Castle in the Sky rated PG

I was curious about this film as this is one of the many wonderful Studio Ghibli films made by Hayao Miyazaki.  I personally have enjoyed every Hayao Miyazaki film made that I have seen so far so I was really looking forward to this film.  I wasn't disappointed but I also didn't love it enough to consider purchasing it at present.

This beautiful film tells the story of Sheeta (voiced in English by Anna Paquin) and Pazu (voiced in English by James Van Der Beek) and their adventures together.  When the story opens Sheeta is being chased by government agents led by Muska (voiced in English by Mark Hamill) and pirates led by Dola (voiced in English by Cloris Leachman).  Sheeta has a crystal that has "magic effects" including making Sheeta float rather than fall.

She is in fact floating when from the sky when Pazu sees her and saves her from falling down into a mining pit.  Pazu tries to help Sheeta avoid capture while sharing aspects of his life story with her.  While they are traveling he tells her about how his father once saw the floating castle city Laputa and how his father's stories have inspired Pazu to seek out Laputa.

Sheeta is intrigued by his story.  She tells him that she used to live in a far away country where she was raised by her kindly older grandparents.  Her grandmother taught Sheeta spells and cautioned her to keep the crystal safe and secure.  One day the government agents led by Muska came and took her away without explaining why.

And so this film tells of Pazu and Sheeta's efforts to learn about Sheeta's mysterious past, find Laputa, and find happiness together.  It further teaches the lessons that things aren't always as they seem.  "Bad guys" might be good guys.  "A magic floating castle" might be much more.  Technology can be used for good or evil.

As I said, while I enjoyed the film, I didn't love it enough to own it at present.  I confess that I was bothered by Sheeta and they way that the final battle ended.  I felt that it was good but it was bothersome that the final battle "could only be ended one way" when in fact it could have easily played out another way.

This is a great family film.  There isn't disturbing imagery and no language of course.  There appears to be only one "frightening" sequence in the middle of the film that might disturb younger audiences.