Review of Castle in the Sky

I have watched this movie dozens of times going all the way back to watching the VHS at age 5. It remains my favorite Studio Ghibli film and will remain a masterpiece that is endlessly re-watchable. An all-ages Indiana Jones action caper combined with Ghibli's unbeatable animation and Miyazaki's obvious love for aviation created one of my favorite films of all time. The movie runs at a breakneck pace and is constantly moving. You are on board with the characters who know just as much as the audience does. As the film continues, the villain becomes a ruthless menace to the main characters, culminating in oneof the best action climaxes you will ever see. Every ounce of tension and suspense is utilized placing characters in harrowing situations in every action set piece. The animation is so fluid and colorful it is a feast for the eyes.

The score is John Williams-esque. The characters are a treat to watch, and the movie keeps a fantastic level of lightheartedness to keep things enjoyable and fun. The villains are foreboding that you love to hate. I can go on and on.

I recommend watching on VHS if you can find a copy. For some reason, a lot of background audio was removed when it was carried over to DVD and Blu-ray and streaming. Also, the Disney Dub is the superior version by far. They recruited a lot of talent from famous actors to make it so I never want to go back to the Japanese version.