Movie Review: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Review Written By Michael J. Ruhland










Note: I am writing a review of this movie because thanks to Fathom Event's Ghibli fest. If you want to see one of these films on the big screen, look it up on your computer, it is well worth it.

Michael's Movie Grade: A+

Review: Hayao Miyazaki's film adaption of his own manga series is an incredible movie that works on all levels.

One of the most incredible things about this movie is its wealth of atmosphere. The whole world this movie takes place in is so intricately and perfectly set up that it feels completely real. Doing this the movie achieves what ever fantasy film wants to, in that it creates its own perfectly believable reality. The sense of atmosphere becomes completely different during a flashback sequence. During this sequence the animation becomes more abstract and sketchy. However this new kind of animation works perfectly as it brings you into the mind of the character and see the world as a little child would. This scene is not just an experiment in style but rather a way to bring you further into the movie. Speaking of this scene Joe Hisaishi's musical score during this part is absolutely beautiful and I find myself humming it while writing this review. In fact the sound is very important to this movie. The film knows when to awe you with great music and sound effects and when to be silent and let the film speak for itself. Adding to all this is an extremely likable main character. Though she is a role model, she never comes off as too perfect, but always keeps a sense of relatability. She makes mistakes and lets her emotions get the better of her at the wrong time, but her intelligence and bravery win out to make her a very strong character. The story is simple in a way, but also complex on a deeper level. One wonders if any of the villains are really that evil, or if they all simply want what they feel is best and go about it in a way that never seems right. Similarly the environmental message is much more though provoking than how most films would handle the subject as it brings in ideas of the Earth going through a cycle, and how sometimes the way nature works is not so black and white.


This is an incredible movie and seeing it on the big screen with an audience makes it all the better.

-Michael J. Ruhland