I had heard great things about this movie and I'm a big fan of the other Hayao Miyazaki's films I've seen (Princess Monoke & Spirited Away) so I was sure I would enjoy this movie. Alas Howl's turned out to be my favorite Miyazaki film and is one of my favorite movies of all time.
This is the second time i watched this movie. The last time I watched it was when I was much younger, where I obviously didn't really understand much.
From Studio Ghibli and director Hayao Miyazaki (Kiki's Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away), I had seen the DVD cover for this Japanese cartoon film a number of times, and being a fan of the previous films the studio made I had to see it. Basically young Sophie (Emily Mortimer) is the innocent girl who works in her late father's hat shop, and after a chance encounter with the magician Howl (Christian Bale), famous for his moving castle, she is cursed by the Witch of the Waste (Lauren Bacall).
Ramshackle in its construction but endlessly interesting. Just like its titular house, it's a little hard to follow but there's so much to explore and enjoy here, from the intriguing anti-nationalist themes (see the contrasting flag bookends) to the characters both nuanced (see Howl's noble but immature hero Sophie's unique coming-of-age arc) and quirky (I heart Calcifer and Turnip-Head).
One thing recognizable about Hayao's works is its uniquely honed story featuring a new overture of imagination he never fails on that part. Howl's Moving Castle is another living proof of his untiring work of art, a masterpiece to be exact.
You have to admire the imagination and craft of the film, I just didn't quite get grabbed emotionally to push the score up further.
I absolutely love this film! It's great artwork, the cast is great, and the story is just fascinating.
This movie is good to be true. Miyazaki's masterpiece were just best when it comes to this film likelihood.
Miyazaki follow's up the universally acclaimed Spirited Away with a heartfelt and wholesome film. I've been a bigger fan of Studio Ghibli music than its films but I was absolutely blown away by this film.