Editorial Product Review:

Description:
From one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the history of animated cinema comes the most acclaimed film of 2002. Hayao Miyazaki's latest triumph, filled with astonishing animation and epic adventure, is a dazzling masterpiece for the ages. It's a 'wonderfully welcoming work of art that's as funny and entertaining as it is brilliant, beautiful, and deep' (Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal). SPIRITED AWAY is a wondrous fantasy about a young girl, Chihiro, trapped in a strange new world of spirits. When her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, she must call upon the courage she never knew she had to free herself and return her family to the outside world. An unforgettable story brimming with creativity, SPIRITED AWAY will take you on a journey beyond your imagination. 'To enter the world of Hayao Miyazaki is to experience a kind of lighthearted enchantment that is unique to the world of animation' (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times). It's a fantastic tale the whole family will want to experience over and over again.

Amazon.com:
The highest grossing film in Japanese box-office history (more than $234 million), Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away (Sen To Chihiro Kamikakushi) is a dazzling film that reasserts the power of drawn animation to create fantasy worlds. Like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and Lewis Carroll's Alice, Chihiro (voice by Daveigh Chase--Lilo in Disney's Lilo & Stitch) plunges into an alternate reality. On the way to their new home, the petulant adolescent and her parents find what they think is a deserted amusement park. Her parents stuff themselves until they turn into pigs, and Chihiro discovers they're trapped in a resort for traditional Japanese gods and spirits. An oddly familiar boy named Haku (Jason Marsden) instructs Chihiro to request a job from Yubaba (Suzanne Pleshette), the greedy witch who rules the spa. As she works, Chihiro's untapped qualities keep her from being corrupted by the greed that pervades Yubaba's mini-empire. In a series of fantastic adventures, she purges a river god suffering from human pollution, rescues the mysterious No-Face, and befriends Yubaba's kindly twin, Zeniba (Pleshette again). The resolve, bravery, and love Chihiro discovers within herself enable her to aid Haku and save her parents. The result is a moving and magical journey, told with consummate skill by one of the masters of contemporary animation. MPAA Rated: PG ('Some scary moments') --Charles Solomon

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Customer Rating: - Miyazaki love.
Hayao Miyazaki, obviously, is an amazing director. Joe Hisaishi's music just makes this movie jump to an astronomical level. I usually get sick of movies very quickly, but no matter how many times I watch this movie..it just takes my breath away. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

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Customer Rating: - Amazing!
Spirited Away is an amazing movie. It's very touching, and a great family movie. If you like Hayao Miyazaki, you should buy this movie. It's very touching...

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Customer Rating: - FOR PARENTS: Beautiful but not for small children
This movie is beautiful and I agree with many of the reviews. But those that say it is for young children probably do not have children. I watched this with my five year old daughter (the first hour) and she got very quiet and left the room. She ended up being very scared and upset in a very real way. She even had nightmares. It was my mistake. I should have watched it first to see. I am not saying that ALL children would be. But I would definitly say it is for more sophisticated children/older. And yes-classic disney was a bit more scary. But the scene where snow white gets lost in the forest is not quite the same as the feeling and imagery of the this film which does not let up as does Snow White when she says "I was being silly to be scared" then starts singing. Just watch it first and see what you think before showing small children.

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Customer Rating: - Great movie for adults and kids
This film is one of my favorites. It is a "work of art" as many have said. If I had children, I would want them to see this one (after the age of 5 or 6, I'd say), but it *is* long, and the young ones could fall asleep if you're watching it at night with them. I love the message of friendship, and how kindhearted the characters could be. Other characters were not so kind, but you later learn why they are unkind and are able to see why compassion reigns supreme. I have nothing but love for this film!