Howl's Moving Castle

Howl's Moving Castle



Well, I'm surprised no thread has been created on this wonderful anime yet. So, here it is!

My thoughts: I've just watched it. It is a MUST watch! A very detailed anime, from the old lady's wrinkles on her face to the castle's mechanism. Nice flow of storyline as well. Last but not least, Joe Hisashi compositions! I love Sky Stroll especially.

I've watched the original japanese voices. Nice behind the scenes voices (there's Takuya Kimura!). Overall, I would recommend it to everyone!

Give your comments!

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Nice to see the same old lady and the same model used for Miyazaki's generic old lady.

I had no idea about it until I saw it nominated for an award. Good movie!

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Lukage: Did you watch the English dub version? I was wondering if the English dub version was ok...

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by zaitsev

Lukage: Did you watch the English dub version? I was wondering if the English dub version was ok...

I had (It was lost in a HD crash) the Blitz version that had dual-audio. Both were fine by me.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I liked this anime and I was happy it came to theaters where I live, but unfortunatly only dubbed versions. I don't know if the fact that I watched it subbed made me more inclined to like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke more than Howl's Moving Castle.

These are the only Gibbly movies I've seen, I was wondering if the others are good or maybe too old to be seen know.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Studio Ghibli. =p

Every Ghibli movie is, essentially, a masterpiece. Howl is very good but don't assume it is his best. Lots of his movies have the same unique feel to them. Read up on their flicks at some point.

Anything Miyazaki touches in the anime industry is gold. He's a perfectionist and does a damn good job on his work. Can't wait for Tales from Earth Sea.

As for the dub, Miramax does a damn fine job on finding excellent voice actors. I must say though, the dub job conveyed the ending of Whisper from the Heart differently IMHO. Maybe it'd just been a while...

Look up Nausicaa. Miyazaki made a short manga series based on that and it's his baby, through and through.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Oh my god! Another Miyazaki film?
I will search high and low for the trailer! =)

Howl's moving castle is one of my favorites, partly because of the good book it was based on, and also because it deviates and creates another atmosphere from it.
Plus, the artwork is beautiful as well as the whole soundtrack! Definitely a must see! =D

How ya doing, buddy?

After watching this movie, I can say that it is my favourite movie of all time so far. Before that, it was "Spirited Away", also another Ghibli set of goodness.

The Merry Go Round of Life piano theme used throughout was pure bliss, especially when paired up with the incredibly smooth and detailed characters and settings. Just like the other Miyazaki films, it created another world of pure magic and wonder.

I was somewhat confused after watching the ending, and my friend told me that the book explains much much more of the story, and to make complete sense of it, you'd have to read the book as well.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I remember when this Came out on DVD. I couldn't wait to rent it. It is particularly good. Unfortunatley, I read the book aftewards.

Hey didn't Snowknight have an Avatar made of Turnip Head?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I watched this at the sydney film festival last year with 2000 other people.
Which ultimately made it a much better experience for me.
Sitting in that huge nice hall with every seat filled just made the movie ..... So much more funnier than it probably is when watched individually or in a smaller cinema.

I remember everyone just laughing at all the lil jokes from beginning to end.

Anyways, well my first impression was

Spoiler:

THEY KISSED? OM G? TWICE? OMFG? and then. Wow? Miyazaki? Love Story? Wtf? Wtf?

well besides that, interstingly i rewatched the movie yesterday so kinda weird to see this thread posted haha...

if i have to compare it to all his other films (particularly his old ones) then..i dont think i can. they're just. way too different. and i'd have to start dissing this one if i do.

But well, see the thing about miyazaki films is.. the more you watch it, rewatch it, the more you like it. and the film is indeed growing on me every time i rewatch it. It's scary. hehe and you discover things bit by bit each time too. its great~

So having seen totoro/nausicaa/laputa about.. 20 times hmm.. yeh. this one just wont do... yet

oh and the music, i love it ! as usual.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I think there's always a love theme in Miyazaki's film, whether it's friends, family or lovers. It always gives a special feeling to the Ghibli movies.

How ya doing, buddy?

Funny thing. To me, what little I've seen of Miyazaki's stuff doesn't quite seems like anime. It always seems more like Disney by a Japanese director. I've seen Princess Mononoke, and Sprited Away. I loved Spirited Away, for so many reason. It was an amazing movie from beginning to end. I can't say the same for Princess Mononoke, though. It just didn't... you know... click with me. I couldn't really say why, without watching it again, and I don't currently have access to it.

Is this film more like Sprited Away, or more like Princes Mononoke? Did anyone else feel that those two were very different, or was it just me?

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Spirited Away was on a bigger budget. That must be why. This was a nice in-between but all his movies are defenately anime. Just because Disney has a share in the money to be made from it, it's hardly that sort of movie.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I've watched almost all of the movies from Studio Ghibli, and my current favorites are still Nausicaa and Porco Rosso. Nausicaa because of it's story about trying to live in harmony with the environment, and Porco Rosso because of the dogfighting action.
http://www.nausicaa.net/ is a nice fansite if anyone wants to know more about the films by Studio Ghibli =) check it out

How ya doing, buddy?

I actually caught this in theaters, which was great seeing it on the big screen. I wouldn't say it's my favorite since Ghibli movies are so different, it's like apples and oranges but it's a fabulous film in its own right. I'm a sucker for fantasy wizards magic and the like. But I've realized this trend in Miyazaki's film. Slow moving plot all through the movie and then a ridiculously swift conclusion that solves everything.

Was I the only one who hated Spirited Away? I had a good time watching it once but anymore would make my brain bleed.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by zaitsev

I think there's always a love theme in Miyazaki's film, whether it's friends, family or lovers. It always gives a special feeling to the Ghibli movies.

you're right.

except. howls moving castle just made it .. really bold and obvious and.. was just. Right there. Drawn. Ands it 'romance' love
which actually isn't common or obvious at least in his other films

but c'mon the kissing scenes.. was a first.

miyazaki films has always been.. adventurous, emotional and .. sorta real to me.

I thought hmc was more similar to spirited away than princess mononoke.
mainly because its again..wizards and magic and everything.
one of the reasons why i probabloy preferred the other films.

whoever hasn't read the Nausicaa manga............. You have Got To Read It.
it's like... classic manga that anyone familiar with Ghibli cannot miss

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

aum...
Howl's Moving Castle is fantastic... one of my favorites movies of anime...

great characters, great animation, great Story, great music.....
and a marvel direction of Hayao Miyazaki...



Jam it back in, in the dark.

I'm not a huge Mayazaki fan. I was vaguely amused when I saw Princess Mononoke in theaters several years ago. Then I saw Spirited Away and thought it was terribly overrated. The animation, design, and direction might be top notch, but I feel that the stories are poorly written. I think this is especially true with Spirited Away.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I saw the English dub in the theaters originally. Billy Crystal made Calcifer very memorable. The visuals of course are the most amazing part, the story could have been better. It's not my favorite Miyazaki movie but it's better than plenty of other shows.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I found it appealing because of the story not being too much of a "fantasy." Spirited Away (I liked it) was almost too weird and too bizarre. I did find the war aspect of this film to not tie in well enough with Howl's conflicts or the rest of the storyline...I almost rather wished they could have presented that conflict better. Anyone agree that the military involvement in it seemed....uncomfortable?

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?