Howl's Moving Castle

[vaneramos]

More Japanese anime. Last night Danny and I watched Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), based on a novel by British writer Diana Wynne Jones, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, dubbed into English and distributed in North America by Walt Disney Pictures. It was my first experience of this director and I’m favourably impressed.

First we watched a clip from his 1988 film, My Neighbour Totoro, which captured more purely the essence. Two small girls wait in the rain at a bus stop for their father. He doesn’t arrive, they continue waiting, and darkness falls. The scene carries on with little movement or dialogue; extended views of falling rain and their umbrella. It felt like watching a haiku: simple, distilled, muted, full of meaning without saying anything.

Howl’s Moving Castle is busier and more vivid, and yet also possesses the quality of an extended poem. With diverse mythical characters weaving in and out, it could even be a Saga, but Japanese. The colours are exquisite. A central theme revolves around physical beauty, which is ephemeral, and inner beauty coming with age and wisdom. Also very haiku-like, hardly a children’s story.

Highly recommended. Fortunately Danny purchased these, so I intend to view them again.

Comments

[robearal.livejournal.com]

I am a BIG fan of auther Diana Wynn Jones, and while Howl's Moving Castle is far from my favorite of her works, the brief montages of the Miyazaki version that I've seen have made me cringe in terror.

[noveldevice.livejournal.com]

I recently re-read Howl's Moving Castle, and I think I love it more now than I did when I was a kid reading it. The sequel is fun too. I was excited when I first heard about the movie, even though I dislike anime, but the more I heard about it, the more I thought Ulp. So...no Miyazaki, and I will go on loving the book. :)

[ghostsandrobots.livejournal.com]

Miyazaki's among my faves; must bring Spirited Away next time to show you. Could (and have!) watched that movie a jillion times.

Speaking of -- after the "book launch" in June might be a good time for me.

[songdogmi.livejournal.com]

I just bought My Neighbor Totoro today. I caught it on Turner Classic Movies on cable a couple of months ago when they had a special all-Miyazaki night. Totoro is so sweet, and so well done.

Princess Mononoke is beautiful, but way different because it has a more grown-up theme. I haven't seen Howl's Moving Castle or Spirited Away yet (though I own the latter on DVD).

One more cable note: Cartoon Network is running Miyazaki films during the evening. This week was Castle in the Sky. Next week it's <1>Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. I'm writing this hoping you get Cartoon Network there, otherwise, er, never mind.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Cool! When is the book launch? I have some weekend commitments in June, but we can work around most of them. Marian finishes school on the 16th and Brenna on the 23rd, so I would have to make arrangements with their mother or my parents after that, but it isn't a problem as long as I know in advance. It would be great to see you!

We correct all errors of fact...

[songdogmi.livejournal.com]

Cartoon Network is showing Miyazaki movies on Saturday evenings.
And I just noticed the broken HTML around Nausicaa. Maybe it was too late at night when I posted that comment. ;-)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Aw, too bad. I really enjoyed the movie. But I haven't read the book. Everyone admitted the movie didn't follow it very closely.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Now I'm going to have to read the book. But books set up high expectations of movies, don't they? Maybe because we can imagine things precisely how we want them.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

We watched Totoro on Saturday night. I was even more impressed with it than the other one.

I watch absolutely no TV, so unfortunately won't be able to catch that programme.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Danny and I ended up watching it Saturday night, and I was even more impressed than with Howl's Moving Castle. Miyazaki's characterization of the children in Totoru was possibly the best I've seen in any film. I was amazed. It's a quality worth keeping alive in every human being.