Back Shelf Beauties
by Willie Waffle
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Howl's Moving
Castle
If you ever wondered how hot animated films are in Hollywood today, consider
this. For the US release of Howl's Moving
Castle, a Japanese animated film dubbed into English for us Yanks,
producers were able to get Christian "Batman" Bale, Billy Crystal and the
LEGENDARY Lauren Bacall to provide voices for the main characters. Now, it's
official. Everyone wants to get on the bandwagon.
Emily Mortimer provides the voice of Sophie - a young lady down on her looks
and life. She works tirelessly in her deceased father's hat shop, but doesn't
think there is much more for her in life. After a chance meeting with the
mysterious wizard Howl (voice by Bale), she goes back to the shop, only to
be confronted by the Wicked Witch of the Waste (voice by Bacall). The witch
gets into a spat with Sophie, and puts a spell on her. The young hat maker
quickly is transformed into a very old woman, and cannot tell anyone who
has put the spell on her. The much older Sophie (voice by Jean Simmons) heads
off to the mountains seeking help from Howl, but gets involved in a much
more complicated battle.
Can Sophie get the help she needs from Howl? Are the two meant to be together?
Howl's Moving Castle is a wildly imaginative
and artistic adventure, but one that isn't easily understood. Maybe I'm missing
the symbolism, but I felt director/writer Hayao Miyazaki wants to take the
story in too many directions, not fully explaining how it all fits together.
We have a war being waged, but for what purpose? We learn about Howl's vanity
and some secret he is hiding, as well as Sophie's own insecurity and poor
self-image, but how does this tie together? Every time I think Miyazaki is
about to pull it all together in an understandable, meaningful way, he adds
another layer or twist which leads to more confusion. Luckily, we have Billy
Crystal to save the day.
I feel like an idiot saying this, but I was so thankful to have Crystal as
the sassy, wisecracking fire demon Calcifer. While everything else is flying
over our heads, whether it's our fault or Miyazaki's, Crystal provides some
wacky one-liners and a wonderful characterization full of comedy, but also
some heart. Bacall is delicious as the evil Witch of the Waste, but doesn't
get enough to do as other villains enter the picture.
Howl's Moving Castle is one for the anime
fans, but not so much for the rest of us.
2 Waffles (Out Of
4)
Copyright 2005 - WaffleMovies.com
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