BUENA VISTA HOME ENTERTAINMENT has finally released the long awaited animated film destined to be a classic, "PRINCESS MONONOKE".  What makes this film so incredible, more than the dazzling animation, is the "epic" quality to the film.  Many sites have been quick to compare its thematic overtones to "Star Wars" , but it's nothing like that, other than for the fact that it's an epic, and has characters that will stay with the viewer long after the film's ended. 
The film was released in 1997, and its debut on dvd was scheduled earlier, but BUENA VISTA HOME ENTERTAINMENT wisely decided to delay the release until the original Japanese audio track could be assembled for this release.  From the film's opening moments, the viewer is immediately introduced to the striking visual compositions that fill the film all the way to its satisfying climax. 

While children will certainly enjoy the film, adults will equally be
enthralled with it, making this a terrific family film, although still not
for the pre-adolescents.  Director Hayao Miyazaki has assembled a terrific team of animators to tell a tale with an important message, and even has its share of ecological overtones for children to appreciate,  to boot!
As the film opens, a horrific monster is attacking a Japanese village.  As
it moves along its destructive path, the audience gets a fine sample of what Miyazaki has in store for the viewer.  What's unseen and unknown can be more terrifying and disturbing than what is known.  The monster isn't specifically defined.  We do see it has tentacle, snake like appendages, but its details aren't as specified as some viewers will want.   However, this reviewer and his children found this image powerful and disturbing enough as it stands.  A prince named Ashitaka manages to fend off the monster but is wounded by it in the process.  Unfortunately his wound bears a curse within it..  The curse has its own deeper meaning, signifying the greed and intolerance affecting all humanity.    As Ashitaka begins his quest to find
the master source of the evil behind his wound, we are introduced to San, "PRINCESS MONONOKE."  She's a brave girl determined to seek out and kill Lady Eboshi, the ruler of a city, responsible for bringing about her own people's destruction through the exploitation of the wildlife and ecology around it. 
While it may sound too complicated for youngsters, it isn't, and it has an
extremely important message for all who view it.

BUENA VISTA HOME ENTERTAINMENT has presented the dvd with its proper 1.85:1 aspect ratio and 16:9 enhancement.  The color values, extremely important for an animated epic, are incredible.  It has a well polished look,  with its colors appearing as lush as the landscape we visit.  There are no signs of artifacts anywhere.  This too, is a major accomplishment, given the incredible detail to the compositions. 
The soundtrack features the original Japanese dolby digital 5.1 mix.  While we prefer the Japanese mix  with subtitles, the English dubbed version is extremely good, with dubbing that sounds as if it were the original track!
While rear speaker effects are restrained, there are enough moments filled with full directional effects to appreciate it.

A surprising added benefit lies in the option of two English subtitle
options.  One of them is a more literal translation of the Japanese script,
but the 2nd one is certain to be more for the masses.  The us theatrical
trailer and a featurette is included.