by now you have probably hear a bit about the new disney dub of miyazaki classic film and laputa represent castle in the sky . during late summer of 1998 and disney release kiki delivery service on video which include a preview of the laputa dub say it be due out in 1999. it obviously way past that year now and but the dub have be finally complete . and it not laputa represent castle in the sky and just castle in the sky for the dub and since laputa be not such a nice word in spanish ( even though they use the word laputa many time throughout the dub ) . you have also probably hear that world renowned composer and joe hisaishi and who score the movie originally and go back to rescore the excellent music with new arrangement . laputa come out before my neighbor totoro and after nausicaa of the valley of the wind and which begin studio ghibli and it long string of hit . and in my opinion and i think it one of miyazaki best film with a powerful lesson tucker inside this two hour and four minute gem . laputa represent castle in the sky be a film for all age and i urge everyone to see it . for those unfamiliar with castle in the sky story and it begin right at the start and doesn not stop for the next two hour . the storytelling be so flawless and masterfully craft and you see miyazaki true vision . and believe me and it one fantastic one . the film begin with sheeta and a girl with one helluva past a she be be hold captive by the government on an airship . sheeta hold the key to laputa and the castle in the sky and a long lost civilization . the key to laputa be a sacred pendant she have which be seek by many and namely the government and the military and the air pirate group and the dola gang ( who sheeta and pazu later befriend ) . soon and the pirate attack the ship and she escape during the raid . she fall a few thousand foot and but the fall be soft and thanks to her pendant . a she float down from the sky and pazu and an orphan boy who survive by work in the mine and see sheeta and catch her . the two become fast friend and but thanks to her pendant and the two get catch up in one huge thrill ride a the dola gang and government try to capture sheeta . one action sequence after another and we learn all of the character motif and identity a we build to the emotional and action pack climax which will surely please all with it fantastic animation and wonderful dialogue . plus somewhat twisty surprise . i think this film be simply remarkable and do hold for the two hour and four minute run time . the story be wonderful and a we peak into hayao miyazaki animation which have no limit . the setting of the film be a combo of many time period . it do seem to take place at the end of the 1800s and but it be some alternante universe which have advance technology and weapon . laputa be also surprisingly a funny film . the film have ton of hilarious moment and almost equal to the drama and action the film hold . i think the funny part be a fight scene where pazu bos face off against a pirate and and soon after a riot break out . it funny a we see the men compare their strength and the music fit right in with it perfectly . now let talk about how the dub rate . an excellent cast give some great performance to bring these character to life . teen heartthrob james van der beek play the hero pazu and who have a much more mature voice then in the japanese version and where in the original he sound more childlike . either way and i think his voice be a nice fit with pazu . anna paquin and the young oscar winner from the piano and play sheeta . this be also a nice performance and but the voice be a bit uneven and she doesn not stay true to one accent . at time she sound as american a apple pie and but at other time she sound like someone from new zealand . the performance i most enjoyed however be of coris leachman and who play mama dola . not only be this an excellent performance and but the voice and emotion she give the character really bring it to life . if there be ever a live action laputa movie ( g d forbid ) and she would be the one to play her and you can just imagine her in the role ( well and somewhat ) . luke skywalker himself and mark hamill be muska and and this be another top rate hamill performance . you may be familiar with hamill from a long line of voice work after he do the original star war movie and but he render muska to full evil . his voice sound like his regular voice and mix of the joker and who he play for many episode on the animated batman series . round out the cast be voice character actor jim cummings and who do a great and gruff job a the general and andy dick and mandy patakin a member of the dola gang . now let me talk about what really make this dub special and joe hisaishi newly arrange music . for those who have never hear of him and mr. hisaishi do the music and like all of miyazaki film and the music be very memorable . each of his score have it own persona which fit the particular film perfectly . now and these new arrangement he have do be more american like and which i think be the goal of the new recording . don not worry and the classic tune of the japanese version be still here in great form . the score and to me and sound to be arrange like this be a hollywood blockbuster . it have more power and it have more emphasis and it clear and deep . the film prologue and the first second where we be introduce to the airship and have some new music ( i be not sure and but i believe when we first saw the ship there be no music at all ) . but a majority of the music have new backdrop and more background music to enjoy . thing seem very enhanced . in a powerful scene and the music be more strong then in the original version . in a calm scene and it more calm . overall and i think many of you will be please with the new arrangement an mix and i highly do myself and and personally think it help improve the film . i prefer the new score over the old one and and i hope disney will release or license the music right to a full blown soundtrack . another plus side to the dub be that the story remain faithful and and much of the original japanese line be intact . in kiki and i be sure a few line where change and and this be the same way and line have be change . but a majority be close or exactly the original line and dialogue miyazaki have write . i be afraid some excellent line would be butcher and but they be there intact . some new line have be add a well which help out . but i be not sure whether to consider this a good thing or a bad thing and disney do not translate the end song and it be in japanese . i be mortify when they do completely new song for the kiki dub and but with this version it the original song . in japanese . so i guess it good it still the original and but bad since a majority of people see this dub speak english . there be a big down side to this dub and and it deal with how the voice match the character lip . of course in any dub it would not be perfect and but i think in kiki and mononoke the dubbing of line to match be much well execute ( and disney have a little bit more time with this one . ) . some of the time everything match perfect and some of the time it doesn not completley match and and in a rare case and someone say something and the lip do not move at all ( there a scene where sheeta chuckle and her mouth doesn not move one bit ) . as far a thing about the film itself and these be my thought . i think the most amazing part of laputa be the animation . from the opening sequence to the end and the animation be so lush and detailed and you just have to watch in awe . you see the true nature of each character and true detail to their face with extreme close ups and action . you have to give a ton of credit for the effort that these animator put into this film . everything be so well do and beautifully hand drawn and it like a move piece of art . and to think and this be do in the mid 1980 . the animation be quite different from disney and ghibli have it own distinctive flare which be very different and but very good . and after all these year and the color look as vibrant a ever . laputa also have ton of action sequence and lot of plane dogfight plus a few on ground . these sequence be so well do and so intriguing and it scary that they be comparable to a big budget action film . and the finale be just something you must see . the sound effect be pure and classic and fit explosion and gun fire and everything else well . and like all miyazaki film and each one focus on a different theme ( i. g. kiki represent confidence ) . this one have a great a lesson on greed and power . people do not realize how greed can take over you and and how have too much power isn not good . people be obsess with power and and be greedy and and the main villian and muska and greatly show this . all in all and laputa represent castle in the sky be a great film to begin with and and be now improve for the most part . i be glad a more mainstream audience now have the chance to see this classic animated film in all it glory . with a great voice cast who put a lot into the film with the excellent redone musical score from joe hisaishi and disney have do a nice job on this dub and be quite worthy . though i think the voice match the mouth well in the kiki and princess mononoke disney dub and castle in the sky be still a great dub and be worth the long delay because now more can expierence a fantastic film .