Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

All Critics (147) | Top Critics (39) | Fresh (132) | Rotten (20) | DVD (26)

A stunning example of a pure, disorienting dream logic that cinema provides all too rarely.

October 18, 2008 Full Review

Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out New York

Top Critic

Palaces and shimmering lakes, warplanes and fire sprites all come to life at the breath of Miyazaki's graphic genius.

September 7, 2008 Full Review

Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

Top Critic

The risibly cloying closing scenes are likely to nix any remaining goodwill, blotting out such delicate early touches as a stroll through the air far above a town square.

June 24, 2006 Full Review

Ben Walters

Time Out

Top Critic

There is giggling, belly-laughing, and gasping to be done watching Howl's Moving Castle.

December 9, 2005 Full Review

Ken Tucker

New York Magazine

Top Critic

Howl's Moving Castle moves -- in short, choppy, jumpy jerks that will never make anyone forget how fluid the truly great hand-drawn cartoons look by comparison.

June 17, 2005 Full Review | Comments (8)

Roger Moore

Orlando Sentinel

Top Critic

With such an unfocused, impenetrable center, the film grows dull.

June 17, 2005 Full Review | Comment (1)

Rene Rodriguez

Miami Herald

Top Critic

Blessed with gorgeously clear transfers of the hand-drawn magic, it's worth picking up for any anime lover.

May 21, 2013 Full Review

Phil Villarreal

COEDMagazine.com

A handsome fantasy movie with only a nod in the direction of the rich, all-encompassing humanity and emotionality of Miyazaki's greatest work.

April 6, 2010 Full Review

Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

Howl's Moving Castle is a perfect epitome of Miyazaki's work, in all its strengths and weaknesses: it's filled with heart-felt themes...but how these elements connect on a plot level is subjugated to how beautifully they are rendered on screen.

February 5, 2009 Full Review | Comment (1)

Steve Biodrowski

ESplatter

Another work of great imagination and beauty from Hiyao Miyazaki.

September 7, 2008 Full Review

Daniel Etherington

Film4

Charming Miyazaki fairy tale for tweens and up.

July 10, 2008 Full Review

Cynthia Fuchs

Common Sense Media

The film gains a sense of visual wonder almost completely freed from the strains of a narrative-driven film.

October 26, 2007 Full Review

Rob Humanick

Projection Booth

The second disc has several interviews, featurettes and trailers, although hardly enough material to warrant a whole extra disc.

September 17, 2007 Full Review

Anton Bitel

Eye for Film

few other films, or indeed filmmakers, would dare take a scene in which two elderly women struggle to climb a staircase and turn it into an extravagant and memorable set piece.

July 10, 2007 Full Review

Anton Bitel

Eye for Film

Another example of how this film maven easily holds the crown in the sadly ever-shrinking traditional animation genre.

October 30, 2006 Full Review

Garth Franklin

Dark Horizons

A delightfully fanciful movie with engaging storytelling, visual wonders, and such worthwhile themes as contrasting wisdom and perspective with age.

September 25, 2006

Russ Breimeier

Christianity Today

Miyazaki's stunning animation and characteristically vivid colors make the film a visual feast...

May 12, 2006 Full Review

Jim Lane

Sacramento News & Review

Visually as good as any other Miyazaki movie, although the plot is less interesting

April 14, 2006 Full Review | Comments (2)

Marty Mapes

Movie Habit

Click to see review.

March 11, 2006 Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

SPLICEDWire

• 1. Howl (English Version): You're looking well, Madame Suliman.
  2. Madam Suliman: Rather weak disguise. Didn't I teach you better?
  3. Howl (English Version): I'm not trying to outwit you. I kept my oath. I reported when summoned. Now 'mother' and I will go.
  4. Madam Suliman: I think not.
  – Submitted by Ceara R (6 months ago)
• 1. Howl (English Version): You're wearing that hat after all the magic I used to make your dress pretty?
  – Submitted by Ceara R (6 months ago)
• 1. Howl (English Version): Go away.
  2. Sophie (English Version): No. I'm not going away. I'm going to help you break this spell that you're under.
  3. Howl (English Version): You? You can't even break your own spell.
  4. Sophie (English Version): But you don't understand. I love you.
  5. Howl (English Version): You're too late.
  6. Sophie (English Version): Howl no!
  – Submitted by Ceara R (6 months ago)
• 1. Sophie (English Version): Your head's a turnip. I've always hated turnips, ever since I was little. Well, at least you're not upside down now. So long.
  – Submitted by Ceara R (6 months ago)
• 1. Howl (English Version): Sophie! Sophie, you're beautiful.
  – Submitted by Ceara R (6 months ago)
• 1. Sophie (English Version): They say that the best blaze burns brightest , when circumstances are at their worst.
  – Submitted by Rebecca H (7 months ago)

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