75
Director Hayao Miyazaki brings a welcome sense of humor to this adventure story. [05 July 1991, p.16]
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
60
Los Angeles Times by Charles Solomon
An exciting, upbeat film, but not a very impressive example of the animator's art. [01 Feb 1989, p.8]
80
The New York Times by Janet Maslin
An interestingly wild hybrid of visual styles and cultural references.
50
Austin Chronicle by Marc Savlov
So ingratiatingly good-humored that it's hard to take it seriously enough to complain. Sure, it's no great triumph of moviemaking, but it is entertaining, and a more or less plausible way to kill 95 minutes on a Saturday afternoon.
83
The A.V. Club by Tasha Robinson
This caper film possesses Miyazaki's usual good-hearted charm, but he injects a manically energetic humor that his more sedate children's films never quite achieve.
So fun and the opening credits in this movie are so beautiful - and underrated Miyazaki that still bears much of his signature components (flying vehicles, odd character pairs, anachronistic setting) paired with a different art style and more straightforward adventure movie tone that still has a hint of his later dreamy charm.