Machiko Washio
- 2007
Toru Hayahi's period melodrama Oh-Oku, The Women of the Inner Palace concerns the political maneuverings of many people surrounding a five-year-old boy who becomes Shogun upon the passing of his father. The boy's mother (Haruka Igawa) becomes one of the more powerful people in the country, but the wife of the boy's father (Reiko Takahiima) learns of the mother's secret affairs and plots to expose them for all to see. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yukie Nakama, Hidetoshi Nishijima, (more)
This superbly animated children's tale is directed by Hayao Miyazaki, one of Japan's most beloved animators. The story follows Satsuke and Mai, two young girls who find their new country home is in a mystical forest inhabited by a menagerie of mystical creatures called Totoros. They befriend O Totoro, the biggest and eldest Totoro, who is also the king of the forest. As their girls' mother lies sick in the hospital, O Totoro brings the sisters on a magical adventure but also helps them to understand the realities of life. Like most films released by Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli, this family-oriented feature has a powerful ecological theme. ~ Jonathan E. Laxamana, All Movie Guide
In this Japanese animated fantasy, the beautiful alien Lum, Princess of the Oni, comes with her minions to take back Earth. The only chance the human's have to retain their planet is if the luckless, girl-loving teen Ataru Moroboshi can beat Lum at her planet's favorite game: sports-tag. Amazingly, Moroboshi does in fact win, thereby saving his planet and winning the princess' hand. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
