Castle in the Sky: Special Edition - 2 Disc DVD

I first saw this movie when it was released in US theaters as "Laputa the Floating Island." The mythical floating island of Laputa is taken from Swift's "Gulliver's Travels." Like Swift, Miyazaki cloaks a political statement with a fantasy, giving deeper meaning to his story. Environmentalism has always been central to his films, and "Castle in the Sky" is no exception.

Visual, the film is a literal flight of fancy. Much of the film takes place in the air. Air pirates travel in unwieldy flying machines. Giant dirigibles sail the skies. Travel by kite is an acceptable option. The animation is of the highest quality, as is the sound and acting.

The story may seem familiar to followers of animation. Miyazaki also work briefly on the script of "Nadia: Secret of Blue Water" using some of the same concepts. The story was also adapted by Disney as their film "Atlantis," sending the characters underground instead of up to the sky. However, "Castle in the Sky" is the story in it's original, best form.

I cannot recommend this film enough.


Disney: Put this film on DVD!   October 1, 2002
David C. Rutledge (Ada, Oklahoma)
33 out of 34 found this review helpful

More than four years ago I rented the VHS tape of Kiki's Delivery Service, and there was an ad for Castle in the Sky before it. It was listed as "coming soon."

Since then, I've gotten the Japanese version of Castle in the Sky on DVD, and I love it. However, I'm still baffled by the fact that Disney has paid professional actors to voice the characters and gotten the film prepared for release in the US -- even advertised it -- and has since then just sat on it.

It's almost criminal to hold such great films as Nausicaa, Castle in the Sky, and Pon Poko in your possession and not share them with the English speaking world.

If and when they see the error of their ways and make this film available, do yourself a favor and buy it. We need to let the media juggernauts know how much we love Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli.


Most Admired and Adored Miyazaki Film   January 24, 2002
30 out of 31 found this review helpful

Laputa, Castle in the Sky, is the most creative, ambitious, and adventurous Miyazaki film I have ever seen. I like Miyazaki's work very much for its grandeur, originality, and imagination. Sadly to say that Disney has lost its creative edge. It has been copying stories all over the world. Disney promised to release the Castle in the Sky video in 1999 but they failed to keep their promise. (Disney, please include the original Japanese soundtrack on the US release because I don't like the English voice actor behind Pasu.)

After 16 years since Castle in the Sky was first released in the theatres, I still consider it the creme da la creme of all anime movies. Certainly Laputa's art direction cannot compare to today's S/B CGI and S/B 3D animation. However, the story is much more fascinating and breathtaking than KiKi Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, and even Princess Mononoke. Princess Mononoke is a graphically stunning piece of art but Castle in the Sky is a wonderful story of courage and determination. While there are a few graphically violent scenes in Princess Mononoke, Castle in the Sky is packed with action without graphic violence.

I considered myself fortunate to be able to see it on the big screen (the original English version.) Castle in the Sky is a grand movie that deserves the big screen. I love the soundtrack of the movie very much. It is very uplifting and motivating. The title song, Carrying You, communicates the same kind of warmheartedness that permeates throughout all of Miyazaki's films.



War, peace, man and nature   September 24, 2006
Michael Valdivielso (Alexandria, VA)
18 out of 19 found this review helpful

The floating city, Laputa, was just a legend, a dream of explorers. But Pazu, given voice by James Van Der Beek, has a goal. His goal was to find Laputa like his father did before him. And then one day a girl, voiced by Anna Paquin, fell out of the sky. And things went weird.
The story is based on the Laputa of Gulliver's Travels, a flying city of thinkers and scientists, the city in this story has been waiting for the return of its people and rulers for 700 years. A city of wealth, advanced science and powerful weapons, it could be dangerous in the wrong hands. In fact it could be dangerous in anybody's hands!
The movie has a touch of magic and science fiction, with air pirates, military governments, robotic gardeners filling the scenes with action, adventure, battles and wonder. The setting seems to be a version of our Earth but with many changes. The landscape seems worn, mined out, the towns and cities, of the nonfloating type, look dirty and in great need of repair. There is an underlining message about the environment as well as the need for balance with the Earth but that never gets in the way of the plain old story telling that makes it a delight to watch.
Fans of Nausicaa will notice the animals in Laputa's garden as being related to Teto and will also notice how many of the uniforms and aircraft designs seem to suggest a link between this film to that one. The robots seem very retro, somehow warm and cold at the same time. Fans of Last Exile, the TV series, may also enjoy this film, as fans of this film may wish to buy the first disc of Last Exile to check it out.
Extras are cool, allowing us to meet the English voice caste, including Mandy Patinkin, Cloris Leachman and Mark Hamill. A must for any DVD library.



The best Miyazaki ever!   December 8, 2001
Jason Schock (Wroclaw, Poland)
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

I have seen everything Miyazaki has ever made, with the exception of his most recent, after Princess Mononoke (I don't even know what the title is). I've seen them all in Japanese, and all the English dubbed versions that are available.
Laputa: Castle In the Sky is my personal favorite, because it has the most amazing quality of wonderment and mystery, while maintaining that idyllic, childhood innocence. Nausica is more epic, Princess Mononoke is more vivid, Lupin III is funnier, and My Neighbor Totoro is cuter. I love ALL of Miyazaki's movies,
BUT none of them put it all together, and add a classic sense of supernatural mystery like Laputa, and I doubt I will ever change my mind. In fact, I hope (someday, in the far, far future) somebody will have the compassion to put this film in and push the play button before they turn off the machines that keep me alive. That way I can pass beyond the veil with that ultimate sense of beauty, wonderment, and idyllic, innocent childhood I get every time I see this movie.