Howl's Moving Castle

Zulen

I just sat trough a 3 hour Anime Film. The credits all rolling. It's taken me this long to finally conclude that this movie is not only the worst Miyazaki "masterpiece" ever, but possibly the worst Anime film in history.

Seriously, what the hell. This movie showed great promisie near the beggining, and it seemed like something I could enjoy, until some of the dialougue just was completely out of place, as if the writers lazily slapped it together.

Some lines in the movie just made me chuckle or go "Wait, what the fuck?".

Jeeze. I thought Ghibli was better than this.

The only cool part was the Straw Hat that looked nearly identical.

There is a Official Miyazaki Movie Discussion~
http://www.apforums.net/showthread.php?t=6500
If you wanted to make your rant, you coulda posted there

Zulen

This movie sucked.

Kazu-kun

@Private:

I just sat trough a 3 hour Anime Film. The credits all rolling. It's taken me this long to finally conclude that this movie is not only the worst Miyazaki "masterpiece" ever, but possibly the worst Anime film in history.

Seriously, what the hell. This movie showed great promisie near the beggining, and it seemed like something I could enjoy, until some of the dialougue just was completely out of place, as if the writers lazily slapped it together.

Some lines in the movie just made me chuckle or go "Wait, what the fuck?".

Jeeze. I thought Ghibli was better than this.

The only cool part was the Straw Hat that looked nearly identical.

Okay… You do realize that Miyazaki only made the artwork and animation for the movie right. This movie was based off of a European book. If you thought that the movie really sucked, go complain about the book not about Miyazaki

Rixter

The movie is different from the book.

This wasn't my favorite Miyazaki movie, but I still liked it more than Spirited Away. Laputa is still his crowning achievement, though.

Oh, and it probably got the best dub out of all of them, barring perhaps Porco Rosso. Billy Crystal ftw

Senshi Mizaka

I didn't think Howl's Moving Castle was that bad. In fact, I liked it. Sure, it wasn't as great as Totoro, or Spirited Away but it still managed to have everything I like about Miyazaki movies.

Zulen

Well, the set-up was really nice. The scenery, the castle's design was nearly breathtaking, and some plot points were executed so nicely.

We'll, until the movie took a turn for the worse. Howl was so cool until he ran unto the room complaining about how his hair looked, and threw a magic tantrum. "He did this the last time a girl dumped him." What the hell was that about? That completely destroyed his character. I lost almost all interest in him, and from that point on, his entire back story just seemed like fan service, and his tight clothes, high pants, and other Bishounen bullshit.

And then Sophie kissed everyone at the end. She goes back in time or some shit and is like "Find me in the FUUUUTTTUUUUURRREEE", and then she comes back and kisses Howl and I'm like "What the FUCK is going on?" And then she kisses Howl. And then she kisses that old lady. And then she kisses the fucking SCARECROW who turns out to be a prince and it's happy ever after.

To top it off, lines like "Oooh, Sophie, your hair is like starlight…" and 10 minute sequences of the two of them frolicking through the flowers, "Oooh, no Howl, don't join the war, I love you." send this movie straight back to the Graveyard.

taboo

We'll, until the movie took a turn for the worse. Howl was so cool until he ran unto the room complaining about how his hair looked, and threw a magic tantrum. "He did this the last time a girl dumped him." What the hell was that about? That completely destroyed his character. I lost almost all interest in him, and from that point on, his entire back story just seemed like fan service, and his tight clothes, high pants, and other Bishounen bullshit.

D: That was the point, it was taking this spoiled brat super bishie and taking this plain boring girl and putting them in a situation where they eventually learn how to be better people.

I don't think you understood the movie at all and that's why you don't like it.

*Meh*

I read the bbok and watched the movie.

The book's better. By far. Even if it does have Howl's magic tantrum. The references to eating girls' hearts and sucking out their souls was hilarious.

Senshi Mizaka

I've read alot of bitchy reviews for this movie. Their main complaints are understandable, like how confusing the story got towards the end. I'll admit that after Howl had that tantrum, we know that he has low confidence and self-esteem, but that broke away from normal stereotypes in those type of characters. And yes, before anyone says it, the witch of the Waste got really annoying towards the end, saying "What a pretty fire!" every 10 minutes. Other than that, I found it to be perfectly fine.

*Meh*

My biggest complaint for the film was how the writers handled the Witch of the Waste's character. In the book, you got the impression that she was an evil, calculting, unscrupulous bitch. She was the major threat right up until the end. The film eliminated most of her threat less than halfway through, and turned her into a joke. I also disliked the sex change they gave Suliman, but it's neither here nor there at this point.

KaizokuFan22

I haven't seen the movie yet..but read a few chapters of the Manga to know I want to see this film

tonitonichopper

I enjoyed the movie very much, I have never read the book though.

*Meh*

@tonitonichopper:

I enjoyed the movie very much, I have never read the book though.

You should-it's hilarious. "Dark Lord of Derkholm" by the same author is also good, but it's a tad long.

igalsfy

the movie has been on my hard drive for monthes. but i can't find the motivation to watch it, it doesn't look that great.

KaizokuFan22

I only got to see a hour of the film but for a Subbed movie.. I want to see this full.

the art is beautiful the voices in japanese are great. and so fasr the story for the film is great.

Generic_Soda

I saw maybe the first hour of it a while back, and it seemed good. Did it really get that bad?

Turnip Head was the best thing about the part I saw.

Robby

Howl's Moving Castle was very much Disney's Beauty and the Beast with a snarky fire instead of a singing teapot. I liked it well enough, Miyazaki has done way worse. (Spirited Away, Totoro, and Kiki are all bore fests. Brilliantly designed, animated, scored, and heatwarming to their sugary cores, but boring.) Cagliostro, Laputa, Porco Rosso Mononoke are all better. Nausicaa was great if a bit long. Earthsea was pretty good too, though it felt too short, but thats mostly because it was combining three different books together…

Greg

Princess Mononoke will probably always be my favorite. There's just so much shit going on and its handled so damn well. You have to go in knowing who's who in the cast and what they represented in real life otherwise its a bit messy but while stories like Laputa may have more of a sense of wonder and magic, they simply can't touch the animation from Mononoke which still blows animated features today right out of the water.

Leaf Cable

I love all of Miyazaki's films! I haven't seen all of them though. I have watched My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service and Spirited Away. You bet I'll watch Howl's Moving Castle!

Maikeru22

@Leaf:

I have watched My Neighbor Totoro

how is that? I've been meaning to rent that.

Tommy Swoes

I bought the Howl DVD two Christmases ago, and still haven't watched it! XD

@Leaf:

I love all of Miyazaki's films! I haven't seen all of them though. I have watched My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service and Spirited Away. You bet I'll watch Howl's Moving Castle!

Wait until you see Porco Rosso, It was my favorite and Kiki's Delivery Service was actually my least.

Ramza

it seems i have weird taste…
i like howlMC, but not spirited away...i find it boring to the point that i almost fell asleep...

mononoke is the best

Leaf Cable

@maikeru22:

how is that? I've been meaning to rent that.

You'll enjoy it! It's pleasant and gentle with a nice touch of Japanese folklore added. Totoro is definitely a family film but one anyone can appreciate. You won't regret watching it! Not to mention it's a classic!

@DougyDougyGiro!: I've read about Porco Rosso and believe me I'm eager to watch it! It's good to know there's other Miyazaki fans here. :)

Buuhan1

Saw it English dubbed last month on Encore. Decent film..tho definitely nothing great like all the praise it had. (the description listed it as 4 stars)

Princess Mononoke and Castle of Cagliostro were the other films I saw of his and loved both of em. I own Mononoke and haven't picked up CoC yet..