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Underground > Film, TV & Theatre >

Howl's Moving Castle

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09:27 / 20.06.05

The plot sneaks by in the background while you are focused on the characters.

::dances:: Oh, yayy! That's my favourite thing about Diana Wynne Jones's books - in passing, thank you for formulating so beautifully and simply something I've spent the last couple of years obsessing about - and I'm really happy it made it into the movie.

12:16 / 24.09.05

I saw this last night... I ama devotee of Diana Wynne Jones, Howl is one of my favourite books by her, so was very excited about this - not to mention curious.

The plot has been considerably altered, though many of the essentials are similar - but a lot of the emotional complexity of the original has changed. Moreover, the ending is superlatively cheesy, and I felt it detracted rather from the film. And furthermore, there was not enough of Howl being a pain.

However, I still loved it, especially the first half, which got practically everything right on the nose. The animation is amazing, the background designs are possibly even better. Howl's epic sulk is a joy, Calcifer is done very well (similar to Jiji in Kiki), the castle is brilliant, etc etc etc. Even down to the magic disguise cloak.

I would probably need to see it again to watch it completely on its own terms, but I think it does largely work on those terms (though as I said, the ending is a bit pat).

18:29 / 24.09.05

Pretty much all agreed, KK. I saw it months back with a lousy pirate translation, but even with good subs I think it's a film to watch twice or more.

I wonder whether he just ran out of steam with the ending, or whether he has a larger point to make?

ONLY NICE THINGS

22:16 / 24.09.05

The one thing I liked about the ending was:

S

P

O

I

L

E

R

The idea the Madame Suliman had engineered the entire horrible, ruinous war in order to force Howl to return to the fold of heart-possessing wizards and take over from her. So, the happy ending is just part of a huge and sinister plan to maintain the status quo.

09:19 / 25.09.05

A huge and sinister plan that encompasses sacrificing millions of young men (and women) to fight in that completely unecessary war just so Suliman could get off and retire... Somehow I don't see how sacrificing all those soldiers to knock Howl out of his own celf-centred solipsim is any less self-centred and solipsistic...

ONLY NICE THINGS

09:30 / 25.09.05

Because it's necessary (from her point of view) to have a magician protecting the realm. Howl is the only candidate, and has to rediscover his heart to do it. It's the ends justifying the means, and it is indeed horrible, but solipsistic? No. As Howl says, the magic shields the palace, but the bombs just fall elsewhere.

11:15 / 25.09.05

I suppose how solipsistic (to mangle the word) you find Suliman's actions depends on how much credence you give to Suliman's various aims and the faith she has in those view that a magician protecting the realm is necessary. I believe it is Suliman herself that talks about her personal gain of retiring once she has a suitable replacement (Howl) in place. This give her a degree of self interest in finding someone to take over. Suliman is not portrayed as being at the end of her powers or her life. Does she believe in good faith that a magician in the role that she holds is necessary? If that is the case, why does she arborgate her responsibility - to provide Howl the world a salutary lesson in personal responsibility? How responsible are her actions in providing this lesson?

I guess it comes back to, as you say, the extent to which you agree that Suliman's ends (which are multiple) justify, or are compromised, by the means through which she pursues them...

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

17:29 / 28.09.05

Just came back from seeing it (subtitled)... whoah. I think I need to see it again. Soon. Ace. I'll try to post something a bit more coherent after I've either seen it again or thought about it a bit more.

18:29 / 28.09.05

[threadrot]
There are rumors on the internets that Miyazaki will be turning his attentions to Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea books. I'm not one to pay too much attention to this kind of speculation, the Earthsea books do have a number of themes that Miyazaki tends to like exploring, and I think that he'd do an exellent job.
[/threadrot]

15:56 / 30.09.05

Hmm, since there is much discussion of his other films as well, maybe some of the mods could change the subject to be about Miyazaki and all his films?

I never read the Wynne Jones book, but I did enjoy the movie. Seemed to be several motifs that have cropped up in other Ghibli films, but I think I need to watch it again before I start a definitive list.

KKC, did you see the sub or the dub? I saw the sub, and I think that the guy who voiced Calcifer was the same one who voiced Jiji.

When it started, I thought it was going to be like Steamboy, but thankfully it was much better.

16:24 / 30.09.05

I was stunned.

Spirited Away left me a little cold, whereas while Howl was quite slow moving, it was so utterly beautiful that I couldn't peel the smile from my face. It just seemed so in love with life, such a subtle mediatation on responsibility adn the way various people deal with it. Plus, I love the whole steampunk aesthetic.

A favourite for the year, by far!

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