--- title: Castle in the Sky (1986) and The Valley of Decision (1945) description: Two exciting adventures about making peace. image: https://www.nathanmcbride.net/hubfs/Castle%20Valley.png --- [Skip to content](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/mindandheart/castle-in-the-sky-1986-and-the-valley-of-decision-1945#main-content) ![Me with books](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Me%20with%20books%20middle%20brighter.jpg?width=1800&height=2155&name=Me%20with%20books%20middle%20brighter.jpg)Homepage - [Home](https://www.nathanmcbride.net) - [Academics](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/academics) - [Blog](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/mindandheart) - [Stories](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/stories) - [Videos](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/videos) - [Home](https://www.nathanmcbride.net) - [Academics](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/academics) - [Blog](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/mindandheart) - [Stories](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/stories) - [Videos](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/videos) ![The main characters from Castle in the Sky and The Valley of Decision](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Castle%20Valley.png?width=1150&height=432&name=Castle%20Valley.png) # Castle in the Sky (1986) and The Valley of Decision (1945) ![Nathan McBride](https://7528315.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528315/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-cms-elevate-theme_hubspot/elevate/images/avatar-placeholder.jpg?width=48&height=48&name=avatar-placeholder.jpg) Nathan McBride April 12, 2026 Two exciting adventures about making peace. **Castle in the Sky (1986; MAX or your library)** An aviator’s son meets a mysterious girl and joins her on an unforgettable adventure to find a rumored island in the sky. This film is a delight. Miyazaki takes us through caverns, castles, fire, water, and air, flying over fields and comedically falling through roofs. The villains are greedy, but they’re also cartoony enough to not be too menacing—especially when their leader is voiced by Cloris Leachman. Don’t miss Mark Hamill as the voice of Muska. In the special features, Hamill (best known as Luke Skywalker from *Star Wars*) describes how much fun he had with the voice acting and how it made him enjoy acting again. It’s a fun ride, a wild ride, a beautiful ride. Our young heroes have a lot of courage and a lot of heart—they’re just fun to be with! *For sensitive viewers: There are characters willing to kill our young heroes and others for money or power.* **The Valley of Decision (1945)** The daughter (Greer Garson) of an embittered steel mill worker (Lionel Barrymore) begins working as a maid in the house of the owner of the steel mill—her father’s enemy—and love blooms across socioeconomic divisions as she meets the owner’s son (Gregory Peck). These actors are always charming to watch, but as an added treat, here Garson gets to play full Irish. The Romeo and Juliet story is enriched by a surprisingly engaging treatment of the challenges of managing a steel mill. It’s a rare movie where characters will remark about how they have to change the curtains twice a week due to the steel dust. Sympathy for both sides—the workers and the employers. It’s down to earth, sweet, and hopeful. *For sensitive viewers: Brief violence.* **Nathan’s Writing Update** This week I started into revising the second chapter of my upcoming book. This chapter is about [*Bolt*](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/mindandheart/bolt-a-child-is-waiting). I’m starting to feel like writing a second draft is like sending my manuscript through the hsawaknow (wonkawash spelled backwards). It gets messy, shampoo flying everywhere, but it comes out nice and shiny on the other end. ## Share this post [mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nathanmcbride.net%2Fmindandheart%2Fcastle-in-the-sky-1986-and-the-valley-of-decision-1945](mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nathanmcbride.net%2Fmindandheart%2Fcastle-in-the-sky-1986-and-the-valley-of-decision-1945) ## Keep reading ### [![The characters of The Empire Strikes Back in the Milennium Falcon and the protagonists of El Dorado looking out the door.](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Star%20Wars%20V%20El%20Dorado.png?width=1337&height=452&name=Star%20Wars%20V%20El%20Dorado.png) The Empire Strikes Back (1980) & El Dorado (1966)](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/mindandheart/the-empire-strikes-back-1980-el-dorado-1966) ### [![Obi-Wan Kenobi sitting with Luke Skywalker; Mary Poppins holding the bird](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Star%20Wars%20and%20Mary%20Poppins.png?width=1087&height=335&name=Star%20Wars%20and%20Mary%20Poppins.png) Star Wars (1977) & Mary Poppins (1964)](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/mindandheart/star-wars-1977-mary-poppins-1964) [![An arch of books with Nathan standing under it](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Me%20with%20books%20middle%20brighter.jpg?width=418&height=500&name=Me%20with%20books%20middle%20brighter.jpg "An arch of books with Nathan standing under it")](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/) - [Home](https://www.nathanmcbride.net) - [Academics](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/academics) - [Blog](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/mindandheart) - [Stories](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/stories) - [Videos](https://www.nathanmcbride.net/videos) --- [Privacy Policy](https://legal.hubspot.com/privacy-policy) and Legal · © 2025. 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