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Plot

Ashitaka, an Emishi warrior, is struck down by a curse after saving his village from the fury of Nume boar, maddened by anger. Destined for certain death, the young man abandons the village to prevent the curse from falling on all the villagers. On his journey to rid himself of the curse, he will find himself embroiled in a war between humans and gods. It is here that he will meet his two bitter enemies Eboshi, the mistress of the Iron City, and San, the spectral princess. The human trying to destroy the deity forest and the wolf girl trying to stop her.

Why you should watch it?

This is a complex work that combines tradition with a still-evolving use of CGI (never invasive, in any event) to produce a product with outstanding scenic impact and realism. The setting of the story and the story itself, which is arguably the most violent, unsettling, and desperate of those narrated by the renowned Japanese director, are what stand out the most. Ghibli's epics typically have an ecological and coming-of-age message, but in some works like Castle in the Sky, the sense of wonder, amazement, and adventure is overshadowed by a sense of terror, of impotence in the face of nature's power and the wretchedness of the human condition, which requires superhuman efforts to rise above selfishness, barbarism, and hatred, poisons that corrupt and bring only death and destruction. Whatever the cause—indiscriminate use of natural resources, conflict, or personal grudges—the outcome is disastrous, and the only thing that matters in the end is respect for other people's lives, whether they be human or animal. All ideas are well represented by the people, animals, and spirits in the work using a myriad of visual metaphors.

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An other important topic of the movie is discrimination. This is symbolized by the characters of San and Prince Ashitaka. The prince, though he is compelled to, since he has transformed into a terrible demon, is guilty of the crime against a god. San, in contrast, is neither a wolf nor a human and is consequently despised by both. Both of these characters are unsure of themselves and feel out of place in a crumbling world.
The inclusion of two outcasts, who have endured prejudice from the populace for years, as the main protagonists of Princess Mononoke is what truly sets it apart from other works of fiction. In the real world, Ashitaka and San are two outcast youths who have yet to find their place in the world. The former actually has an identity dilemma while the latter is forced to leave his family and community due to the curse. She is rejected by both sides since she is neither a wolf nor a human.

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The way the characters are created in this world with a medieval feel is very interesting. It's almost unheard of for Studio Ghibli to choose a male lead, but when it does, powerful, empowered female characters emerge. The primary driving force behind the iron industry is the villagers' women. They are the ones who do business and maintain the economy, which is precisely why Eboshi, a fervent warrior, is in command.

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It is not at all a consoling movie that tries to force a nice ending. There cannot be a happy conclusion between the forest gods and men, according to Miyazaki. Nevertheless, it makes an effort to find a solution and, on the way there, depicts tales of retaliation and violence as well as humanism and compassion. Basically, a variety of human emotions. The story's characters, who transcend the idea of good and evil because each has his or her own motivations for doing what they do and, for the most part, is on the right side, are by no means easy, and neither is the narrative story line. The protagonist's figure departs from this uncertainty and instead represents a purity of soul and justice that are present from the beginning and, despite the challenges he encounters, are not shaken but rather strengthen his powerful humanity. Princess Mononoke, who coexists with the animal kingdom and the gods, embarks on a far deeper adventure at the same time. This voyage does not cause her to change her attitude of humanity, but rather to interact with it in a way she has never done before.

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The presence of extraterrestrial life is very strong. We discover the Kodama, the tree spirits; animal gods (wolves, boars, and monkeys); and, most importantly, the forest's supreme being, Shishigami the deer god and Daidarabotchi the nightwalker. A god with a dual appearance—animal and human—and a cryptic smile, representing the balance of opposites a representation of harmony in variety, which is the film's main takeaway. The two characters' convergence in variety is no coincidence. The narrative starts out with hostility and concludes with a glimmer of optimism. A living Kodama is shown in the final image as an example.

Conclusion

An other masterpiece of Miyazaki and the Studio Ghibli. The movie that made the Japanese genius famous throughout the world. Absolutely recommended to see.

Rating

My personal vote is:

9/10