Howls Moving Castle starts Friday at the Cinemas...

[TrigunX89]

Lots more theatres are showing it now. Yay! It's still not in my city though. Wah. Ah well, I have not given up hope.

[HisaishiFan]

Actually I was curious about:
[spoiler] Did the Witch of the Waste Land put the curse of Sofie because of jealousy? That's my guess.

Anyone else notice how some people stated that Howl ate the hearts of beautiful women? What was that all about?

-Actually it's kind of ironic that a "heart" ended up being the center point of the film. Go figure.
[/spoiler]

Agasfas, I think it was a rumor about what the wizard was reputed to do. I don't think he actually did it. Still, it is another interesting heart connection.

[Negotiatrix]

Another review that bugged me was one that said Howl's Moving Castle was "an overly familiar affair that will strain young attention spans with its plodding lessons about greed (it's bad) and nature (it's good)." Hello? Again, did we see the same movie? I suppose Howl's was tangentially about the hunger for power (greed), but "nature is good?" Howl's Moving Castle didn't talk about nature or the environment at all. The backstory was about how cruel and useless wars are, especially when based upon a ruler's desires for excitement. But the main focus of the movie was about what happens when you give you heart away for the wrong reasons, what true love is, and how love makes a family.

I don't get the difference between what the reviewers saw and what I saw!

I wonder if the reviewer even bothered to see the movie, or just read old reviews of other Miyazaki movies! AFter all, so many of his movies ARE about greed&technology vs. the environment&nature (like Princess Mononoke, Nausicaa, Castle in the Sky). Sounds to me like the reviewer showed up for the free food at the press screening, chatted some with cronies, then left and wrote a review based on that! But then maybe I'm just too cynical.

[Scribs]

Just saw it today. It was great. Billy Crystal was good. Kind of hard to follow at times. Some events seemed random and unexplained. Over all it was a very good movie.

[Taslin_Jewel]

I got to see this movie on Sunday, and, as expected, I LOVED it.

To answer most of your questions, y'all should read the novel by Dianna Wynne Jones. I've always been a big fan of the book, and though details were changed here and there in the movie, most of the core elements were kept. Quite a few things aluded to in the movie were fully explained in the book. Both of your questions were answered there, agasfas.

So, bottom line: Great movie. Go see. Read book too.

[Myoti]

Probably won't get to see the movie any time soon, but I've definetly got to check out the book.

[lj1958]

My older daughter and I both read the book last summer. It's an enjoyable fantasy novel. Of course that just created an appetite for the movie, which sitll hasn't gotten here yet...although we are not a small town or anything...grrrrrr.

[Kisa]

EEEEEE! I finally saw a trailer for it and read an article in the paper about it! I can't wait to see it now that I have a taste of it! Ahhh Miyazaki does it again.....

[HisaishiFan]

You know, it is weird: At first I was really disapointed that the movie version we got was the subbed version. (I guess I didn't want to have to work hard by reading the subs.) *Grins sheepishly.* Now, after seeing the subbed version, it was so good that I'm having a hard time wanting to see the dubbed version! The voices were perfect. I could definitely envision/hear Lauryn Bacall doing the Witch of the Waste, though. But I'm not so sure about Billy Crystal doing Calcifer (though I do like BC, especially in the Princess Bride).

[termyt]

The movie theater release is usually the subbed version - at least from what I've seen in foreign films in general. I still like to see the dub, though. That’s a funny thing about me. I actually would rather see the subtitled movie in the theater, but I still want the dub on video.

[Kisa]

The trailer I saw was dubbed.... hmmm

[Jeikobu]

You know, it is weird: At first I was really disapointed that the movie version we got was the subbed version. (I guess I didn't want to have to work hard by reading the subs.) *Grins sheepishly.* Now, after seeing the subbed version, it was so good that I'm having a hard time wanting to see the dubbed version! The voices were perfect. I could definitely envision/hear Lauryn Bacall doing the Witch of the Waste, though. But I'm not so sure about Billy Crystal doing Calcifer (though I do like BC, especially in the Princess Bride).

AGH! I envy you. All 3 theaters showing it in my state (Colorado) say they're showing it dubbed. >_< I would be alright seeing it dubbed, but I definitely would rather see it subbed in theaters and then see it dubbed later when it's on DVD. Even though I've seen the sub once on my computer (fansubbed cam-rip from Japan), I really want to see it that way again, especially on the big screen.

[agasfas]

To be honest, I thought the dub version was nicely done... That could be that perhaps I perfer dubbed, but it seemed that most of the characters had voice actors/actresses that really suited the role just right. THere may be a few voices that may not have been "perfect," but for the most part it was well done.

I also agree with piloswine said, Billy Crystal did a fantastic job speaking for Calcifer. Man, he was right on.

[termyt]

AGH! I envy you. All 3 theaters showing it in my state (Colorado) say they're showing it dubbed. >_<

If you are close enough to see it, be thankful. I'm at least four hours away for any theater showing it in any format.

[Mangafanatic]

I have lost all hope. It's not in ANY theaters near where I live. Dang, it.

[MorwenLaicoriel]

Whoa, Jeikobu! I'm in Colorado, too! (The theater I use the most was the one that had Howl's Moving Castle playing, so I got really lucky).

I saw the dub version, and...even though I think I'd love the subbed version, too...I was really quite impressed with the dub. It was perfect, but there was some performances that REALLY surprized me--preticularly Christian Bale as Howl. I haven't seen Batman Begins yet, so all I could think was Newsies. (Think thick new york accident) But, thinking about it again, Bale was a GREAT choice--he can handle the serious, conflicted side of Howl (Batman) as well as the comical flirt side of Howl (Newsies).

[Jeikobu]

Whoa, Jeikobu! I'm in Colorado, too! (The theater I use the most was the one that had Howl's Moving Castle playing, so I got really lucky).

Wow, cool! What part do you live in if I may ask?

[MorwenLaicoriel]

Wow, cool! What part do you live in if I may ask?

The most I"m really allowed to say is the Denver/Colorado Springs area. Which...doesn't help much. XD

[Myoti]

Looks like I'm forced to wait for the DVD. Even if it was showing nearby, I probably wouldn't get the chance to go and our library doesn't have the book. -_-

[Jeikobu]

I do really want to try the book now, mostly because it sounds like it helps you understand the movie more.

[Debitt]

Saw the movie yesterday and fell ABSOLUTELY in love with it. ^_^ I actually enjoyed it a lot more than Spirited Away, and I really want to pick up the book now. (I've been looking for Dianna Wynne Jones's books for a while now, but now I'm getting my hands on them NO MATTER WHAT)

[MorwenLaicoriel]

I'm pretty lucky--my library has a copy of the book. I'm placed on the waiting list right now.

[ally-san]

the movie was magnificent. i just saw it last night and i enjoyed it very much. miyazaki just gets better and better.