Cinema review
Directed by Goro Miyazaki
Starring the voices of Timothy Dalton, Willem Dafoe, Matt Levin, Cheech Marin
Release date 3 August 2007
Website www.talesfromearthseamovie.co.uk

When dragons appear before the men of Archipelago, crops wither and livestock fall ill. The sight of the mythical beats fighting signifies that the world is beginning to lose its balance and so the Archmage Sparrowhawk sets off on a journey to find the source of evil. He encounters Arren, a young Prince who has run away from his homeland. The two of them join forces in what becomes an epic narrative of good versus evil….

This latest animated adventure from Studio Ghibli is based on the novels by Ursula Le Guin. It features some solid animation, an intriguing fantasy plot and an interesting subtext about life, death and rebirth.

The film also marks the directorial debut of Goro Miyazaki – son of legendary Hayao Miyazaki (of Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away fame). And while it’s an impressive first effort, it badly needs the comic relief that can be found in the work of Goro’s father. But it is perhaps unfair to directly compare them – the veteran talents of Hayao have become something of an albatross around Goro’s neck.

Visually, Tales of Earthsea is stunning, with beautiful hand-crafted landscapes and vistas. It includes a wonderful plethora of fantasy characters – magicians, witches and dragons. If you can put aside the good and evil/light and dark/life and death messages that are constantly forced down your throat, it makes for an entertaining, though rather sombre, fairytale. Natalie Barnes

VERDICT: 6/10

Beautiful animation burdened by both a depressing seriousness and the sharpened talent of his father’s work in comparison.