Spirited Away

Chihiro is Alice in this take on a classic fairytale. This is Miyazaki at his best. I sometimes forget how slow this movie is. He allows time for Chihiro and the audience to see the beauty of the world. As opposed to Howl’s Moving Castle which has a lot crammed in, this film will take time to watch her wash a stink spirit, or take a train ride. It functions much like The Odyssey, where our main character meets a series of different and smaller challenges to form a larger narrative. This is one of the oldest form of story, dating back to Ancient Greece, and I think there is something about the format that can form an instant classic. Modern examples include Wizard of Oz, Shawshank Redemption, The Hobbit, 2001, and the aforementioned Alice in Wonderland. There’s something about this format that is able to address humanity. They also address the dichotomy between adventure and home, with the protagonist always being driven by their desire to return to their starting point. This then makes the audience thankful for their surroundings and the life that they often forget to appreciate. I have loved this movie since I was a kid, but I am just starting to understand what makes it so special. I haven’t even touched the political messages throughout this film. This is an all-timer, both story-wise and visually.