They are aided by a band of bumbling yet sympathetic air pirates led by the feisty Dola (who at first chase them, yet turn out to be true allies) and pursued by the government headed by its villainous topmost-secret agent, Muska, who wants the power of Laputa for his own benefit.ДЇor anyone looking for an exciting way to spend two hours, this film is an excellent choice, featuring just the right amount of humor, exploration, wonder, and mystery to keep one interested. Up to find the long-lost island of Laputa, which is rumored to have great riches and gems. Inspired by Jonathan Swift's 'Gulliver's Travels', Castle in the Sky is a steampunk-themed action adventure tale about two young orphans - young miner Pazu, and mysterious girl Sheeta (who wears a magic crystal around her neck) - who team Initially a box office disappointment in its 1986 release, it has since been embraced by critics and audiences around the world. Spectacular, stunning, epic - only superlatives should be used to describe this masterpiece.Retitled from its original Japanese name of Laputa (for being an offensive phrase, something which director Hayao Miyazaki was oblivious to at the time), Castle in the Sky is the master animator's third film, and it's one of his most beloved of all time. The thrills are tempered then with a melancholy at the faults of humanity, like all fairy tales. There are also the sinister forces of the military, which are portrayed as definite villains, with their greed, secrecy and arrogance.

Living in harmony with the environment is a strong theme in the film. There may be a celebration of technology, but also a warning of the environmental dangers of over-mining and smog through unchecked industrial advancement. There is also depth to the film beyond pure entertainment. As an adult the film is still remarkable.ДЇrom the surreal beauty and immense detail of the images to the evocative musical score (by Joe Hisaishi), this is a film that deserves repeat viewings. If I had seen this film as child I would probably have been obsessed with its high adventure (town brawls, fortress attacks and train chases), and clocked up at least a dozen viewings. All the while the fabled Laputa, the castle in the sky, looms in the mind of mechanic Pazu, who wants to prove it exists. Sheeta and Pazu soon become friends, but their peace is short-lived as both the Dola Gang and the military begin a chase for the necklace and its powers. She escapes and luckily ends up in the care of a boy, Pazu (Van Der Beek) in a picturesque, sleepy mining town in a valley. The Dola Gang (made up a pink-haired, pig-tailed mother, and her boys) are looking for a girl, Sheeta (Paquin), who has a magical necklace. The film starts with an action-packed opening of a pirate attack on a huge blimp high in the sky. It is a delight to the mind and the eye to see Miyazaki's designs in motion. Good examples can be seen in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Katsuhiro Otomo's Steamboy.Д¬astle in the Sky has an imaginative range of grandiose and inventive vehicles, such as huge fortresses, airships and tank-trains. It is as if the Industrial Revolution in Victorian Britain has had a longer reign, had a lasting impact and gone worldwide.

This technology is both more and less advanced than our own. Steam punk is the name given to the art-forms (be it literature, films, television, etc.) which are set in a parallel universe to our own, where technology is powered by steam (usually by burning coal). This sci-fi action adventure comes under the particularly interesting subgenre of steam punk. There are also many film-maker admirers, hence here the celebrity voice cast of James Van Der Beek, Anna Paquin and Mark Hamill. Studio Ghibli, under the auspices of co-founder and brilliant writer-director Hayao Miyazaki, is a force of nature in the world of cinema.Д¬astle in the Sky is one of many features that have turned this Japanese animation house into a world-respected brand that is up there with the likes of Disney's Pixar.

'Oh yes Pazu, the Earth speaks to us and if we listen we can understand' Uncle Pomme.Д¬ould this 1986 film be one of the greatest animated features of all time? It surely must be in the running.

The castle in the sky full movie