Howl's Moving Castle

[mayoraasei]

Admittedly the only reason I really really wanted to watch this was because Howl's voice is done by Kimura Takuya (木村啦，木村). After watching it I have to say his voice is like his face...unremarkable. *Gets trussed and roasted on fire by legions of Kimura fans*

Okay okay *holds up hands in surrender* I don't dislike him, I just don't fangirl him and would not vote him in as the "man whom one wants a hug most from, 2006" (or any other calendar year, for that matter).

But he's an able actor for all his celebrity status, and Howl - though I like him much better than Haku from Spirited Away - is hardly explored to the depth where he would have difficulty with the role. In fact Howl seemed so perfectly cheery from beginning to end one wondered if he actually changed during the course of the movie, but we are supposed to believe he has.

There are more themes in the movie than I picked up on - there's got to be more to this story than the most obvious "love restores one's youth", but I suspect too much of the original book from which this was adapted has been condensed. Especially about warfare, which formed the backdrop to this fairytale.

For some bizarre inexplicable reason, I really liked Howl, even though he's no different from your average cardboard hero, with a few minor changes (he's a self-professed coward and is pathetically vain and childish). I still don't understand why he made a pact with Calcifer if the two of them so desperately want to break it. Though Sophie meeting Howl in the past and therefore Howl waited for her in the future (the heck?) was very sweet and probably explained the speed at which they suddenly became smitten with each other....

I have to confess, the first time I set eyes on Howl, the first name that popped into my mind (from the murky pool of "hey, he reminds me of...") was Lymond. *Hides*

Even if it's for really stupid reasons like his impeccable extravagance, the cool elegance as he fights off his enemies, the way he drives himself to battle, the blonde hair and blue eyes (through some mishap, his hair returns to its original colour which makes him look like Touya Akira and strangely enough not like Athrun), and...most stupid of all...the aristocratic shirt and hose.

But he smiles...I think he has a magician's smile. Steady, confident, and all a flawless pretence.

(I also like Howl because he's so damn useful! The next time one wants to renovate, make breakfast, look at sparkly lights at the edge of the milky way - call Howl!)

He's still underdeveloped because I feel that even at the end, we're missing large parts of his story and motivation. In true Studio Ghibli tradition, the focus is more on the lead girl maturing into her own, the male lead relegated to play saviour without much complexity.

This makes me mightily interested in Gedo Senki. Arren might actually have a story of his own.



(Oh yeah. The interview offer officially came yesterday.)

 

Comments

[meissa.livejournal.com]

Howl's Moving Castle was an okay movie for me. But my experience of it was somewhat marred by its deviation from the original book. Howl had more depth in the book, and you'd understand why he was so reluctant to keep working for the king. Plus the whole plot just made more sense.

[luna-rainbow.livejournal.com]

Was the original book called Howl's Moving Castle as well? Who was it by?

Yeah, that's the feeling I got from the movie as well, and I haven't even read the book. I just got this whole impression that they've dumbed down Howl's character to fit the time, because I'm so sure that he's not supposed to come across as an unsolved mystery even at the end. And a lot of actions would only make sense if there were some kind of narration to tie it all together.

And there's a whole heap of symbolism I picked up but had trouble understanding because...maybe I'm just not as good with interpreting them from visual media.

Aww, now I really want to read the book!!! Is it long?

[meissa.livejournal.com]

Yep, same title. By Diana Wynne Jones.

[luna-rainbow.livejournal.com]

Was the book good though? And is it long? Is it children's or adult's?

[a-cryptic.livejournal.com]

i think it's children's? my sis borrowed it from Hurstville library. She said it was much better than the movie.

I liked Howl too, though my favourite character is Calcifer. Have you listened to the other language dubbs? He's so cute in Canto.

[meissa.livejournal.com]

It's very short and readable. It's a children's book, although there are subtleties that would take an adult to notice. I liked it a lot. I became I howling fangirl (if you'll excuse the pun)!