Film review: Howl's Moving Castle.
Jun. 28th, 2014 06:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sunlit_musicBelated review of the beautiful film Howl's Moving Castle (directed by Hayao Miyazaki, and based on Diana Wynne Jones' much loved novel of the same name). The film can be watched on DVD in Japanese (with English subtitles) or the English dubs/voiceovers.
Plot: 18 year old shy and lovely Sophie Hatter works in a hat shop and has a chance encounter with a dashing young man who turns out to be none other than Howl the wizard. The Wicked Witch of the Waste lays a curse which turns Sophie into an old woman, as she is jealous of the attention Howl bestows on Sophie. Sophie journeys to Howl's home (a metallic contraption with moving chicken feet), pretends to be a cleaner and fights to break her curse. Turns out that she has the brains and courage to break powerful curses placed on Howl and his cranky fire demon Calcifer...
I adored how Sophie's old age gave her the courage to speak her mind and stand up for people. Howl calling Sophie beautiful regardless of the curse was so touching, and they bring out the best in each other. Howl gives Sophie courage, and Sophie encourages Howl to be more unselfish. There are plot differences between the film and the novel, however, Miyazaki captures the playfulness, humour and wonder of the book.
The animation is detailed and stunning, and the classical score is gorgeous. The film has an old world feel, and Lauren Bacall is delightful as the voiceover dub for the Witch of the Waste.
It's the little domestic details (such as the bouncing scarecrow bringing Sophie her walking stick and Calcifer munching on coal to sustain himself) that are delightful.
A magical film for people of all ages.
Plot: 18 year old shy and lovely Sophie Hatter works in a hat shop and has a chance encounter with a dashing young man who turns out to be none other than Howl the wizard. The Wicked Witch of the Waste lays a curse which turns Sophie into an old woman, as she is jealous of the attention Howl bestows on Sophie. Sophie journeys to Howl's home (a metallic contraption with moving chicken feet), pretends to be a cleaner and fights to break her curse. Turns out that she has the brains and courage to break powerful curses placed on Howl and his cranky fire demon Calcifer...
I adored how Sophie's old age gave her the courage to speak her mind and stand up for people. Howl calling Sophie beautiful regardless of the curse was so touching, and they bring out the best in each other. Howl gives Sophie courage, and Sophie encourages Howl to be more unselfish. There are plot differences between the film and the novel, however, Miyazaki captures the playfulness, humour and wonder of the book.
The animation is detailed and stunning, and the classical score is gorgeous. The film has an old world feel, and Lauren Bacall is delightful as the voiceover dub for the Witch of the Waste.
It's the little domestic details (such as the bouncing scarecrow bringing Sophie her walking stick and Calcifer munching on coal to sustain himself) that are delightful.
A magical film for people of all ages.
