Howl's Moving Castle
It’s easy to get lost in the magic of Miyazaki films. I don’t know a soul who watched 2003’s “Spirited Away” and left feeling anything but warm satisfaction. The aptly named master of animation crafts characters and storylines that engage the audience like few in any genre have done. The universal themes of love, maturity and nature, which run through the veins of his work, have netted him numerous awards and the respect of the Hollywood elite. So it’s no surprise that his newest work, “Howl’s Moving Castle,” is a gem in the genre of animation. No other filmmaker comes close; the only real criticisms for Miyazaki films are comparisons to other Miyazaki films. And while Howl may not be the legend’s best work, it certainly deserves every bit of praise and respect as remarkable and memorable films do.
Sophie is a young girl, afraid to venture out of her humdrum life, content to perform the same menial duties day in day out. It isn’t until she meets Howl, a skilled magician, that she begins to let her hair down and live. A curse by Howl’s former love, the Witch of the Waste, ages Sophie 70 years in a split-second. Confused and yet eerily content with her situation, she seeks out Howl and begins working for him, first as a maid, and then as the one who will save him from his own demise. Set during a raging magical war between nations, Sophie and her companions, including the fiery yet caring demon Calcifer, must save Howl before he is stripped of his power and his life. And everybody, including the malcontent Sophie, is changed in the process.
By every standard, Howl lives and breathes off the screen, as do all the characters. Respect for the master himself pays dividends when it comes to big-name stars that jump at the chance to play his characters. In this film alone we have Christian Bale (Howl), Lauren Bacall (Witch of the Waste), Blythe Danner (Madame Suliman), Jean Simmons (Sophie) and Billy Crystal (Calcifer) to round out the A-list. But don’t be misunderstood; all of the voice actors do an incredible job, including Josh Hutcherson as Markl and Emily Mortimer as Young Sophie. The score, done by longtime friend and collaborator Joe Hisaishi, is classic Hisaishi, and thus, classic Miyazaki. The lighthearted tones lend a whimsical wind to the soundscape, weaving in and out of the film accenting the crisp animation perfectly. And the animation is stunning, perhaps the most complex and graphically challenging of all his works to date. Miyazaki films inspire greatness in all aspects, from the quality of the score to the innovative script and the realism of the voice acting. Everything feels completely pristine and smooth, like a finely tuned instrument with a skillful player.
While it doesn’t live up to the perhaps insurmountable bar set by his previous films, Howl certainly contains enough universal spirit and heart to charm audiences without missing a beat.
Written by: Jason Villemez
Reviewers Rating: 8.5
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Added: 6-Jul-2006
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