Howl's Moving Castle

[Guest]

[Roz]

Well - I have had what I imagine is a completely different day to the rest of you I bet you are ALL further into the Half Blood Prince than I, but I've had a great time at the UK premiere of the latest Miyazaki film (Studio Ghibli) - Howl's Moving Castle.

You might think to yourselves "but hang on a cotton picking minute - Howl is a Welsh name not a Japanese one" and you would be spot on. The author Diana Wynne-Jones is Welsh

There was something different about this screening - I was sitting merely across the aisle from the AUTHOR OF THE BOOK!!!!

She welcomed us to the screening, and told us what a fan of Miyazaki's work she had been since she saw (a Pirate version of) Castle in the Sky many years ago, she later paid to see it 4 times! Then recently she had a letter from Miyazaki through her publishers asking if he could make her book into a movie - she was over the moon. Although she had to sign a contract to say that he could do what he liked with her characters - so she felt like she was selling them into slavery, thankfully he kept very true to the characters, less so to the plot, admittedly .

Diana played down the differences explaining that she didn't mind in the least bit - firstly when you read a book you are much more a part of it and you are much more of "an insider" to the story to some extent, and when you are watching a film you look on from the outside. I suppose that's true - you might be greatly enveloped by a film but the story continues around you - somehow it's much more passive.

Anyway - the film itself is breathtaking, IMPROVING on the already stunning standards of the previous Ghibli movies, the storyline is so involving and you can COMPLETELY take your children along to see it, although if you take children you might want to make sure you find a dubbed showing - our showing was subbed (for Cambridge Student purists )

[zero]

You are very, very lucky for just being able to see the film (as well as meet the author of the book). In America, all Ghibli films go to selected theatres meaning that only big cities usually get them >,< Of course, the small little town that I reside it didn't get it, and State College, the only other place around me that would get it, had it for about a week. I'm going to have to wait and see it until it's released for the Japanese market ... my host-mum will probably send it. Until then ...

[Roz]

Until then you can watch the trailer over and over I downloaded it from apple trailers and have been doing so because the music is so great... I've bought the soundtrack but of course it will take a while to ship from Japan... until then - the trailer it is Ooh and you could buy the book too, but the story is fairly loosely used.

Because she was a fan of Miyasaki before he approached her about her book she said - "the minute he said he wanted to make my book into a film I KNEW he was going to put flying machines into it" - and then it became a running joke in the rest of the Q&A session about his obsession with flying machines

Look on the bright side, because you didn't see it on American release you get to see the subbed and not "disney dubbed" - ooh how annoying is that "Disney DVD" lark? *very*

[Choice of Lúthien]

I wanted to see this at the film festival but had to work. At least one of the showings (I believe there were two) sold out and the other probably did as well but you couldn't prebook.

I've had to content myself with seeing L'Enfant and Broken Flowers. I'm wondering if any of the theatres here will get Howl's?? <crosses fingers>

[Roz]

Yes the 2 showings in Cambridge were sold out as well - I wonder why (since they have the reels) they don't put on a couple of extra showings once the festival is over, after all, ours was a Japanese reel and it's out on DVD soon there

[zero]

It's been ages, but, somehow, I missed your reply, Roz

Until then you can watch the trailer over and over I downloaded it from apple trailers and have been doing so because the music is so great... I've bought the soundtrack but of course it will take a while to ship from Japan... until then - the trailer it is Ooh and you could buy the book too, but the story is fairly loosely used.

I have the soundtrack, too. I got one from the prerelease of the film while I was there. Then, I got another. I didn't read the book, yet. I'de love to sit and read it sometime. I do have the Japanese translation, but that would take me ages to finish. I have trouble enough getting through other translations

Because she was a fan of Miyasaki before he approached her about her book she said - "the minute he said he wanted to make my book into a film I KNEW he was going to put flying machines into it" - and then it became a running joke in the rest of the Q&A session about his obsession with flying machines

He does love flying machines! The Ghibli Museum had a room dedicated to his obsession until the Pixar Exhibit took it's place. I'm sure it would be back by now, though

Look on the bright side, because you didn't see it on American release you get to see the subbed and not "disney dubbed" - ooh how annoying is that "Disney DVD" lark? *very*

Yeah, the "Disney DVD" sorta does put a damper on the American release, but I have to say they have gotten better. There releases have both Japanese and English (and probably other languages) with tons of extra features. I don't have any of the "Disney DVD" because I got the Japanese releases (jiburi ga ippai collection). If I'm not mistaken, I think Disney has full rights for the distribution of Ghibli DVDs in Japan, as well. Except they get a lot more money for them. I think a VHS would cost 5,000 Yen and a DVD 6,000 Yen (more if you get a special limited set ... DVD with some other things).

Which brings me to this ... I finally got to see it! Fusae sent me a DVD set from Loppi (ordered from the Lawson Convenience Store in Japan) that included a poster, Trumps, and a cell in a Crystal thing. I got it about two weeks ago. On Saturday, I finally found the time to watch it amidst the holiday hustle and bustle (cleaning and shopping ).

I really, really, really liked it. It reminded me of a Miyazaki film and the other Ghibli films. As the plot devoloped, I had no idea where it would go next. Or, how everything would be resolved. I knew the basic story, but that's about it. In my opinion, the resolution was a bit hard to understand. I wish I could have devotted all my attention to the entire film. I missed a couple parts because my niece and nephew were watching it, too. My nephew spilled his water and popcorn during different parts so I was too intent on getting it cleaned up rather than seeing what was happening and missed something. When I find the time, I'de like to watch it again. Plus, I'de like to see it in Japanese. I had to watch the English Dub, which was okay, but nothing could be the Japanese.

The editing reminded me of other Japanese films that I've seen. At times, it's slow with no music. My niece would tell me it's boring at those times, but I tried to keep her as entertained with it as possible I don't think I need to talk about the animation very much. Miyazaki was by far up to par, in my opinion.

I see it as a film that utilized the Switzerland countryside (according to Fusae) and somewhat used the novel by Diana Wynne Jones (born in the UK) that comes from a Japanese perspective. For some reason, that intrigues me greatly.