CASTLE IN THE SKY [1986] review

Totoro and I watched CASTLE IN THE SKY tonight, my seventh Miyazaki film. CASTLE stands in stark contrast to most other Miyazaki films, maybe most closely resembling HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE, in that it depicts the machinery of war a lot. This is by far the most action packed Miyazaki film I’ve seen. Maybe Miyazaki himself was aware of this, for his next movie, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, including not even a single enemy or machine of war. There were moments of contemplation and wonder in CASTLE, but they were just brief pauses between long action sequences and explosions.

Not surprisingly my two favorite scenes were when Sheeta and Pazu encounter Uncle Pom where the latter tells a tale of a magical, forgotten element. The other was when Sheeta and Pazu follow someone through a garden of wonder.

Driving all the action and adventure is another solid story from Miyazaki’s bountiful imagination with the usual assortment of colorful characters, with the standout Dola–female pirate captain. The story reveals its secrets and revelations with the usual sense of wonder. Things introduced to us as simple things, later show their full power.

Sheeta is a strong and determined heroine, bring joy and energy to all around her. She quickly earns the loyalty of Pazu, a fellow orphan who eagerly protects her and is pleased to find out they share a similar pursuit, learning of the legendary castle in the sky. The climax of the movie is an explosion of bittersweet action. Though not quite as magical as other Miyazaki films, it still had plenty to make it a great movie.

***SPOILER***

I wonder why the spell for “save me” is a complicated set of about 5 words but the spell for “destruction” is a simple two-syllable word??

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