Princess Mononoke (1997) ***

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki. With the voices of Claire Danes, Minnie Driver and Jada Pinkett Smith. Mysterious forces inhabiting a virgin forest defend themselves from the human menace slowly encroaching upon their domain. It's an animated epic tale of sorcery and chivalry in medieval Japan... with some preachy ecological appeals thrown in for good measure. Visually beautiful.