An Epic adventure!

Rating: 10/10 (6 August 2012)

Following the success of Spirited Away, we all knew that Studio Ghibli would be back with another fascinating animated adventure, and so they did, in the magnificence that is Howl's Moving Castle. What can I tell you but it is a brilliant piece of film, successfully captivating audiences in it's bright colours, wonderful scenes, incredibly deep storyline, and that's not even half of what this film has to offer!
The story begins in a coastal town where an insecure girl named Sofi owns a hat shop. On her way into town is confronted by a legendary wizard known as Howl and rescued from a group of strange morphing henchmen. She is immediately fascinated by his charms as is he but their meeting is short-lived as he disappears into the crowds soon afterwards. Later that evening, she is confronted in her shop by an overweight woman known as the Witch of the Waste, who begins to make snide remarks about her and her shop. When Sofi takes offence at her comments, the Witch punishes her by cursing her with the body of a hagged old lady, she is also unable to explain about the curse to anyone. With her inability to explain, she decides to leave home and venture into the Wastes outside of town, there, with the assistance of a strange hopping scarecrow, she manages to climb aboard Howl's Moving Castle, taking shelter from the cold winds. There, she meets the heart of the Castle known as Calcifer, a fire demon that gives the castle it's life with his power. Throughout the rest of the film, it is up to her, Howl, Calcifer and a young boy named Markl to help stop the war that is raging between theirs and a neighbouring nation, as well as keeping Howl free from being forced to fight in the war as wizards who do degenerate into Mindless Monsters.
Again, a wonderful film that truly demonstrates the finest in animation skills and some of the greatest storyline's I have ever come across. A truly enchanting film that is well worth a watch!