Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli has developed a reputation for producing top-class fantasy, with films like Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle. Here, the celebrated director's son Goro Miyazaki makes his directorial debut, with a tale adapted from Ursula K Le Guin's Earthsea series. It's a slightly dour adventure involving dragons, wizards and teenage rebellion, in which prince Arren (voiced by Matt Levin) battles evil villain Cob to save the land of Earthsea from environmental disaster. Willem Dafoe does sterling work as the voice of the androgynous, blue-haired Cob - the film's most memorable creation - and Timothy Dalton entertains as wizard Sparrowhawk. Several gaping plot holes, lengthy chunks of exposition and muted visuals probably won't endear this movie to younger audiences. But while this lacks the technical sheen and warm sentimentality of some of Ghibli's earlier films, devotees will find some small pleasures here.

Something bizarre has come over the land. The kingdom is deteriorating. People are beginning to act strange... What's even more strange is that people are beginning to see dragons, which shouldn't enter the world of humans. Due to all these bizarre events, Ged, a wandering wizard, is investigating the cause. During his journey, he meets Prince Arren, a young distraught teenage boy. While Arren may look like a shy young teen, he has a severe dark side, which grants him strength, hatred, ruthlessness and has no mercy, especially when it comes to protecting Teru. For the witch Kumo this is a perfect opportunity. She can use the boy's "fears" against the very one who would help him, Ged.