!
  By AQ8Y8OSQA6HWV on 2003-04-25
  Disney sure screwed up this release of the wonderful "Laputa - Castle in the Sky". The first mistake they made was choosing to use an adult's voice instead of a child's voice for the little boy, Pazu. I simply could not believe my ears! And this guy who does the voice-over couldn't even pronounce the little girl's name correctly. Disney, it's "Sheeta" not "Sheda". The next error was handing over the film to some arrogant composer who decided to make sure his music took center stage (Don't they all, when will this madness stop? How much longer will we have to strain our ears to hear dialog because the music is too darn loud!?). There are scenes in the original, such as when Pazu is playing the bugle on the rooftop and Sheeta wakes up, that are completely ruined because the mood is broken by the musical score that insists on rambling on in the background when there should've been silence except for the sound of the bugle. What a botched-up mess this soundtrack is! Last year I purchased the original Japanese version dubbed in English and it immediately climbed up the ladder past all of my Disney favorites to become my #1 favorite animated film.
  
  
• Excellent movie - bad translation
  By A1JM3LO8G3BWTX on 2005-01-09
  I had the good and bad fortune to see the premiere of the English dubbed version of this movie with friend of mine at a Science Fiction conference a long time ago.
  
  Good because he had an excellent grasp of the Japanese language and had seen the Japanese version; bad because he kept yelling at the screen "That's not what they said!". Not knowing much Japanese, I really couldn't tell if he was right or wrong, but it seemed that the movie didn't quite work the same way as it did when I watched it in Japanese. I owned a copy of the Japanese version of this movie and so I watched it again - there is definitely something different betwen the two. The original's just a bit longer (some of the more violent bits have been cut) and the voice acting is a whole lot better. Why is it that we always use adults for children's voices? Overall, the Americanized version just seems a bit blander.
  
  If you possibly can, try to see a copy of this movie in its original language.
  
  
• GREAT MOVIE? I DON'T THINK SO!! FLAWLESS MOVIE? I THINK SO!!
  By A3T8LBWQGHP5EO on 2003-02-07
  Well, the only flaw was that the movie had to end, but this is easily one of Miyazaki's greatest movies( but he never makes a bad one!). I have the R2(Japanese) version with subs, 2.0 DD, and about 83% progressive, but this version will have DD 5.1 Japanese and English, and be 100% progressive! It will also have a redone soundtrack by it's original composer Joe Hisaishi(which translates to Quincy Jones in American, who is also a great composer!), redone dub with Anna Paquin, James Van Derbeek, and other Hollywood celebs, it will come with a second disc(no there isn't a box or special edition, so preorder now!) that will have storyboard to movie comparison, trailers, and some more stuff! The only thing bad is that Disney will probably put their own movie trailers on the second disc.

  Now that that's out the way, for my review: THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES OF THE 80's, NO MAKE THAT OF ALL TIME!! It starts out with a bang, Mama and her gang overrun a blimp for a necklace that can make things levitate that a little girl named Sheeta has been kidnapped for. They bust into a room and the girl climbs out the window to get away but falls into the sky and falls. We see Laputa engraved on a stone and then see probably the greatest intro to any movie...EVER!! It shows the story of flying castles and what became of this. A young boy spots Sheeta falling and catches her just in time. Thus, the beginning to a great story with amazing visuals, interesting characters, funny scenes, and great character development. This movie or any Ghibli movie will turn non-believers into frothing at the mouth anime fans like you and me! P>Well that's about all the time I have! Be sure to buy this piece of animated history, something Disney could never make!!
  
  

• Third Greatest Movie of Hayao Miyazaki
  By A3ILI0OG6TE5OY on 2003-04-07
  I really love this movie. My grandpa first sent this movie in Japanese to my family about a year and half ago. As a fifteen year old, I really enjoyed it. My mom tries to get movies in Japanese so that my sisters and I can practice our Japanese dialogue. With the English and Japanese feature we can now hear it in Japanese AND English. I would recommend this to everyone I know. Hayao Miyazaki is a great director and he has made a lot of great movies in the past. Other movies I would recommend of his are: Princess Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, and Spirited Away. An animated movie that is not yet in English that is my favorite animated movie of Hayao Miyazaki's collection is Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind. Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind is and old movie from a few years ago, but it became a manga last year, I think, I'm not sure. I've read the manga but I still like the anime movie best. I think they should come up with an English version of Nausicaa so that everyone can enjoy it.

  But anyway, I really like Castle in the Sky, or "Laputa" as my family has grown to call it. It's the third best movie of his that has come out, in my opinion. It has great graphics too.
  
  

• Fantastic film on DVD...but be careful of the audio options.
  By A1XX5797TIZT5Q on 2003-04-21
  I'd seen Princess Mononoke, Miyazaki's successful U.S. breakthrough, in the theatres in a dubbed versions and was supremely impressed and satisfied by the job Miramax did to adapting the film, with Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Minnie Driver and Gillian Anderson delivering top-notch voice acting for the English version that I didn't miss the Japanese version. So when Disney finally released the Miyazaki catalogue on DVD here, my expectations for Laputa: Castle in the Sky -- my favourite Miyazaki film -- were staggering.

  This DVD turned out to be a rare bird indeed. The English adaptation is abysmal. James Van Der Beek, as the crucial main character Pazu, gives one of the worst animation voice performances I've ever heard. He sounds like a person reading lines while trying to loop a movie. Anna Paquin fares marginally better as Sheeta, and the talented Mandy Patinkin is wasted in a tiny role. Overall, the direction on the English dubbed version is pretty bad, with the English-language actors filling in unnecessary dialogue that all but ruins what had been quieter, silent moments of pure action. The tremendous first five minutes of the film are just ruined by unnecessary actor ad libs, which intrude upon the pure-action storytelling of the original. And somehow Disney felt the need to re-arrange and remix the score and basically committed seppuku to the dangerous, high-adventure tone of the opening scene.

  But wait...for all the butcheries committed to the film in the English dubbed version, Disney deserves praise for putting options for the full, untampered Japanese sound mix into the DVD audio options. When I discovered these options, my criticisms became minimal, as I was able to enjoy Miyazaki's original, superior vision of how the sound mix and dialogue should be. Having the guts and the respect to make available the original tracks despite its high-budget (albeit botched) English version is really a laudable move on Disney's part, and quite rare in translating a film for foreign markets. Kudos for respecting the original vision.

  My recommendation? Watch the film with the original Japanese sound mix and English subtitles. The subtitling option on this edition is far better than the subtitles on the Taiwanese import copy of the film I had, which weren't even in sync with the voices.

  With technical aspects out of the way, the film really is a classic. With the best story progression, characters, artwork and thematic elements in the Miyazaki oeuvre, not to mention a celestial film score which is the jewel in Joe Hisaishi's crown, Laputa: Castle in the Sky is a must-own. I still wish they could have done a better job on the dubbed English version -- the English version of Princess Mononoke does the original proud and is a great option to have. Nevertheless, the original sound is there for you to enjoy, and you can pick the English version if you so incline. See if you agree with me whether it's better or worse. This is definitely a good edition of the film to get.
  
  

• It's been a long time coming.
  By on 2003-05-05
  The wonderful thing about this movie is the way in which Miyazaki likes to present his underlying message; that technology is seductive, overwhelming, and may be the key to dominating others, but the user/abuser eventually isolates himself from those whom he would rule and/or fear. The isolation is complete, separating the "powerful" from others as well as nature. The poem that Sheeta recites to Muska is the reason why the initial inhabitants left Laputa:

  We need roots in the Earth;

  Let's live with the wind;
  With seeds, make fat the winter;
  With the birds, let's sing of spring.

  To couch the theme of this poem in the metaphor of the search for a floating mythical island of power demonstrates the depth of Miyazaki's talent and abilities in blending a moral message with his love for flight, talent for timing, storytelling prowess, and his immense respect for ecology and nature.

  The other wonderful thing about Miyazaki's/Studio Ghibli's films is that it isn't aimed at any market; it is aimed at both adults and children despite the fact that it is anime, and as a result, is much more honest about presenting its themes without resorting to sugar-coating or talking down to children. It is a very watchable film - not cartoon - despite being a fantasy, despite being anime, and despite Disney's efforts to process it through its marketing machinery.

  It's appalling that the release of this movie as well as Miyazaki's others such as Nausicaa, Porco Rosso, Omohide Poro Poro (Only Yesterday), and others has been held up in this country for as long as they have simply because Disney or Buena Vista owns the distribution rights. The international release year was way back in 1986, when I was in 6th grade. I enjoyed it immensely then, I enjoy watching it with even more pleasure now. I find it ridiculous that Disney would request the rescoring of the movie simply for marketing purposes and to sell more DVDs. Nonetheless, the belated release of this movie in this country more than overshadows the distateful actions of corporate narrow-mindedness.
  
  

• Early masterpiece from Miyazaki
  By A19JYLHD94K94D on 2003-10-24
  Hayao Miyazaki's second feature film, and his first one to be widely acclaimed both commercially and critically (though his debut - Nausicaa AKA Warriors of the Wind is considered by many fans his best), `Tenku no Shiro Rapyuta' AKA `Castle in the Sky' may seem childish and simplistic when compared to his more recent masterpieces like `Kiki's Delivery Service', `Mononoke-hime' and `Spirited Away', but in 1986 it was years ahead of its time and it was one of the milestones of modern anime. It's important to remember that `Castle in the Sky' was made two years before the revolutionary `Akira', and while it's not provocative and controversial like the aforementioned masterpiece, the lead characters are all mainly basic manga hero / heroine / villain type characters, and the story is quite predictable and obvious (at least in today's standards), Miyazaki's designs and animation work are of standards never seen before. While the story and humor are a bit silly and outdated at times, the movie is still very entertaining and very enjoyable - if not as breathtaking as `Spirited Away'. And if you'll allow yourself to see the beauty of the frames themselves and ignore the low-budget coloring and animation and the identical twin faces - at this point Miyazaki is still faithful to his roots and to the agreed standards of Japanese cartooning - you'll see Miyazaki's genius shine through as well as it does on `Spirited Away' and Mononoke. While `Castle in the Sky', being a sci-fi adventure and very suitable for children, fits in more neatly with classic anime than anything else he had done since, his motifs and principles still show and play an important part. To say much more would be to ruin the movie, so I'll kindly shut up. Suffice to say that I'm giving it only four stars because if I gave it five I couldn't go any higher for `Spirited Away' and `Princess Mononoke'. And that would be a crime.

  As in most anime movies, I recommend watching the Japanese version with the English subtitles, even if you don't speak a word of Japanese - the English overdubs just don't tend to be very good, and in this case it's just horrendous. You might want to watch it in the English version once, though, just for the laughs, and for the star-filled cast (the English dub was only recorded following the success of `Spirited Away', as it was for `Kiki's Delivery Service') - Anna Paquin and James Van Der Beek (Yeah, the Dawson guy!) fill the lead roles, Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker from `Star Wars', in case you don't know!) plays the villain, and other roles are filled by Andy Dick, Tres MacNeille (The Simpsons, Rugrats, Animaniacs...), Michael McShane (Friar Tuck from Kevin Costner's Robin Hood travesty) and Mandy Patinkin (Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya...) Good for a laugh, or a few laughs really. But watch the Japanese one first.
  
  

• A great animated family film
  By A8GRLH1ZGOPDJ on 2004-12-02
  This is one of the best animated family films of all time, IMHO. Moreover, virtually all of the serious rivals for this title came from the same creative mind of Hiyao Miyazaki and his Studio Ghibli. Specifically, other great animated family films include "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Kikki's Delivery Service." "Spirited Away" is quite good, but a bit too creepy for typical family fare - better for teenagers and adult. The one thing that sets "Laputa: Castle in the Sky" apart from Kikki and Totoro is that it is far more of a tension-filled adventure ride. Some of Myiazaki's other films, such as Princess Mononoke are not really for kids, although they are fine films in their own way.
  
  Why is this film so good? Because it's a complete package: the animation is very well done, and the story is truly engaging and compelling.
  
  Most Japanese anime is imaginative alright, but it is also decidedly dark or cynical or violent; and the animation itself is often jerky, stylized, and juvenile. None of these problems plague Castle in the Sky. It has imagination to burn, and the characters are well drawn, if slightly exaggerated versions of realistic people. (None of those trench-coat wearing posers) There is plenty of adventure, but not blood and gore. The animation is smooth, detailed, and cinematically composed - not a lot of flat shots. The backgrounds are wonderful.
  
  The voice acting in the dubbed English version is first rate, particularly the two leads, Pazo (James Van der Beek) and Sheeta (Anna Paquin). And frankly, after hearing Van der Beek, I could not stand the high, thin voice of the original Japanese actor. The sound engineering is good, too. The voices are clear. Use your studio sound, if you've got it.
  
  One aspect that I particularly enjoyed is that much of the back story is left unexplained. Laputa was once inhabited, and is now abandoned. Why? We never know. We know as much as we need to know, and then we just have to accept the rest, which is easy to do because the invented world is so fully realized. Indeed, it is fair to say that the world is more fully realized than most of the minor characters, who are for the most part one-dimensional stock characters (e.g., gruff general, silly sidekick, kooky old miner, etc.) . Some reviewers have complained that the main characters and the villain lack some depth, and they are right; but so what? This is great entertainment, not high art.
  
  Highly recommended for people aged 6 to 60 who would love a clean, exciting, imaginative adventure.
  
  
• The old good vs. evil in a new exciting setting
  By A37PV5GMP2ILJC on 2006-10-09
  This review is based on the Disney version of the movie, voiced by James Van Der Beek, Anna Paquin, Cloris Leachman, Mark Hamill and others. The basic premise is extremely simple - it's the old good vs. evil, science vs. nature scenario, but the animation and imagination is so cool that it looks much more complicated than that.
  
  In case you were wondering, this is not based on the book "Castle in the Air" by Diana Wynne Jones. "Castle in the Air" is the sequel to "Howl's Moving Castle", which was also done in anime by the master Miyazaki. "Castle in the Sky" has roots in the story of "Gulliver's Travels" where Swift wrote about a flying city named Laputa, upon which this film is based.
  
  Sheeta is a young girl, now an orphan, who was given an amulet by her mother before she died. It seems that lots of people are after the amulet, and after Sheeta is taken aboard an airship by creepy Government agents, the ship is attacked by a family of pirates. During the fracas, Sheeta falls from the airship, and it becomes apparent that the amulet is much more than a nice piece of bling-bling. She is rescued by a young boy named Pazu, who is also an orphan and works as an assistant to a mining engineer.
  
  Both the pirates and the army are going all-out to get their greedy hands on Sheeta, and we learn that she is a vital link to finding the mythical floating city of Laputa, which is said to be packed with both treasure and advanced technology, securely hidden within a huge storm cloud.
  
  The main characters, other than Sheeta and the heroic Pazu are Colonel Muska, a secret agent with huge ambition, Dola, domineering matriarch of the Pirate clan, and the General, leader of the armed forces.
  
  Although more than two hours long, this action-packed family movie is never boring, but it does contain some amount of violence.
  
  
  Amanda Richards, October 8, 2006
  
  
  

• Kiki's Delivery Service
• Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
• Spirited Away
• Princess Mononoke
• Howl's Moving Castle