 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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Howl's Moving Castle
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2005
Common Sense Media says
Charming Miyazaki fairy tale for tweens and up.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie includes mildly scary figures (featureless blob-men, wraithlike wizards, explosions and war scenes) and a couple of dark night scenes. Its primary imagery is magical and whimsical, including the rather charming titular castle, which clatters and wheezes, walking on mechanical legs.
What's the story?
Howl (voiced in this English language version by Christian Bale) is a wizard who's had his heart stolen by a demon. His efforts to recover himself include assembling a ragtag "family" to live with him in his moving castle. These include a friendly fire demon named Calcifer (jokey Billy Crystal: "He burns me up!") and young apprentice Markl (Josh Hutcherson). The newest member is Sophie (Jean Simmons), a 90-year-old housekeeper who's really an 18-year-old hat-maker (Emily Mortimer does the young voice), cursed by the large and lumpy Witch of the Waste (Lauren Bacall) so she cannot tell anyone that she's been transformed. Sophie has been led to the castle by a hopping, turnip-headed scarecrow. And here she finds not only acceptance, but also a crew in need of a mother.
Is it any good?
While keeping track of who's cursed whom and who is disguised as what can be confusing, HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE -- based on a book by Diana Wynne Jones -- pits two major forces against one another: the war-making king, aided by royal sorceress Madame Suliman (Blythe Danner), and the well-meaning but childishly petulant Howl. Sophie helps to sort out his bad behavior, in part by forgiving and looking after everyone, including the conniving Witch of the Waste. Sophie's wisdom is a function of her kindness, but her unbidden transformation is also unnerving.
Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki's animation style is famously delicate and inventive (see also, Spirited Away, 1999's Princess Mononoke, and 1984's Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind). These jittery-edged images conjure lovely rhythms and children's perspectives (lots of low angles and dreamlike movements), while also investigating, carefully rather than loudly and aggressively, what worries kids: Why do adults fight and go to war? How is love scary as well as thrilling and encouraging? The film's answers are complicated and incomplete, but more importantly, its questions are provocative.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about this movie's basic themes: appearances can be deceiving, inner selves are more important than what you look like, and generosity (what the movie refers to as "heart") ensures that good will, eventually, be done. How does the movie define family? What does it mean to grow old, whether magically or naturally?
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AGE
An all-round masterpiece
Fantastic. Masterpiece. Some of the best stuff there is. It is nothing like the book. I reccomend it for everyone, well maybe not a one year old. But you get the picture. The role models are terrific,*laughs* (thinks of Howl). Must see. Oh, Hayao Miyazaki is a genius. I'd say everyone should see it sometime in their lives, but thats just me.
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AGE
One of my favorite Miyazaki films of all time!
This movie is NOT based on the book by Diana Wynne Jones, just to get that out of the way. While I'm usually a little wary of movies that don't follow the book, Miyazaki pulls it off, creating something that (dare I say it?) is better than the book itself. A classic Miyazaki film, portraying love at its sweetest and most innocent, blossoming between two unlikely people: a vain and seemingly childish wizard (but don't judge a book by its cover!)and a girl with a curse placed on her that has turned her into an old woman. I highly recommend this movie for anyone, although you might want to preview it for children under the age of 7 - while Howl hates the idea of war and does everything he can to avoid fighting, the aerial battles and bombs exploding on towns might frighten the very young.
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AGE
Awesome Family Movie
Great movie for intelligent children and adventurous families.
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AGE
Beautiful Images, Beautiful Story
A wonderful story about friendship, true love, and war. The heroine is cursed to look old, even though she's young (her outward appearance becomes what her inner self feels). The hero is a sorcerer tasked to work for the king in a war he doesn't approve of but must participate in. The intricacies and images of war (though not truly gory, just scary) is why I give it a 7+ rating.
Ultimately, this movie is a love story, and not just between the h/h. It's also a story about learning to love yourself and the types of bonds that create a family (even if you aren't genetically linked). Lots of positive messages about forgiveness, acceptance, and simple human kindness. For me, this is one of my favorite stories of all time. Oh, and the kids love it, too!
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AGE
beautiful and fits with the theme of most of Miyazaki's films: the portrayal of true innocent lustless love. For me this is always a refreshing break from Disney's portrayal of unrealistic cheesy romantic love and sexual innuendos...
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Kid, 12 years old
July 1, 2010
AGE
Good or bad?
Its a really nice movie! i saw it on cartoon network myself! He has a really good plot. Come see it now!
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AGE
A beautiful and fun movie that feels far from Hollywood
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this movie! It is beautiful, with real artwork - One of my favorite things about Miyazaki movies is how often he makes certain that by the end you cannot hate anyone - even "evil" characters are not left to be simply two dimensional evil, but have deeper stories and good inside of them. Yes, there is a war in the background of the movie, but the message is that the war is pointless and bad - it does not glorify war. Truly beautiful movie.
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AGE
howls moving castle
i think that this movie is very good and i love to watch this!
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Kid, 12 years old
July 3, 2010
AGE
brilliant
its a amazing movie from the king of animation but kind of freaky for little kids
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AGE
.
I have been watching Miyazaki movies since I was little, and they all have a positive message, and good role models.
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy, fairy tales |
| Studio: | Buena Vista |
| Director: | Hayao Miyazaki |
| Cast: | Christian Bale, Emily Mortimer, Lauren Bacall |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 119 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | June 10, 2005 |
| DVD release date: | March 7, 2006 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | frightening images and brief mild language |
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