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Princess Mononoke
Metascore
76 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
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  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    100
    One of the most visually inventive films I have ever seen.
  2. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Jay Carr
    100
    Its breadth, profundity, and stunningly rendered vision make idealism seem renewed and breathtaking again.
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    100
    Has the effect of making the average Disney film look like just another toy story.
  4. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Andrew O'Hehir
    90
    A big movie for the ages, full to the brim with sympathy, imagination and sheer visual delight.
  5. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    90
    Amore satisfying use of the medium would be difficult to imagine.
  6. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Janet Maslin
    90
    A landmark feat of Japanese animation from the acknowledged master of the genre.
  7. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Marc Caro
    88
    Rarely does any film, animated or otherwise, immerse you in such a vivid landscape and engage your senses so strongly.
  8. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Foreman
    88
    A visually stunning film.
  9. San Francisco Examiner
    Reviewed by: Wesley Morris
    88
    The majestic pageant of images - no sylvan landscape has been this indelibly, dimensionally alive - is inextricably welded to the multifold spiritual / ecological questions about the future that Miyazaki is contemplating.
  10. TNT RoughCut
    Reviewed by: Christopher Brandon
    85
    Like a lot of anime, it's overlong and gets way too metaphysical at the end, but ultimately, this is a Princess worth worshipping.
  11. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: William Arnold
    83
    A dazzling movie, gorgeous to look at, involving on both emotional and intellectual levels, and often thrilling.
  12. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: J. Hoberman
    80
    Complex, superbly rendered, and wildly eccentric anime-even by Miyazaki's own standards.
  13. Film.com
    Reviewed by: Gemma Files
    80
    Opinionated magic and mayhem
  14. Newsweek
    Reviewed by: David Ansen
    80
    The beauty and scale of Miyazaki's vision shines through.
  15. Variety
    Reviewed by: Todd McCarthy
    80
    Exceedingly imaginative, beautifully realized animated epic adventure.
  16. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Rosenbaum
    80
    The film's storytelling and heartfelt pantheism are both impressive.
  17. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marc Savlov
    78
    A film for the young at heart and those who still appreciate honor, valor, love, and the earth.
  18. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    75
    More thoughtful and varied than the average Hollywood cartoon.
  19. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Desmond Ryan
    75
    In theme and technique, it pushes the boundaries of animation and opens up new and imaginative possibilities.
  20. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Peter Stack
    75
    A rare spectacle on the big screen.
  21. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Andy Seiler
    75
    A must-see for animation fans.
  22. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    70
    Its imagery is never less than breathtakingly beautiful, and is occasionally truly awesome
  23. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ernest Hardy
    70
    A Zeitgeist potpourri, strung with late-20th-century fear and anxiety.
  24. Dallas Observer
    Reviewed by: Andy Klein
    70
    While Mononoke is often gorgeous to look at and has a far more sophisticated story than most Japanese animated features, it still feels overlong and dramatically unengaging.
  25. Film.com
    Reviewed by: Peter Brunette
    70
    Much more mythic and risk-taking than the usual Hollywood product.
  26. Slate
    Reviewed by: David Edelstein
    70
    It's Miyazaki's use of sound--and silence--that takes your breath away
  27. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Jack Mathews
    63
    A thing of beauty and imagination.
  28. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Stephen Hunter
    50
    As spectacular as it is dense and as dense as it is colorful and as colorful as it is meaningless and as meaningless as it is long.
  29. Mr. Showbiz
    Reviewed by: Michael Atkinson
    40
    Wacky, vividly conceived but mundanely executed cartoon fantasy.
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User Reviews

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User Score
9.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 130 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 76 out of 81
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 81
  3. Negative: 2 out of 81
  1. grandpajoe6191
    9
    "Princess Mononoke" is simply a masterpiece. The characters have the capacity to develop itself into any type; romance, action, horror, and so on. The story is simply linear but very symbolistic in diverse ways. It's a definite must-watch.… Full Review »
  2. ScottL.
    10
    This is one of those films in which it's so good, that at the end you wish for another installment; a sequel, however you know there can't be one, for it would ruin the film's good name. Sheer visual beauty (lush greens of open, gusty fields and vast mountains that surpass imagination) meets an epic soundtrack the brings tears to one's eyes (a melody played throughout the movie which will stick in your psyche for years as you endlessly hum the adventurous tune to yourself and an ending piano number that, after hearing the song I previously described, might just make you burst into tears, as it casts a feeling of overwhelming spirituality that truly remains with you for a long time) In the end, the movie is about love, hatred, death, friendship, rivalry, happiness, anger, glee, sorrow, and being a human being. However, overall, it's about being alive. I never thought an animated film, let alone an anime, could be so purely great. If this isn't Oscar material, I have no clue in hell nor space what is. -Scott L.… Full Review »
  3. AsgarS
    5
    Maybe I was spoiled by the hype around the movie, but I failed to enjoy it and I still think it's not one of Miyazaki's best works. The best thing about the film is the fantastic music by Joe Hisaishi - 10 out of 10 for the score. The animation is beautiful as well, but not outstanding when compared to other works. The violence depicted (cutting of arms and the like) does not seem to serve any purpose but means that it's not suitable for children, which is sad, because they might enjoy it more. The story and the characters are bland. The storytelling is careless at best. Many plot lines are dropped and never readopted. One example of this is the hero's love interest who gives him a pendant as he is forced to leave. She is never mentioned again. Character's motives aren't explored and seldom a character reflects on his deeds. I often read that it's great that the film does not try to answer the question of which characters are good or evil, but this aggravates the problem. It's also the explanation why many of the character's decision seem so indiscriminate. The film's pacing doesn't help here, as it is so slow to leave much time for thinking about all the gaps in the story. In conclusion: A beautiful picture with promising topic and setting which is ruined by sub-par story-telling and characters.… Full Review »
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