Laputa: Castle in the Sky was released in 1986. Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, it is the first feature film produced by Studio Ghibli. In it a young boy named Pazu is caught up in an epic adventure when he meets Sheeta, a young girl who's on the run from the military and a band of pirates. Both seek the mysterious amulet she possesses, an artifact from the legendary flying city of Laputa.
Like all of Miyazaki's work,
Castle in the Sky is highly imaginative. The setting is really unique, the mining town Pazu resembles a Welsh mining town and the land is filled with Medieval European style architecture, the government technology has a steampunk vibe, the pirate ship, and the pirates themselves, show more of a Victorian influence, and the soldiers are dressed in 19th century style military dress. Laputa itself is a work of pure imagination, part steampunk Athens, part Garden of Eden, the flying city in the clouds is every bit as awe inducing as we've been lead to expect.
The mythology of Laputa, which draws inspiration from Hindu legends, is a bit vague, but this adds an air of mystery to it and we're given enough information to understand what's going on. This film touches on themes related to the destruction of nature and the abuse of technology, both represented by Colonel Muska, a government agent who wants to use the power of Laputa for his own destructive ends. We see in Muska the corrupting influence of power, leading, ultimately, to indifference toward human life, while protagonist's show compassion for others and respect for nature, particularly in their sacrifice during the climax.
My one major complaint toward
Castle in the Sky is that, while all the supporting characters are interesting and unique, Pazu and Sheeta feel a little flat in comparison. This may be due in part to the English dub. I like Anna Paquin, but her Sheeta feels a little too passive and subdued. James Van der Beek's Pazu fares a little better, but he sounds older then the character is supposed to. I would very much like to see the original Japanese language version to see how it compares. The supporting cast, on the other hand, are all fantastic. Cloris Leechman's Dola, the matriarchal leader of the pirates, is particularly great, and the script allows our perception her character to grow through the course of the film, from a terrifying villain to a likable anti-hero. Mark Hamill is also great as Muska, bringing the same measure of menace and guile to the role that he brought to the Joker, though of course less unhinged.
Laputa is more of an action/adventure film then most of the Studio's output and boy is it a good one. From start to finish the action scenes are bursting with energy and creativity. The aerial battles, between the steampunk, dirigible like aircraft are particularly innovative and, like the space battles in Star Trek, take inspiration from naval battles. The animation, as always, is really stunning and the animators attention to detail is just as apparent as ever. Joe Hisaishi, who reworked his original electronic score into an orchestral one for the U.S. release of the film, writes some really majestic music for this film. The choral piece accompanying Laputa's destruction during the film's climax is among the most moving he's ever written.
Laputa: Castle in the Sky is essential viewing for fans of anime. It launched one of the mediums great success stories with Studio Ghibli and was an important step forward for Hayao Miyazaki. It may not be his best work but it's an eminently entertaining film none-the-less.
Score: 8/10
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