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Movies / On DVD / Howl's Moving Castle
Howl's Moving Castle

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Howl's Moving Castle (2005)

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Reviews Counted:45

Fresh:22

Rotten:23

Average Rating:3.7/10

Consensus: Exquisitely illustrated by master animator Miyazaki, Howl's Moving Castle will delight children with its fantastical story and touch the hearts and minds of older viewers as well.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for frightening images and brief mild language

Runtime: 1 hr 59 mins

Genre: Childrens

Theatrical Release:Jun 10, 2005 Limited

Box Office: $4,520,887

Synopsis: Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki ("Spirited Away") takes moviegoers on an amazing new animated adventure that celebrates the power of love to transform and the resiliency of the human... Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki ("Spirited Away") takes moviegoers on an amazing new animated adventure that celebrates the power of love to transform and the resiliency of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Brimming with a blend of imagination, humor, action, and romance, "Howl's Moving Castle" recently played to great acclaim at the 2004 Venice Film Festival, and has become one of the biggest blockbusters of all time in Japan – earning more than $193 million at the box office and still counting. A distinguished cast of actors, under the direction of Pixar's Pete Docter ("Monsters, Inc."), lend their vocal talents to this English-language version of the film. Sophie (voiced by Emily Mortimer), an average teenage girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome-but-mysterious wizard named Howl (voiced by Christian Bale), and is subsequently turned into a 90-year old woman (voiced by screen legend and two-time Oscar® nominee Jean Simmons) by the vain and conniving Wicked Witch of the Waste (voiced by screen legend and Oscar® nominee Lauren Bacall). Embarking on an incredible odyssey to lift the curse, she finds refuge in Howl's magical moving castle where she becomes acquainted with Markl, Howl's apprentice, and a hot-headed fire demon named Calcifer (voiced by Billy Crystal). Sophie's love and support comes to have a major impact on Howl, who flies in the face of orders from the palace to become a pawn of war and instead risks his life to help bring peace to the kingdom. Extraordinary characters, inventive imagery, and stunning artistry make this latest masterpiece from the visionary Miyazaki an unforgettable filmgoing experience. -- © walt Disney Pictures [More]

Starring: Emily Mortimer, Christian Bale, Jean Simmons, Lauren Bacall

Starring: Emily Mortimer, Christian Bale, Jean Simmons, Lauren Bacall, Billy Crystal, Blythe Danner, Josh Hutcherson

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Screenwriter: Hayao Miyazaki
Composer: Joe Hisaishi
Producer: Toshio Suzuki
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures

[See More Credits]

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  • Theatrical Trailer
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    Exclusive Clip: 'Howl in Battle'
    >
    Clip: We're Moving
    >
    Clip: Sophie Finds Howl's Castle
    >
  • Clip: Escape from Suliman
    >
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Release:

Mar 7, 2006

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Howl's Moving Castle
  • In Hayao Miyazaki's latest animated masterpiece, journey beyond imagination and enter a "breathtaking fantasy world" (Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times) filled with adventure, humor and heart. Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. The vain and vengeful Witch of the Waste, jealous of their friendship, puts a spell on Sophie. In a life-changing adventure, Sophie climbs aboard Howl's magnificent flying castle and enters a magical world on a quest to break the spell. Featuring the voice talents of Jean Simmons, Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall, Blythe Danner, and Billy Crystal, Miyazaki's artistry comes to life on DVD with inventive characters, unique storytelling and richly detailed animation.
  • Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
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    Reviews for Howl's Moving Castle

    • T-Meter Critics
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    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
    1 2 >> >|
    Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
     
     

    Charming Miyazaki fairy tale for tweens and up.

    Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | comment Comment
    07/10/08
    Cynthia Fuchs
    Cynthia Fuchs
    Common Sense Media
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
    02/26/08
    Urban Cinefile Critics
    Urban Cinefile Critics
    Urban Cinefile

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

    Full Review Source: Eye for Film | comment Comment
    09/17/07
    Anton Bitel
    Anton Bitel
    Eye for Film
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Audio Video Revolution | comment Comment
    04/24/07
    Audio Video Revolution
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Dvdrama | comment Comment
    10/30/06
    Dvdrama
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: MediaScreen.com | comment Comment
    10/23/06
    MediaScreen.com
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
    09/23/06
    BBC

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: DVDActive.com | comment Comment
    07/01/06
    Gabriel Powers
    Gabriel Powers
    DVDActive.com
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Premiere Magazine | comment Comment
    05/30/06
    Premiere Magazine

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: In Film Australia | comment Comment
    05/04/06
    Luke Buckmaster
    Luke Buckmaster
    In Film Australia

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

    Full Review Source: Movie Habit | comment Comment
    04/14/06
    Marty Mapes
    Marty Mapes
    Movie Habit
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: highangle.co.uk | comment Comment
    04/01/06
    highangle.co.uk

    While certainly not the best of [Miyazaki's] work, it's still several leagues ahead of what anyone else does in the genre and offers some stupendously impressive eye-candy.

    Full Review Source: DVDJournal.com | comment Comment
    03/27/06
    Dawn Taylor
    Dawn Taylor
    DVDJournal.com
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Entertainment Insiders | comment Comment
    03/25/06
    Stephen Wong
    Stephen Wong
    Entertainment Insiders

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Upcomingdiscs.Com | comment Comment
    03/22/06
    David Annandale
    David Annandale
    Upcomingdiscs.Com
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Ultimate Guide to Disney DVD | comment Comment
    03/18/06
    Ultimate Guide to Disney DVD
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: iofilm.co.uk | comment Comment
    03/18/06
    iofilm.co.uk
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: ComingSoon.net | comment Comment
    03/10/06
    ComingSoon.net

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Reel.com | comment Comment
    03/08/06
    Reel.com
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Anime on DVD | comment Comment
    03/08/06
    Anime on DVD
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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    Latest News for Howl's Moving Castle

    August 21, 2008: Japanese Audiences Flocking to Miyazaki's Latest Opens in new window
    He delighted audiences with Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle -- and now director Hayao Miyazaki is doing it all over again with his latest film, Ponyo on the Cliff by the... More...

    March 20, 2007: Will Miyazaki's Next Film Be His Last?
    It's been speculated that legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki will retire after the release of his next film, "Ponyo on a Cliff," but now it looks like we'll have at... More...

    October 19, 2006: Critical Consensus: "Flags" Flies High; "The Prestige" Is Magic; "Flicka" Is A Pretty Good Ride; "Marie Antoinette" Spared Critical Guillotine
    This week at the movies, we've got a complex tale of heroism (Clint Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers," starring Ryan Phillippe), a story of dueling magicians... More...

    October 03, 2006: Miyazaki Prepares Next Animation Classic
    Let's face it: When the director of "Spirited Away," "Princess Mononoke," and a whole bunch of other brilliant pieces of animation announces that he's about... More...

    See All

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