tronvillain

How was Hayao Miyazakis Howl's Moving Castle? You didn't ask, but I am going to tell you anyway. *chuckle*

Stress and nervous tension are now serious social problems in all parts of the Galaxy, and it is in order that this situation should not in any way be exacerbated that the following fact will now be revealed in advance: the movie is extremely good. Permit me to elaborate...

A young woman named Sophie, who works in her late father's hat shop of a sense of responsibility as the eldest child, goes to visit her sister Lettie at the bakery where she works. On the way she is accosted by two soldiers (there is a war on with the neighboring kingdom), is rescued by a mysterious wizard, then pursued by the goonish black blob men that are pursuing him. After he flies her to the bakery, she talks briefly with her sister about her narrow escape and returns home, only to be confronted by a large pale blobbish woman - the Witch of the Waste. The witch curses Sophie, transforming her into an old woman who is unable to reveal her true identity to anyone. Lacking anything else to do, Sophie travels into the wastes, rescues a turnip headed scarecrow, and discovers Howl's castle, an immense ambulatory machine-building powered by a fire demon. After that, the movie really begins.

Anyway, it is quite the experience: exquisite animation, touching story, thrilling adventure, and magic. At a hair under two hours, it is reasonably lengthy, but it is time well spent. I give it a definite nine out of ten.