Howl's Moving Castle review (Miyazaki)

Krug · Feb 19, 2005

jester47 · Feb 19, 2005

Miyazaki's most complex fantasy to date eschews straightforward narrative and moral reductionism for a multilayered and equivocal approach that reflects the contradictions of real life. Miyazaki exerts a strong command over a wide-ranging story line and skillfully seduces the viewer into deciphering the subtle motivations of the characters. Consequently, though it's difficult to work out what's going on, it's never boring.

"Castle," which is based on a children's novel by British author Diane Wynne Jones, was a whiz-bang hit in Japan, where it raked in $192 million. But prospects aren't so certain for the United States, where Buena Vista will release the film in June.

Plotting is so multifaceted that it will confuse children,

But it made 192 mil in Japan.

and it lacks the clear-cut heroes and villains typical of animation.

Which american children apparantly can't understand but Brittish and Japanese children can...

Critics will find much to write about,

Stop being afraid of the critics and confusing the audience... if brits like it and Japanese like it, guess what, you have universal appeal. That sells.

but general audiences might be confused by the complexity.

But it still did well in Japan.

Although it looks splendid on the big screen, "Castle" might perform better on DVD, where viewers will consider it a less risky proposition.

Man, I feel insulted.

MetalBard · Feb 19, 2005

Yeah, I love Miyazaki's work and this sounds like it might be the best one yet. I can't wait to see it in the theaters. It's too bad people have such little faith in our youth.

Mad Mac · Feb 19, 2005

Jeez that's condescending. "Not stupid enough for an overseas audience." Pffftt...

Still, looking forward to it. Miyazaki's the man.

CCamfield · Feb 19, 2005

I suspect that it wasn't only Japanese children who went to see the film here in Japan.

I had to skip it because there were no releases here with English subs.

The summary seems strange. Well, maybe they changed the plot from the book, which I don't believe had anything to do with a war, and which was most definitely the story of the girl turned into an old woman by a spell.

AuroraGyps · Feb 22, 2005

I'm just finishing up The Dalemark Quintet by Wynne Jones, and I'm really enjoying it. I was looking at the little bibliography in the front and was like, "Hey, Howl's Moving Castle... they mentioned that on ENWorld." So now, I have to get the book and then hopefully I'll see the movie. I've also read a couple of her other books (Charmed Life and another I can't remember), and I liked them too, so if Miyazaki sticks pretty close to what she's written, it should be a good movie.