Howl's Moving Castle

Buena Vista International | Release Date: June 10, 2005

8.7	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 541 Ratings

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User Reviews

User score By date Most helpful

animefanMar 8, 2006

Complete mess, aswell as weakest Ghibli movie so far.

1 of 7 users found this helpful

gimmedatsammichDec 7, 2012

Stunning animation and charmingly idiosyncratic characters fail to make up for an incomprehensible, utterly nonsensical plot- even by anime standards. I never once felt like I understood what was going on. What, exactly, is this "war" about?Stunning animation and charmingly idiosyncratic characters fail to make up for an incomprehensible, utterly nonsensical plot- even by anime standards. I never once felt like I understood what was going on. What, exactly, is this "war" about? Who is the Witch of the Waste, and why did she curse Sophie? Who is Howl? Why does the moving castle have a tongue? Perhaps the answers to these questions can be found in the book on which the film is based, but you won't find them here. Children and adults alike will enjoy the intricate, vibrantly colored artwork that fills each and every frame of "Howl's Moving Castle," but I doubt many among us would be able to explain just what the heck the movie was about. Miyazaki's previous film, "Spirited Away," is a far superior work.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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DWMar 9, 2006

If only the last five minutes of this film didn't happen, it would be a seven, maybe an eight, but come on, has anyone actually SEEN the ending? It compromises the whole story and insults the viewer's intelligence. His other movies If only the last five minutes of this film didn't happen, it would be a seven, maybe an eight, but come on, has anyone actually SEEN the ending? It compromises the whole story and insults the viewer's intelligence. His other movies are much better.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

TyranianApr 8, 2019

Terrific animation but can't shake the feeling of bizarre incoherency typical of Japanese animated films.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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papeadojhonAug 21, 2016

Howl's Moving Castle suffers from confusing storytelling, incomprehensible story and character development, undone characters and choppy plot points, enough to downgrade its beautiful animation, great score, an interesting first impressionHowl's Moving Castle suffers from confusing storytelling, incomprehensible story and character development, undone characters and choppy plot points, enough to downgrade its beautiful animation, great score, an interesting first impression and imaginative ideas.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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glommanAug 26, 2020

I don't think that this movie is as good as the other ones by Studio Ghibli. Again, just like other movies in the same category, there's much absurdity going on, from the girl being cursed with being an old woman, to the guy who transformsI don't think that this movie is as good as the other ones by Studio Ghibli. Again, just like other movies in the same category, there's much absurdity going on, from the girl being cursed with being an old woman, to the guy who transforms into a bird who fights planes in a fictional war, to fluid monsters who have literally no right to existence after their former master was stripped of her powers, yet they still somehow exist, I genuinely don't know. In terms of theme, sure there's this magic and coming of age, but sometimes it's horrifying, sometimes it's romantic and so on and so on, it's really all over the place. If you want to watch a genuinely good Ghibli movie, watch My Neighbour Totoro or Spirited away, this one's good, but no masterpiece.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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MahmusSep 25, 2020

This is a very good movie, but I have a lot of issues with it.

This movie, espcially its messy third act, feels like sensory overload. Everything is happening so fast and so loud and the quiet moments of rest (which are always the best partsThis is a very good movie, but I have a lot of issues with it.

This movie, espcially its messy third act, feels like sensory overload. Everything is happening so fast and so loud and the quiet moments of rest (which are always the best parts of every Ghibli film) are very few and far between compared to other Ghibli films. It feels very rushed and overwhelming and it gives me a headache.

Also, the exact nature of Sophie's curse (and the movie's world in general) is never really explained. I like how her age changes, but it would be good to know what exactly triggers those changes. A lot in this film is unexplained and it's very frustrating. This is probably Ghibli's most nonsensical movie.

With that said, I do like it. While I think that the second half is kind of a mess, the first half is really good. It's a lot slower and more focused. There are less characters and there's actual moments to rest and contemplate the beautiful scenery. The ending is also really nice.

The best things about this movie are the visuals (obviously) and Howl, especially when he's being a total drama queen. I want more dramatic Howl please.

Overall, this is far from being one of my favorite Ghibli movies, but I think the good outweighs the bad just enough. I know it's really beloved, but I will still take Spirited Away or Whisper of the Heart over this anytime.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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GoobisJul 8, 2020

The movie starts out strong and is at it's best when Sophie is interacting with anyone other than howl. Howl is the most boring, bland character in the film and whenever Sophie interacts with him the film stops being nearly as interesting.The movie starts out strong and is at it's best when Sophie is interacting with anyone other than howl. Howl is the most boring, bland character in the film and whenever Sophie interacts with him the film stops being nearly as interesting. Also the twist is one of the stupidest things put on film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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