Howl's Moving Castle moves the audience with a tale of romance, excitement, fantasy, adventure, terror and humour. Howl's Moving Castle masks the first time since Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) that Miyazaki has adapted another writer's work.

The story is told from the perspective of an 18-year-old girl who is filled with ennui, compelled to work in a milliner's shop that she has inherited from her father. Her life is transformed when she meets Howl and is cursed to be a 90-year-old by the Witch of the Waste.

Searching for a way to break the dastradly curse, Sophie searches in the Waste, where it is said that Howl wanders. Sophie encounters Howl's Moving Castle and decides to hop in. There, forbidden to talk about her curse, she starts a new life with young and handsome Howl, who speaks to her kindly like a prince, but at times acts like a spoiled child. In a life-changing adventure, Sophie enters a magical world on a quest to break the spell.

Note that I have seen the English version, not the above original, including the voices of Christian Bale, Jean Simmons and Billy Crystal.

Everyone, since everyone can relate to it.

The inventive characters, unique storytelling and richly detailed animation. Sophie's heroism is very nicely played out by Miyazaki. I particularly liked the six-legged titular castle, the romance, the strong anti-war message underlay, the humour with the ubiquitous Turniphead who always shows up at the right time, the hot headed Calcifer and the hilarious, wheezing dog.

Howl's character is full of contradictions, which is good, but his complex character could be better explained through more detailed episodes to his past, his mentor magician (Suliman) and the Witch of the Waste. The story sometimes has an sense of anti-climax as action happens, but is then not drawn out.

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Created Jan 23, 2010 at 9:49pm • Submit your own review...