Story-10
Exciting all the way, original, unique, you might be bored the first 15-20 minutes or so but when the "crash" happens this movie goes full-force into the action, drama, sci-fi, and environmental philosophy. It's really good. Miyazaki is a known environmentalist, this was his first movie, and his first smash hit. He does talk about the environment but he doesn't shove it down your throat. It's just a really good sci-fi adventure that doesn't get the appreciation it deserves these days.
Art-9
Let's face it. Nausicaa is from the 80's. It is not going to hold a candle to newer anime like Princess Mononoke, Gurren Lagann, and Death Note. The character designs are a little on the simplistic side (and Nausicaa isn't a size 0 like so many other modern anime heroines) but the attention to detail in the scenery, backgrounds, the jets, and the insects (oh! THE INSECTS!!) is just fabulous. The settings and the machinery all look great but the INSECTS! are amazing. Giant insects of all shape and form. Very nice.
Sound-10
The music. Wow. Okay. Just wow. You have to hear it to believe it. There is some wierd techno and world beat stuff in the first quarter of the movie, and it makes some of the earlier scenes sound like a video game. That was kind of annoying but it did fit well with what was happening on screen. For the rest of the film you get to hear really really nice orchestral pieces and creepy eerie background music and it's all just so enhancing! But the real stand-out is this one "song" in the movie. I will not tell you anymore, because this "song" plays quite an important role in the storyline and in Nausicaa's life. But it's a pretty, somewhat haunting, child-tune...definetely memorable.
Oh and the voice-acting. It's great. If you watch the 2009 re-release of it (which is the full uncensored and uncut movie with better voice acting) you will like it. Shia Labeouf, Uma Thurman, Alison Lohman...they all do a really good job. And Mark Hamill plays a small role in the film. You might no him as the Joker from Batman.
Character-10
You won't be doing facepalms. Because the characters behave rationally and realistically. No one's shallow. Nausicaa...is amazing. She's a true heroine. She's actually my favourite female anime character but that's besides the point. She's a great person to look up to. Why? I can't say, it would spoil the movie. Lord Yupa is pretty kick-ass though. The villain is pretty awesome. She has a good motive behind what she is doing. She's a worthy antagonist to someone as cool as Nausicaa.
Enjoyment-10
I like to watch Nausicaa as much as I can. It's a very enjoyable movie. You go on an adventure everytime you watch it. I think this is Miyazaki's best film.
The ending I have mixed feelings about. Don't get me wrong, it was a satisfying end but I was a little bit confused by it and I didn't think it was like an awesome amazing ending. The ending doesn't compare to Miyazaki's other movies like Spirited Away and Porco Rosso. But I noticed that anime-movies and series-seem to be bad at tying up their stories. I don't remember the last time I watched an anime with a good ending. But I don't think I would have changed Nausicaa's ending.
Overall-10
Watch this movie. It's very good and it's a classic. I am extremely looking forward to reading the manga.
