Princess Raccoon (2005)

I mentioned a few days ago that I had tickets to see this film, despite the fact that nearly every review I read was largely negative.  Well, let me tell you, the movie was positively enchanting.  The director is 83 years old, but his cinematic vision is as young and as creative as anyone's, and despite this being a complete change from his previous movies, it is a triumphant success.  The film is a kaleidoscope of Japanese folklore, visual fantasy, musical styles from traditional to rap, and non-stop imaginative images.  Its critics railed against its visual overload and "silly" storyline, but I found it magical.  Zhang Ziyi was imported to play the titular princess from Cathay, but all of the cast shared her beauty and charm -- even the three little girls who sang straight to their parents in the front row, so to speak.  Back in January I reviewed the Studio Ghibli anime "Pom Poko" which also tells of the mythic Tanuki tribe of shape-shifters -- that too was translated as 'raccoons' even if these are not native to Japan; the forbidden love story here between a tanuki and a human was explained away by taking place in a year of 13 moons when anything is possible.  From the anime I learned that tanukis love to party and wow, not only did they party mightily here, but they proved that yes, everything is definitely possible.