Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!) (1980)

Charlie Brown is your typical everyday kid. He has trouble with the girls, his baseball team has a very consistent loosing streak, he cowers in fear of a kite-eating-tree, and his dog has a strange obsession of flying his red 'Sopwith Camel' dog house. Well, maybe he isn't your average kid, but the blockhead and his friends have been entertaining children and adults alike since 1950. Needless to say, the comic series has spawned much commercial interest, including four feature length films.

The last of the four films, Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!) (1980), throws good ol' Chuck into yet another sticky situation that will require his intelligence, wit, and friends to get out of (we're doomed). This time, Charlie Brown (Arrin Skelley) and his classmates Linus van Pelt (Daniel Anderson), Peppermint Patty (Laura Planting), and Marcie (Casey Carlson) manage to become foreign exchange students to the town of Le Heron in France. Another surprise awaits Chuck at home: his very first letter. Except it's in French. Know-it-all Marcie translates the letter for Chuck, revealing that he has been invited to the Château Mal Voisin, or the Château of the Bad Neighbor [dramatic cord].

After a round of tennis at Wimbledon, the gang leaves England and arrives at France. Peppermint Patty and Marcie are dropped off (they're staying with a different host, because they go to a different school), and Chuck, Linus, Snoopy and Woodstock arrive at the Château of the Bad Neighbor [dramatic cord]. With no one to great them but locked doors, bad weather, and rumors of the ill tempered Baron (not to be confused with Snoopy's archenemy, the Bloody Red Baron), the gang is forced to camp outside. Mystery continues though, and it seems as if no one is safe. Who sent the letter, and why are they locked out of the Château? Who mysteriously gives them food and blankets under the cover of night? Why does the Baron hate foreigners? How come Charlie Brown is such a blockhead? Most importantly, why can't I have a normal dog like everybody else? Although the film was created to teach young children about countries overseas, Bon Voyage manages to brilliantly combine the educational lesson with the original story, resulting in a simple, yet great, family film.

The majority of the film, although a family film, is symbolic. For example, the town name Le Heron is the most obvious case, representing a heron (and as Marcie says, "That's a bird, a big bird Chuck"). However, as stated earlier, the film is intended to teach children about England and France, so all town names (including Le Heron) are real places. The heron usually is an omen for good luck and prosperity, something that the town could definitely use, but can also be warning of fire. Indeed, this foreboding does come true at the end of the film, and Charlie Brown must use his instincts to save Linus and the resident of the Château. Another aspect of the symbolism revolves around the Baron. The Baron has a very negative inclination towards everyone, especially foreigners. As this is a mystery, the dark atmosphere is kept up with the almost constant rain that pours over the Château. The Baron's negative feeling towards everyone seems to have materialized in the form of the bad weather, as proven towards the end of the film, with the elimination of the bad feeling and weather. Unfortunately, the heron's warning of fire is ignored, and the Château is tragically set on fire. Fire is symbolic of a cleansing, such as the mental cleansing of the Baron's attitude. Once the fire is over, the Baron apologizes for his behavior as a bad neighbor, and decides to turn over a new leaf.

Although the Baron is never really shown, along with most adults, the Peanut tradition is broken for the first time, and possibly only time, as an English speaking (and French speaking) adult is shown speaking. When Charles Schulz created Peanuts, he wanted to show it through the world of a child. Therefore, adults are never shown, and when speaking say the trademark "Wah wah wah". The new introduction of adults into the world of Peanuts could be a cultural view of adults across the sea. Adults here could be viewed as uncaring in their children's lives, while the 'foreign' counterparts are shown because they care. The Baron, someone who obviously doesn't take an active role in his daughter's life, is never shown. However, the caring grandparents who always allow a second cookie are shown in memories, such as photographs. (Charlie Brown's grandfather is shown, and we finally learn that his baldness is genetic)

When the inevitable fire occurs, both Charlie Brown and the Baron have similar reactions. They (quite literally) run around in circles, screaming for help. Charlie Brown, however, shows initiative and runs around in circles looking for help. In fact, all of the children show initiative, and the only reason the Château survives is because of the children. If it wasn't because of Charlie Brown's quick thinking (and running), the Château, and Linus would be forever gone.

The climax of the film, the Château ablaze, is one of the most beautifully put together scenes I have ever seen. The artwork, music, and lines are all magnificent and haunting, simple yet complex, and create an awe inspiring feeling to anyone who views it. This is very appropriate, for fire should create the same feeling, especially when the fire threatens someone's life. The most poignant part is when the Château is viewed from the house of Peppermint Patty and Marcie. Although seen from a distance, the flames are easily visible, and the thought of someone encased in that torturous situation is as intense as the heat.

The symbolism continues even as the film ends, while the credits role. The three countries featured in the film, America, England, and France, coincidentally share the same colors on the flag (red, white, and blue). While the credits role, the three colors mix and combine, showing a friendship and unity between the three countries. This is the main theme of the film after all, as shown by the Baron's 'friendly' attitude throughout the film.

When viewing the film, you should of course remember this is a family film intended to teach children about France and England. Many lines are repeated over and over again for the benefit of the small children minds watching it. Also, long drawn out scenes are common, as it is supposed to show the architecture of France, or even the technology of England. However, ignoring this if you choose (I learned many new things from the film), the film is very simple and beautiful, exciting blockheads of every age. The characters, places, and symbolism will stay with you for a while after the film, such as the Peanuts gang has done since 1950, including the adventures and lessons that everyone had at the Château of the Bad Neighbor [dramatic cord].

Kaze no Tani no Naushika (1984)

This Japanese film, a masterpiece from master filmmaker, Hayao Miyazaki, is probably one of the most amazing films to ever enchant audiences around the world. The title's English translation is Nausicaä of the Valley of the Winds, of which Disney recently made an English dub of. A surprising move for Disney, seeing as this film is banned in many countries in Europe for it's controversial views of the environment, and of human nature. Of the many things that Hayao Miyazaki attracts audiences with in his films, the most enticing one is his wonderful ability to create breathtaking art, seeing that all his films are Japanese animation (Animé). Although his art has astronomically improved, this film was considered to be a visual masterpiece back then, and (compared to some other animated films) still is today.

Kaze no Tani no Naushika takes place in the future, 1000 years after human civilization has collapsed. Humans, no longer the dominant species, cower in fear from the Sea of Decay, a toxic jungle that covers the entire planet. Anyone who stays in this deadly 'sea' for more then five minutes will be killed by it's toxic spores. If this was not enough, insects and bugs have evolved to be giant monsters, who live in the Sea of Decay, protecting it from human kind's deadly grasp of destruction. The most fearsome of these insects is the Ohmu, whose English translation means 'king of the insects'. Over ten times the size of an airplane, the Ohmu changes the color of their eyes depending on their emotion. When enraged, their eyes turn red, and blue represents calmness; a color pattern that Hayao Miyazaki continues to use throughout the entire film.

Although the origin of the Sea of Decay is never really explained, Miyazaki-sama gives hints to how it occurred. Nausicaä dedicates her free time to finding a cure for her father's illness, caused by the poisonous spores of the Sea of Decay. Instead of finding a cure though, she discovers that the plants are only toxic because the soil they grow from is toxic. Many, many, many years ago, a horrible war called the Seven Days of Fire terrorized the land. Humans, stubborn and blind of their consequences, created deadly weapons, called Giant Warriors, that engulfed the entire land in flame, burning all in their path. When the seven days had ended, the warriors turned to stone, so that their power could never be used against their master. However, the flames caused the entire planet to become polluted commencing the birth of the Sea of Decay.

1000 years after human civilization collapsed (present time), a young girl named Nausicaä lives with her father, King Jihl, in the peaceful Valley of the Winds. The villagers have little to fear, for the winds from the Acid Lake (made from real acid) blow through the valley and blow all oncoming poisonous spores outwards. Living like this for decades, the peaceful valley lives their merry lives, while the warring nations of Tolmekia and Pejite fight countless wars, causing more destruction and violence. One day, a Tolmekian airship flies through the valley, carrying spores and, to everyone's surprise, a dormant Giant Warrior. The army comes soon after, causing much death and destruction in the valley. Even worse, Pejite comes to claim the warrior for themselves, harnessing the rage of millions of Ohmus to destroy everything. It is an amazing story, filled with many layers, exciting battles, interesting characters, and very deep meanings.

One of the main themes throughout the entire film deals with that of rage and calmness. As stated earlier, whenever the Ohmu is enraged, the color is red, and is blue when calm. In the beginning, Ohmus were rumored to be the cause of the Sea of Decay; the Ohmu would trample continuously in rage, until it would die. Soon after, the first of poisonous spores took root in the carcasses of the deceased Ohmus, still reminiscent of rage. So, technically, the Sea of Decay is caused by rage. In addition to the rage, there is also calmness. Nausicaä is one of the few who see through all the rage, and is constantly calming down both Humans and Ohmus, blind with furry. It is this calmness that Nausicaä eventually uses to calm the giant herd of Ohmu. It kills her, but she is successful. The Ohmu, out of kindness of heart, cause Nausicaä to be reborn. When she comes back to life towards the end of the film, Nausicaä fulfills the prophecy, that one clad in blue (the color that represents calmness) will calm the gap between that of man and insect, causing peace to engulf the world, instead of the flame of rage. Although we do not see this peace, it is very obvious from the end of the film that this will come to pass sometime in the future.

One of the amazing things about this film, and all of Miyazaki's other films, is that there is no villain in the film. Instead, there are people with different opinions. The Tolmekians believe that the only way to save the planet is to burn all of the Sea of Decay. However, Nausicaä discovers that the Sea of Decay is purifying the water and soil, and the poisonous spores only protect itself from rage and destruction. However, the difference of opinion is so great, that it causes the Tolmekians to appear evil. If there truly are any evil characters in this film, it is that of man-kind. It is man-kind that destroys the earth in fire, through it's creation of the Giant Warrior. It is man-kind that causes the Sea of Decay, and it is man-kind that causes the necessity of Ohmus to protect the Sea of Decay.

Amazingly enough, this film almost wasn't. The executives at Studio Ghibli believed that animé should only be visual adaptations of manga (Japanese comics). In retaliation, Hayao Miyazaki created a Kaze no Tani no Naushika series that lasted for an amazing seven volumes, and eventually ended in 1993. Although only the events from the first two volumes are shown in the film, the executives were convinced enough to make it a film.

The success of Kaze no Tani no Naushika has caused for it to be dubbed not once, but twice into English. Beware! The first dub renamed it under the title Warriors of the Wind, and cut the majority of the film out. This causes the viewer to become annoyed, and left out of many of the themes that Hayao Miyazaki intended to show. The cause of this over-cut film is simple. Miyazaki was never asked permission if his film could be dubbed into English. Disney, thankfully, re-dubbed it recently into a drastically improved version of Miyazaki's masterpiece. Although the fact that Warriors of the Wind is amusing, (June Foray, the voice of Rocky the Squirrel, is cast as Nausicaä) I highly suggest to avoid it, and watch the Disney dub instead (or, even better, watch it in Japanese!).

Unfortunately, there are cultural barriers that prevent any foreigner to understand the film entirely. Luckily, this film has few barriers. One is the fact that Nausicaä is pronounced Naushika in Japanese (Thus, the title). The reason is that some of the sounds necessary to pronounce Nausicaä are missing from the Japanese language, and the name Naushika, the closest one can get, is used instead.

Kaze no Tani no Naushika is a film that inspires all. With it's amazing artwork, characters, and themes, it is surprising to find someone who could dislike a masterpiece such as this. Indeed, even Andy and Larry Wachowski, directors of The Matrix Trilogy, were inspired by this film. Both The Matrix (1999) and Kaze no Tani no Naushika use color themes of red and blue. In addition, the machines in The Matrix look amazingly similar to the Ohmus. Kaze no Tani no Naushika is a film that can be loved by young and old alike. It's wonderful story, excellent art, and the English dub of Patrick Stewart as Lord Yupa will enchant anyone who views it. It is a fantastic world that Hayao Miyazaki created, and, like all his films, should be enjoyed by all.