The Castle of Cagliostro is one of the greatest animated features of all time@` sparking with adventure@` wit and even humor. It's visual impact is expansive@` and it's characters have a life of their own... Which is why this DVD is such a tragedy. This is not the Caste of Cagliostro@` as raved about by the likes of Steven Spielburg. This is a second-rate parody of it. The entire vocal soundtrack to this DVD has been removed and replaced with one which may well have been written by a first-timer@` with no knowledge of the story - and performed by vocal talent that couldn't get a job on a Wendy's commercial. The end product is entirely unwatchable. Gone are the snappy quotes@` and well-paced vocal patter of the film's stars.. it almost feels like the script was improvised on the spot@` with the actors having never even seen the film beforehand@` let alone been given a storyline to stick to. I waited paitently for two years for Cagliostro to come back onto the market... and it appears that I'm still waiting. The only bright hope I have now is to locate a pirated copy of the real version of the film@` because I'm not keeping this one. This DVD has been in my posession for a little over an hour now... just eough time to get it out of the box and into the player - to see the devestation wrought by MANGA Video@` and to decide to not only return the thing@` but also to warn potential buyers that they're being gypped. This is not the film as advertised. Don't watse your money.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/books/1569313482/customer-reviews/3/104-8902240-0819956?show=-submittime 10 Stars out of a possible 5! The Greatest Thing Ever!@` December 29@` 1999 Reviewer: Kevin Callis (see more about me) from Virginia Forget the Great Wall of China@` the Pyramids@` the Space Shuttle... Nausicaa is the final word@` the ultimate in human ambition and creativity. Never before have I been so touched by anything! The 13 years it took Miyazaki to finish this project make the 10 hours it takes for a complete read almost seem like an injustice. But@` it is nigh impossible to read it only once. Miyazaki's vision of the earth ruined by pollution and war is simply incredible. Magic@` reincarnation@` monstrous insects - the stuff of fantasy@` yet presented here in a way that seems much more tangible than even everyday life. And in the midst of it all is one small girl who has a heart and spirit that remains pure@` even amidst the corruption of earth and the human soul. There are simply not enough superlatives in the English language to describe these books. Buy them today@` and better yourself tomorrow! --This text refers to the Paperback edition. Simply beautiful@` December 13@` 1999 Reviewer: kevinza (see more about me) from South Africa Simply beautiful@` a beautiful story@` beautifully told and beautifully drawn. Its a kind of story that makes you want to get up and dance for joy. The characters are amazing@` their interaction is fanatastic@` their development is without parallel@` you will read these books (all four) many@` many times. In many books you know the character is always making the correct choice@` in these books you and the characters are never sure. If you have seen the movie or not@` read these books@` the movie does not come close@` by any stretch of the imagination@` to what these books achieve. The detail and emotion the drawings have are incredible. A pure@` unbridled masterpiece. You may think me exagerrating here@` but I have read many@` many books and none have come close to the joy and happiness these four books can give. Buy it@` for you will not regret it. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.