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'Howl's Moving Castle' (2004)

Genre: Fantasy and Adventure
Director: Miyazaki Hayao
Writer: Miyazaki Hayao & Diana Wynne Jones (Novel)
Cinematographer: Okui Atsushi
Editor: Seyama Takeshi
Music by: Joe Hisaishi
Rated: PG

              After meeting the wizard Howl, Sophie receives a curse from the jealous Witch of the Waste which causes her to change into an old woman. Sophie works to break her curse as she becomes the cleaning lady of Howl's Moving Castle.

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         Another piece from Studio Ghibli, several people who worked on other Ghibli films worked on 'Howl's Moving Castle'.  It's a wonderful film with lovable characters and amazing artwork which brings the characters and the scenery to life.  Several well-known actors from the Japanese Entertainment and American Entertainment voice in this film.

        I, personally, relate to Sophie as she's not confident in herself and prefers her own company. Through the film, you see Sophie change from her old self to her younger self when she's asleep, confident, and emotional. She fights to help Howl and the fire demon, Calcifer, break their own curse. When you first see Howl, he brings Sophie in him running away from Witch of the Waste's goons, then we continue to see Howl running away through the film till he decides to fight for Sophie.  The Moving Castle represents Howl as the castle is a powerful structure, but quite messy on the outside and inside as Howl's bathroom is full of mess.

       Based on the novel by Diana Wynne Jones which is also called, Howl's Moving Castle (1986).  Like many novels, there are extra details that you will find out if you read the book, but I think they did a well adaptation of the film that fits most of the key parts of the stories. The love story between Howl and Sophie always touch my heart~ You can look at other blogs where they go in detail the difference between the film and the novel if you would like to found out. Like how Sophie has two sisters, and that she finds out she's actually a witch; which would explain some of the plots that happen in the film with Sophie being able to transfer back to her younger self when she's happy, confident, or emotional.

       The soundtrack from 'Howl's Moving Castle' is one of my favorite soundtracks in Ghibli films. It's always a calming feeling which help give extra emotion to the scenes. Definitely suggest watching the film to understand my love of the soundtrack~ 

      'Howl's Moving Castle' is a lovable film with several themes such as love, action, magic, and family. 


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