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Well, I've finally seen Howl's Moving Castle. I was meh about it at first, but it's grown and grown on me.
I've never actually seen it all in one sitting. I've managed to see bits and pieces of the movie over a span of many nights, and I've probably seen the complete film - in differing bits and pieces - a total of six times.
Was it Alex who said it was mesmerizing? I think it is absolutely hynotizing. It puts me out cold, and I can never manage to watch the whole thing. I find this effect very intriguing. I think it puts you into an altered state quite by design.
The story is almost convoluted. I think some of the war stuff is too heavy-handed, and I find Howl's character too simplistic. That said, however, I think the movie is fascinating. It's weird and beautiful and unpredictable.
As I suspected, I prefer the dubbed English on this one. It takes place in a mythical western society where I find the Japanese distracting. I think the English vocal talents are appropriate. Christian Bale is perhaps a little too sexy as Howl, at least as compared with the Japanese version (though perhaps that adolescent boy voice is tres alluring in Nippon). Billy Crystal is a tad "been-there" as the fire demon, but his Japanese counterpart is just nails-on-chalkboard annoying to my Western ears. Jean Simmons is great as old Sophie, with Lauren Bacall perfect as the Witch of the Wastes.
This is the kind of movie that I'd love to watch on acid.
Who's got some?
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