Great pick with Princess Mononoke Carra, my favourite Ghibli film.
Thanks! Mine too - can't fully explain why either.
So many good things about it, but they all combine to be even better than the sum of their parts somehow. Remember the first time watching it, thinking I'd put something on for a minute and was engrossed for the full length and gutted it had to end.
Had just started to reply to say I share your view on Alien too!