Description: In Hayao Miyazaki's latest animated masterpiece, journey beyond imagination and enter a "breathtaking fantasy world" (Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times) filled with adventure, humor and heart. Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. The vain and vengeful Witch of the Waste, jealous of their friendship, puts a spell on Sophie. In a life-changing adventure, Sophie climbs aboard Howl's magnificent flying castle and enters a magical world on a quest to break the spell. Featuring the voice talents of Jean Simmons, Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall, Blythe Danner, and Billy Crystal, Miyazaki's artistry comes to life on DVD with inventive characters, unique storytelling and richly detailed animation. (c) 2004 Nibariki • GNDDDT
Amazon.com: Like a dream, Howl's Moving Castle carries audiences to vistas beyond their imaginations where they experience excitement, adventure, terror, humor, and romance. With domestic box office receipts of over $210 million, Howl passed Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke to become the #3 film in Japanese history, behind his Spirited Away and James Cameron's Titanic. Based on a juvenile novel by Diana Wynne Jones, Howl's Moving Castle marks the first time Miyazaki has adapted another writer's work since Kiki's Delivery Service (1989). Sophie, a 19-year-old girl who believes she is plain, has resigned herself to a drab life in her family's hat shop--until the Witch of the Waste transforms her into a 90-year-old woman. In her aged guise, Sophie searches for a way to break the Witch's spell and finds unexpected adventures. Like Chihiro, the heroine of Spirited Away, Sophie discovers her hidden potential in a magical environment--the castle of the title. Using CG, Miyazaki creates a ramshackle structure that looks like it might disintegrate at any moment. Sophie's honesty and determination win her some valuable new friends: Markl, Howl's young apprentice; a jaunty scarecrow; Calcifer, a temperamental fire demon; and Heen, a hilarious, wheezing dog. She wins the heart of the dashing, irresponsible wizard Howl, and brings an end an unnecessary and destructive war. The film overflows with eclipsing visuals that range from frightening aerial battles to serene landscapes, and few recent features--animated or live action--offer as much magic as Howl's Moving Castle. --Charles Solomon
I am not an "anime" sort of person... yet, on the advice of one of my sons, I got this one and watched it. I have to admit I really loved it. The acting is top notch. Totally fell in love with the Lauren Becall character. We also had many more true talents like Jean Simmons, Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall, and Blythe Danner. (Billy Crystals contribution I could have done without. Of course it could have been worse. He could have used his incredibly annoying character from PRINCESS BRIDE that drove me to distraction!).
Miyazaki's artistry and imagination is just wonderfully over the top. I loved the castle and the characters within. It comes to a point one forgets we're not dealing with real people and really become involved in the action and storyline. There appeared to be a few gaps here and there, particularly when it came to the Kings Sorceress, still a totally engaging story.
Highly recommended.
shipped with NO protection, missing a disc I paid what I consider a premium price for this TWO DISC SET DVD of Howl's Moving Castle and it was listed as "like new" condition ... what I got was ---> ONE <--- DVD with several obvious scratches (although it seems to play fine) in a paper envelope without any protection whatsoever ... not only was the original case missing, but there wasn't even a generic jewel case or paper CD envelope to offer some kind of protection - it also took 11 days to get to me, it's 2009, nothing takes 11 days to mail, especially since it was in a regular non-padded paper envelope - what I got was $0.22 media mail for my $2.98 shipping fee ... I'm still deciding whether or not to just send this back and buy it new from Amazon for the extra $4 - "like new" should mean LIKE NEW! (and where's my 2nd DVD???) ... this is a pretty bad way to sell DVD's - especially one as expensive as this - I never would have bought this from this seller if I would have known this beforehand ... the only reason it got 2 stars from me is because part of the item actually arrived, it was the correct DVD and it does play - at least they didn't just take my money and run
Never thought I'd like it...but I do. Bought this movie for my daughter after seeing it on television. A nice alternative to the Sponge Bob cartoons, this one actually has a story line about loving yourself and caring for others, the effects of war and of peace. Pleasantly surprised, I've watched the whole thing a dozen times already.
perfection! i received my DVD very quickly after ordering and it was in perfect condition..just like new!
Simple but elegant tale with fantastic art Miyazaki is probably the greatest anime director ever; point taken. He can't do a bad job and always creates wonderful and interesting works. This one isn't an exception, it's a good anime film with wonderful art, animation and an imagination beyond limits. But although I love Miyazaki's work, this isn't one of his best works.
For fleshing out his story he would need at least more half an hour of animation, there are too many loose ends or unexplained events in this film, and it deviates so much from the original novel that it's only very loosely based on it (and I sincerely think that it should be made that remark at the beginning or end of the movie).
Compared with princess mononoke's characters, Sophie, Howl, Suliman or the Witch of the Waste are completely bi-dimensional! For example the Witch curses Sophie with a terribly monstrous curse with absolutely no reason (if she wanted a spy there would be millions of easier ways) and next time they meet they are almost friendly, Sophie asks her to remove the curse; the witch says she can't; then O.K. no big deal, let's help the poor overweight woman!!!! There is no consequence for the actions formerly made. Also the Deux ex machina is quite abusive; especially the way Sophie finds Howls Castle.
Many loose ends, if worked on, could had created a marvellous story. For example, Howl avoids at all costs being involved in the war, but for some unexplained reason he is always flying over the battlefields; this could lead to an excellent side plot but remains unexplored.
It is a truly simple story, and very nice and uplifting tale; the image backgrounds are astonishing and the XIX century look mixed with magic and science is fantastic. But there is a lack of character motivations, too many coincidences, everybody is so simple, so good natured, everything can be worked out with a simple phrase "lets be friends" or a smile (from selling the soul, to loosing 60 years of life, almost being killed or ending a war!)...
I believe you should watch this tale and be awed with the art, but not expecting a great story or unforgettable characters.
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