Laputa: Castle in the Sky
January 3rd 2008 00:54
Category: Television
Based on an original story by: Hayao Miyazaki.
Director: Hayao Miyazaki.
Producer: Isao Takahata.
Screenplay by: Hayao Miyazaki.
Starring: Anna Paquin (Shita), James Van Der Beek (Patsu), Mark Hamil (Muska) and Cloris Leachman (Dola).
Produced by: 1986 Studio Ghibli.
Running Time: 120 minutes. Rating: PG.
Once again the SBS network has screened a classic anime film during the Christmas period, on the evening of Thursday 27th to be precise at 10:10 pm and this time, unlike Howl’s Moving Castle, I was able to catch the drama direct from the idiot box so to speak. Like Nausicaa of the Valley of the Winds Laputa has an epic saga feel to it that you only really begin to appreciate as the film nears its conclusion, up until that point it seems more like a straight action/quest film involving a mysterious girl, a young boy trying to prove the existence of a legend, pirates, secret agents and the Military. Another parallel are the use of airships within this film, and they literally are ships of the air rather than the sleek aerodynamic planes and fighters of the contemporary world. Watching this film I wondered whether or not this was actually the world of the past that is mentioned briefly within Nausicaa, the world a thousand years before the events depicted in that film where humanity is on the brink of extinction from a threat that seems to be virtually unstoppable, the ever expanding toxic jungle.
Certainly the animation style and the use of mood music is very similar, though whereas Nausicaa had an ending that suited the drama and mood of its story the actual denouement of Laputa seems a bit forced and clichéd, which is unfortunate as apart from this fact it is an enjoyable film. Events open with the pirates of the airship Tiger Moth preparing to ambush a passing civilian airship travelling the skyways, there target is not simply loot and booty but a particular young girl whom the pirate leader, Dola, is interested in along with a blue crystal. The young girl in question is currently under guard by Colonel Muska, a secret agent and his cadre of loyal, fellow secret agents. You can tell that their secret agents because they have the stereotypical secret agent look, black suits and black glasses so that you have no doubt about who or what these guys are. In addition to the girl Muska and his men have in their possession the blue crystal. Everything seems fairly straightforward, the secret agents have what the pirates want and the pirates attack the airship attempting to get both. All however is not what it seems, and literally moments into the attack on the airship we see this.
Shita, the young girl sought by the pirates, has different ideas about what is going to happen as regards to her fate and after she knocks out Muska and grabs the crystal she leaves. Naturally this action suddenly taken in the heat of battle throws the plans of the pirates and the secret agents right out of wack, now they have to try and make something of the situation they’ve both been thrown into in order to pursue their respective agendas. But despite having greater resources than Shita and her new friend Patsu, the two groups are met with continued complications and set backs before they actually get around to focusing on their goals. And it is the legendary sky borne fortress city of Laputa that is the centre of all the action and drama.
Created several hundred years ago the city of Laputa has within the film the same kind of mythological status as Atlantis and Avalon, a place of great treasures and lost technology that many believe does not exist and question whether it ever existed. Patsu’s father once caught a brief glimpse of Laputa after a lull in storm that he was caught in whilst piloting his airship. That lull was momentary but it gave him enough time to snap off a photograph of what he saw and provide some evidence that the legendary sky city really existed. It’s interesting to note that as the drama unfolds the legendary sky city’s mythological status gains significant impact, purely through the fact that the story itself only tells so much about the place. Right up to the very end Laputa remains fairly much a place of mystery and though there is much revealed there is till a great deal more that is left unsaid, such deliberate omissions in my view actually work to the advantage of the film.
The main advantage is the atmosphere that is felt when finally through the unfolding drama and action events finally arrive with the protagonists and antagonists arriving at the fabled sky city. This atmosphere comes in two distinct flavours, the sense of sadness and abandonment then that of dread, of sleeping menace yet to be awakened to plague the world of men. The first occurs when Shita and Patsu arrive through the travails of a storm to the ancient city and the latter is the result of the machinations of Colonel Muska who finally shows his true colours once he has arrived with the aid of the Military. Rather than sticking to his alliance with a shifty general Muska reneges on his agreement and unleashes unholy destruction upon the Military forces that arrived with him and the general, a flying battleship may have been impressive against the pirates in the Tiger Moth but it proves to be next to nothing against the defences and capabilities of Laputa.
Colonel Muska hasn’t been solely looking to finding Laputa for purely patriotic reasons, he has had his own agenda for following the orders of his superiors and once he is able to reach the fabled city it is this which dominates his actions. Like so many villains in both anime and live action films the ‘good’ colonel doesn’t precisely know all the factors involved and in his attempts to resurrect the empire which Laputa once ruled many centuries ago he only ends up literally being hoisted on his own petard. His colossal arrogance is his own undoing, though in a way it is also a blessing as through his actions he leads to the city of Laputa and its secrets being placed well beyond the reach of anyone with similar intentions.
Laputa: Castle in the Sky was well worth watching, though as mentioned previously the ending is a bit weak and clichéd in comparison with other Hayao Miyazaki efforts. But the epic sweep that he seems to have introduced into works such as Howl’s Moving Castle and Nausicaa is evident within this film, along with a well woven intricate plot that keeps the audience’s attention and sustains the action. The countryside depicted within the film is fairly interesting as are the supporting characters, when I watched it I felt like I was watching a period piece set in the mining towns of Northern England, certainly the rolling green fields and the way people were dressed served to enhance that impression. All in all a finely made film that is good value viewing as well as being family friendly, so why not let a gentle wind carry you away and send you on to Laputa: Castle in the Sky…
Director: Hayao Miyazaki.
Producer: Isao Takahata.
Screenplay by: Hayao Miyazaki.
Starring: Anna Paquin (Shita), James Van Der Beek (Patsu), Mark Hamil (Muska) and Cloris Leachman (Dola).
Produced by: 1986 Studio Ghibli.
Running Time: 120 minutes. Rating: PG.
Once again the SBS network has screened a classic anime film during the Christmas period, on the evening of Thursday 27th to be precise at 10:10 pm and this time, unlike Howl’s Moving Castle, I was able to catch the drama direct from the idiot box so to speak. Like Nausicaa of the Valley of the Winds Laputa has an epic saga feel to it that you only really begin to appreciate as the film nears its conclusion, up until that point it seems more like a straight action/quest film involving a mysterious girl, a young boy trying to prove the existence of a legend, pirates, secret agents and the Military. Another parallel are the use of airships within this film, and they literally are ships of the air rather than the sleek aerodynamic planes and fighters of the contemporary world. Watching this film I wondered whether or not this was actually the world of the past that is mentioned briefly within Nausicaa, the world a thousand years before the events depicted in that film where humanity is on the brink of extinction from a threat that seems to be virtually unstoppable, the ever expanding toxic jungle.
Created several hundred years ago the city of Laputa has within the film the same kind of mythological status as Atlantis and Avalon, a place of great treasures and lost technology that many believe does not exist and question whether it ever existed. Patsu’s father once caught a brief glimpse of Laputa after a lull in storm that he was caught in whilst piloting his airship. That lull was momentary but it gave him enough time to snap off a photograph of what he saw and provide some evidence that the legendary sky city really existed. It’s interesting to note that as the drama unfolds the legendary sky city’s mythological status gains significant impact, purely through the fact that the story itself only tells so much about the place. Right up to the very end Laputa remains fairly much a place of mystery and though there is much revealed there is till a great deal more that is left unsaid, such deliberate omissions in my view actually work to the advantage of the film.
The main advantage is the atmosphere that is felt when finally through the unfolding drama and action events finally arrive with the protagonists and antagonists arriving at the fabled sky city. This atmosphere comes in two distinct flavours, the sense of sadness and abandonment then that of dread, of sleeping menace yet to be awakened to plague the world of men. The first occurs when Shita and Patsu arrive through the travails of a storm to the ancient city and the latter is the result of the machinations of Colonel Muska who finally shows his true colours once he has arrived with the aid of the Military. Rather than sticking to his alliance with a shifty general Muska reneges on his agreement and unleashes unholy destruction upon the Military forces that arrived with him and the general, a flying battleship may have been impressive against the pirates in the Tiger Moth but it proves to be next to nothing against the defences and capabilities of Laputa.
Colonel Muska hasn’t been solely looking to finding Laputa for purely patriotic reasons, he has had his own agenda for following the orders of his superiors and once he is able to reach the fabled city it is this which dominates his actions. Like so many villains in both anime and live action films the ‘good’ colonel doesn’t precisely know all the factors involved and in his attempts to resurrect the empire which Laputa once ruled many centuries ago he only ends up literally being hoisted on his own petard. His colossal arrogance is his own undoing, though in a way it is also a blessing as through his actions he leads to the city of Laputa and its secrets being placed well beyond the reach of anyone with similar intentions.
Laputa: Castle in the Sky was well worth watching, though as mentioned previously the ending is a bit weak and clichéd in comparison with other Hayao Miyazaki efforts. But the epic sweep that he seems to have introduced into works such as Howl’s Moving Castle and Nausicaa is evident within this film, along with a well woven intricate plot that keeps the audience’s attention and sustains the action. The countryside depicted within the film is fairly interesting as are the supporting characters, when I watched it I felt like I was watching a period piece set in the mining towns of Northern England, certainly the rolling green fields and the way people were dressed served to enhance that impression. All in all a finely made film that is good value viewing as well as being family friendly, so why not let a gentle wind carry you away and send you on to Laputa: Castle in the Sky…
| 56 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Tom
The Green Lantern
Cheerio
Tom.