Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

 

5/10

Starring the voices of

Chieko Baisho

Takuya Kimura

Akihiro Miwa

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki

Although the animation in Howl’s Moving Castle is fantastic, the plot leaves much to be desired. It feels as though Hayao Miyazaki either forgot to include key details from the source material or had them edited out. The book (of the same name) upon which this animation is based offers a more coherent and stronger narrative. The first half of the movie stays relatively close to the book, albeit with some differences. However, the second half takes a frustratingly divergent turn that lacks the strength of the original story.

Howl’s Moving Castle feels like two distinct halves awkwardly glued together by a director determined to make disparate ideas work. The brilliance of the first half, with its intricate character development and compelling plot, showcases Miyazaki’s talent. But the second half falters, leaving certain elements introduced earlier in the film feeling irrelevant.

For instance, Sophie is told she cannot reveal her curse to anyone, yet this restriction seems inconsequential by the end of the movie. Why mention it at all if it doesn’t play a significant role?

Another baffling aspect is the Witch of the Waste. Cast as the antagonist in the first half, she later becomes a dependent taken in by Sophie and Howl. Even after causing calamity, she’s allowed to stay. While the message of compassion is admirable, it stretches believability that these characters would so easily forgive and accommodate someone who sought to harm them.

And who exactly cursed the Prince of the other kingdom? This plot point is introduced but feels underexplored.

The story begins in a magical world where enchantments are commonplace. Sophie, a hatmaker, leads a quiet life until one day, on a visit to her sister, she’s harassed by a group of men. A mysterious stranger, Howl, intervenes and helps her. Howl, however, is being pursued by mystical creatures, and Sophie is inadvertently dragged into his chaotic world.

Howl owns the titular moving castle, and his enemies quickly target Sophie. One such enemy, the Witch of the Waste, curses Sophie, transforming her into a 90-year-old woman. Determined not to let this define her, Sophie embarks on a journey to find Howl in hopes that he can break the spell. Along the way, she encounters a scarecrow under its own curse, who leads her to Howl’s castle. There, Sophie boldly enters and secures a position as the castle’s cleaning lady.

Meanwhile, Howl is avoiding the king, as he opposes the ongoing war between his kingdom and a neighboring one. This war subplot ties into Howl’s conflict with Suliman, the king’s lead witch, who pressures him to fight. Howl’s reluctance stems from his belief in peace and his guilt over past actions. Sophie, now in love with Howl, learns that he’s in danger because he gave his heart to a demon. She resolves to save him, adding another layer of emotional stakes to the story.

The movie conveys strong themes, including an anti-war message, the value of compassion, and the resilience found in aging. It also celebrates the joy of helping others.

However, the second half of the film, particularly Suliman’s role, feels disjointed and fails to deliver a satisfying conclusion. This disconnect leaves the viewer questioning certain choices and wishing for a more cohesive resolution.

Despite these flaws, Howl’s Moving Castle has been rightly praised for its stunning visuals and its ambitious blending of themes. While the movie was both a critical and commercial success, it ultimately lost the Oscar to Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.