| Howl's Moving Castle | 
 enlarge | Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Actors: Chieko Baisho, Takuya Kimura, Akihiro Miwa, Tatsuya Gashuin, Ryunosuke Kamiki
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.99
Buy New: $19.99
You Save: $10.00 (33%)
New (51) Used (16) from $17.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  288 reviews
Sales Rank: 838
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), Japanese (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Number Of Items: 2
Running Time: 119
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: DISD41399D
UPC: 786936296662
EAN: 0786936296662
ASIN: B000CDGVOE
Theatrical Release Date: 2004
Release Date: March 7, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Like a dream, Howl's Moving Castle carries audiences to vistas beyond their imaginations where they experience excitement, adventure, terror, humor, and romance. With domestic box office receipts of over $210 million, Howl passed Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke to become the #3 film in Japanese history, behind his Spirited Away and James Cameron's Titanic. Based on a juvenile novel by Diana Wynne Jones, Howl's Moving Castle marks the first time Miyazaki has adapted another writer's work since Kiki's Delivery Service (1989). Sophie, a 19-year-old girl who believes she is plain, has resigned herself to a drab life in her family's hat shop--until the Witch of the Waste transforms her into a 90-year-old woman. In her aged guise, Sophie searches for a way to break the Witch's spell and finds unexpected adventures. Like Chihiro, the heroine of Spirited Away, Sophie discovers her hidden potential in a magical environment--the castle of the title. Using CG, Miyazaki creates a ramshackle structure that looks like it might disintegrate at any moment. Sophie's honesty and determination win her some valuable new friends: Markl, Howl's young apprentice; a jaunty scarecrow; Calcifer, a temperamental fire demon; and Heen, a hilarious, wheezing dog. She wins the heart of the dashing, irresponsible wizard Howl, and brings an end an unnecessary and destructive war. The film overflows with eclipsing visuals that range from frightening aerial battles to serene landscapes, and few recent features--animated or live action--offer as much magic as Howl's Moving Castle. --Charles Solomon The Many Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki 
The works of Miyazaki | 
The Book | 
The Art of Howls' Moving Castle (book) | Stills from Howl's Moving Castle (click for larger image)
Product Description
Sophie finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is swept off her geet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named howl & embarks on a fantastic odyssey aboard his magical castle. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 03/07/2006 Run time: 119 minutes
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| Customer Reviews: Read 283 more reviews...
 Most under-rated film of all time November 29, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This film stole my heart. I am not even an anime fan, but I reluctantly watched this movie on a recomendation. It is refreshingly original to say the least. Why did I not hear about this movie upon its release?! This is The best thing I have ever seen come from Disney! It will break you out of the box of ordinary movies. Howl's Moving Castle took my imagination on an emotional adventure which I shall never forget. Buy this film without hesitation.
Creative genius at its finest November 17, 2008
This is the finest example of creative genius I have seen in years!!!! Destined to be an example which all fantasy wtiters will hold their work up to and see if they have come close. Just buy it and get ready to be dazzled by innovative,fresh,imaginative story telling!
Loved this. Great for a wide audience November 16, 2008
I gave this 5 stars because it is very good anime and a very good story line that is great for a wide audience. There's a wide variety of anime out there and this is something that would be a wonderful starter.
Beautiful October 26, 2008
I adore this movie. Get whisked away to a world of magic, wizards, witches, demons, and evil spells. Howl's Moving Castle is a gorgeous fairy tale based (rather loosely) on the book. I found Miyazaki's rendition of this tale absolutely wonderful. The story follows an 18 year old hatter named Sophie after a curse from a jealous witch turns her into an old woman. Sophie meets Howl, a strange but kind wizard, and Sophie learns not only what love is, but how to love herself as well. One of my very favorite Miyazaki movies, Howl's moving castle will not disappoint. It is far better than most American Disney movies. It appeals not only to young children, but to adults as well. In fact, the complexity of the story will probably not be fully comprehended by a young child. I would recommend this movie to anyone who loves a good romance movie filled will trials, war, action, and learning. The soundtrack is simply magical as well.
Studio Ghibli may be to Japan what Dreamworks and Universal are to America... October 8, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I can remember a long time ago seeing a preview for "Kiki's Delivery Service" on a Disney sing along video, unaware that it was a Japanese film made almost 10 years before in the year I was born by whom I now consider to be a legend, Hayao Miyazaki. It intrigued my 8 year old self, but I never got around to watching it. Then, about a month ago, on the recommendations of my already acquainted friends and having already having had some experience in watching anime, I started to watch some of the Studio Ghibli productions. They became like potato chips, I couldn't watch just one one time.
As of now, I have seen in this order Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Kiki's Delivery Service (finally!), Princess Mononoke, and Laputa Castle in the Sky
I have to say that Howl's Moving Castle is my favorite one right now, with Castle in the Sky and Spirited Away close behind. Part of that may be the fact that the character of Howl has captured my heart in a way that no other animated character has ever done before. You girls thought Aladdin was cute when you were kids? Uh-uh, Howl is someone worth crushing on, at least for me ;)
All that aside, the animation is much better than Disney has ever done, and Disney has done a lot. I think this is on par in terms of plot and animation with The Prince of Egypt and The Road to El Dorado, two of my favorite Dreamworks movies. In fact, Miyazaki-san has perhaps made me come to love animation in any country much more at 19 than at 9. I look at classics like Pinocchio and Sword in the Stone with new eyes.
As for the voice casting, I am quite pleased with who they have. I always like to hear larger name voices in a Japanese movie dub than the people who are only known for dubbing anime. Christian Bale's voiceover of Howl is one of the main reasons that I am fawning so much over him right now. That quiet, smooth voice of his makes me become giddy whenever he talks. Also, I did not realize that Jean Simmons, the woman who voiced the old Sophie, who was also very memorable, was the same person who was Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls over 50 years ago. It was one of those movies I had grown up with, so knowing that made me admire her even more. Also, Billy Crystal had managed to play a comedic fire demon, but he also had some more serious moments as well, such as when he was a blue flame in Sophie's hands about to be freed from the spell. This was definitely not a copy of Mike Wizowsky here.
All and all, this is an absolute must see for any lovers of anime, or animation in general. Miyazaki's other movies must be seen too. Do it!
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