Howl's Moving Castle Blu-ray Movie

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Howl's Moving Castle Blu-ray Movie United States

ハウルの動く城 / Hauru no Ugoku Shiro / Blu-ray + DVD
Shout Factory | 2004 | 119 min | Rated PG | May 12, 2020

Howl's Moving Castle (Blu-ray Movie)

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Movie rating

8.2
 / 10

Blu-ray rating

Users0.0 of 50.0
Reviewer4.5 of 54.5
Overall4.5 of 54.5

Overview

Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

A plain young hatter named Sophie has her life changed when an evil witch transforms her into an old woman. Unable to face her family in such a condition, Sophie runs away in search of a way to become young again. Along the way, Sophie helps a turnip headed scarecrow, who repays her by leading her to the moving castle owned by the dreaded wizard Howl. There she befriends Howl's apprentice Markl, Howl's fire demon Calcifer, and eventually, Howl himself. Sophie then becomes the castle's cleaning lady in an effort to not only find the solution to her problem but to save Howl from his own terrible secrets as well.

Starring: Chieko Baishô, Takuya Kimura, Akihiro Miwa, Tatsuya Gashûin, Ryunosuke Kamiki
Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Foreign100%
Anime92%
Fantasy66%
Adventure49%
Romance19%
ActionInsignificant

Specifications

  • Video

    Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
    Video resolution: 1080p
    Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
    Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1

  • Audio

    English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
    Japanese: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
    French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)

  • Subtitles

    English, English SDH, French

  • Discs

    Blu-ray Disc
    Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
    DVD copy

  • Playback

    Region A (locked)

Review

Rating summary

Movie5.0 of 55.0
Video5.0 of 55.0
Audio4.5 of 54.5
Extras3.5 of 53.5
Overall4.5 of 54.5

Howl's Moving Castle Blu-ray Movie Review

A stunning steelbook edition for a masterpiece by Hayao Miyazaki

Reviewed by Neil Lumbard June 23, 2020

A remarkable achievement by Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke), Howl's Moving Castle is one of the filmmakers most divisive but brilliant films. Miyazaki proclaimed the film as an effort he made for an older-generation like himself (or for those who are “old” at heart). As such, it might be less appealing to the youngest audiences of his films. Adult fans will find it to be one of Miyazaki's most enchanting, entertaining, and moving productions. The storytelling is exquisite.

Miyazaki focuses the story on a young woman named Sophie who becomes an old woman after a spell is cast on her by a witch who is determined to curse her. Befriending a wizard named Howl, Sophie is taken on the adventure of her lifetime: a journey full of magic and a breathtaking castle that moves on legs. Featuring some of the best animation in Miyazaki's career and a beautiful score by his longtime collaborator Joe Hisaishi, Howl's Moving Castle is a cinematic masterpiece.

Imagination and adventure takes flight.


For more information on the film please refer to the original review by Blu-ray.com writer Kenneth Brown. Please note that my rating and review on the film is a reflection of my own opinion.




Howl's Moving Castle Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality  5.0 of 5

For more information on the presentation quality on the Gkids edition please refer to the review by my Blu-ray.com colleague Stephen Larson.


Howl's Moving Castle Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality  4.5 of 5

For more information on the presentation quality on the Gkids edition please refer to the review by my Blu-ray.com colleague Stephen Larson.


Howl's Moving Castle Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras  3.5 of 5

NEW to the edition is a deluxe steelbook with collectors packaging. The design on the release is impressive: the subtle use of color on the design is fantastic and looks even better in hand. The silver metallic print has a shine to it with the red color reflecting in light. It looks and feels great to have a collectors edition. The design is simplistic and yet it is somehow perfect for the film. A high-quality release which should appeal to steelbook collectors.

For more information on the extras on the Gkids edition please refer to the review by my Blu-ray.com colleague Stephen Larson.


Howl's Moving Castle Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation  4.5 of 5

One of the most underrated of all Miyazaki efforts, Howl's Moving Castle is an extraordinary film with stunning animation and a powerful story. The characters are some of the best in the Miyazaki world. The filmmaking is enormously entertaining and it never loses sight of the magic. The Blu-ray has a impressive presentation and the release features a gorgeous steelbook that is a must-own for Ghibli fans. Highly recommended.


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