8.4 | / 10 |
Users | 3.7 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A girl named Sheeta falls out of the sky and lands in Pazu's arms. Soon after a gang of air pirates led by Dola, as well as a mysterious man named Muska, are on their tails. The chase leads them to a floating castle that once belonged to an ancient race of people.
Starring: Keiko Yokozawa, Mayumi Tanaka, Kotoe Hatsui, Minori Terada, Fujio TokitaForeign | 100% |
Anime | 89% |
Fantasy | 52% |
Family | 46% |
Adventure | 38% |
Romance | 18% |
Imaginary | 8% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Japanese: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 ES
French: Dolby Digital 2.0
English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 ES (48kHz, 24-bit)
English, English SDH, French
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
As Disney Feature Animation languished throughout the 1970s and '80s, animators and risk-takers the world over grabbed hold of the late Walt Disney's torch and began making bold strides in animation. One of those risk-takers was Studio Ghibli co-founder, Hayao Miyazaki, the Toei Animation upstart whose early works weren't exactly the overnight critical and commercial successes some might assume. While Disney's best and brightest struggled with the changing of the guard in the decades following Walt's death, though, Miyazaki set his mind to creating fantasy worlds teeming with iron airships and floating islands, young protagonists embarking on extraordinary adventures, and stirring stories that would capture the imagination of children of all ages. Could Miyazaki have foreseen that his fledgling studio would one day forge a partnership with The Walt Disney Company? That Castle in the Sky, the first film produced under the Studio Ghibli banner, would defy expectation and help validate both Miyazaki and his new studio? That twenty-six years later Castle in the Sky would remain a beloved film and treasured classic?
Rather than re-color, de-noise, or alter the image to suit modern tastes, Disney has honored Miyazaki's vision and created a new digital master from the original film elements. The resulting 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation is nothing less than extraordinary; lovingly restored, unmistakably filmic, and faithful to a fault. While I'm sure someone will complain about the presence of grain, it's clean, natural and unobtrusive. And while I'm sure someone will gripe about the occasional soft shot or Castle's delicate storybook palette, this is a terrific representation of the film Miyazaki made, the film audiences have fallen in love with over the years, and the film exactly as it was intended. And it's, hands down, the best Castle in the Sky has ever looked. Primaries are restrained but lovely, black levels are nice and inky, and contrast is consistent from beginning to end. Detail is exceptionally well-resolved too, with crisp line art, untainted swaths of color, and beautifully textured background brush strokes. Every last nuance has been preserved too: the faint shadows that sometimes separate the characters and the animation cels, the small "mistakes" the animators made in the original animation frames, and the many other personal touches unique to hand-drawn animated productions. Better still, the encode is a knockout. There's no significant print damage or blemishes (save a speck here and there), artifacting and banding are nowhere to be found, and aliasing and other oddities never make an appearance. Cinephiles, animation aficionados and Miyazaki fans will be on cloud nine.
Disney has included two lossless audio options -- an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 ES surround track (Matrix 6.1) and an original Japanese-language DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo mix -- the quality of which will delight anyone with even a passing affection for Castle in the Sky. There are two things worth mentioning at the outset, though: the English audio track and subtitles still feature the translation differences and discrepancies that have long bothered purists, and there isn't a 5.1 remix of the Japanese-language version of the film. However, neither of these potential sticking points should be considered when evaluating the technical quality of either mix, and I see little reason to factor in either one here. Dialogue is bright, clear and perfectly intelligible, in English and Japanese, and sound effects follow suit. The Japanese stereo track doesn't feel crowded or overburdened at all, and deftly balances Joe Hisaishi's score with the rest of the soundscape. To its credit, the English 5.1 ES track stays true to the tone of the original audio elements, which is precisely the way 5.1 remixes should be handled. The rear speakers are used smartly but sparingly, subtly wrapping Hisaishi's score and Miyazaki's swirling clouds, thundering airships and explosions around the listener without undermining the integrity of the sound design. LFE output is steady and firm as well -- not too light, not too heavy -- and the various battles, shootouts and airship skirmishes have more kick than ever before. Ultimately, the Japanese-language track provides a slightly purer listening experience; the English track provides a slightly fuller alternative. The best of both worlds would have been more ideal, I'll admit, but it would take far more effort to be disappointed with either option than to simply sit back and enjoy what Disney has on tap.
Fans will forever debate which Miyazaki film is the greatest. For some, that honor belongs to Castle in the Sky, Studio Ghibli's first official production. Regardless of where it falls on your personal list, though, the awe and wonder that awaits those who accompany Pazu and Sheeta on their adventure is a given. More than a classic, Castle in the Sky is a timeless classic and deserves to be discovered, watched and savored, again and again and again; a process that's all the easier now thanks to Disney's must-own Blu-ray release. Blessed with a stunning new master, a fantastic video presentation, a pair of excellent DTS-HD Master Audio tracks, and a small but welcome selection of extras, there's little reason to leave this one wasting away on store shelves. So pick up a copy today. You'll be glad you did.
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