Post by Bytor on Nov 6, 2012 0:16:11 GMT -5
-Details-
Genre: Slice of Life, Drama
Company: Studio Ghibli
Format: Movie; 118 minutes
Dates: 20 Nov 2004
-Visuals- 9.5/10
Blah, blah, blah...another Studio Ghibli move, more and even more of the same type visuals...well...yes and no. Yes, there is no doubt who did this film, absolutely none at all matter of fact. so, you know it's good and, assuming you have seen Miyazaki's works you know what to expect. Then, he throws you a curve ball, a curve ball in the sense that as opposed to much of his former works this movie actually is at essence a steampunk movie, at least in my opinion, although thus admitted a movie with a steampunk setting fused with a magical realm. An odd combination you ask, maybe, maybe not, for the most part I think it works very well, the graphics are just enough of a fusion that the steampunk is well done, and the magical aspects are well represented visually as well. This movie surprised me endlessly due to this fusion aspect, I didn't expect it and I found myself constantly being wowed at the way it looked!
-Characters- 9.5/10
As always with Miyazaki's works the characters are both intriguing and captivating. And there is certainly no lack of personality within this diverse cast, heck, one of the more interesting characters, The Scarecrow, doesn't say a freaking word until the end of the movie, lol, and yet even he exhibits a charming, whimsical and yet serious personality. What really stands out in this particular film is the fact that the characters are certainly depicted with faults and personality traits which are both admirable as well as somewhat reprehensible. The one real constant however is Sophie, she truly stills the show as she attempts to rescue both herself, and Howl. Her growth was interesting and fascinating and a joy to experience. As always the group you watch, grow and learn to love, or hate, is complex, intriguing and truly representative of all of us, at times petty and trite, at times wonderful and caring, but most especially at all times human.
-Story- 9.2/10
Sophie, an unassuming eighteen year old hat maker meets Howl, a mysterious wizard, although she has no idea who he is. Unfortunately for her The Witch of the Waste, who is in "love" with Howl thinks something happened between Sophie and the wizard so she applies a curse to Sophie which makes her for all intensive purposes turn into an old woman. In order to spare her family Sophie flees her village and shortly meets Scarecrow who leads her to Howl's castle. The beginnings of this movie have some of the best scenes, dialogues, circumstances and early character development I have ever seen in any anime. I found my self hooked, and hooked hard rather quickly! Unfortunately the second half of the story fails just a tad for me, once the war and political intrigue start, can't say too much without giving away some stuff, I somewhat, only somewhat but still, found myself not quite as enthralled. I honestly wish this had stayed a "slice of life"/comedy/drama as opposed to what it became, which honestly I'm not sure what to call, perhaps it tried a bit too hard to be a bit too much of everything.
-Overall- 9.2/10
As per all of Studio Ghibli films this is an excellent work, not perfection, notg even I dare say necessarily great, but, having said that it is still much, much, much better than the vast majority if anime films out there.