I second the Wicker Man recommendation. Wonderful film. Edward Woodward (the The Equalizer guy, but he's done some other really amazing stuff) and Christopher Lee.

Hell, since we're talking about Edward Woodward: Breaker Morant.

I considered rec'cing VHD: Bloodlust and Akira myself, but given lynxgriffin's aversion to horror, I wondered if they might be too gory for him. I realize the two don't necessarily go together, but...
Grave of the Fireflies... good, but dear sweet god it's depressing.

Hey, have you seen Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind? It's an early Miyazaki, and it's quite good.