Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

When an unconfident young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions in his legged, walking castle.

Jess’ Review

Sam and I have long-argued about what is the best Studio Ghibli film (- spoiler, it’s Spirited Away); but knowing his love of Howl’s Moving Castle I figured I’d treat him to a surprise viewing. So we made some sushi, got comfy and settled in for a truly beautiful film.

One of Hayao Miyazaki’s finest and perhaps best-known films, Howl’s Moving Castle follows Sophie, cursed to live as an elderly woman, and her ensuing adventure in attempting to break the spell. We see deliberately ‘plain’ Sophie transition into her aged-self, now full of vigour, determination and life. So few films - especially animated, are helmed by old women. And with Miyazaki’s penchant for female leads, he’s masterful in creating an endearing and tough character that continues to subverts is expectations of the hero trope. Sharing the screen with a plethora of other vibrant, whimsical characters, it’s easy to get lost in the expanding family of mishaps aboard Howl’s castle. The fantasy elements are strong yet never gimmicky, blending seamlessly into the steampunk-style universe without becoming a distraction from the plot. There is a perfect balance between the world, it’s inhabitants and Sophie’s story.

The animation is as beautiful as you’d expect; a true feast for the eyes for Ghibli fans and newcomers alike. The craftsmanship of the visuals is truly astounding, and each location is brimming with glorious, ensnaring details. It’s the creativity of design that truly captures my attention. The animators behind the film have created art, both in the form of eccentric characters and striking landscapes. 

The story is gripping and multi-layered. It’s a busy world where individual storylines overlap, giving depth to a quietly chaotic, but realistic world in the grips of war. The attention goes beyond just Sophie’s predicament and spans to incorporate so much more. From the tortured Howl’s struggles with identity, love and magic, to Marco’s longing for family and the harsh reality that confronts the Witch of the Waste. There’s a lot of themes and messages bundled up in these poignant subplots, and it lets us invest that much more in these characters. Even the more villainous additions aren’t wholly evil. I feel like evil is a foreign concept in Miyazaki’s work. His ensemble are flawed, yes, but just people with different motives and perspectives. It’s easy to sympathise with the plight of even the most haggard, deliberately-grotesque witch. 

Rich in depth, charm and life, Howl’s Moving Castle is masterful. Always engaging, with equal measures of threat, drama and humour, it’s a film that truly takes you on a journey. 

9/10

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Sam’s Review

I first saw this film with my dad years ago. It has the honour of being only one of two films, the other being Four Lions (2010), that I secretly didn’t want to see. And yet, upon watching it I was totally mesmerised. This film ignited my passion for Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. I was enamoured by the stirring visuals and creative designs, and thrilled by the journey it took me upon. So, when Jess finally relented and let me re-watch this, I was thrilled. We even ate homemade sushi with it. (Awkward picture below...)

The dark depth to this mystical story had me gripped instantly. Mention of the Witch of the Waste and the heart-eating Howl are stirring, enriching this fantasy world. Monstrous creatures that have their own folklore.

The visuals are as delightfully vibrant as I remember. Filled with such colour and phenomenal steampunk contraptions, I cannot do it justice in the 450 word count that I have. Howl's Moving Castle reimagines Japan in spectacular fashion, while staying true to its culture. Opulence and decadence spills from the buildings. When we’re transported to the countryside, Miyazaki’s favoured terrain, the scope is vast, from the pink flowers that light up the hilly greenery to the snow-tipped mountains. The bulbous mechanical animal that is the castle, looks as if it has ingested and become a mashup of various machines and houses. Heading inside, we are introduced to a gloomy and cluttered room, great tomes covered in food stacked high. A scene that captures the essence of the majestic visuals is when we are introduced to Howl's bedroom. The colourful, mystical trinkets that adorn his walls and piled across the floor are phenomenal. Not simply limited to looking good, they also have deeper meanings. His bedroom reflects his vanity, surrounding himself with beautiful things. It also mirrors his bird persona, as if he has created his nest from these trinkets.

The tone is stunning. While broaching heavy subjects on multiple levels, from life altering curses to the devastating impact of war, it manages to maintain a light, yet phenomenally unique, tone. It’s aided by the amazing voice cast, who bring these thrilling characters to life. Bale’s deep voice embodies this dark wizard. His blond hair and bright blue eyes contrast with conventionally ‘bad’ characters. Yet, becomes incredulously dramatic over trivial things, specifically regarding his beauty. However, while Howl's name is in the title, and he's a fascinating character, the story is Sophie's, and her journey to adjust to her life as an elderly person. Her strength and resilience are fantastic, and unsurprisingly so considering Miyazki's penchant for strong female leads.

There are so many deeper meanings, that stay true to Miyazaki's theatrical themes. Compassion, peace, nature, strong females, the savagery of war, flight. They are not just represented within the film, but represented correctly, with a strong moral lesson lingering beneath the entertainment.

This is fantasy at it's finest. Stunning visuals, majestic magic, layered characters and a heartwarmingly brilliant story. It emits an innocent joy that is hard to ignore. Miyazaki once again proves himself a cinematic master.

10/10

P.S. This being one of my favourite films made the review excruciatingly hard, as I feel I could write a dissertation on this. I had to ask Jess for special permission to go over our agreed upon word count. She reluctantly agreed.