Adventures With A Moving Castle

Rating: Null/10 (30 September 2010)

Miyazaki takes us into another delightful world of magic, charm, innocence and amusement. Even though his movies appear to be light entertainers on the surface, Miyazaki doesn't shy away from bringing important issues into the story. He does it very subtly like how, in 'Hauru No Ugoku Shiro', he depicts the characters (except Sofi) as being conscious of their physical image. Whereas today we live in a world where almost everyone is overly conscious of their physical appearance.
The story of 'Hauru No Ugoku Shiro' follows young Sofi, a saleswoman at a hatshop. Sofi doesn't think she's beautiful but she's not too preoccupied with her looks unlike the people around her. She goes on living her routine life. Until one evening, just when she'd closed the shop, she receives a visit from a customer, a rude elderly lady, who turns her into an old woman. Sofi is surprised but not terrified. She puts her routine on hold in order to find a solution. She rescues a scarecrow who helps her get to Howl's moving castle. From then on, begins a new adventure.
Miyazaki is a sincere storyteller and one of the finest. He has an excellent imagination. His stories always have heart and even though he includes elements of fantasy, his characters are always real.
The animation is first class and the whimsical score is superb. The special effects department have done a competent job in designing the movements of the moving castle.
'Hauru No Ugoku Shiro' is another gem from the Studio Ghibli factory and I'd recommend their films to anyone who loves cinema and imagination.