Howl's Moving Castle
starring: Chieko Baisho, Takuya Kimura, Tatsuya Gashuin, Akihiro Miwa, Ryûnosuke Kamiki
directed by: Hayao Miyazaki
directed by: Hayao Miyazaki
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Product Description:
Acclaimed Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki adapts British writer Diana Wynne Jones's popular fantasy tale for this animated feature, adding his own unique and celebrated dreamlike spin. A young hat-maker named Sophie (voiced by Emily Mortimer) is turned into an old woman by the dreaded Witch of the Waste (Lauren Bacall) when she attracts the notice of Howl (Christian Bale), a young wizard whom the witch desires for herself. As the old woman, (voiced by Jean Simmons), Sophie finds refuge as a cleaning lady in Howl's magical castle, an impressively realized mishmash of anthropomorphic shafts and gears, where she meets, among other wonders, a cantankerous fire demon named Calcifer (Billy Crystal). Howl's courage inspires her to seek a cure for her curse, and vice versa, and the two work together to prevent a major war as the castle roams the countryside on its mechanical legs. There's lots of magic afoot as well, including travel through barriers of space and time, and shape-shifting, requiring full viewer attention to keep track of who, where, and when, but this how dreams really are and the film engages on that same subconscious level. As with Miyazaki's previous work (SPIRITED AWAY, KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE), the emphasis here is on creating a beautiful alternate reality, where anything can happen, and every frame is a breathtaking work of art. See it on the big screen if the chance presents itself; the elaborate intricacies and patiently realized alternate realities of Miyazaki's work makes him a true treasure.
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, Howlpassed Miyazaki's Princess Mononoketo become the #3 film in Japanese history, behind his Spirited Awayand James Cameron's Titanic. Based on a juvenile novel by Diana Wynne Jones, Howl's Moving Castlemarks 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
Stills from Howl's Moving Castle (click for larger image)
Acclaimed Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki adapts British writer Diana Wynne Jones's popular fantasy tale for this animated feature, adding his own unique and celebrated dreamlike spin. A young hat-maker named Sophie (voiced by Emily Mortimer) is turned into an old woman by the dreaded Witch of the Waste (Lauren Bacall) when she attracts the notice of Howl (Christian Bale), a young wizard whom the witch desires for herself. As the old woman, (voiced by Jean Simmons), Sophie finds refuge as a cleaning lady in Howl's magical castle, an impressively realized mishmash of anthropomorphic shafts and gears, where she meets, among other wonders, a cantankerous fire demon named Calcifer (Billy Crystal). Howl's courage inspires her to seek a cure for her curse, and vice versa, and the two work together to prevent a major war as the castle roams the countryside on its mechanical legs. There's lots of magic afoot as well, including travel through barriers of space and time, and shape-shifting, requiring full viewer attention to keep track of who, where, and when, but this how dreams really are and the film engages on that same subconscious level. As with Miyazaki's previous work (SPIRITED AWAY, KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE), the emphasis here is on creating a beautiful alternate reality, where anything can happen, and every frame is a breathtaking work of art. See it on the big screen if the chance presents itself; the elaborate intricacies and patiently realized alternate realities of Miyazaki's work makes him a true treasure.
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, Howlpassed Miyazaki's Princess Mononoketo become the #3 film in Japanese history, behind his Spirited Awayand James Cameron's Titanic. Based on a juvenile novel by Diana Wynne Jones, Howl's Moving Castlemarks 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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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- 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, ... Read More
Rating: 
- 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.
Rating: - perfection!
i received my DVD very quickly after ordering and it was in perfect condition..just like new!
Rating: 
- 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 ... Read More
Rating: - Is That Really Christian Bale?
Still hard for me to believe that the man who, while on the set for Terminator Salvation, dropped enough F-Bombs to defeat the Germans in World War II is the same man doing the voice of Howl. But such is the nature of voice-over, I suppose. Part of my disillusionment is that I really liked Howl's Moving Castle, and for that matter, the character Howl. Howl has the reputation of a playboy, stealing the hearts of women. It gets a little scary when we learn that the reputation also includes eating their ... Read More
- shipped with NO protection, missing a discI 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, ... Read More
- 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 artMiyazaki 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 ... Read More
- Is That Really Christian Bale?Still hard for me to believe that the man who, while on the set for Terminator Salvation, dropped enough F-Bombs to defeat the Germans in World War II is the same man doing the voice of Howl. But such is the nature of voice-over, I suppose. Part of my disillusionment is that I really liked Howl's Moving Castle, and for that matter, the character Howl. Howl has the reputation of a playboy, stealing the hearts of women. It gets a little scary when we learn that the reputation also includes eating their ... Read More
