Balibari

As the Hollywood oil tanker continues to sail our cultural seas, spilling Hogwaarts students, aristocratic archaeologists and Charlie's Angels like so much poisonous crude oil, a thought occurs to me... 'why not watch a Miyazaki movie and pretend "Agent Cody Banks Goes To Hades" isn't about to be green lit for $80 million'

Laputa is a feast in every way. Very rarely are children's characters so subtly and satisfyingly created on film. The relationship between the two leads, Pazu and Sheeta, is at the heart of this stunning fantasy-adventure, but also seeking the lost floating city (for different reasons) are colourful pirates and government agents who complete an excellent and ambiguous character dynamic.

The film sits somewhere between Nausicaa and Totoro in terms of Miyazakis themes. It has the epic (and environmental) feel of the former with the latter's more personal focus on children's relationships and how honest friendship can ease the difficulties inherent in growing up. Sound sickly? Well it isn't. Miyazaki has almost supernatural judgment in these matters.

For anyone looking for a film they can watch with the kids, you'll find this hard to beat. Nobody can bridge the generation gap like Miyazaki. Frankly, hardly anybody working today can make movies like Miyazaki.

The knowledge that Ocean Waves is a TV movie put me off watching this 'lesser Ghibli' until I'd covered the rest of their catalogue. Whilst it may not have the wide appeal of Miyazaki masterpieces like Totoro, Porco Rosso and Spirited Away etc., it's a surprisingly successful film. The subtleties of the relationships and characters are so beautiful and rewarding that the film is elevated way beyond its TV roots.

In short, if you want a gentle meditation on teen relationships and love, this is as good as it gets. And if you like Ghibli but the subject material doesn't sound too interesting (it didn't to me), it's still worth a look as it might surprise.