Customer Rating: 
Summary: Good movie. Better book.
Comment: First off, I watched the movie before I read the book so that could change my perspective a little. That being said I love the movie of Howl's Moving Castle. I just love the book more which is why the movie doesn't get five stars from me.
This movie centers around Sophie, an 18 year old girl who is under a curse that makes her look about 90. Howl is a "wimpy wizard" (so says the included trailers) who creates a moving castle to hide from the Witch of the Waste (and the King, and anyone else that might want something from him). Calcifer is the fire demon who makes the castle work. There is also an assortment of amusingly unusual characters to choose from in this movie. Together they make a great movie but I did think that the anti-war theme was a little heavy handed. It ruined the flow of the story and actually took up time that should've been used for character development. That being said, I still love this movie I just don't care much for the last half hour or so. Howl, Sophie, and Calcifer have easily become my favorite characters in a long time. Sophie finally finds her backbone when she's turned into an old woman and makes for a really amusing character. Calcifer provides good comic relief. He's little and cute which doesn't hurt either (though he does turn into a big demonic flame twice in the movie). And Howl is, well, Howl. He's cowardly, vain, and prone to histrionics. What's not to love? Unfortunately with the badly explained war scenes Howl is the one who loses out the most in the book to movie translation. He had so many more tantrums to throw and there just wasn't enough time for it all. Despite that, the scene where his hair dying goes awry is memorable enough to make up for any plot problems. Though if you're sensitive to animated nudity there is a brief flash of Howl's butt in that scene. Just a warning.
This movie has beautiful animation, fun characters, and is pretty satisfying overall. I was even able to watch most of it with my four year old and it's rare that we can both sit down and be equally entertained by a movie. The book by Diana Wynne Jones is understandably better but the movie is still good in a pinch. If you object to Christian Bale's voice as Howl (yes, it is a little deep for such an effeminate man) then try the Japanese audio instead.
Customer Rating: Summary: Our whole family enjoyes this movie.
Comment: After renting this movie, we had to buy it.
Our entire family enjoyed this movie, and keeps enjoying it. It's pretty odd for Dad to watch "a Cartoon" but he even sits down and watches it with the children and myself when we watch it. The kids put it in, and in no time I find myself drawn in, sitting down to watch too.
I even purchased copies for our friends with small children as holiday gifts. So far they all really like it too.
It's a great story, great direction, great animation. Love, witches, wizards, kings, demons, and even beauty in the mist of war.
Customer Rating: Summary: Visually stunning, but a very weak adaptation
Comment: I have been a Miyazaki fan in the past. I thought Spirited Away was both a beautiful piece of work and had an intriguing plot with good characterization. Howl's Moving Castle was a very pretty movie, but it lacked substance. The original story in the novel is fun and engaging and does not leave nearly as many plot holes as what Miyazaki did to this extremely loose interpretation. It is basically the name of the story, the names of the characters, a very simple beginning skeleton of the general "gist" of the book, and then Miyazaki turned the rest of it into a protest against the war in Iraq.
Artistic license to bring something to the screen is one thing, but what Miyazaki did to what is a beloved story to many was much farther along the scale. He would have been better to claim this was merely based on the novel and give the movie a different name, similar to what was done with the adaptation recently of the Dark is Rising, Seeker, as what Miyazaki presented, while pretty, was mostly certainly *not* Howl's Moving Castle.
Customer Rating: Summary: Most under-rated film of all time
Comment: This film stole my heart. I am not even an anime fan, but I reluctantly watched this movie on a recomendation. It is refreshingly original to say the least. Why did I not hear about this movie upon its release?! This is The best thing I have ever seen come from Disney! It will break you out of the box of ordinary movies. Howl's Moving Castle took my imagination on an emotional adventure which I shall never forget. Buy this film without hesitation.
Customer Rating: Summary: Creative genius at its finest
Comment: This is the finest example of creative genius I have seen in years!!!! Destined to be an example which all fantasy wtiters will hold their work up to and see if they have come close. Just buy it and get ready to be dazzled by innovative,fresh,imaginative story telling!
