That's right, as a kid my greatest
memories were of being completely overawed with these films on the off
chance that these worlds actually existed. That there was a slight
chance that I could visit "Oz", that there was a treasure-filled pirate ship
hidden in the sewers owned by One Eyed Willie, that there was a
labyrinth of portals under my bed that led to who knows where. Watching these films now, all you
are likely to notice are poor production values and bad '80s clothing. However,
as a memory these films serve as some of my happiest moments in my
life purely on the basis that I believed these worlds existed.
"You're schizophrenic" I hear you think, and its not far from the
truth.
But my point is simple - why don't they make movies that have
this effect anymore? Lord of the Rings did well, but that's about it. Kids today are too in-the-know about CGI to be truly inspired by Harry Potter or Toy Story.
There's no believability in these worlds. Thankfully, all is not lost,
with the brilliant Anime director Hayo Miyazaki holding the flag high
for imagination inspiring films. Adapted from the book by English author Diana Wynne Jones, Howl's Moving Castle is the Oscar Nominated follow up to Miyazaki's Oscar Winning film Spirited Away.
It follows a young woman named Sophie (voiced by Emily Mortimer) who is
cursed by the Witch of the Waste (voiced by Lauren Bacall) and is
turned into a rather old, wrinkled woman. Unable to continue her
job at her mother's hat shop, she goes in search of "The Waste Lands"
in hope of having the spell broken, and her youth restored. Embarking
on an incredible odyssey to lift the curse, Sophie meets a scarecrow
(the first of several Wizard Of Oz moments) who bounces
around on his single wooden leg and leads her to the mysterious and
magical Howl's Moving Castle where she becomes acquainted with the
young Markl, Howl's apprentice, and a hot-headed fire demon named
Calcifer (brilliantly voiced by Billy Crystal). Taking on
the role of the house cleaner, Sophie's love and support soon comes to
have a major impact on Howl, who defies orders from the Palace to
become a pawn of war - risking his life to help bring peace to a rather
troubled kingdom. There is so much to like about this film - from
the gloriously lush illustrations to the genuine heartfelt family
relationships which evolve between Sophie, Markl, Calcifer and Howl.
The castle itself, which looks as if it were hastily hammered together
in a woodwork class and inspired by the war machines
in The Empire Strikes Back, is an amazing visual invention.
A vast collection of turrets and annexes, stairwells, magical doors and
afterthoughts, which makes its way across the landscape like an aging
turtle. However, endless imagination aside, there is something
that just isn't quite right. The story seems to be unsure of what it
really wants to say - the war scenes appeared out of place and an
unneccisary critique on America's war mongering - and the final five
minutes seem to resolve unnecessary loose ends with little to no
information and feel far too rushed. It's a real shame too, as there are
parts of this film where it really hits a good rhythm as a family
adventure film. But the conflicting storylines and themes often leaves
the viewers feeling a little disjointed from the story. Screen
legend and two-time Oscar nominee Jean Simmons is glorious as the 90
year-old Sophie, bringing wisdom and humour to the role. And along with
some of the spectacular visual backdrops, this is one of the first
films in a long time which helped re-ignite my passion for a child-like
limitless imagination. It's certainly not Miyazaki's greatest work (be sure to see Spirited Away or Kiki's Delivery Service) but it certainly is a fantastic bit of anime' which doesn't involve ultra-violence or Poke'mon. And
most importantly, it inspired me to visit my local video store and
re-hire some of those classic '80s gems which were all but forgotten in
the back of my mind. God bless Fred Savage! EXTRASThe limited edition release is fantastic. With interviews from author Diana Wynne Jones, Pixar's Peter Doctor (MONSTERS INC.) and featurettes explaining the art of the CG in the film.
Also
included are an array of trailers, alternative angle storyboards and
the added option of watching the film with the original Japanese voice
overs (a must watch for purists). However, I've always been a
sucker for a good cover - and the limited edition comes with a
fantastic limited edition glossy box. So good! Conclusion:
Movie 75% Extras: 65% 
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