Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

Another Miyazaki one here. More excellent animation/computer enhancement, excellent story lines and Japanese fantasy, and an amazing cast of talented voices.

Nausicaa is the princess of the Valley of the Wind, one of the last human settlements left in a world ridden with pollution and hostile take-over by giant insects and poisonous forests. The residents of the Valley of the Wind seek to live in harmony with the forest and the insects, and Nausicaa seems to be one of the few that know how to calm the giant insects after they are angered. After a neighboring settlement's airship crashes into the lakeside, the Queen of the neighboring settlement is seeking to take over the Valley of the Wind and completely destroy the surrounding forest. Nausicaa knows that this is not the right way to go about things as she has spent a good chunk of her time researching cures for her father's sickness and subsequently came across interesting discoveries regarding the forest.

I might be slightly biased with my opinions of this film as I am a huge fan of fantasy already. The story line was great and well thought out, and the characters were definitely given much personality. You were able to relate to Nausicaa and her struggles to keep her people and Valley alive and out of the hands of the enemy as well as the angry insects of the forest. She plays a great peace-keeper between the humans and the forest, and (sorry to get cheesey here) shows you that with a little understanding the ways of every living creature can be empathized with. (which, I could totally go on a philosophical rant here, but I'll spare your eyes and brain. haha!).

All-in-all, this movie was pretty good! You should watch it!