MotW: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Which version of the movie did you see?  Apparently New World Studios completely changed the movie, because they wanted to make it "western friendly" and possibly sell action figures.

I really liked this one.  I've seen that it technically isn't a Studio Ghibli film, since it was created before the art house was created, but the same people were involved in it.  Nausicaa lives in a future in which the planet is being enveloped by a poisonous jungle.  It was created the toxins that were released 1,000 years ago, as nations used the fabled Giant Warriors to kill each other in what is known as "The 7 Days of Fire."  Since the war has ravaged Earth, human kind is fading from its one time dominance.  Creepy creatures protect the jungle, and if you try to attack them or the jungle, then you and your ilk will be annihilated.  

In this setting 1,000 years from now, there are very few kingdoms remain, but two are at war with each other.  Nausicaa, our heroine, comes from the Valley of the Wind.  She understands nature, and she is researching the jungle to find a cure for her father, the king.  Early on, her kingdom is invaded, because a transport ship carrying an important hostage and a surviving Giant Warrior crash land in their territory.  This will trigger a war between the two largest kingdoms, all the while Nausicaa's nation will try to protect itself from the poison spores and the two larger nations at war.

This movie is like a Metroidvania.  The character models of the Giant Warriors and of the beasts within the jungle are creepy in the most fantastic of ways.  The story line is intriguing from the get-go, and I didn't think of Nausicaa as an annoying, in your face heroine like you see in modern movies.  She desires peace, yet she isn't preachy.  She is at harmony with nature, but she isn't obnoxious about it.  The pacing is good, and there aren't stupid sarcastic jokes thrown about like modern Marvel movies.  It is a fun time overall, and you don't feel like the movie is dragging, even though it is 117 minutes.  This world really did feel like there is more to explore in, and it had me desiring more.

The animation is typical of the 80s, so don't expect 60 FPS, or the gorgeous animation associated with Ponyo or Spirited Away.  It does the job, though.  In the 2005 version (which is MUCH MORE TRUE TO FORM THAN THE RECUT WARRIORS OF THE WIND!)  Uma Thurman, Patrick Stweart, Shia LaBeof, and the rest do a great job of voicing the characters.  The sound effects and the music are eerie, and fit the Metroid/Alien theme wonderfully. 

I give this movie 4/5 stars.  I had a lot of fun with it.  This is how an action/adventure movie should be made.  Watch the 2005 re-release.  It is true to the original form.  Only watch the 1985 Warriors of the Wind cut to see how a corporation can really mess up a vision with their own stupid ideas.