7tavern: Hauru no ugoku shiro

Hauru no ugoku shiro

Sound (4)
1.9
Plot (4)
2
Cast (4)
2
Special Effects (4)
2
Length & Pace (4)
1.9
Cinematography (4)
2

Directors: Hayao Miyazaki

Writers: Hayao Miyazaki (screenplay),Diana Wynne Jones (novel)

Release: 20 November 2004 (Japan)

Plot: When an unconfident young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions in his legged, walking home.

Cast: Chieko Baisho - Sofi (voice: Japanese version), Takuya Kimura - Hauru (voice: Japanese version), Akihiro Miwa - Arechi no Majo (voice: Japanese version), Tatsuya Gashuin - Karushifa (voice: Japanese version), Ryunosuke Kamiki - Marukuru (voice: Japanese version), Mitsunori Isaki - Kosho (voice: Japanese version), Yo oizumi - Kakashi no Kabu (voice: Japanese version), Akio otsuka - Kokuo (voice: Japanese version), Daijiro Harada - Hin (voice: Japanese version), Haruko Kato - Sariman (voice: Japanese version), Jean Simmons - Grandma Sophie (voice: English version), Christian Bale - Howl (voice: English version), Lauren Bacall - Witch of the Waste (voice: English version), Blythe Danner - Madame Suliman (voice: English version), Emily Mortimer - Young Sophie (voice: English version)

Runtime: 119 min

Country: Japan

Language: Japanese

Company: Buena Vista Home Entertainment

Links: IMDb Profile

Categories: Adventure, Animation, Fantasy, Romance

Main

Trailer

MichaelParent
Reviews: 75
Points: 160 (Level 3)
Reviewer

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Howl's Moving Castle

Not being a fan of mangas at the first place didn't tend me to discover  the work of Asian animation. Having only seen Hayao Miyazaki's Alice in Wonderland inspired Spirited Away in the context of my journey through the 1000 Greatest Films of They Shoot Pictures Don't They?. I liked Spirited Away but I wasn't blown away by it. Since I decided to make parallel quests  to the "1000GF TSPDT" I wanted to explore the 35+/- films I haven't seen  yet voted by the users of IMDb. There are more than one Animation  listed there, escpecially the ones from Miyazaki: Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro , Princess Mononoke and Howl's Moving Castle.  So the later one was the first I decided to watch, well the plot seemd  the most interesting and I had to start somewhere I guess.

The story: a young woman, Sofi is a hat tailor that works hard for the  factory of his deceased father. One day she meets a strange but  attracting sorcerer. But later that night, a witch put a spell on her  and she pass from 18 to 70 years old. But she must not tell anyone. The  next day she quits the town and embarks on a journey on the moving  castle of the sorcerer Hauru. Helped with a scarecrow, a demon fire  named Calcifer, and a little boy Markl.

As we are in an animation film, I must say that Miyazaki's visuals are  very colored and candy for the eye. The colors are satured and the  contrast are strong in the colors. I kind of find them very cheesy and  maybe too poppy... I'd like to see a darker palette but Asian animation  is all about blazing colors. However, with that aside some of the  visuals are stunning and they fit perfectly well with that kind of  fantastic story.

I would have loved Howl's Moving Castle as a child, because I was  very entertained by stories that take the character from its normal  huma life and change it drastically into some "crazy" but lovable  universe. It's like when I was reading comic books as a child I always  liked how a story can take you anywhere in a world completely different  from our reality. And I think that is well executed with Howl's Moving Castle and it changes from the lately vast offering of animation movies that  just don't have the same hold onto their stories and constantly use the  same patterns over and over again.

Recommendations: Le charme discret de la bourgeoisie, Duel

2010-10-18 18:50:37

Squish
Reviews: 740
Points: 0 (Level 1)
Reviewer

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2.5

Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

Baba Yaga got nuthin on this hut!

Genre: Animé Fantasy Sci-Fi Adventure Romance Drama (Japan)

Starring: Chieko Baisho, Takuya Kimura (Love and Honor; 2046)

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki (Princess Mononoke; Spirited Away)

Overview: In a land torn up by war, a young girl gets caught up in the lives of feuding sorcerers. Searching for a cure to her curse, she seeks out Howl's moving castle to meet the mage within, and have the spell lifted.

Performance:

Great! I think the voices are totally cute for Calcifer and the kid. I listened to it in the original language, but I read that Christian Bale does the voice of Howl in the dubbed version. This was during his physical transition from his role as The Machinist to that in Batman Begins, while he was beefing up. Do yourself a favour and always watch Anime in the original language if you can. As in Grave of The Fireflies, you do not want to miss the raw energy and subtle nuances of these voices.
Rating: 8

Cinematography:

The mix of computer animation with the classic style is a nice touch. Like as in Steamboy, you can see the leaps and bounds being made in this medium, and to know that they aren't content just leaving well enough alone is a nice statement on the future of Animé. With 3D effects, lens flares and outright GCI, this is a spectacle to enjoy.
Rating: 8

Script:

The characters were all very distinct and an enjoyment to explore, especially Calcifer and the Witch of the Waste. The story was full of good honest humanity, and though we didn't explore the vast world they inhabited, the more personal approach made for a more touching film.
Rating: 7

Plot:

The story itself is fun to follow. A woman is cursed to be 90 years old, and she can't tell anyone either. In hopes she becomes Howl's maid, learning about him, and the mystical world that he lives in. The ending was way too abrupt, concluding itself inside of 10 minutes, but resolved enough things to leave you happy without it being all too cliché. Without all the supporting roles this film would not be as cool as it is.
Rating: 8

Mood:

The mystical feel of this is incredible. Merge Steampunk Sci-Fi with fantasy magic, throw in war and a mystical haven with strange creatures. This is good because it's light. It doesn't have all this heavy important social commentary. I laughed a lot at how cute everything was, and as mood goes, I believed every minute.
Rating: 9

"So... weak... Old... lady... will have to ... do... Hop on!"

Overall Rating: 80% (Very Moving Indeed!)

Aftertaste:
This was terrific. Mental note: Whenever Animé comes out in North American theaters it is at worst entertaining, and at best, incredibly inspiring. With the way animation is going, its technology is only going to get better. Totally fun weekend movie. Calcifer and Turnip, honestly, make half the film.

(Read Less...)

Recommendations: Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino, 2009), Requiem for a Dream, Dawn of the Dead

2010-05-20 04:30:07

MichaelParent
Reviews: 75
Points: 160 (Level 3)
Reviewer

Howl's Moving Castle

Not being a fan of mangas at the first place didn't tend me to discover the work of Asian animation. Having only seen Hayao Miyazaki's Alice in Wonderland inspired Spirited Away in the context of my journey through the 1000 Greatest Films of They Shoot Pictures Don't They?. I liked Spirited Away but I wasn't blown away by it. Since I decided to make parallel quests to the "1000GF TSPDT" I wanted to explore the 35+/- films I haven't seen yet voted by the users of IMDb. There are more than one Animation listed there, escpecially the ones from Miyazaki: Spirited Away , My Neighbor Totoro , Princess Mononoke and Howl's Moving Castle . So the later one was the first I decided to watch, well the plot seemd the most interesting and I had to start somewhere I guess. The story: a young woman, Sofi is a hat tailor that works hard for the factory of his deceased father. One day she meets a strange but attracting sorcerer. But later that night, a witch put a spell on her and she...

(Read More...)

2010-10-18 18:50:37

Squish
Reviews: 740
Points: 0 (Level 1)
Reviewer

Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

Baba Yaga got nuthin on this hut! Genre: Animé Fantasy Sci-Fi Adventure Romance Drama (Japan) Starring: Chieko Baisho, Takuya Kimura (Love and Honor; 2046) Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki (Princess Mononoke; Spirited Away) Overview: In a land torn up by war, a young girl gets caught up in the lives of feuding sorcerers. Searching for a cure to her curse, she seeks out Howl's moving castle to meet the mage within, and have the spell lifted. Performance: Great! I think the voices are totally cute for Calcifer and the kid. I listened to it in the original language, but I read that Christian Bale does the voice of Howl in the dubbed version. This was during his physical transition from his role as The Machinist to that in Batman Begins , while he was beefing up. Do yourself a favour and always watch Anime in the original language if you can. As in Grave of The Fireflies, you do not want to miss the raw energy and subtle nuances of these voices. Rating: 8 ...

(Read More...)

2010-05-20 04:30:07

eternality_tan
Reviews: 159
Points: 0 (Level 1)
Reviewer

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Plot:
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Special Effects:
Length & Pace:
Cinematography:

3.7

3.9

3.8

3.6

3.9

Howl's Moving Castle (Hayao Miyazaki, 2004)

THE SCOOP
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Plot: When an unconfident young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions in his walking home.

Genre: Animation/Adventure/Romance/Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Family
Awards: Nom. for 1 Oscar - best animated film. Nom. for Golden Lion (Venice Film Festival)
Runtime: 119min
Rating: G for frightening images and brief mild language.

IN RETROSPECT
After the hugely successful Oscar-winning Spirited Away, one would expect Hayao Miyazaki to be drained of his creative ideas. Or perhaps to retire, lie under a palm tree, and fade away from the media spotlight. But thankfully for us and the film industry, Japan's leading exponent of the art of animation continues to dream of eclipsing his past masterpieces. His recent offering, Howl's Moving Castle remains true to his roots after all these years. It boasts colorful characters, beautiful moving pictures, and detailed character animation that only Pixar can rival.

Howl's Moving Castle suffers from the success of Spirited Away, living in the shadow of the latter, such that whatever stunning objective Miyazaki seeks to do doesn't astound us the way it might have. Howl's Moving Castle is less emotional than previous Miyazaki accomplishments, but it occasionally grazes our hearts, nevertheless the upbeat and vibrant atmosphere leads us to feeling more cheerful than teary. There are unforgettable characters like Calcifer, Witch Of The Waste etc, all products of the fertile mind that belongs to Miyazaki. Howl's Moving Castle may not represent the director's best effort, but it's an apt reminder of what Miyazaki can always do. Or what Disney, DreamWorks, or Fox studios sometimes can't.

SCORE: 8/10
[www.filmnomenon.blogspot.com]
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Recommendations: Toy Story 3 (Lee Unkrich, 2010), To Kill a Mockingbird (Robert Mulligan, 1962), The Visitor

Singapore's Most Prolific Film Blogger @ www.filmnomenon.blogspot.com

Last updated: 2010-04-09 08:00:50 by eternality_tan

2010-04-09 08:00:35

eternality_tan
Reviews: 159
Points: 0 (Level 1)
Reviewer

Howl's Moving Castle (Hayao Miyazaki, 2004)

THE SCOOP Director: Hayao Miyazaki Plot: When an unconfident young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions in his walking home. Genre: Animation/Adventure/Romance/Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Family Awards: Nom. for 1 Oscar - best animated film. Nom. for Golden Lion (Venice Film Festival) Runtime: 119min Rating: G for frightening images and brief mild language. IN RETROSPECT After the hugely successful Oscar-winning Spirited Away , one would expect Hayao Miyazaki to be drained of his creative ideas. Or perhaps to retire, lie under a palm tree, and fade away from the media spotlight. But thankfully for us and the film industry, Japan's leading exponent of the art of animation continues to dream of eclipsing his past masterpieces. His recent offering, Howl's Moving Castle remains true to his roots after all these years. It boasts colorful...

(Read More...)

2010-04-09 08:00:35

Nate13
Reviews: 128
Points: 0 (Level 1)
Reviewer

Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

One of animation’s God (the extraordinaire Hayao Miyazaki) most creative and ambitious film, HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE is an arresting and emotionally uplifting thrill ride, that is damn nearly flawless.

(Read More...)

2010-03-03 04:16:25

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