Will Disney butcher a masterpiece for the sake of a quick buck? I don't know, but the following letter scared me a bit, and I really really really hope that Disney has the sense to leave perfection alone.
Silver Samurai here, fresh from getting my ass kicked by Wolverine. I bring you news from the little crescent-shaped piece of land directly opposite California. This may not be something of use, but hey..... Anyway, I don't know if you know of Miyazaki Hiyo or not, but in my opinion he is tied with Cameron for the best writer/director in the world. His latest movie, "Mononoke Hime", recently became the number one money maker of all time here in Japan. I can't do his work justice in words, so I won't even try, but suffice to say that his work is good enough to make Disney jumpy as a coffee-drinking cat. They have bought the outside of Japan releasing rights to all of his films, and based on the success of "Hime", are planning to release it to the theaters in the U.S. of A. Here is the sad part. I have seen the film (in beautiful Sony surround-sound) twice in the theaters here, and for $15 bucks a pop, you know that means it's good. The film contains some battle scenes, in which some awesome bow-work deprives several nasty samurai of their arms and, at several points, their noggins. These scenes are integral to the flow and feel of the film. Disney will chop these scenes. Why? you ask, when Touchstone and Buena Vista hesitate not a whit to show even more gore than this picture? Simple, really.
This film is animated. Even though the story, as best I can tell from my limited Japanese, is way to complex and mature for the tikes to follow, and the beauty and symmetry of the directing is greater than they will ever appreciate, Disney wants a G rating. Harry--they can't get a G without ruining the film. I wouldn't say that idly. It is impossible to do.
So, consider this advance notice, and try to see this film in it's uncut state, if possible. (Or any other of Miyakaki's films, for that matter. The only OFFICIAL copy of one of his films will be a 20th cen. Fox release called "My Neighbor Totoro", which is really worth seeing. It is G, because it was MADE to be G. But it really is worthwhile.)
Happy Geeking, I have to heal up and go have a re-match with that uncouth runt.
Silver Samurai
