Howl's Moving Castle

[Lady Arianrod]

The animation looks stunning, but I won't pass any judgement on the story yet. To date, my favorite Ghibli films are "Nausicaa" and "Grave of the Fireflies", but I still think that Howl's Moving Castle has the potential to be as good as Spirited Away.

[Jeikobu]

It's my 4th favorite Ghibli behind Grave, Spirited, and Nausicaa.

[Mangafanatic]

I just saw it today!

This movie is just below Spirited Away in my list of Ghibli movies. While it wasn't always as phenomenally animated as Spirited Away, the story was truly beautiful, heart warming, and hysterical. At times, Christian Bale's voice acting hurt the film, but for the most part, I still liked the voice acting. Overall, I thought it was awesome and I can't wait for the release to DVD.

[ClosetOtaku]

Saw this a couple weeks ago. I think this is one that will be remembered for a lot of unrealized potential -- beautiful artistry, engaging story line, haunting images -- but it doesn't quite pull it all together. I will certainly buy the DVD when it comes out. Overall, very good animation, good imagination, average story telling.

[EireWolf]

If you've read the book, see the movie with an open mind. It's very different. However, it's still very good.

[blue elf]

I personally liked the movie better than the book, but I did see the movie first. It's now my 2nd favorite Ghibli movie after Spirited Away. I liked it so much I bought the art book. ^^;

[Todeskreuz]

its very different than the book but I liked it a lot more ^^ its so beautifully animated I love it....in my list it comes right after My neighbor totoro(sorry its a personal fav) and Spirited away....they kinda make a three way tie. I personally liked christian bale in it and billy crystal but *shrugs* aw it was just really good ^^

[Yumie]

It was so funny. . . my favorite line was (I think this is right, I might get it a few words off, but it was something like this. . .):

[spoiler] Howl's hair has changed colors and he collapses in tears, saying miserably, "What's the point in living if I can't be beautiful?" So hilarious. . . [/spoiler]

[Todeskreuz]

I LOVE THAT PART ^^ it's so funny!!

[Kat Walker]

I thought Howl's Moving Castle was going to open to the general public, not just be shown in a few indie theaters like most "artsy" anime.

>_>

*shakes fist at Disney/Buena Vista*

[Ingemar]

It was shown on the Naval Base where I live (yaaaaaaaaaaaaay!)

Among other things, I felt one of the themes of this movie was appearances changing without reason or warning.

And [spoiler]I seriously think the animators were getting lazy with the young/old Sophie dynamic. Later in the movie, Old Sophie doesn't look too much different than Young Sophie, besides being a little plumper (earlier, her back is pronouncely bowed, and much more wrinkled whereas from the time she visits the palace and beyond she is upright). The laziness is most obvious/egregious when Young Sophie has Old Sophie's hair, although a bit longer. Actually, I'm OK with that since I think the gray suits her.[/spoiler]

But I approve, over all.

[Todeskreuz]

yeah i noticed that.... kinda was confusing.... maybe its cuz they wanted you to think that the magic slowly wore off....or summit like that

[blue elf]

It was so funny. . . my favorite line was (I think this is right, I might get it a few words off, but it was something like this. . .):

[spoiler] Howl's hair has changed colors and he collapses in tears, saying miserably, "What's the point in living if I can't be beautiful?" So hilarious. . . [/spoiler]

Yeah, that was one of my favorite parts in the whole movie.

[Mangafanatic]

It wasn't laziness that caused Sophie's apparent fluctuation in age. If I understood properly (albeit, I haven't read the book), the enchantment was slowly being broken due to her interation with Howl. The changes in Sophie's appearance reflected the weakening of the spell on her.

[EireWolf]

It could be that... or, if I read the book right, it could be
[spoiler]the fact that Sophie was inadvertently sustaining the spell herself, and didn't realize what she was doing.[/spoiler]

[Todeskreuz]

yeah that makes sense after reading the book yay for them not actually being lazy and it actually having a deeper meaning!

[Jeikobu]

It was shown on the Naval Base where I live (yaaaaaaaaaaaaay!)

Among other things, I felt one of the themes of this movie was appearances changing without reason or warning.

And [spoiler]I seriously think the animators were getting lazy with the young/old Sophie dynamic. Later in the movie, Old Sophie doesn't look too much different than Young Sophie, besides being a little plumper (earlier, her back is pronouncely bowed, and much more wrinkled whereas from the time she visits the palace and beyond she is upright). The laziness is most obvious/egregious when Young Sophie has Old Sophie's hair, although a bit longer. Actually, I'm OK with that since I think the gray suits her.[/spoiler]

But I approve, over all.

I thought it was because [SPOILER]she was kind of in between young and old. And if you mean near the end where she looks young but has gray hair, I'm not exactly sure why that is but it worked nicely.[/SPOILER]

[Kawaiikneko]

aaaahhhh when does it come out on dvd?? I want to see it so badly~

[Tenshi no Ai]

aaaahhhh when does it come out on dvd?? I want to see it so badly~

I thoguht Disney would release another trio of movies, but apparently My Neighbours the Yamadas and Pom Poko are getting released on their own very soon. I think I heard Howl will be out in like, couples months I think it is? Can't remember and not sure if it's being released on it's own or not.

http://www.nausicaa.net helps with Ghibli updates!

[MyrrhLynn]

It could be that... or, if I read the book right, it could be
[spoiler]the fact that Sophie was inadvertently sustaining the spell herself, and didn't realize what she was doing.[/spoiler]

Yeah that is pretty much the idea you get from reading the book however...
[spoiler] I don't really think they were following the book then. In the book she stayed looking old the WHOLE time until the very end, so if the animators chose to make her start looking youngish again either they didn't understand the book or they were trying to make it look like what Mangafanatic suggested. In the book Howl makes it very clear that he tried several times to break the spell on her but he couldn't, so the spell was working at 100% power until it suddenly broke at the end.
[/spoiler]

Actually I feel like a jerk for saying this but I was really mad when I heard they were making this movie. I love this book, and I could tell just from looking at the Disney site that they changed it a lot, and managed to ruin my favorite parts. Actually if anyone is interested there is a sequal to the book called Castle in the Sky and although it doesn't focus on the same characters Howl, and Sophie and other characters from the first story do show up and you find out what happens to them.

[EireWolf]

This Castle in the Sky you mentioned is totally seperate from Laputa, right? I don't remember that (movie, anyway) making any reference to the Howl characters.

I had not read the book before seeing the movie, so I had no idea what to expect. But I went to the movie with several people who had read the book, and they loved the movie anyway. They noticed it was very different, but... they are Miyazaki fans, too, so they may have biased themselves to like it.

[Jeikobu]

I think I heard Howl will be out in like, couples months I think it is? Can't remember and not sure if it's being released on it's own or not.

Actually, I heard it will be Spring 2006, along with My Neighbor Totoro and Whisper of the Heart. I know what I'll be doing with my holiday money. ^^

[Tenshi no Ai]

Actually, I heard it will be Spring 2006, along with My Neighbor Totoro and Whisper of the Heart. I know what I'll be doing with my holiday money. ^^

Aww that's like, a whole year from now! But I like the other two releases it's coming with.

This Castle in the Sky you mentioned is totally seperate from Laputa, right?

:/ The full title is actually Laputa: Castle in the Sky.

[Jeikobu]

It'll be worth the wait but waiting for them is hard.

[Mangafanatic]

I thought I heard that it would be sooned than that, though. . . November, or something.

[MyrrhLynn]

This Castle in the Sky you mentioned is totally seperate from Laputa, right? I don't remember that (movie, anyway) making any reference to the Howl characters.

I had not read the book before seeing the movie, so I had no idea what to expect. But I went to the movie with several people who had read the book, and they loved the movie anyway. They noticed it was very different, but... they are Miyazaki fans, too, so they may have biased themselves to like it.

Ahh well maybe that's my problem, I'm not a huge fan of Miyazaki (the animation rubs me the wrong way for some reason) so I've maybe biased myself against it.

As for the book err well I screwed up. It's actually called Castle in the AIR and it has nothing to do with Laputa. Here's the book on Amazon.com : http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0064473457/qid=1124116182/sr=2-3/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_3/103-5618217-6143813

The one bad thing I should warn you all about is that screwed up religion is a bit of an issue in this book more so then the Howl one. In this book there are Djinns which are kind of "mini gods" in that they are supposedly above the angels and have angels serving them but it makes no mention to them being responsible to a greater God. And there are both good and bad Djinns. Soooo... just a warning, but otherwise the book is good.

[Syaoran]

I have not seen it yet....but it looks interesting by all what you posted.

[Starfire1]

I'd like to go see it, but I want some one to come with me. Movies are always more fun with friends (unless they get you kicked out). Castle in the Sky looks pretty good too.