Howl's Moving Castle DVD, 2005

I loved this film. The artists who managed to animate such a long feature, are, may I say, amazing! Also, with someone who has an amazingly gorgeous voice, Christian Bale, it was a hit to me. I loved the whole changed aspect. Alright, it wasn't as complex as the book, but never the less, it was marvellous. Well done for yet another amazing film!

Matty on 16th November 2005

Once again Hiyao Miyazaki has created a film of astonishing imagination. Thriving on the more fantastic moments of Diana Wynne Jones' source novel, passages of his fil... more >

Once again Hiyao Miyazaki has created a film of astonishing imagination. Thriving on the more fantastic moments of Diana Wynne Jones' source novel, passages of his film may prove bizarre for fans of conventional animation, yet will delight the many admirers of his previous masterpiece Spirited Away.
Sophie, a young girl living in an unspecified European town, is transformed into an old crone by a spiteful witch, and must travel to meet up with Howl, an allegedly wicked wizard, to break the curse. Along the way she meets Turniphead, an enchanted mute scarecrow (prompting the typically quirky line "It was a pleasure meeting you, even if you are my least favorite vegetable") and Calcifer, a cantankerous flame who fuels the moving castle as it tramples randomly through the wilderness.
The animation is frequently breathtaking; the ramshackle castle is beautifully realised, whilst Miyazaki shows his flair for the grotesque in the unforgettable scene where the witch climbs multiple stories of stairs to reach the palace. Repeated viewings are needed to figure out the byzantine plotlines towards the climax, yet this is one film where repeated viewings will be a definite pleasure. < less

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