A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Howl's Moving Castle

Date Viewed: 6/18/05

Details:

Voice talent (English version): Emily Mortimer (Young Sophie)

Jean Simmons (Old Sophie)

Christian Bale (Howl)

Josh Hutcherson (Markl)

Billy Crystal (Calcifer)

Blythe Danner (Madam Suliman)

Lauren Bacall (Witch of the Waste)

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Score: +

The Review: It begins as in an Eastern European city in the midst of internecine nationalistic wars of the early 1900's -- somewhere on the Rhine, the Danube or another major river -- and wanders off into a novel mythological niche that has no visible connection to Japan, but for the neotenous eyes typical of anime. The country is Ingary, the town is Market Chipping, and the female lead (Sophie, voiced alternately by Mortimer & Simmons) is a hat-maker in this apparently thriving metropolis. However, beyond the edges of town prowls an odd walking junk-heap that bears some small resemblance to an armored castle, but even more to Baba Yagi's hut on chicken legs (from the Slavic folktales). It becomes quickly clear that magic works in this realm, and that the magician Howl (Bale) has some reason to avoid the authorities. The story rapidly becomes a bit convoluted, and it takes the rest of the film to straighten things out. And yes, eventually, you find out who the Scarecrow really is.

Taken from the 1986 book by Diana Wynne Jones, who also penned "Castle in the Air," from which Miyazaki has made an earlier film.

As with most other Miyazaki films, the characters are seldom ethically binary in their outlook or actions. Not only is there some ambiguity about Howl, but even the Witch of the Waste (Bacall), who initially curses the lead character, evolves sympathetically.

The animation is lively, and its imagination is wonderful. The entrance door to Howl's castle has a unique feature whereby it may be opened in any number of fixed locations, even when the castle has moved. The transitions between old Sophie and young Sophie must have a plot-rational basis, but I have still not figured it out, and will have to watch it again with this in mind.

I happened on the English-dubbed version; there is also a subtitled version in circulation, and it would be interesting to listen to the closing song and titles, which are likely not going to be in English.

(9-Jul-05)

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