Just finished watching this anime, as usual studio Ghibli has done a great job, the characters are great. i especially loved Howl, he somehow reminded me of haku in spirited away. One thing i love about this anime is not only the storyline but also the great detail in their backgrounds. it really makes you feel as if it were real, yet you know by the drawing that it is still a cartoon. The music also fits the anime, beautifully composed music as usual. i especially loved Howl's private garden and the door which can change places. Calcifer is humoures and Markl is just so kawaii!! I think the weirdest thing is how Howl's and Sophia's relationship grew, i mean, they only had a few moments together, well, maybe because she constantly has to advice him and confort him that's why she fell in love with him.
Though i have to admit that i didn't understand some parts, how come it seemed so natural for sophia when she suddenly turned young again (well she still had silver hair) but she didn't have any shocked reaction or whatsoever. And about Howl fighting and flying over this city, i didn't understand that at all. Even though i don't understand those parts, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't watch it, in fact i highly recomend it, and thanks to it, i think I'm having a Ghibli craze right now.
well, I'm kinda worried if this qualifies for a review or not, it's kinda short, i read other members review and it's super long, so please forgive me

I absolutely love this movie. It is not as good a Spirited Away, I think, but it is a really good movie. I love the humor in it and the bond between Sophia and Howl. I also love the garden Howl studied at when he was a child. I love how the story ends. With Calcifer coming back and staying with them. It's overall a great and heartwarming movie!

The movie by itself is CLICHE. Seriously, it's another cliche love movie. By itself I think I would'v enjoyed it, unfortunately if I wanted to watch a good love movie, I would watch Baz Luhrman's Romeo & Juliet.

Their rendition of the book was TERRIBLE. When a lot of book movies are released, it would be considered good enough if some things were omitted. But when things are completely CHANGED, that's a freaking low blow. Especially for the real book Howl's Moving Castle which was beautifully written. You hardly saw the love between the two until the end, which kept it out of the "OMG ROMANCEEEEEE" area. Miyazaki also completely changed roles of characters, like the scaregrow. Seriously, Sophie was SCARED of the scarecrow until almost towards the end of the book.

I was disappointed, especially since I'm a big fan of the book.

Curse you Miyazaki, turning a beautiful book into another slopping romance movie.

I do hate to say, but Miyazaki has a thing for changing really good heartwarming stories into a peice of crap. Just wants to be out there I guess... I have never read the book itself before. Where can you find a copy? If a scarecrow walked (hopped) after me, I would be freaked out myself.

I'm pretty sure you can find it almost anywhere, since it's a common book. Author; Diana Wynne Jones.

GUYS and GALS, before you accuse persons of HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE for the ever incessant clichey-ness, you must know who publicized it.

Walt Disney supports stories with happy endings and Walt Disney was a major contributer to HMC's publicity. It was thus inevitable.

Miyazaki's animation movies generally don't have the two main characters (of the opposite gender) elope or marry (partially because they're so young) or even see each other much , i.e. Princess Monokoe, Spirited Away. Miyazaki tends to let his viewers and fans think for themselves what happens overall<---I believe allowing the viewer with a freedom of imagining is most important in any thoughtful movie. Still, I was kind of glad Miyazaki illustrated Jones' books Castle in the Sky and Howl's Moving Castle; I mean not all movies have to have the couple separated by death or other similar ordeals but I definitely agree the sappy endings after a while make me feel empty.

Besides I'm sure Miyazaki tones down the sappy endings if he is asked to illustrate them. I mean you have to agree that HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE ending was not as full-blown as Little Mermaid's ending (which has a WEDDING at the end <---which suggests a sequel ::Ariel's offspring:: ) and I do know Hans Christian Anderson, author of Little Mermaid, did not have such a happy ending, in reality it was an extremely sad one. Remember, Disney is there for the kids.

Besides HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE is not about the two main character's love for each other, which really was a sideline plot which helped develop the main plot. The main plot was to mature the characters into their rightful age-group roles. Sophie, a young woman of eighteen years, has absolutely no confidence in herself but Howl's love evolved her into the a strong and confident character. Howl, a young wizard, is highly involved in his beauty and his appearances but lacks a "heart" of courage to take care of the ones he loves. Sophie is able to supply him with that heart of courage; at the end he is no longer the wizard who runs away from his problems. The Witch of the Waste also matures emotionally and physically(cute grandma ).

so what I'm trying to say is..Miyazaki is trying to please all sides at once..give him a break.

HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE is outstanding. Appreciate it for it's level of aesthetic detail, pleasant soundtrack, witty dialogue (i hate lovey-dubey girly dialogue), varied color scheme, original characters, and for it's simple if not extravagant plot (sometimes plot complexity ruins the the overall feel at the end).



Rating: 8.5 / 10

*If there is a reason to complain, then it would be for Disney to develop sub-categories for animation projects based on age-groups. There would be a sub-category for animation movies for children 5-8 yrs, 9-13 yrs, 13-and up, and etc. The problem with Disney is that it clumps together all animation projects into one general age group ---for the teeny boopers. *

Sorry I said that. I would have to agree with you on that too. Walt Disney is sortof to blame for all of that. I never thought of it that way before. So, thanks!

Alls I knows is that I loved the movie, heh.

It got me interested in the rest of Miyazaki's work, so I've got to - at least - give it props. The production quality was astounding, and the characters were excellent as well. Perhaps it corrupted the original book version somewhat, but is that all that composes a movie?

My sole frustration is that Wallace and Gromit beat Howl's for Best Animated Picture

really? how could baked clay dolls beat our sacred Miyazaki?

::bohoo::

If pixar had otten this one like spirited away... it would be even better...

I can't believe Wallace and Gromit beat it either. I mean W&G was a really funny movie, but had nowhere near the heart of HMC. Just can't imagine how it won...

Forgive me but, it never looked to interesting to me.

Anime with that "feel" or "look" sort of turn me off immeadietly. (I'm not exactly a fan of abstract things or animals acting/talking human)

Though, it some cases it's excusable, though I'd rather them not be there... (HIMM.....)

I never watched it that long, so I guess I don't have much room for an opinion, but from little I seen I wasn't too interested.

This post has been edited by Shinji_kun on 2006-04-22, 06:40 AM

I think hwc kind of sucked. Seriously. I like 1 movie Miya ever made and that was porco russo, but that still wasn't that good. Maybe it's just me, then again.... maybe its not. I can see where many people would like it, but i think it was kind of cliche... really.

I think the plot of the movie was kinda hard to understand and that they should of stuck closer to reality or at least explained why there was a war a little better. I like the character though. My favorite thing is the door that can take you to diffeerent places. Anyways thats my two cents. yep.

I really like Howl's Moving Castle! I thought the movie was equally as wonderful as Spirited Away and it just amazes me how fantasy can draw a person into an unknown world. The movie itself is very creative and uses symbolism as a tool for future predictions. I always thought that Calcifer brought life to the movie, but that's only in my opinion. He is the hidden form of Howl in a way. Almost the opposite but yet Calcifer has an almost "I don't care what anyone thinks" to him and Howl just wants to please. The movie is great, I have really enjoyed it.

I can see both sides of the story. I read the book HMC before I saw the movie. I indeed did like the book a great deal more, for even main elements were changed, but I can respect the movie for what it was. It was sweet, heartwarming, and visually stunning. I do agree that it was aimed for a lower audience, but the actual execution of the movie in most aspects was very well done. I am pulled between loving it and hating it. I just can't pick a side, although I do believe Spirited Away was better.

Howl's Moving castel was an really well done film. But in the book Diana Wyne jones does alot more with the characters. In the film I'm pretty sure they changed the kids name and Howl, his self senterd side wasn't there much. but it was a really good movie one of my faves... i have to say the book was funnyer though.

I've never read the book before, but I think I shall have to go look for it. But I loved the movie as much as Spirited Away. I plan on buying it partially because I have a soft spot for sappy love stories. I'll show it to my children, too.

The movie I thought was okay. I enjoyed it and that's all that mattered. Of course I haven't read the books, so I didn't know if they butchered the story or not. However, most movies differ from the books, thus why the books are always better.

Anyways, like the majority of Anime movies, I find them jamming alot into a couple hours. Unlike series, movies only have a few hours to introduce the characters, the setting, the conflict, the plot, and the resolution. =/ Which can prove to be very difficult. Thus why when I watch them, I have a lower expectation when I do when I watch a series.

Overall I enjoyed it. Was it cliche, yes. However, the majority of society nowadays is cliche, so it fits it's audience.

see i never thought i would like any of the Miyazaki films because of the basic character designs, to me i just thought they would be too simple to even waste my time on watching them. Then I saw spirited away and i was like wow! so then I saw princess Monoke and I was still amazed. Then I just fell in love with Howls Moving castle. so I am now a fan of his work!