MUSIC #55: ELVIS PRESLEY – FUN IN ACAPULCO 1963 (ENGLISH OST)

Sorry guys, just haven’t been in the mood to sit and write reviews. The weather has been just too good (I just love spring and autumn) and I rather spend my evenings outside enjoying nature. Anyway, here I am, and I have to thank Mr Naidu of Bollywood DVD Restoration for reacquinting me with this album. The reason? There is a track in this OST which has been copied (yes, yet another) and reproduced in Hindi – the album is “JHUK GAYA AASMAN, and I will be reviewing this OST (can I really call it an “original” soundtrack?) next. To all Hindi music lovers: Can you spot the song in question???

Now to the Elvis album. Fun in Acapulco was Elvis’ 13th movie and premiered on 27 November 1963. Elsa Cardenas and Ursula Andress play his love interests in the movie. This movie is the third of his tropical travelogue films for Paramount Pictures after Blue Hawaii and Girls! Girls! Girls!, which finds Elvis south of the border - in Mexico.

For a review of the movie, check out THIS site.

Fun in Acapulco is the nineteenth album by Elvis Presley, released on RCA Victor Records in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 2756, in November 1963. Recording took place at Radio Recorders in Hollywood on 22 and 23 January 1963, and at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, on 26 and 27 May, 1963. The album peaked at #3 on the Top Pop Albums chart.

The the album used lots of brass instruments, mirroring the trend at the time when Herb Albert and his Tijuana band was immensly popular (and also keeping in line with the theme of the movie – Mexican), elements of mariachi music, another music genre made popular in Mexico and the Pasodoble or bull fighting music. My favourites include Fun in Acapulco, Marguerita, Bossa Nova Baby and Love Me Tonight.

My rating: Four stars.

Elvis Presley – Fun In Acapulco 1963: The Original Soundtrack

Side One

1. Fun in Acapulco

2. Vino Dinero y Amor

3. Mexico

4. El Toro

5. Marguerita

6. The Bullfighter Was A Lady

7. No Room to Rhumba in A Sports Car

Side Two

1. I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here

2. Bossa Nova Baby

3. You Can't Say No in Acapulco

4. Guadalajara

5. Love Me Tonight

6. Slowly But Surely

Trivia:

1. While some exterior scenes were shot in Acapulco, Mexico, Elvis's scenes were shot in Hollywood. He never went to Acapulco in his lifetime.

2. Elvis could not wait to finish filming Fun in Acapulco. Priscilla Beaulieu, whom he had met 1959, had just moved to Memphis from Germany and was waiting for him.

3. "Bossa Nova Baby" was released as a single one month prior to the soundtrack. The single peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

4. The bossa nova craze of the 1960s was a Brazilian phenomenon rather than Mexican. But the American public did not know better, so Paramount and RCA got away with it. And another thing, they don't even speak Spanish in Brazil! Brazil is the only country in South America that has Portuguese for its national language.

5. Fun In Acapulco was Ursula Andress’ first American movie. However, her first English speaking movie was Ian Fleming’s “Dr No”, as pearl diver Honey Ryder. Her character and sex symbol status was made famous by the scene where she rises out of the Caribbean Sea in a white bikini. The scene made Andress the "quintessential" Bond girl.

6. Ironically, Dr No was also the first James Bond movie, starring Sean Connery as James Bond.

MUTTERINGS # 29: THE CHINESE DETECTIVE

Apologies for this 'stereotype' joke. No offence meant....All in the name of laughter. Enjoy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A guy suspected that his wife was cheating on him, so he hired a Chinese detective... The cheapest one he could find.

This is his report:

Most honourable sir,

You leave house. I watch house.

He come house. I watch.

He and she leave house. I follow.

He and she go hotel. I climb tree. I look window.

He kiss she. She kiss he.

He strip she. She strip he.

He play with she. She play with he.

I play with me. I fall off tree.

I no see.

So no fee.

Yours Sincerely,

Dong Lee

MUTTERINGS #28: WITTY SIGNS...

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Sign over a Gynaecologist’s Office:

"Dr. Jones, at your cervix"

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In a Podiatrist's office:

"Time wounds all heels"

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On a Septic Tank Truck:

" Yesterday's Meals on Wheels"

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On a Plumber’s truck:

"We repair what your husband fixed"

***************************************

On another Plumber's truck:

"Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber"

***************************************

On a Church's Bill board:

"7 days without God makes one weak"

***************************************

At a Tyre Store:

"Invite us to your next blowout"

***************************************

On an Electrician's truck:

"Let us remove your shorts"

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In a Non-smoking Area:

"If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire,

 and take appropriate action"

***************************************

On a Maternity Room door:

"Push! Push! Push!"

***************************************

At an Optometrist's Office:

"If you don't see what you're looking for,

you've come to the right place"

***************************************

On a Taxidermist's window:

"We really know our stuff"

***************************************

On a Fence:

"Salesmen welcome!

Dog food is expensive!"

***************************************

At a Car Dealership:

"The best way to get back on your feet...

Miss a car payment!"

***************************************

Outside a Car Exhaust Store:

"No appointment necessary.

We hear you coming!"

***************************************

In a Vet’s waiting room:

"Be back in 5 minutes.

Sit! Stay!"

***************************************

In a Restaurant window:

"Don't stand there and be hungry;

Come on in and get fed up!"

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In the front yard of a Funeral Home:

"Drive carefully - We'll wait"

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Radiator Shop:

"Best place in town to take a leak"

***************************************

And my favourite....
To think I deal with this on a daily basis!

Sign on the back of yet another Septic Tank Truck:

"Caution - This Truck is full of Political Promises"

***************************************

MUSIC #54: JAL BIN MACHHLI NRITYA BIN BIJLI 1971 (HINDI OST)

Another movie by the great Rajaram Vankudre Shantaram, this time with the music from Laxmikant-Pyarelal and lyrics by Majrooh. I have to admit that it was only a few years ago that I became familiarised with the songs from Jal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin Bijli (Water without Fish, Dance without Sprite)…..what an unfulfilled life I must have led since then, LOL. I think this is one of Laxmikant-Pyarelal’s better albums, although there is some plagiarising happening here and I am pretty surprised Ennio Morricone has not sued the duo for the blatant copying! Maybe it is the case of copying is the best form of flattery. See (actually listen) if you can spot the music. Hint: It is the title music to one of the most famous 1960’s Spaghetti Westerns of all times, starring the (then) dashing Clint Eastwood.

The title song, sung by Lata Mangeshkar is truly breathtaking. I just love the synthesised ‘bird calls’ and ‘pigeon coos’ in that melody. Then there is the duo with Mukesh, Baat Hai Ek Boond Si. The string instruments in this score are just fabulous. Yes, I know I am using quite a few superlatives here and it is only song two. Karja Laga Ke also has quite a bit of ‘animal’ sounds thrown in it for good measure and I don’t know why Siamese court music comes to mind when I hear the song. Must be the use of the xylophones (ranat) and horizontal gong-chimes (kong wong) in the score. Makes me want to break out in traditional Siamese dance with those long fake gold fingernails!!!

I am not even going to attempt to talk about Side Two. Why? Cos’ the album just keeps getting better. And whatever you do, don’t miss Taron Men Sajke Apne Suraj Se. On that note, I give this OST 5 stars!

For an excellent review of this movie, please visit BOLLYWOOD DEEWANA.

Jal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin Bijli 1971: The Original Soundtrack

Side One

1. Jal Bin Machhli - Lata Mangeshkar

2. Baat Hai Ek Boond Si Dil Ke Pyale Men - Lata Mangeshkar & Mukesh

3. Karja Laga Ke Bindiya Saja Ke - Lata Mangeshkar

4. Jo Main Chali Phir Na Miloongi - Lata Mangeshkar

Side Two

1. Taron Men Sajke Apne Suraj Se – Mukesh

2. O Mitwa Yeh Duniya To Kya Hai - Lata Mangeshkar

3. Jhoomke Gaye Dil - Lata Mangeshkar & Mukesh

Trivia: Did you know that there is a Facebook following of Jal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin Bijli? Check it out HERE.

MUTTERINGS #27: A QUIET BEER...

There I was is sitting at the bar staring at my beer when a large, trouble-making biker steps up next to me, grabs my drink and gulps it down in one swig.

"Well, whatcha gonna do about it?" he says, menacingly, as I looked at him sadly.

"Come on, man," the biker says, "I don't want you to break down and cry. I can’t stand to see a man crying."

"This is the worst day of my life," I said. "I'm a complete failure. I was late to a meeting and my boss fired me. When I went to the parking lot, I found my car had been stolen and I don't have any insurance. I left my wallet in the cab I took home. I found my old lady in bed with the gardener and then my dog bit me."

"So I came to this bar to work up the courage to put an end to it all.

I buy a drink, I drop a capsule in and sit here watching the poison dissolve; then you, you jack-ass, show up and drink the whole thing! ...... But enough about me, how's your day going?"

MUSIC #53 – THE ANDREW SISTERS – FRESH AND FANCY-FREE 1957 (ENGLISH)

To be honest, I have been a bit under the weather and really can’t be bothered blogging or surfing the net….so apologies friends if I have not visited your blog/s recently.

So I am not going to give much write-up about this album, only a bit of background on the Sisters (plagarised from Wikipedia) and to say that if you like harmony singing, dance hall, swing and boogie-woogie music, you’ll like Fresh and Fancy-Free. The music in this ablum is conducted by Bill May and his orchestra.

I give this album 3.5 stars

The Andrews Sisters were a harmony singing group consisting of three actual sisters LaVerne, Maxene and Patty – Laverne Sophia, contralto and redhead (July 6, 1911 – May 8, 1967), Maxene Angelyn, soprano and brunette (January 3, 1916 – October 21, 1995), and Patricia Marie "Patty" Andrews mezzo-soprano lead singer and blond (born February 16, 1918). Their harmonies and songs are still in train today, covered by entertainers such as Bette Midler, the Puppini Sisters and Christine Aguilera. Throughout their long career, the sisters had sold over well over 75 million records (that being the last official count released by MCA Records in the mid-1970s). Their hit number Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, can be considered an early recording of rhythm and blues.

They are survived by Patty, the youngest at 92.

The Andrew Sisters – Fresh and Fancy-Free (1957)

Side One

1. The Song Is You

2. You Do Something To Me

3. Comes Love

4. Nevertheless

5. With Every Breath I Take

6. Of Thee I Sing

Side Two

1. Hooray For Love

2. My Romance

3. Tea For Two

4. I Could Write A Book

5. Let There Be Love

6. Younger Than Springtime

MUTTERINGS #26: THE DEFINITION OF GLOBALISATION

Question: What is the truest definition of Globalisation?

Answer: Princess Diana's death.

Question: How come you ask?

Answer : An English princess with an Egyptian boyfriend crashes in a French tunnel, riding in a German car with a Dutch engine, driven by a Belgian who was drunk on Scottish whisky (check the bottle before you change the spelling), followed closely by Italian Paparazzi, on Japanese motorcycles, treated by an American doctor, using Brazilian made medicines.

And this was originally written by a Canadian, using American Bill Gates' technology, and you are reading this on an Australian blog on your computer that probably uses Taiwanese chips, and a Korean monitor, assembled by Bangladeshi workers in a Singapore plant, transported by Indian truck drivers, onto a Danish ship hijacked by Indonesian pirates using Russian AK 47s , which finally reaches America and unloaded by Sicilian longshoremen at the New York docks, and trucked to you by Mexican illegals!

That, my friends, is globalisation!

MUTTERINGS #25: NOW WHO’S DOING WHOM???

A man owned a small farm in Australia.

The Fair Work Australia Office claimed he was not paying proper wages to his staff and sent a representative out to interview him.

"I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them," demanded the rep.

"Well," replied the farmer, "There's my farm hand who's been with me for 3 years. I pay him $500 a week plus free room and board. He also gets triple time for working on a Sunday and a slab of beer for a Happy Hour every Friday."

"The cook has been here for 18 months, and I pay her $400 per week plus free room and board. She doesn't work on Sundays and I provide paid satellite television for free in her room," he said.

“Then there's the half-wit.

He works about 18 hours every day and does about 90% of all the work around here. He makes about $20 per week, Pays his own room and board, and I buy him a bottle of whiskey every Saturday night. He also sleeps with my wife occasionally."

"That's the guy I want to talk to...er, the half-wit," says the agent.

"That would be me," replied the farmer.

MUSIC #52: NAVRANG 1959 (HINDI OST)

If you appreciate classical Indian music and dancing, this is a not to be missed album and movie. And to reinforce what a great masterpiece this is, both in cinematic and musical terms, here’s a simultaneous worldwide posting (from two corners of the world) of the movie review by my friend and fellow blogger, Bolly Deewana (Click HERE for the movie review) and the music by yours truly.

Like the movie, which is directed by the great Rajaram Vankudre Shantaram, the music is by another bollywood heavyweight of that era, C. Ramchandra (CR). CR is also credited for other masterpieces such as Patanga (1949), Sargam (1950),Yasmin (1955), Devta (1956), Nausherwan-E-Adil (1957) and Baarish (1957) to name a few.

As appropriately noted on the back cover of the LP, the highlights of the movie are its exquisite dance numbers and the rich variety of music numbers ranging from the popular to the classical, and sung by Asha Bhosle, Manna Dey and newcomer (and my favourite singer) Mahendra Kapoor (I am surprised he did not get a rap on the back cover though). Rumour has it that Lata Mangeshkar, who was usually the first choice of most music directors of that time, was not asked to sing any of the scores because CR and Lata, who had been having an affair, had a falling out because CR would not leave his wife for Lata! And it is interesting to note that sibling solidaritary and support is not evident in this instance, as Asha obviously had no qualms of taking over badi didi’s (elder sister’s) spot! Oh well, it could be the case of ‘papi pet ka sawaal’ (literally translated as “a matter of the sinful stomach” = survival).

I like and enjoy all of the songs in this album, and Side Two more so than Side One but if I have to choose, my favourite would be “Adha Hai Chandrama Raat Adhi” sung by my favourite singer Mahendra Kapoor. This song is also his debut as a playback singer and came to be a chartbuster hit. The lyrics of this song are just phenomenal; translated the first and second verses would be the following:

Mahendra Kapoor:

Aadha hai chandrama raat aadhi

The night of half moon is half gone

Reh na jaye teri meri baat aadhi, mulaqat aadhi

Hopefully what we have to say is not halved (left unsaid), this rendevous halved (cut short)

Aadha hai chandrama raat aadhi

The night of half moon is half gone

Reh na jaye teri meri baat aadhi, mulaqat aadhi

Hopefully what we have to say is not halved (left unsaid), this rendevous halved (cut short)

Aadha hai chandrama

Half is the moon

Asha Bhosle:

Piya aadhi hai pyaar ki bhaashhaa

My dearest, half (unfulfilled) is the language of love

Aadhi rehne do man ki abhilaasha

Therefore, let your desires be halved (partly relinquished)

Aadhe chalke nayan aadhe chhalke nayan

The eyes are half closed (downcast), the eyes are half closed (downcast)

Aadhi palkon mein bhi hai barsaat aadhi

The lashes too are half closed (downcast) and this rain halved (a drizzle)

Aadha hai chandrama raat aadhi

The night of half moon is half gone

Reh na jaye teri meri baat aadhi, mulaqat aadhi

Hopefully what we have to say is not halved (left unsaid), this rendevous halved (cut short)

Aadha hai chandrama

Half is the moon

Note: “Aadha/Aadhi” literally translates to half or halved in English. The words in brackets would be a better/most appropriate English subsitute in this instance.

Apologies if I got some of this wrong - my mother tongue is actually Punjabi and even that, I admit, I don’t speak too well, being educated in English and Malay

I give this album 4 stars.

Navrang 1959: The Original Soundtrack

Side 1

1. Kari Kari Andhiyari Thi Raat – Asha Bhosle and C. Ramchandra

2. Are Ja Re Hat Nat Khat – Asha Bhosle and Mahendra Kapoor

3. Aa Dil Se Milale – Asha Bhosle

Side 2

1. Tu Chhupi Hai Kahan – Asha Bhosle and Manna Dey

2. Shyamal Shyamal Baran Komal Komal Charan – Mahendra Kapoor

3. Tum Mere Mai Teri – Asha Bhosle

4. Adha Hai Chandrama Raat Adhi – Asha Bhosle and Mahendra Kapoor

Don’t forget to read the movie review HERE at Bollywood Dewana.

MUSIC #51: NAT KING COLE – WILD IS LOVE 1960 (ENGLISH)

For all you jazz/blues lovers and fans of Nat King Cole, here a nifty album from the great singer. And interestingly, Cole narrates before each song in the album, so it is actually like a story as each song goes. It is said that Love is Wild is Cole’s desire to conquer Broadway on an LP, a sort of musical story with one interconnected narrative that would flow through each tune.

I am not going to go into detail in this post, as there is a really good write-up HERE at Blog Critics on this album; but I will give a bit of information on the "King" below.

Born Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), and known professionally as Nat "King" Cole, he was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice. He was the first African-American to host a television variety show, a no mean feat in a then (?) racist America. On November 5, 1956, The Nat King Cole Show debuted on NBC-TV, which created great controversy at the time.

Cole began his performing career in the mid 1930s while still a teenager, adopting the name "Nat Cole". His older brother, Eddie Cole, a bass player, soon joined Cole's band, and they made their first recording in 1936 under Eddie's name. They were also regular performers at clubs. Cole acquired his nickname "King" performing at a jazz club, a nickname presumably from the nursery rhyme about Old King Cole.

Cole was a heavy menthol cigarette smoker, believing that smoking up to three packs a day gave his voice the rich sound it had (Cole would smoke several cigarettes in rapid succession before a recording for this very purpose). Unfortunately, the smoking caused him to contract lung cancer and he died of the disease in 1965, aged only 45.

He was married twice, first to Nadine Robinson and second to singer Maria Hawkins Ellington, just six days after his divorce to Nadine became final. Cole and Maria had five children: Natalie (born 1950); adopted daughter Carole (the daughter of Maria's sister), (1944–2009), who died of lung cancer at 64; adopted son Nat Kelly Cole (1959–1995), who died of AIDS at 36; and twin girls Casey and Timolin (born 1961).

His notable songs include "The Christmas Song" (1946)(Cole recorded that tune four times) "Nature Boy" (1948), "Mona Lisa" (1950), "Too Young" (the #1 song in 1951), his signature tune "Unforgettable" (1951) and "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer" (1963), which reached #6 on the Pop chart. Cole also acted and sung in a few movies, which included Citizen Kane (1941), China Gate (1957) and the comedy Cat Ballou (1965) with Jane Fonda and Lee Marvin.

I give this album 4 stars.

Nat King Cole – Wild Is Love (1960)

Side One

1. Introduction

2. Wild Is Love

3. Hundreds And Thousands Of Girls

4. It’s A Beautiful Evening

5. Tell Her In The Morning

6. Are You Disenchanted

7. Pick-Up

Side Two

1. Beggar For The Blues

2. World Of No Return

3. In Love Again

4. Stay With It

5. Wouldn’t You Know

6. He Who Hesistates

7. Wild Is Love Finale

MUSIC #50: NIGHT IN LONDON 1967 (HINDI OST)

Unlike the other notable Hindi movies of 1967 such as Upkar, Ram Aur Shyam, An Evening In Paris, Farz and Hamraaz, Night In London seems to be buried in obscurity in the movie and music vaults. I really can’t understand why because I think it is one of the best soundtracks of that year.

I may not have seen this movie which stars Biswajeet, Mala Sinha, Helen and Anwar Hussain (to be honest, I can’t remember actually) but I definitely grew up listening to the songs! And what awesome songs they are. Especially Mera Naam Hai Jameela. I just love it – The opening music with the folk guitar and bass electric guitar, followed by the violins….the bongos during the verses….and the great use of trumpets, trombone and the electric guitar in between the verses….spectacular! And brought to life in the movie by the alluring Helen. Check it out in this YouTube clip.



Now, am I imagining it, or do I hear snippets of the music that will be used nearly 25 years later by the composers Laxmikant-Pyarelal in their hit song “Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai” from the Subhash Ghai movie, Khalnayak? Do you hear it? Well, please correct me if I am wrong.

And then, there is the jazzy Nazar Na Lag Jaye and the beautiful love song Ba Hosh-O-Hawas, both by Mohd Rafi and another of my favourite, Sun Ai Bahar-E-Husn sung by my favourite singer, Mahendra Kapoor .

So, four years on, the Laxmikant-Pyarelal duo just kept getting better and better, their popularity strengthened by their partnership with lyricist Anand Bakshi. My verdict? 5 star bliss.

Night In London 1967: The Original Soundtrack

Side One

1. Night In London – Mohd Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar and Chorus

2. Mera Naam Hai Jameela – Lata Mangeshkar and Chorus

3. Baagh Men Phool – Lata Mangeshkar and Mohd Rafi

Side Two

1. Nazar Na Lag Jaye – Mohd Rafi

2. Ba Hosh-O-Hawas – Mohd Rafi

3. Sun Ai Bahar-E-Husn – Lata Mangeshkar and Mahendra Kapoor

4. Mere Yaar Tomi – Mohd Rafi

Dedication: This posting and album is dedicated to my friend SE. Hope you enjoy the album friend. It is one I will definitely bring along to that deserted island ;-)

MUTTERINGS #24: MY UTMOST SYMPATHIES TO A FRIEND...

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart,

And you shall see that in truth,

You are weeping for that which has been your delight.

~ Kahlil Gibran

MOVIE #07: GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES 1988 (JAPANESE/ENGLISH ANIME)

I used to admonish my other half when he stayed up late and watched Japanese anime (I am still perplexed as to why it is shown that late at night – usually after 10.00 pm on SBS). It all backfired when one night, with nothing on telly, I watched my first Japanese anime and to boot, it was an offering from the famous Studio Ghibli. Ever since, I have been a fan. If you want to give anime a go, I recommend you start with GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES (GOTF) (or Hotaru No Haka in Japanese) from Studio Ghibli, one of the finest anime created and one of the most touching war films ever made, anime or not. It is directed by Isao Takahata, who also wrote the screenplay.

Set in the aftermath of World War II, GOTF focuses on the lives of Setsuko and his young sister Seita and how they struggle against both the elements of wartime and a depreciating Japanese empire. The most striking thing about GOTF is probably how real everything seems and its depiction of the gravity of the era and war. I cried quite a few times during the course of the movie, and by saying this, I hope I have not put off any blokes that may be reading this – it is mushy, yes, but it deals with war, human emotions and sibling love – not the boy meets girl, stick finger down throat, stuff. And what’s wrong with that I say!!! Anyway, I’ll save that argument for another time.

To the movie – With the Japanese empire in crisis and food shortages a daily occurrence, it is heart breaking to see a brother struggle to make ends meet for his sister, who does not understand the gravity of the situation, especially when the children have had an idyllic childhood, sheltered from the war until the war finally arrives in Japan.

It is now 1945 and Japan is losing the war. Setsuko and Seita’s lives crumble when the children lose their mother in a bombing and their father, whilst he is in service with the Japanese navy. Setsuko has to ‘grow up’ overnight and look after his sister. At first, they take refuge at some relative’s place. When the true colours of the relative emerge, Setsuko leaves to fend for himself and his sister. They make do in a cave by the river. What seems like a Huckleberry type fun adventure soon shows its true form. Seita develops skin disease from malnutrition and things get from bad to worse. The kids are forever hungry, and Setsuko has to resort to theft. To find out what happens to the children, I recommend you watch GOTF. I give this movie 5 stars.

PS: Don’t let the release date put you off – the quality of the anime is phenomenal! As you can see from the pictures.

FYI: The story is based on the semi-autobiographic novel by the same name, whose author, Akiyuki Nosaka (born 1930), lost his sister due to malnutrition in 1945 wartime Japan. He blamed himself for her death and wrote the story so as to make amends to her and help him accept the tragedy.

Due to the graphic and truly emotional depiction of the negative consequences of war on society and the individuals therein, some critics have viewed Grave of the Fireflies as an anti-war film. Roger Ebert (American film critic) considers it to be one of the most powerful anti-war movies ever made. Animation historian Ernest Rister compares the film to Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List and says, "It is the most profoundly human animated film I've ever seen."

Websites to check out:

http://www.ghibli.jp/
http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/films/
http://disneydvd.disney.go.com/studio-ghibli.html