Outstanding! One of Miyazaki's Best.

Rating: 9/10 (15 July 2005)

WritelySo's review has said it better than I ever could. So I'll put my two cents worth in anyway.
Of the three big name and one independent feature films I've seen in the past six weeks, this is the best. The first thing that catches your eye (ahem!) is Miyazaki's wonderful animation. His scenes are to film what Hal Foster did to the Sunday comics. They are colorful, lifelike, have great attention to detail and are... well, just beautiful.
A late 19th European setting done to a fare-thee-well by a Japanese artist? You bet. He did it in Porco Rosso and he's done it at least as well here. That's another recommended Miyazaki masterpiece after this one charms you.
I was quickly caught up in the film. The characters are believable and the voices, well it's a shame to call it dubbing. I doubt it was easy to match English dialog to a Japanese film but they did a superb job. What this means to you is that you never, ever notice. The voices are appropriate to the characters and, I think, really enrich the character's personalities.
While kids will appreciate the animation and action, Howl's Moving Castle is really for adults. Take your kids to see it. When they see it again in ten years, they'll see an entirely new film all over again.
If there's any justice in the Academy Awards, this should get Miyazaki another one - I think it's even better than Spirited Away.
When they're worth it (rarely) I pay attention to film scores, and Joe Hisaishi has written one well matched to this fine film.
Did I make the point that I LOVED this film? I hope you do too.