DVD : Howl's Moving Castle

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Buena Vista Home Video
EAN: 0786936296662
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
Label: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Number Of Items: 2
Publisher: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Region Code: 1
Release Date: March 07, 2006
Running Time: 119 minutes
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Theatrical Release Date: 2004
Sales Rank: 942
MPN: DISD41399D

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Editorial Review:

Description:
In Hayao Miyazaki's latest animated masterpiece, journey beyond imagination and enter a "breathtaking fantasy world" (Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times) filled with adventure, humor and heart. Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. The vain and vengeful Witch of the Waste, jealous of their friendship, puts a spell on Sophie. In a life-changing adventure, Sophie climbs aboard Howl's magnificent flying castle and enters a magical world on a quest to break the spell. Featuring the voice talents of Jean Simmons, Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall, Blythe Danner, and Billy Crystal, Miyazaki's artistry comes to life on DVD with inventive characters, unique storytelling and richly detailed animation. (c) 2004 Nibariki • GNDDDT

Amazon.com:
Like a dream, Howl's Moving Castle carries audiences to vistas beyond their imaginations where they experience excitement, adventure, terror, humor, and romance. With domestic box office receipts of over $210 million, Howl passed Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke to become the #3 film in Japanese history, behind his Spirited Away and James Cameron's Titanic. Based on a juvenile novel by Diana Wynne Jones, Howl's Moving Castle marks the first time Miyazaki has adapted another writer's work since Kiki's Delivery Service (1989). Sophie, a 19-year-old girl who believes she is plain, has resigned herself to a drab life in her family's hat shop--until the Witch of the Waste transforms her into a 90-year-old woman. In her aged guise, Sophie searches for a way to break the Witch's spell and finds unexpected adventures. Like Chihiro, the heroine of Spirited Away, Sophie discovers her hidden potential in a magical environment--the castle of the title. Using CG, Miyazaki creates a ramshackle structure that looks like it might disintegrate at any moment. Sophie's honesty and determination win her some valuable new friends: Markl, Howl's young apprentice; a jaunty scarecrow; Calcifer, a temperamental fire demon; and Heen, a hilarious, wheezing dog. She wins the heart of the dashing, irresponsible wizard Howl, and brings an end an unnecessary and destructive war. The film overflows with eclipsing visuals that range from frightening aerial battles to serene landscapes, and few recent features--animated or live action--offer as much magic as Howl's Moving Castle. --Charles Solomon

The Many Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki

The works of Miyazaki

The Book

The Art of Howls' Moving Castle (book)

Stills from Howl's Moving Castle (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews

Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating:

- Most under-rated film of all time
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.

Rating:

- Creative genius at its finest
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!

Rating:

- Loved this. Great for a wide audience
I gave this 5 stars because it is very good anime and a very good story line that is great for a wide audience. There's a wide variety of anime out there and this is something that would be a wonderful starter.

Rating:

- Beautiful
I adore this movie. Get whisked away to a world of magic, wizards, witches, demons, and evil spells. Howl's Moving Castle is a gorgeous fairy tale based (rather loosely) on the book. I found Miyazaki's rendition of this tale absolutely wonderful. The story follows an 18 year old hatter named Sophie after a curse from a jealous witch turns her into an old woman. Sophie meets Howl, a strange but kind wizard, and Sophie learns not only what love is, but how to love herself as well. One of my very favorite ... Read More

Rating:

- Studio Ghibli may be to Japan what Dreamworks and Universal are to America...
I can remember a long time ago seeing a preview for "Kiki's Delivery Service" on a Disney sing along video, unaware that it was a Japanese film made almost 10 years before in the year I was born by whom I now consider to be a legend, Hayao Miyazaki. It intrigued my 8 year old self, but I never got around to watching it. Then, about a month ago, on the recommendations of my already acquainted friends and having already having had some experience in watching anime, I started to watch some of the Studio ... Read More

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