Howl's Moving Castle is a 2004 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli and based on Diana Wynne Jones' novel of the same name. Mamoru Hosoda, director of one season and two movies from the Digimon series, was originally selected to direct but abruptly left the project, leaving the then-retired Miyazaki to take up the director's role.

The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 78th Academy Awards in 2006. (from Wikipedia)

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-synopsis/storyline-

First they show a hazy smoke that comes our from the train and then showing Sophie Hatter was sewing some high-classed hat, then her friends ask her if she wants to go out with them but was rejected. But still she went out, wanted to visit her sister, Lettie Hatter, who works as a shopkeeper (i guess) and everyone likes her due to her cuteness (but in truth i think both of them are not pretty at all, compare to Chihiro's cute and chubby face from Spirited Away) On her way to the shop, two soldier blocked her way and wanted her to be their love interest but was saved by a yellow haired man with magics. Then they encounter some black-ink-like thingy and they walked away in the air peacefully and without anyone knowing.

Then she met her sister and all those introducing about how loyalty she is to her jobs and so on. then she went back and she met and fat customer. Sophie intend to ask her to go out because the shop is closing but was later cursed by this Witch of the Waste (which is the fat lady just now, SO FAT, THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE HER TRACHEA, SHE'S MORE LIKE BLANKET) and Sophie turned into an old woman. She was shocked, of course, and she went back to her bed like an old woman.

The next day, Lattie visits her but Sophie didn't want her to see her old face and using sore-throat as an excuse. After Lattie went back, she sneaks out of her room and leaves her hometown...like an old woman. Then she meets Turnip head which was trap in a bushes and was saved by her...like an old woman. During her trip she saw a big castle like thing but its moving, she realize that its the famous Howl's Moving Castle, immediately she rushes into the Castle...like an old woman, and her adventure starts...

Not as good as Spirited Away, a little bit disappointed thanks to the music and characters and story-flow. The music isn't as epic as Spirited Away, they should make the whole music like "WHOA!!!" when she saw the Moving castle, and some "what's in there" when she's looking what's inside the castle and so on. The character, especially Sophie, who should be pretty before she was old. if you noticed her eye brow was simply too thick, which makes her more like fierce than friendly and kind. And i don't like the story-flow, they didn't tell us why the war started in the first place and the prince's disappearance (which turns into a turnip-head) and they didn't show the relationship between howl and sophie.

But besides that the movie's fine, the background, the castle, and the action. The background was dark and evil when Howl joins the battle, and the castle is simply epic, and the action is detailed as usual.

I wish that, if Hayao Miyazaki wants to make another movie, hope he can improve all the mistake i pointed out, if there's any mistake or more than what i pointed out, comment as you wish.


Review by: Wilson from wilsonanimationproduction
Edited by: MetalFilmReview
Picture arrangement by: MetalFilmReview

The above review is just a personal view from the writer, not a post by mean to offend anyone.
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