Howls Wonderful Castle (Howl's Moving Castle [2005] (DVD))

Member Name: themovieboy

Product:	Howl's Moving Castle [2005] (DVD)
Date:	28/04/09 (99 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: SIMPLY A GREAT MOVIE

Disadvantages: NOTHING

Howls Moving castle.
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Watched this at the weekend and was simply enthralled by the wonderful story and incredible graphics.

The Story follows 18 year old Sophie who leads a very dull and unfulfilling life. She works in her late fathers hat shop and is quite sad not only about her father passing away but she also feels tied to the hat shop.

One day whilst out walking, daydreaming, she is accosted by two soldiers but rescued by a rather strange individual who it transpires has magical powers. This is Howl.

This is a time of war, a time to be on the lookout for spies and villains. Howl is considered to be at worst a spy and at best a traitor! He will not turn his magical powers in favour of the queens' kingdom and so is hunted relentlessly by the queen and her guards.
It seems that the Prince has vanished and as such a rival kingdom is suspected of abducting him hence the war.

Later back at the shop Sophie is cursed by the witch of the waste and turned into a ninety year old woman. She sets out to find Howl and see if he can break the curse put on her by the Witch.
What she finds and where it takes her is the real start of this dynamic animated adventure.

Howl lives in an enchanted walking Castle along with a young boy called Markl, his dog Heen and a sarcastic fire demon played by Billy Crystal, well his voice that is.
Along the way Sophie will meet a strange jumping scarecrow and become friends with the Witch, she will solve mysteries and of course fall in love.

Starring:
Christian Bale - Howl
Jean Simmons - Grandma Sophie
Billy Crystal - Fire Demon
Lauren Bacall - Witch of the Waste

An incredibly colourful movie that children, old and young alike, will love. Clearly no expense has been sparred on the making of this beautifully shot film. It has a militaristic feel throughout pervading the film giving it at times a sad and melancholy feel. The Creeping shadows that work for the witch of the Waste might frighten very young children.

The moving castle is a hodgepodge of stuck together bits that occasionally fall off whilst other bits reveal themselves to have magical purposes. Incredible detail seems to have gone into every scene in this movie.

The comedy in this film is pretty much entirely provided by Billy Crystal and he does not fail to deliver a superb performance.

I would highly recommend this movie for kids of all ages.

Summary: WATCH IT IF YOU GET THE CHANCE