Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi)

Release Year: 2001

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Review:A brilliantly imagined, masterfully animated and utterly original piece of filmmaking.  Miyazaki is a master at creating completely unique and imaginative worlds to explore.  Every detail is so complete and interesting, that the visual oddities alone are enough to make this a great film.  It's as if you were privileged enough to witness someone's dream, only the person dreaming was a storytelling master like Miyazaki.  

The story of a young girl getting trapped working in a bath house for spirits may take a leap of faith to follow, but there is a beauty in such a bizarre tale.  Although the surroundings may be odd, the true story is basic and touching.  Miyazaki takes simple morals, such as the dangers of greed and gluttony and enhances them with fantastic visuals of people turning into pigs, or being eaten by a spirit.  At its core its about a little girl overcoming her fears, showing courage and falling in love. It's a completely weird, but never twisted, world and one that is endlessly interesting.

Rating: 4/5