Howl's Moving Castle - movie poster 2005 Photo

Howl's Moving Castle

Starring: Christian Bale, Jean Simmons, Lauren Bacall, Emily Mortimer, Billy Crystal

Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki

RS: 3.5of 4 Stars Average User Rating: 3.5of 4 Stars

2005 Buena Vista Fantasy

Christian Bale adds another notch to his Batman Begins acting crown this summer. Bale does the voice of Howl, a young wizard who grows wings to save young Sophie (Emily Mortimer) from the lewd attentions of soldiers in an early scene from Howl's Moving Castle, the latest animated triumph from Hayao Miyazaki. The film has already made a cool $210 million outside the United States, where it's now being released in an English-language version. Before the purists holler, let me say that the dubbing was done under the guidance of Pixar's Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc.), and the result is pure pleasure. Lauren Bacall lends her throaty sass to the obese wicked Witch of the Waste; Jean Simmons does the voice of Sophie when the witch turns her into an old hag, who still loves Howl; and Billy Crystal is comic energy unleashed as Calcifer, the fire demon who keeps the castle moving.

But even superior voice work can't top the luminous images that Miyazaki lavishes on this film. Howl's castle is full of doors, each one opening onto a new world. Miyazaki won an Oscar for 2001's Spirited Away. He should clear space for more gold. There's a word for the kind of comic, dramatic, romantic, transporting visions Miyazaki achieves in Howl's: bliss.

PETER TRAVERS

(Posted: Jun 9, 2005)

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Howl's Moving Castle

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4of 4 Stars

Set in the turbulent times of warfare, the story revolved around Howl, a charming wizard with exceptional talent and his ladylove, Sophie, a warm young lady with a heart of gold.

Sophie was a hatter in a modest shop that was left in her care upon her father’s demise. She was contented with her simple, but seemingly dull life of making hats, until one day, when she met a dashing and mysterious stranger(Howl),who effortlessly captured her heart. From then on, her life took on a drastic turn.

Howl’s Moving Castle had transported me into a fantasy world, where witches and wizards were a common phenomenon.

I was fascinated by Howl and Sophie’s light walk in the air against the backdrop of the brilliant blue sky…the spells cast easily in a blink of an eye…the flourish display of magical powers with a simple wave of the hand…the witty and lovable flame, Calcifer…and most of all, the castle with “legs” that could walk from place to place like a “castle on the move”, also aptly known as “The Moving Castle.”

Overall, watching Howl’s Moving Castle had been an enjoyable experience.

Feb 14, 2006 07:24:46

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