Laputa Castle in the Sky
It is quite difficult to write this review because I have to wake up from the dream that this movie was to watch. Calling it a movie doesn't even do it justice, it feels like I just went on their adventure with them. I've got to get back to earth where we belong!
Pazu is an orphan who works in the mines and one day he finds a mysterious girl, Sheeta, floating down from the sky. He takes her back to his house but he soon finds that she is being chased by the army, strange glasses-wearing Agent Smith-types and even pirates. Together Pazu and Sheeta go on an adventure to find Laputa, a floating city that most people believe only to be a myth.
The characters and relationships in this story are... (collapses on keyboard)... just so beautifully genuine. Pazu and Sheeta form a bond that can't be described as a simple romance or friendship. The pirates, like those in Ghibli's Porco Rosso, are absolutely hilarious. The crew is made up of diverse and distinct characters that interact with each other in such a natural and organic way. In my opinion, one of the greatest feats of Studio Ghibli stories is the life they give to every character even things you would not expect to be a character. I'm never left thinking, "Oh, this is just some NPC there to progress the storyline." Every character is that, a character.
As usual the world that has been created, the sheer beauty of its sights and sounds, can't aptly be put into words. The world is quite steampunk and features lots of awesome flying machines with Leonardo Da Vinci feels not forgetting the important natural elements of the scenery that play an important role in the story.
The film is a fantasy adventure with children as man characters but I would not go so far as to call it light-hearted in the same way that My Neighbour Totoro would be considered light-hearted. There are several intense moments in the story that could be distressing to younger viewers.
Nonetheless, this story is an adventure that can only be described as something people need to see or rather experience themselves. So go watch it. I've gotta go hang around mine shafts and see if my dream girl floats down from the sky!
