Howl's Moving Castle (2004) 7/10

Starring : Jean Simmons, Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall, Blythe Danner, Emily Mortimer, Josh Hutcherson, Billy Crystal
Director : Hayao Miyazaki
Running Time : 115 mins

When Sophie (Mortimer / Simmons) is cursed and turned into an old woman by the Witch Of The Waste (Bacall), so she flees into the countryside where she takes a job in a castle owned by the mysterious wizard Howl (Bale). There she makes a deal with a fire demon named Calcifer (Crystal) who vows to help her break the curse on her if she can help break the spell he’s under.

This is a visually spectacular movie, which mixes moments of romance with moments of adventure and peril. Miyazaki really knows how to direct a movie to make the most its pathos while still keeping it light and cheery.

You’ll like this if you liked : Spirited Away