Frankly speaking, I am a tad disappointed with Hayao Miyazaki's latest offering, Howl's Moving Castle, which is actually based on a children's book by Diana Wynne Jones. And those who are ardent fans of his previous works (such as Princess Mononoke & the award winning Spirited Away) would emphatically agree with me on this one. For those not in the know, Miyazaki's reputation as an anime director is almost legendary in the East AND West, and his works have gained a cult-like following comprising of mostly adults rather than children...Although all of Miyazaki's films cover similar thematic elements, it is in the execution of the story that audiences will find much delight and enjoyment, rather than in the embedded meanings and messages. There is no doubt that Howl's Moving Castle is a fascinating and captivating spectacle because Miyazaki's invaluable trademarks are all present here: a rich and detailed storyline, lush 2D animation with fresh colours and excellent characterizations. Nevertheless, this film has some big plot loopholes that just cannot be ignored and as a result, left me quite dissatisfied when they remain unresolved by film's end.
Despite the aforesaid flaws, this is still Japanese anime at its best, though I'll rate Howl's Moving Castle a notch lower than 2001's Spirited Away. Seriously, those folks at Disney/Pixar and Dreamworks should learn a thing or two about storytelling from Miyazaki...
My ratings ---- 4/5 stars~!!!!
