Castle in the Sky

Update:There are currently 3 versions of this film on modern formats: 2 DVD versions and the new Blu-Ray. Here is the breakdown and why I hate Disney:The initial DVD release of Castle in the Sky was and still is the best of the three for purists. Here is why: The original DVD (the 2003 release with the cover showing Laputa in the background) has two subtitle options:Subtitle 1: the closed captions for the English dubbing, or 'dubtitles'.Subtitle 2: the accurate translation of the Japanese voice track.The disc also has the original Japanese audio, the TERRIBLE English dub, and a French dub.Let me expound on the TERRIBLE comment. If you scroll between English and Japanese you can instantly hear that Disney has muted most of the background noise. In certain parts the noise very low to the point it is annoying, other times it is so low you cannot hear it. Listen to the first chapter once in Japanese, then in English to hear the difference. On the English dub you don't hear the propeller whirring, you don't hear the 'whoosh' as the Pirate skiffs take off or kick the engines into high speed. Also, and most horribly, Disney has decided to add dialogue where none existed before. For a fun test of this, turn the Japanese audio on and put it on Subtitle 1. You will see subtitles for various moments when no one is talking.Also, Disney added in music. Listen to when Pazu plays his horn. In the English track you have a Spanish guitar in addition to the trumpet. I looked but couldn't locate the invisible guitarist.NOW. The next release causes me to curse Disney until the end of time. BOTH SUBTITLE OPTIONS ARE THE 'DUBTITLES'. This means you can watch the Japanese audio but that you have the horrible, mis-translated, and often curiously added in subtitles. This doesn't matter if you want to watch the sub-par English dub. But for those who want to truly experience Laputa, you want the rich sounds and pure Joe Hishashi score without Disney add on.Sadly, the Blu-Ray is the same way. It looks good, but there are no true subtitles. Granted, it's better than Ponyo on Blu-Ray which has no Japanese audio selection! (Except on the extra DVD copy included with).So I have my 2009 re-release for sale and I purchased a used copy of the 2003 release.Shame on you Disney. I don't mind them including the dubbed version, but don't remove the proper subtitles and stop messing with the background sound and music.------------------There are several audio and subtitle options here. If you listen to the Japanese voice track, make sure you pick the correct subtitles and not the closed captions that match the English dub. Here is why: The English dubbing takes a dramatic departure from the original Japanese script. There are instances where entire conversations are changed, or even where dialogue is added. I'm not saying it is worse or better this way, but for those who want the true Miyazaki story line, the Japanese audio with English subtitles is the best option here. You'll know the difference if you watch the English dialogue with the subtitles intended for the Japanese audio. Huge difference. I'm not sure if the subtitles were in place with the actual Japanese DVD release and for some weird copyright reason Disney couldn't use the exact translation that was in place? That is often the case with novels and other movies like Let the Right One In (the US release couldn't use the original Swedish/English translation subtitles due to copyright reasons so they had to 'create' a new translation that didn't mimic the original).My preference is to watch it perhaps in English once and Japanese once and figure out which you prefer. Often whichever language you hear it in first will ultimately become your preference. I recommend the Japanese audio the first time through (and check to make sure the subtitles don't match the English dub, that's how I figure out which to use).Now onto the movie. The Blu-ray version, like other Ghibli/Disney releases has a definite improvement in picture quality. But is it worth the $36 price tag? In renting this and Nausicaa from the the library, I was able to watch side by side basically. The level of improvement is good, but not worth the extra money in my opinion. I purchased the DVD version of Castle in the Sky for $16 new from Amazon with Prime shipping free. So this is twice as much. It's a bit tough to swallow. Perhaps at $24.99 it would make more sense. You're not really getting two movies, rather just an extra copy. Which is nice if you have an additional DVD only player or a PC or laptop with DVD only. I think the combo pack is worth it over the previous Disney digital copy download versions that expire.Also of note: the sound effects and musical score have been modified in the English dubbed soundtrack. They have removed many sound effects and muted many others. This is a very audio driven film, and I like the Japanese version where you can hear the various sound effects like the explosions and propellers to their fullest. Uncompressed audio really shines on the Japanese track, while the English track is good, but has a more 're-mixed' sound to it (well it IS re-mixed you could say!).The reason I am so nitpicky is that this is my personal favorite (though not what I consider the best) Ghibli film. I believe Spirited Away to be their best. The film was called Laputa in the original and it is heavily influenced by Gulliver's Travels. Miyazaki put a lot of his own creativity into this film (rather than later films based heavily on Japanese lore (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Totoro) or existing stories (Arietty, Ponyo, Howl's Moving Castle)). Miyazaki was influenced also by a Welsh town he visited prior to scripting this film as well as Hindu lore and Victorian England. Though based on these influences, the story is completely original and 100% Miyazaki. Also of note: this was the first Studio Ghibli film and was Miyazaki's second directorial film after Nausicaa.Without giving too much plot away, I will say that the story revolves around two young people, Pazu and Sheeta and their quest to find and unravel the secrets of the floating city of Laputa. There are some interesting characters, and actually the supporting cast is among my favorite in any animated film. The sky pirates add a bit of comedy and action to the film. Dola is quite a delight while she is featured. And Muska is probably one of the best villains in any animated film ever! You really know he's a bad apple when he wears sunglasses AND an ascot! Stylish AND evil!The film has a lot of poignant moments to balance out the action and suspense. It is appropriate for all ages, though there is a bit more violence near the end, though nothing graphically depicted. Nobody getting shot or anything, more like large explosions that kind of overtake the people.But there are strikingly beautiful scenes that grab your attention and stay with you afterwards. This is a marvel to watch, and even though the animation is dated by today's standards, it was among the best of 1986. Everything is hand drawn and painstaking attention detail is made in almost every scene. There were not MacBooks to edit and clean up animation, so everything is done by hand. That in itself is a marvel.So please watch this film. Purchase it if you like it. The DVD version is also still available, though I think waiting for the price to dip a bit on the Blu-Ray might be prudent. The Nausicaa Blu-Ray was $36 but dipped to $25 for awhile, so it's not unheard of for this to drop in price soon. It depends on your level of fan love. Since I have the DVD, I am pretty content (also having access to the Blu-Ray through the library helps if I want to request it). And watch it in both languages at some point and form your own opinion. I prefer the Japanese audio, but the English dub is pretty good. Pazu is kind of annoying (looking at you Van der Beek!) and the dialogue is changed (and often makes little sense), but it doesn't detract from the film.

"Castle in the Sky" is another Studio Ghibli film by Hayao Miyazaki. The directors name alone is a mark of quality. It's been classified as an anime' film. The word `anime'' has become a generic name for any Japanese animation. Under this condition, I'd rather not use the term. Studio Ghibli's work varies as much as that of any major studio.The movie begins with a magnificent airship coming under attack by aerial bandits, the Dola Gang. Their objective is a girl held in the custody by government agents. We know they're government agents because they wear suits and sunglasses at night indoors. The girl, Sheeta, escapes from both groups only to fall off the airship into the night.She loses consciousness. The crystal in her necklace begins to glow. Instead of crashing to her death, she floats down right into the arms of a most capable boy named Potsu.Potsu is an apprentice mechanic working for a broken down silver mine. Orphaned, he is the son of a discredited airman. Potsu's father claimed to have discovered the legendary floating island of Laputa. Laputa is real and Sheeta is the key to finding it. That's why she is being pursued by both the government and the Dola Gang. Laputa is reputed to be a place of great wealth and terrible power.This movie is a grand adventure in the traditions of "Raiders of the Lost Ark". The action is fast paced. The look and feel is the early twentieth century. There is an incredible array of flying machines and airships none of which could fly in reality but they are cool nonetheless.Casting Cloris Leachman as the voice of Ma Dola was a stroke of genius.This film had a look I thought familiar but not from Studio Ghibli. On my third watching I made the connection. The artwork has been heavily influenced by Max Fleischer's Superman cartoons of the 1940's. I also detect a hint of Herve's Tin-Tin.This cartoon would work as an action film. If I were Steven Spielberg, I'd raid Studio Ghibli for their story boards.

I first saw this on the TV in the late 80's.I never knew the title of the film, but I never forgot how memorized I was at the story, the characters, the animation. It was nothing like I'd seen before. I searched for over a decade ( in the pre-internet days) then I found it on the TV again ,, I was thrilled, quite soon I owned it on blu ray and then howls moving castle, princess mononoke, and then my personal favourite of Hayao Miyazaki filmsNausicaä of the valley of the wind. These animated films are filled with wonder, heroic tales. Amazing innocent, passionate, driven tales.I will never get tired enjoying them. Outstanding..

Review of the film: Masterpiece adventure, one of Miyazaki's top three. 10/10[I personally prefer the japanese audio in all animes as american english to me isn't suited at all to asian sensibility, and this is what I review though I tested the english audio. I found Pazu's american voice to be particularly irritating and badly acted. Also note that in ten minutes soundcheck I already found some censorship, such as"If my head were any harder, you could use it as a cannonball" for the original "My head is harder than my boss's fists". Just a side-note for die-hard fans - ignore if it's for your children, obviously]TECHNICAL STUFF:This offering comes up in a blu-ray type box encased in a pretty sleeve. A very beautiful face is printed onto both discs. (same face for both discs)Specs are as follows:Blu-Ray: HD standard, 1080p, 16x9 widescreen. Audio 5.1 LPCM English, 2.0 LPCM japanese + english subtitles (subtitles white with black outline. Big enough and visible, hi-resolution) Subtitles can be turned off from the remote, though not from the menu.DVD: Colour PAL 16x9 anapmorphic. Audio 2.0 stereo English, Japanese + english subtitles, Japanese + hard of hearing english subtitles (yellow subs, black outline, big and ugly - typewriter style, very visible) , Region 2. Subtitles can be turned off from the remote, though not from the menu.Blu-Ray quality: Excellent. No blocks, no noise. Beautiful job, and probably as precise as the original handdrawings were themselves.The menu is simple and very pretty (press enter while in setup to change audio to japanese, instead of up and down buttons, can be a bit confusing) Bonuses:- Storyboards- Promotional video: not a very promising title but actually contains excerpts of interviews with Miyazaki in '86 as well as a few others in the team, so worth watching. All were very young looking. Too short- Behind the microphone: 4 minutes of "interviews" with the american cast. Mark Hamill is the only one with anything remotely useful to say and since the whole thing is 4 minutes only, you can guess how little that is ;)- Behind the studio. 4 interviews of about 2 minutes each, 3 of them with Miyazaki. Too short and always interesting. Mentions of the Rhondda valley, Jules Verne, Swift, and even Superman! - The world of Laputa - Creating Castle in the Sky - Character sketches - Producer's perspective: Suzuki's first meeting with Miyazaki. I don't want to give it away but I found it hilarious and is a must see- Textless opening and ending credits: Not much in itself but they are really beautiful and artistic and are really worth watching without the stream of text to detract. The opening credits remind a lot of Terry Gilliam.- Original japanese trailers-Studio Ghibli collection trailersDVD quality:The credits and menus are mediocre quality, blurry with visible interlacing artifacts and noise around the text, and I was fearing the worst but the actual film is in fact a very good quality for a DVD. There is no blocking and it's quite crisp, (for a DVD, of course). Only motion sequences feel blurry, though of course there are a lot of them. But they've made a real effort to present something decent.The bonuses are as follows:- textless credits (see above)- Original trailers- Ghibli trailers- Alternative angle storyboards- "history of Castle in the Sky", consisting of 2 minutes of watching drawings and final designs on a musical background.All in all I feel this is a very good quality product, and care and love has been lavished onto it to restore and enhance the image. I recommend buying it, if only to ensure that Ghibli will carry on producing quality blu-rays by showing our support.

I remembered this film when it was shown on TV in the late 1980s, I recollected small parts of it, like the lush colours, the airships, the floating island and the robot. It took literally YEARS for me to find out what film it was once I had grown up. Once the internet came to full fruition, I discovered that Laputa was the film which captured my imagination as a child. At that time, there was no indication that the film was to be released in VHS form (DVDs were a rarity!). But now all that has changed, and Miyazaki's collection has made its way onto the scene. And they couldn't have come too soon!Laputa takes you into Miyazaki's inventive and imaginative world of steam and air, a world that seems far preferable to our own. The young heroin plays his (and her) parts again, as the re-curring theme in all of Miyazaki's creations, but in doing so, it allows his films to touch your own inner-child.Although not quite as encompassing and thorough as some of his later work, such as Spirited Away, Laputa serves up adequate action and adventure to keep adult and infant alike amused. I leant this DVD to a colleague to show her daughter, and when she brough it back to me, she said that she really enjoyed the film herself, and her daughter thought the film was "lovely!".So there you have it. A "lovely" film.Get it.

I'm new to Japanimation (is this movie anime?) and I have to say when I saw it on Film4 a few days ago (the English dubbed version - I was interested to see that Mark Hamill was included in the voice credit list) I couldn't stop watching it. Now, I'm 32 and I thought I'd stopped watching cartoons decades ago, but this was something more than that. In fact, my "awakening" actually happened after I watched another Japanimation, again on Film4, at Christmas, called 'Princess Mononoke'. Ever since then I've actually had more interest in Japanimation as a whole, and 'Castle in the Sky' more or less galvanized that for me. Both movies are definitely on my "to-buy" list.If you're new to this kind of animation, these two movies are certainly a great introduction.

*Neet price and prompt order which all is well from this seller! That I Find, hope this fair you well.Got it but Not seen it on my TV as yet, thou if Amazon don't mind,Al give that run down review on the dvd later onif I can do reviews for amazon as a job 😀 I think that be rather cool. 😎 "Well we can all dream, maybe if I bug them enough. Ha ah