Howl's Moving Castle
by Hayao Miyazaki
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Akihiro Miwa, Chieko Baishô, Ryûnosuke Kamiki, Takuya Kimura, Tatsuya GashûinDirector: Hayao Miyazaki
Brand: Buena Vista Home Video
Producer: Hayao Miyazaki
Writer: Hayao Miyazaki
Producer: John Lasseter
Producer: Ned Lott
Producer: Rick Dempsey
Producer: Tomohiko Ishii
Writer: Diana Wynne Jones
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; Japanese (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 5.1; Japanese (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 119 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-03-07
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Model: 04139900
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Product features:
- 2-disc special edition features both the original Japanese soundtrack and an English language soundtrack
- Behind the Microphone featurette with the English language voice cast and footage from the dubbing sessions
- Interview with Pixar Animation Studios Director, Pete Docter
- Hayao Miyazaki Visits Pixar Animation Studios with Pixar director John Lasseter
- Complete storyboards set to the movie soundtrack
Movie Reviews of Howl's Moving Castle
Movie Review: Lesser yet still captivating Miyazaki fairy tale masterpiece.
Summary: 5 Stars
With HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, Hayao Miyazaki takes a popular British children's book by Dianne Wyanna Jones and transforms it into yet another breathtakingly gorgeous and sumptuously animated work of art. Indeed, from the opening shot where we see the titular structure--a bizarre amalgam of iron, steam, and unexpected surprises--loom ominously out of the mist, audiences will find themselves on a roller coaster of visual delight and imagination.
The story, set in a fantastical Welsh countryside, involves a young woman named Sophie who is literally swept off her feet by the handsome yet enigmatic wizard, Howl--despite warnings from her fellow friends that this "lady-killer" of a magician eats the hearts of young girls alike. Soon after, Sophie finds herself cursed by the jealous Witch of the Waste--where she is transformed into a ninety-year-old crone. Forced to flee from her hometown, "Grandma" Sophie (who occasionally reverts from old to young as the film progresses) takes refuge in Howl's fortress, where she makes a pact with a jabbering fireball known as Calcifer in order to break his own curse, and likewise, her own.
The plot gets a little bit more complicated from here on out, with various side-stories that involve a war, a stern queen who wants Howl to serve in her name, and--wouldn't you know--Howl conquering his inner demons of despair and selfishness through true love. Yet this kind of complex-storytelling has been a well-known trait of Japanese animation, and should be no different here.
Fans of the novel that this film is based on have argued that Miyazaki's movie is a poor interpretation of Jones' story (apparently he changed things from the original to suit his imagination). Not having read the book, I can't comment on what parts of the story have been altered or which remain faithful, but as a genuinely huge fan of Miyazaki's work, I have to say that his adaptation is a charming delight on its own ground. Probably the best way to appreciate this film is to approach it as an inspiration for a masterpiece of animation, and not as an undistorted incarnation of Jones' world.
This is not to say, however, that Miyazaki's HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE is flawless--far from it. For fans spoiled by his more action-packed classics such as NAUSICAA and CASTLE IN THE SKY, this film offers little in the way of exciting set pieces. The overall story unfolds at a leisurely pace; this worked in favor of his more quieter, gentler children's tales such as MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE, and of course the surrealistic SPIRITED AWAY, but here it sometimes comes off as a bit of a detriment. Given the war subplot and a few occasional action-sequences, one would expect HOWL to at least have a grand climax. Regrettably, it concludes in a manner that is slower and more drawn-out than SPIRITED AWAY does, undermining its potential for an epic fantasy. I lay this blame, however, on myself; I had unrealistically high expectations for this film, and so I couldn't help but feel a little bit let down by the finale.
Still, in spite of its pacing problems, HOWL has a lot to offer in the way of visual fiestas, characters that one can identify with, and of course, Joe Hisaishi's richly romantic underscore. It should also be noted that after viewing this movie a few more times, I have come to appreciate it for what it really is, not what I wanted it to be. As such, I do not hesitate to recommend HOWL as yet another Miyazaki masterpiece.
On another matter, I am reluctant to choose a favorite out of the Disney/Miramax/Pixar-produced English tracks for Miyazaki's movies because I've found every one of them to be of five-star quality and always a pleasure to listen to (even the ones that some folks are somewhat divided about, notably MONONOKE, CASTLE IN THE SKY, and KIKI). But for the record, Disney once again provides a very capable cast to lend their vocals to the characters and two skillful people to direct them (PIXAR's Pete Docter and Disney's own Rick Dempsey).
As the enigmatic Howl, Christian Bale delivers his lines with a somewhat menacing yet strangely charming style. Emily Mortimer is excellent as the sweet, sincere young Sophie, as is elderly Jean Simmons as her 90-year-old counterpart. This triumvirate is amply supported by Lauren Bacall, who is amazingly menacing--and later on grandmotherly--as the Witch of the Waste, Josh Hutcherson as the childlike sorcerer Markl (who can make himself look older than he really is), Blythe Danner as the icy Madam Suliman. As a nice little treat, longtime Anime voiceover (and huge Miyazaki fan) Crispin Freeman has a brief cameo at the end. (You can also hear him play various roles in the English version of GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES.)
Yet as with all the Disney/Miyazaki dubs, there is always one actor who will steal the spotlight from the others (not that this is a bad thing; I don't mind!), and this time it's the ever-amusing Billy Crystal. As the wily fire-demon Calcifer (who reminded me a lot of Phil Hartman's Jiji from KIKI in both sarcasm and tone), Crystal scorches up the scenery and provides all the best moments as well as laughs (hey, he's hot).
And to give further credit where it's due, the Disney DVD release looks--and sounds--absolutely fantastic. Extras have never really been a strong selling point of Disney's Ghibli DVD releases, yet this one has some interesting tidbits: in addition to the expected voice talent featurette, trailers, and storyboards, there is a lengthy interview from dub co-director Docter as well as a twenty-minute long featurette where we see Miyazaki attend PIXAR studios, presenting John Lasseter with a gigantic Cat Bus from TOTORO.
All in all, this is yet another stellar treat from Hayao Miyazaki with an equally fantastic dub and a reasonably good DVD release provided by Disney. What more can you ask for?
Summary of Howl's Moving Castle
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 ? GNDDDTLike 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
The Many Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki
 The works of Miyazaki |  The Book |  The Art of Howls' Moving Castle (book) |
Stills from Howl's Moving Castle (click for larger image)
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