I have to start of this review by saying that I don’t think its possible to say enough good things about Miyazaki Hayao. He is one of the most revolutionary directors in animation history he’s the creator of such modern classics as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.
Howl’s Moving Castle continues the Miyazaki tradition of excellence. I think if there ever was a Disney spirt that fled the conglomorate it was snatched up by Miyazaki and his Studio Ghibli. The story is based on the children’s fantasy novel of the same name by Diana Wynn Jones that follows the journy of a young girl names Sophie who has to deal with a curse that’s changed her into an old woman. In order to break this curse (that she’s not alowed to speak of by the way) she goes to the Wastes to find the mysterious wizard Howel who moves about in a walking castle, hense the moving castle part of the title.
For the purposes of this review I have watched the movie in both English and Japanese. Both language tracks have their merits and I don’t really consider one better than the other. The one character I will side with the English casting is Billy Crystal as the fire demon/hearth Calsifer who brings a great depth and comedic presence to the movie. Not that any of the American cast can be discounted with such stars as Christian Bale, Jean Simmons, and Lauren Bacall.
The animation is simply breathtaking. There is very little computer stuff in there, mostly its plane old fasioned animation and it is gorgeous. Everything is well rendered from the simplest guesture to the complex movents of the castle itself everything is meticlously crafted and you can tell that the folks a Ghibli are at the top of their craft. There is a lot of great imagery and ever scene has something pretty to look at.
I’d suggest that everyone watch Howl’s Moving Castle, especially for anime lovers. And if you haven’t seen a Miyazaki move I’d suggest you go rent yourself Princess Mononoke and Sprited Away right now. You’ll be doing yourself a great favor.
Oh god yes! Miyazaki is the greatest. I loved Howl, this is one of the best anime movies I have ever seen. Everyone should see it, and all the rest of the Miyazaki movies.
Also, for those people who watch Attack of the Show on G4, Chris Gore is full of shit, this movie is totally awesome.
Howl’s Moving Castle is magnificent, although not quite as accessible as Miyazaki’s most recent projects. While this movie places the same emphasis on the importance of love and loyalty as his Academy Award winning work in Spirited Away, the complexity of this movie asks for a bit more attention. It took two viewings at the theater before I felt that I had fully understood Howl’s Moving Castle.
Miazaki’s work is character driven. This gives it both its great strength and adds to its complexity. That complexity is not overwhelming, nobody is going to go away from this movie totally mystified but Miazaki is never one to provide his audience with excessive exposition. As an animator he uses his impressive skill to bring to life both an impressive cast of characters and an entire world. He is also quite simply a visual mastermind; with a genius in crafting visions just this side of pure imagination.
The power in this work is in its blend of visual brilliance with a wonderful grasp of the beauty in the human heart. The audience can fully thrill at the joy and ache at the pain that is present here. This is a work that can touch the innocence is us all.
Well, look at the picture of the old lady above. I think that he draws people in a grotesque kind of way.
I like Peter Chung, but he does much the same thing. All of the people in his cartoons are white people, but it’s as if they’re some ugly impression of white people.
Interestingly, I know a Japanese film maker from when I used to live in NYC and I asked her why Japanese always put white people in their cartoons instead of Japanese people. She reported that it’s not always honorable to depict Japanese people in cartoons. That remark made me dislike them just a little.
Really, the Ninja Scroll got me into the whole Mange thing. Ch4 used to do Manga every Saturday night about 1, shame they don’t anymore.
I’ve caught a few great manga films like Ghost in the Shell and Akira, is there any others anyone could recommend? Or perhaps good seies (having caught a few of the ones where they pilot robots, the name escapes me now but it’s famous, I really like this shit! It’s a close call between Ghost in the Shell or the Untouchables right in this drunken moment!)
ya i would have to say that they are all good movies and that i cant wight till fullmetal Alchemist the movie comes to the usa there is a lot of anime that I love =D> like for instence naruto , fullmetal alchemist , GTO , and there is a lot more and i wish that they can keep making more!!
like for instence naruto , fullmetal alchemist , GTO , and there is a lot more and i wish that they can keep making more!!