HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE (2004)

Sophie works as a hat maker at a shop belongs to her mother. On her way to visit her sister in the city, she was harassed by two soldiers and was saved by Howl, the handsome and mysterious wizard, who took her for a “magic journey” walking on the air. Never feel as beautiful as her mother and sister, since then Sophie has the chance to feel in love with the charming Howl. Back to the shop later in the evening, she got a visit from the Wicked Witch of the Waste who cursed her into a 90-years old grandma.

Sophie decided to leave the shop in a long journey to find a way to break the curse. The journey is harder because her young spirit is wrapped in a 90-years old body. The Turnip Head, a scarecrow she met on the way to find the Wicked Witch of the Waste helped Sophie to get a shelter on Howl’s moving castle. It’s a wicked castle so it doesn’t really look like a proper castle. It’s more like a million of metal scraps joined together and given two legs so that it can move around. On the castle, Sophie made friends with Markl, Howl’s young apprentice and Calcifer, the eternal fire flame. Every night Howl flies as an eagle to join the war, risking his life for the sake of the king’s stupid decision. Howls’s narcissistic is matched with Sophie’s meekness. Her love and affection for Howl (and for everyone/everything else in the castle) has helped him to find his real shape. Howl once lost his heart to a demon. Instead of running away as he used to, this time Howl isn’t afraid to stay back and fight for his “little family”.

Based on a novel by Diana Wynne Jones, the movie is originally made with Japanese title Hauro No Ugoku Shiro. The English version is directed by Pete Docter, the director of (also a fantastic movie) Monster Inc. Howl is voiced by Christian Bale (Batman Begins, The Machinist), Young Sophie is voiced by Emily Mortimer (Dear Frankie, The 51st State), Old Sophie is voiced by Jean Simmons, Markl is voiced by Josh Hutcherson and Calcifer is voiced by Billy Crystal (Analyse This, Analyse That).

Hayao Miyazaki never fails to sweep the audiences along with his movies. If you enjoy Spirited Away, you’ll get the same amusement from Howl’s Moving Castle. With excellent details and colours, I was amazed with how brilliant and smooth the drawings were! (Kyaaaaa…. I wish I could be in that world too.) The character of Howl will surely make female audiences dreamy especially with Bale’s sensual and charming voice. The world created by Miyazaki really gives an unusual (and mystical) atmosphere, inviting us to join the journey first-hand. However, the revelation of Turnip Head’s real identity is too… cliché! Somehow, I was expecting something more fun, more surprises.

My rating: 5/6