My friend who is a freak of animated movies recently gave me this flick. Being an animated movie freak, I went home straight switched on the laptop, inserted the pd and played the movie.
Chihiro along with her parents was shifting to her new home when her father takes a wrong turn on the way and they end up at a strange tunnel. It drives curiosity among chihiro’s parents to see where the tunnel leads to . Chihiro however is reluctant and she feels vibes and something pulling them in within the tunnel. But feared to be left back alone, 10 year old Chihiro follows her parents accross the tunnel. They see a whole new city entirely decorated with foods ready for feast but with empty streets where winds whispered the haunting sound. Chihiro’s parents think of it as one of the earlier failed theme park projects and so they took their time to enjoy the place.
Chihiro and her family come across a food stall where everything is kept ready. Chihiro warns her parents but they do not listen. They start eating those food. It tastes different but it tastes awesome. They keep eating. Chihiro, reluctant to eat, takes a walk through the empty streets. She reaches near the steps of a grand building and realises that its a bath house . There she meets a handsome young boy named Haku who on seeing her tells her to run away. Chihiro comes back to her parents running but found them still eating and turned into Pigs, They don’t realize where they are or who Chihiro is. The sun is about to set. And the lamps on the streets get lighten automatically. Train and ships start to come to the city. The tunnel disappears.
Haku tells Chihiro that She is now in the world of spirits where humans are not entertained and are turned into pigs who are then served to the guest souls as food.
Haku helps Chihiro get into the Bath house where he is known as Master Haku. Why is he called Master is a thing to watch for. The Bath house is ruled by Yubaba who controls her workers by taking away their name. People once given a new name forget their real name and then can never go back in their world. Haku tells Chihiro that if she wants to live then she has to work in Bath House else she would get killed. So he sends him to Kamaji, a spider0human kid of thing to then sends her to Yubaba. Yubaba takes ways her name and renames her as Sen.
Whether she would be able to see her parents again? Will she ever get a chance to go back to her world?How would Chihiro survive in alone in such a dangerous place? Who is Haku? Well these things remains the question till the end as we get gripped and thrilled and captured by the unique and one of its kind sotry of Spirited Away.
The movie is filled with morals with a spiritual touch. The direction is awesome. There is wind blowing and the water splashing. You can feel being in that world. The story ahead is just full of adventure and never before seen or imagined things and characters.
The feel of of watching Spirited away is same as watching Mahabharata and Ramayan for the first time in childhood. Or you can even say adventures of Jungle Book and Aladin at one go!
Spirited away is a must watch movie not only for kids but for adults too.The movie goes a bit slow after the first hour and so should be watched with patience.
My Rating: 4.5/5