5/5 Best Hayazaki movie EVER!!!!!!
  by V. Nha (NY, USA)
I love Hayazaki animations.

Recently, I had a chance to watch the english version and I fell in love with this. Actually, I love the english version more than the japanese version. I love the fact that the main charactor isn't the prettiest thing in the world.... ha ha

You should watch this... You won't regrate it!!!!!

5/5 Howl's Moving Castle: A masterpiece
  by Jeff M. Cheatham (Loveland, Colorado United States)
Probably one of Miyazaki's best pieces of all time, Howl's Moving Castle is a tale for the young and old alike. This is a story of action and romance, as well as the joys of getting older. OK, don't want to ruin the story for you, but if you like anime (even only a little) and enjoy Billy Crystal's humour (yes, he's one of the voices in this one), then this one is definately for you. If you really like anime then you'll just love what Disney did with Howl's Moving Castle!

5/5 one of moms fav movies
  by dienia k bennett (norfolk ne usa)
this is a pretty story good for the kids where good triumphs over evil the boy loves the girl no matter what she looks like its aa very pretty story

5/5 You can't run away from life
  by Atli Hafsteinsson (Viborg, Denmark)
A world where witches may be wicked but they aren't the threat, and where situation can settle the most intense of differences. Where magic and a bombed-out war clash. That's the setting of Howl's Moving Castle in a nutshell; a town where a war is starting, with all the celebrations that are mistakenly attributed to such an event. In the midst of this is Sophie, an insecure girl who whiles away her days working in her father's hat shop. But life has no intention of letting her waste her life there. A quick visit from the Witch of the Waste leaves Sophie cursed in the form of an aged woman. She has no choice but to leave the town unseen and happens upon the moving, dangerously-unstably-constructed castle of the renowned but vain magician Howl. Adopting the role of his maid, Sophie becomes a permanent fixture in his household. With the help of her friends - including Howl's apprentice Markl and the silent but enthusiastic Scarecrow - Sophie sets out to find a way to break the curse on her. However, her quest takes a quite unexpected direction when she discovers more about Howl and just how he got the fire demon Calcifer to move the castle in the first place.

This is Myazaki's first film based on another writer's work since Kiki's Delivery Service and he stays faithful to the setting, which has a local charm that takes you back to 1880s Europe. The CG castle in the title is such a random structure, it's a wonder it doesn't collapse. Beautiful vistas are everywhere and the use of colour is high as is the trademark of the Ghibli films. The characters are also very entertaining, especially the fire demon Calcifer, whom only Sophie seems to be able to manipulate apart from Howl.

It may not be an original Myazaki concept, but in his hands the world of Howl and his moving castle is fascinating. Like Spirited Away, the story takes an unexpected but satisfactory turn for the audience and the resolve is never 'go from point A to point B'. It's deeper and more profound, and this difficult feat is well-presented to the audience. Howl's Moving Castle is a riot.

5/5 Great movie, great product
  by Lily Ball (Los Angeles, Ca)
This is such a great movie. It's based on an American woman's book, which I hear is also really good.

It's mostly a love story, so if you're not in the mood, stay away. This one gets me choked up every time.

Movie was shrink-wrapped, brand new when it arrived. Plays flawlessly.