Ebert, a supporter of Spirited Away, gives Howl thumbs down.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbc ... S/50601002

The film still stands at 85% on RT, however.

Here's a copy of my review from the "Everyone's a Critic" forum:

Saw the new dubbed version today - some interesting voice choices too - Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall, Billy Crystal...

We saw it this afternoon and it is, of course, stunningly beautiful art and animation - but I would suggest that this is not a Miyazaki movie for newcomers to his work. The story, though based on an English children's book, has a very Japanese tone to it, and is very obscure and meandering in it's way. If you're a Miyazaki virgin, look to almost any of his back catalogue first - personally, I recommend Kiki or Totoro or Spirited Away - but they're all world class animated movies in their own right. If you've seen every Miyazaki movie - well by all means go and see it on the big screen - before it is bumped from the theatres by something like Bionicles 3...

4 out of 5 (for the fans)

(I am really worried that Miyazaki fans will drag off newbie friends only to have them come away disillusioned...)

Hey, I'm as much of a dubbing snob as the next foreign film fan, but lol! - all animated films are dubbed - even in their original language...

So... anyone else seeing this in theatres? I probaly will get to tomorrow hopefully... \:D/ As I love almost all of Miyazaki's work (with the exception of Laputa and Nausicaa.... which are both still good) hopefully this will be no different.

I'm seeing it this weekend PE, so we'll exchange notes. :wink:

Looks like I'm not seeing anything this weekend...

Grrrr. I better not miss the theatrical run for this.

http://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=1836&p=.htm

Well... my cousin has a fansub so I decided to borrow it. I know, I would like to see in theatres but I probaly won't, this will have to do. *sigh* I'll see it by tomorrow.

Welll, what can I say. Sorely dissappointing, Miyazaki resorts to a house cleaning story reminiscent of Snow White. The plot is thin and the story thinner. Half the scenes are of Sophie cleaning the moving castle, and even then we never get a feel for its interior, since most of the story occurs by the fire in the den. WWI is just a facade and has no point with the plot except for a "war is silly" couple of one-liners. Nothing happens, not even visually.

Sigh,

C+

Full review to come later.

Go see Steamboy instead...

did you read my review galia?

No...since you said loyal already editted it for you by the time I checked my pm box. I'll read it right now. I know you gave it a B- and wasn't in love with it though, ten bucks says you felt it was boring too.

sorta .. it stretched .. but that wasn't my main problem with it.

What is this movie amounting to? The answer is, at least to me, nothing! There is a feeling of betrayal when you try to follow a story that sounds very interesting but at the end doesn't bother with adding validity to it.

Yes!

And by the way..you liked Calcifer? Wait until you see my review. I already wrote it but haven't typed it up. He's fresh out of disney side-kickdom...I couldn't stand him.

Oh, and bABA, if you think this is visually sumptious...you simply must watch Spritied Away. it puts the animation here to shame with how it opens up to the viewer rather than remaining distant and closed. Here the castle doesn't draw you in the way the city of ghosts and bathhouse do in Spirited Away.

Please give him one more chance and check out his earlier work. I said in my review new viewers wouldn't quite understand the love for him unless they see his earlier works. Moving Castle is not on par with his recent works.

The WWI stuff pissed me off. Again, Steamboy does a much better job addressing similar moments in history.

shall do ... think the fact that i hadn't seen any of his movies helped me give it a better grade than i should have ...

I'd really like to see your opinion on Princess Mononoke dolce, I think you'd at least like it. :mrgreen: Spirited Away is still Miyazaki's best work though.
Well... I'm going to watch the movie on my computer... Hopefully I won't be too dissapointed. [-o<

Well... I enjoyed it.

It isn't thick in substance or as charming as Spirited Away, but the animation is stunning as usual. Was the dub any good?

Saw the Japanese version and loved the visuals - colors and drawings.

Though I haven't seen alot of these movies.

Can anyone tell me if this is getting a subbed release? l peeked into a showing before Me and You..., and the dub is pretty crap. l'd love to see it in theaters, but l just dunno if it's worth it.

I saw Howl's Moving Castle today! I had to watch it with some of the children in the branch. It was cute, but I can tell why it didn't launch Miyazaki's international career. Its geared towards a much younger audiance than his later works. She basically has a school girl crush, and also needs to learn how to have a sense of faith in her spirit. On the other hand, the painting of her friend was very nice, and the discussion around everyone finding their own passions and inspiration. The visual landscape wasn't as complex, but it was pretty open rather than Howl's sort of circle in a square feel. Interesting...