Howl's Moving Castle (US Version) DVD Region 1

But here's the thing with Miyazaki films: they are almost always more than they appear. Like no other filmmaker, Miyazaki's films - with the arguable exception of Porco Rosso, which seems comparatively bland and uninspired - reward multiple viewings. Elements that may have appeared lacking, confused or missing on first viewing make far more sense the second time around, when it often becomes clear that it's not the film that is lacking but the viewer's expectations that are skewed. The just released Hong Kong DVD of the film makes it abundantly clear that this is the case with Howl's Moving Castle.

The story begins with Sophie, a nineteen-year-old girl living in a steam powered, Victorian era European city, working in the hat shop founded by her dead father. Her mother and sister have moved on but Sophie continues with her father's work because ""he would've wanted it that way."" A chance encounter with the famous and feared wizard Howl draws the attention and ire of the jealous Witch of the Wastes who curses Sophie, instantly aging her from nineteen to ninety. Sophie then sets off into the wastes herself, in search of a witch or wizard who can break her curse, befriending a magical turnip headed scarecrow before taking up with Howl himself as cleaning lady for his fantastic - and fantastically filthy - castle.

With its emphasis on magic and the fantastic, along with the early chase sequences, it is only natural to approach Howl's Moving Castle as a fantasy adventure film and there is a strong element of that to it. Thanks to the scenes depicting the war between Sophie's country and a neighboring kingdom it is also perfectly reasonable to go looking for political allegory. These are both familiar territories for Miyazaki and while both are certainly present it is vitally important that the audience understand that these elements are, to Miyazaki, interesting but secondary. Howl's Moving Castle is really, at it's core, a (ha, ha) coming of age story. In fact, you can make an argument that it is four coming of age stories with the growth of Howl and Sophie reflected, to a lesser degree, in developments with the Witch and the Howl's fire demon Calcifer. It is also a film very concerned with the importance and nature of family, another of Miyazaki's recurring themes.

The central story tracks the development of Howl and Sophie, young people who are polar opposites in many ways. Sophie has been forced to age prematurely, living a life driven by duty rather than passion. Howl on the other hand has lived his life as a perennial child, partly do to the easy life his power affords him, partly as a result of a deal he made to gain and bolster his powers as a child. Through Howl's influence Sophie learns to follow her passions, to pursue herself as well as serving others. Through Sophie, Howl learns commitment and responsibility. Both are made whole by the other.

On a technical level Howl stands rather comfortably as Miyazaki's finest work. The scope and scale of things is dazzling, the magic that is uniquely Miyazaki fully in effect. He bolsters his trademark visual style with subtle CG effects to bring the titular castle to life, filling it with a personality so strong that it becomes a character all its own. The now expected flying sequences are flawless, and Howl's magic is by turns charming, frightening and tragic. Plus the film is stocked with memorable characters with fire demon Calcifer providing a handful of classic moments. The man makes a stick with a turnip on it a powerful, emotive character and that really tells you all you need to know. If Miyazaki can make a turnip generate emotions there is no limit to what else he may accomplish.

Howl's Moving Castle still feels too fresh to really place in the context of Miyazaki's broader canon. In theme it is a fusion of My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away. In terms of overall quality my hunch is that it will eventually settle somewhere in Miyazaki's top three, certainly no lower than fourth, jostling for position with the aforementioned pair and Princess Mononoke. Howl's Moving Castle once again demonstrates Miyazaki's unique gift to make films simple, universal and magical enough to appeal to the smallest children while also layering in such a depth of theme and meaning to reward the most demanding adult viewer's repeated viewings. A brilliant film, well presented and highly recommended.

By Todd Brown - Twitchfilm.net