#i know she's supposed to be a human princess BUT SHE HAS SO MUCH WHIMSY

[revchainsaw]

Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Prayers and Salutations Cult Members! I am your mysterious minister Reverend Chainsaw and this is another nights revival service at the Cult Film Tent Revival. I bring you a special word tonight. Tonight's word is about a person who roamed the earth, in a time where people were backward and warlike. A leader emerged into a kingdom full of eschatological expectation. This leader came preaching peace, and was killed for the sins of the world, but was resurrected. In that resurrection a new hope was brought to the planet, and true healing through the power of love in the face of violence is made possible. I am talking of course about Princess Nausicaa from the Valley of the Wind.

The Message

Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind is the film that put studio Ghibli and Hayoa Miyazaki on the map. No animated feature this grandiose and epic had been achieved by 1984, as much as Disney may beg to differ. The tale may be simple, and it may feel super 80s to us today, but Nausicaa is a masterpiece, and the fact that Howl's Moving Castle is brought up alongside Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away more often than Nausicaa is a farce and a tragedy.

The film takes place on a fantastic planet that seems to have suffered the ravages of an apocalyptic war. A war that involved gigantic warriors with powers so devastating they about made the entire planet inhospitable if not uninhabitable; save for a few areas. The fall out of this ancient war has left the earth in a state of repair, where the natural processes of a planet healing has creating giant toxic jungles.

Beyond these jungles lie two imperialistic factions, they seem almost to be city-states but it's not terribly clear. The Kingdom of Tolmekia, a militaristic proto-fascist society of almost Spartan sensibilities. Tolmekia is governed by the ambitious and cynical Princess Kushana, But I like to call her Furiosa. Just like Furiosa, Kushana is physically missing parts of herself, a visual metaphor for her metaphysical lacking and the parts of her humanity she has cut away. Kushana's world view is one of fear, a fear that can only be quelled by waging a genocidal campaign against her enemies.

Speaking of enemies, the Athens to Tolmekias Sparta would be the Pejite Kingdom. The Pejites might like to view themselves as simply responding to Tolmekian aggression, but the narrative of the film, and the story told quite visibly on the body of Kushana, is quite different. The Pejites are just as bloodthirsty if not more palettable in their approach, but like the Tolmekians, they believe only their own lives have any value. And thus, in this theatre of war, a Giant Warrior from the ages before is unearthed by the Pejite Kingdom, Stolen by the Tolmekians, before the forces of nature themselves, seem to conspire to drop the Giant Warriors "egg" right into the Valley of the Wind.

The Valley of the Wind is populated like the world of Avatar the Last Airbender, that is mostly of children and the elderly. The people of the Valley have been able to remain untouched by the ravages of war and the toxic jungles of the damaged world primarily due to geographic luck that's explained in minor exposition in the film. They are ruled by a King, and they are all deeply enamored by their beloved Princess Nausicaa.

Nausicaa is a gentle soul. She is kind to animals, she is empathetic, unreasonably patient, and bears pain and grief inflicted on her out of cruelty with a saintly understanding. She really is a thinly veiled Christ figure, scratch that. There is no veil. But she's also my favorite Christ figure. She does not preach a message, as much as she tries to save everyone from their own short sighted goals. She is not perfect, she does lash out and do some fantasy sword fight murder, but she regrets her actions so deeply that it seems to have played a part in motivating her to become even more compassionate and patient with the evils of the world.

Nausicaa discovers yet another plot by the Pejites, who are afraid of the possibility of the Tolmekians awakening the Giant Warrior, to use animal cruelty to enrage a group of almost invincible giant insects known as the Ohm. By luring the Ohm into the Valley of the Wind where the Tolmekians have become an occupying force, they hope to completely wipe out everything that threatens them. The Tolmekians DO awaken the Giant Warrior and pure pandemonium ensues. Nausicaa manages to save the Baby Ohm and calm the rage of the bloodthirsty Ohm swarm, and to defeat the warlike tendencies of both the Pejites and the Tolmekians. All the while fulfilling a prophecy fortold about a messianic savior figure called the Man in Blue.

Now that you have heard the Gospel of Nausicaa, please stand to receive The Benediction.

Best Character: Half a Person

Now that I've spent the better part of this review gushing about our Lord and savior Nausicaa. I have to admit, she's at times a bit too perfect, a bit too saccharin. Even her flaw, or her one weakness and her failing to be perfect, just adds to the perfection. I can't even say she never makes mistakes cuz she made one, and that's infuriating. It's even more infuriating that I still think she's a great character. Normally this kind of thing really kills a hero. Most Chosen Ones are the most boring and least likeable characters in their narratives. I don't know how Nausicaa avoids this trap, but she does. I'll have to do some meditating on that.

However, just like in your typical Chosen One fantasy narrative, the hero is a lot less fun than the villain. I'm going to say the best character in Nausicaa is Kushana. I want to be like Nausicaa, but I don't understand her. She's almost alien, even though we learn all about her. Kushana is mysterious, secretive, and enigmatic, yet I understand her. She barely has an arc, she doesn't really change. She's cold and cynical to the bone, but I don't need to see much of her situation to completely understand why she is the way she is. I usually hate totalitarian bad guys, but Kushana I like. Sue Me.

Also fun fact, did you that Nausicaa means 'Sinker of Ships'. That's kinda fun.

Best Scene: Spoiled for Choice

I'm going to be lazy and say take your pick. There is really not a bad seen in this movie. If the action isn't going, then there's intriguing dialogue. If there's no dialogue then you may be about to get hit with a forceful burst of whimsy. There's horror, there's swordfights and aerial dogfights. The only thing in Nausicaa I don't like to see, is the bloody tortured Ohm Baby. It's like a god damned Sarah Mclachlan commercial.

Best Creature: Foxy Shazam!

The Ohm are so simplistic yet so detailed. The number of eyes is alien, but the way they are used is expertly expressive. Who'd think you could get me to love what basically amounts to a silverfish with the intensity that I love a kitten. How did Miyazaki pull an Okja with a creature that should be haunting our dreams? I don't know.

And what about the Giant Warrior! If you are an Evangelion fan then you probably already know that Hideaki Anno designed and animated the melting goopy biomechanical beast. Surely a sight that would make both H.R. Giger and Clive Barker giddy with excitement. Just the image of the silhouettes marching amidst the desolation of the old world is burned into my brain.

So which of these is the best creature from Ghibli's first outing? It's fucking Teto. It was always gonna be Teto you idiot. Just look at Teto, he's adorable. He's too cute to exist. I'm so alone. I need a pet.

Best Character Design: Tolmekian Regalia

I originally included this category to talk some about Kushana, however, at that time I also thought I was going to say Nausicaa was the best character. I thought hard about deleting it, but I think it's a different category and you can't accuse me of playing favorites because my favorite character is clearly Teto. Just to keep it simple. It's the two costume shift from full military regalia in white and gold, to the one metal arm, warrior princess get up. It's a great costume and a great look. Get on this shit cosplay nerds. It's great for Cons in Canada, you have to think about layers, and you can't keep going as Mr. Plow. It's lazy.

Best Excuse to Talk About Patrick Stewart's Character: Lord Yupa

I just realized that I was about to write this whole review without talking about Lord Yupa. Lord Yupa is a sword saint and all around badass I think a lot of entertainment, especially in the west is lacking bad ass old men. Lord Yupa particularly shines in the early half of the film as a warrior and as a wise council to Nausicaa. If she's Jesus then Yupa is John the Baptist. He is also voiced by the elegant and eloquent Patrick Stewart. He also comes with 2 chocobos!

Worst Character: For Whom Asbel Tolls

This might also be the worst actor category as well. Actual Cannibal (haha meme) and actual monster (haha real life) Shia Labeouf doesn't so much act in the role as he read the lines and it was recorded. The good news it doesn't effect the film too much because Asbel is completely forgettable. He is a catalyst to some of the action, but besides that I don't really care for him.

Worst Aspect: To Be Fair ...

It would be unfair to completely ignore anything negative about Nausicaa. I have already mentioned in many places that there are some pretty corny, or pretty predictable tropes to this movie. But what I can't capture in words is exactly why it feels fresh when it's done in this movie. I suppose that's what makes it good. It's just so good that it's weak points are lifted up by it's strengths. Some people may bored of Nausicaa's unyielding goodness, or that she very rarely chooses to take action as much as she chases and pleads with her surroundings, but I mean, she does pay for that eventually. It's a fantasy story and it hits a lot of timeless themes that have been hit in stories for as long as human beings have been telling stories. Some people may feel that it doesn't do enough to stand out.

Summary

I have defined the S tier for myself as "near perfect and personal favorite" films. I like to think that Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind is near perfect. Some may say that it looks like it might just be a personal favorite. In the case of Nausicaa, I'm having a very hard time telling the difference. I think it would be overly simple to claim that Nausicaa is just an ancient archetypal heroes journey with an 80s anime coat of paint. I think it's doing quite a few new and interesting things with that formula, those things are just playing out all around that narrative as opposed to being at it's center. For a first full length outing by the studio, you can really see Miyazaki's heart and the values he holds close to. I'll repeat myself so that we are completely clear on the matter. I think Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind is a near perfect movie.

Overall Grade: S

[fairisfair]

Which are your all time favourite stories / characters and why??

You are so sweet to send me this! I write about 6 paragraphs in my head to the last ask you sent every day about my OC's and then when I sit down to actually write it at my laptop I... don't. So this one I will answer right away!

How do I choose between all my fictional children . . . I suppose the overarching umbrella I love the most would be fantasy! Having wings or magical powers, fairy dimensions or enchanted castles -- we don't have those reality, so it's lovely to escape to! One reason I love CGI's development is that every day it gets more and more advanced and we really feel like we're there!

I grew up immersed in a "nerdy/geeky" world because of my dad. His whole house is mar.vel, d.c, star tr.ek and star war.s, with comics everywhere and lots of movie statues! (now he's in an airplane phase... there's no space in this house...) Was I brainwashed from an early age? It's funny because while people are very die hard "THIS company, ride or die, I hate the competition" my dad loves them all, so I grew up in a very neutral household. I love D.C. and M.arvel, Star Tr.ek and Star Wa.rs and... even some really aged tv shows like The Flas.h from the 80's or Won.der Woman with Lynda Carter because they are fun, goofy and contain the "pure heart" aspect of heroines and heroes (without all the angst of these modern dramas). Was I brainwashed from an early age?

The first Harr.y Potter movie came out when I was a child and I devoured the series as I grew and more books/movies were released. Although it certainly has its problems (most of which I feel like come with J.K.'s "after facts") I learned so much from the characters and world. It's corny... but sometimes I had those books when I had no one else. They inspired me to become a writer and an actress. I remember thinking: how can I escape into these places like a Triwiz.ard Tourn.ament? Or a quiddi.tch game? I'd have to be an actress and get on set! There's still FB.AWTFT movies coming out... my time to shine is AT HAND . . . I also admire Emma SO MUCH and really look up to her as a person and an actress. The third movie and third book are my favorite. The spine of POA is completely broken and a whole chunk of the book comes out.

I am a huge Disn.ey fan as a side branch of my love for fantasy. Everyone in my life knows this, but as I'm older now and more educated I've learned to take all the movies with a grain of salt, both past and present (Ok, but 2015 Ci.nderella might be the darn perfect exception). The Little Mermaid is my favorite (hence why I use her as my mun icons!) But I mean, she was sixteen and if she knew how to write why didn't she read the fine print in that contract?!

The Little Mermaid was huge for me. I knew all the words to the songs right away. I think it really inspired my love of fantasy (my fav creatures being mermaids and fairies). I think it also spawned my love of redhead characters like MJ Wat.son, Firestar, Jean Gr.ey, Kim Po.ssible, Natash.a Romanov and Thumbelina! Ariel shows how following your heart is a good thing, even if it's scary and takes you away from your comfort zone and safe people. Love can cross worlds so that a mermaid and human can be together! ROMANTIC AS HELL.

Last but not least I must absolutely give a shout out to the REAL world by marking the Austen Era. Granted her works are non-fiction, but they take place in our world in a historic time of lovely flower printed dresses and ribbons! (I'm actually reading an Austen-esque book right now!) I definitely inherited my romantic 18th century whimsy from my mother (who was SEATHING that The Tenant Of Wilford Hall did not result in happy matrimony). Also in historical fiction: Doctor Zhivago! It is my favorite book and I am a SUCKER for the Keira adaptation for Masterpiece Theatre.

To sum up, I love tall dark handsome broody boys mostly with brown eyes and shaggy hair (with a few exceptions), but I love strong female characters the most. Those like Gwe.n Stacy, Lizzie Benn.et, Sab.rina Spell.man or Elizabeth Swan.n who adapt, grow and stay true to themselves. Soft glitter heart girls like Sail.or Moon, Tohru H.onda and Catherine Mo.rland are just as important and loved!

Childhood characters I grew up loving: the velveteen rabbit, the steadfast tin soldier, fairytale princesses and princes, chrysanthemum the mouse, the kissing hand raccoon, marshmallow the white fluffy bunny, Madeline, pooh & friends and peter rabbit.

[deliriumsdelight7]

Tattercloak Ruby, Gaston, and Will, why are you more loyal to Princess Belle than you are to the King? I get helping a friend, but you're all risking a lot for her. Is there a story behind all that? Or just human decency? Why do you think no one else is on her side?

(A/N: Of course you make me think about the motivations of characters I threw into the story in a fit of whimsy.  I love that you’re challenging me.)

Ruby: My family has always served that of the late Queen, Colette.  She and my mother were dear friends growing up, and Belle and I were born within weeks of one another.  She has always been my dearest friend and closest confidante.  I gave up my home and way of life for Belle, and I would give everything to keep the king’s mandate from snuffing out her spirit.  Just as I know she would do the same for me if I ever had need of it.

Gaston: From what I’ve seen, people are far too busy worrying about their own issues to concern themselves with a princess’s plight.  After all, people are forced into arranged marriages every day, and certain royal families have a tendency to... keep things in the family, as it were.  Why should this be any different?

In my experience, people are more likely to be moved to action when they stand something to gain.  Perhaps they’re looking for compensation, or are just moved by a pretty face (after all, why do you think I spend so much time on my appearance?).  Belle isn’t like that.  She helps others without any hope of gain.  She always says that generosity begets generosity.  I’m not sure I believe that myself, but if she were to prove me wrong, I suppose I’d be happy to let her gloat.

Will: King Maurice is a good man; he’s kind, he’s generous, and he’s even-tempered.  But he’s not a particularly great king.  He rarely thinks for himself.  Oftentimes when his subjects come to him to settle a dispute, he relies too heavily on others to arbitrate on his behalf.  He enforces the laws of our land without giving any thought to why they were put there in the first place.  I think the fact that he was willing to force himself and his daughter into a marriage neither of them wanted, merely because the law and the Blue Fairy said it should be so, shows just how little control he has over his own kingdom.

Belle is as kind as her father, but she has the former queen’s wit, and a courage that’s all her own.  She knows how to lead her people without subjugating them.  If she could somehow rule in her own right, instead of simply running the household for whichever man is lucky enough to take her hand in marriage... I could imagine no finer Queen for Avonlea than Belle.

[tessatechaitea]

Batman #48 & 49: The Best Man