Read the book for the story. Watch the movie for animation.

Rating: 4/10 (15 November 2019)

The visuals are captivating. But I watched the movie thinking it might be a good adaptation of the fantastic, wonderful book by Diana Wynne Jones. It wasn't. It has characters from the book, but they are not as Ms. Jones wrote them. It has some some plot lines, but they are not as wise or loving as the book. Those who admire and rave about the animation are right - it IS beautiful. But I wanted the story I read. And this is not it.