Howl's Moving Castle (possible spoilers)

[CatMarieS]

I watched Howl's Moving Castle recently and I really enjoyed it, but the movie left a bunch of important stuff unanswered and really made the end quite confusing. I have a few questions that I was hoping the more savvy among us could answer for me.

1. OK, so what was the deal with Howl and Calcifer and their contract?

2. Why was Howl turning into the Blue Bird of Happiness(tm) and how was he out of danger after regaining his heart?

3. How come earlier when Sophie became young again, her hair turned brown again, but later her hair stayed gray?

4. So who wanted the war and why was it being fought? It appeared that Sulliman was apparently the person running the show, and therefore it was her war, but as soon as she sees that Howl is not turning into a nasty-looking bird that makes her instantly decide to cancel it. Why would that have anything to do with a war at all? It's also implied that the Prince fellow in the end has some sort of say in the whole process, but it was very confusing.

5. If Calcifer is no longer bound by contract, who is moving the flying castle in the end?

6. They called Howl cowardly and vain, but he did not really show himself to be either except in one scene.

7. Howl is reputed to kill beautiful young women, then later in the story calls Sophie beautiful. Is she in danger?

8. Where does the black pie slice of the dial go?

9. If Howl doesn't want to have anything to do with war, what is he doing flying around fighting in it?

10. Was Sophie's curse ever "officially" lifted?

And yep...that's about it. Any explainations would be appreciated.

[kit1]

Here's hoping I can help explain. :)

1. OK, so what was the deal with Howl and Calcifer and their contract?

The contract was that Howl gave Calcifer his heart in order to gain a greater amount of wizardly power. Howl has a fair amount of control over Calcifer, that's part of it too, but because Calcifer has his heart, if Calcifer is killed - i.e. water dumped on him, then Howl would die. Their lives are linked together because of the pact. Calcifer is a Star Child, which is basically a star fallen from the sky to die in the marsh, but the contract gave Calcifer an extended life.

2. Why was Howl turning into the Blue Bird of Happiness(tm) and how was he out of danger after regaining his heart?

The Blue Bird transform was a spell of his own making, that drew on Calcifer's power. Because Calcifer is a demon and had Howl's heart, that particular spell was taking over Howl a little more each time he used it. He was becoming more of the monster and less human, therefore on regaining his heart, he regained his human feelings as well.

3. How come earlier when Sophie became young again, her hair turned brown again, but later her hair stayed gray?

I think this is meant to be a sort of overhang from the spell. In the book by Diana Wynne Jones(sp?), her hair is then described as being a silver colour. It is meant to show that she has been through the ordeal, survived and matured.

4. So who wanted the war and why was it being fought? It appeared that Sulliman was apparently the person running the show, and therefore it was her war, but as soon as she sees that Howl is not turning into a nasty-looking bird that makes her instantly decide to cancel it. Why would that have anything to do with a war at all? It's also implied that the Prince fellow in the end has some sort of say in the whole process, but it was very confusing.

The war is a little confusing, even in the book. The war is being fought between the King and a neighbouring kingdom (which is where the prince-turned-onion-head is from). I believe the war was started because of the disappearance of the onion-prince and that it was his country that had started it. It was the Witch of the Waste that had turned him into the onion-head and had caused his disappearance, because he had snubbed her by turning down her romantic persuasions.

5. If Calcifer is no longer bound by contract, who is moving the flying castle in the end?

The castle is supposedly moved in the end by Calcifer, who had come back voleentarily, after his return to becoming a star child. The castle itself is actually from the next book, which actually has nothing to do with Howl and friends, or so I believe when I looked at it. The next book is titled 'Castle in the Air'. I think Miyazaki was just alluding to the flying castle by placing it there.

6. They called Howl cowardly and vain, but he did not really show himself to be either except in one scene.

In the book it comes out more heavily. Howl's vainity is of himself, his clothes, the manner in which he lives, the colouring of his hair and his charm towards the ladies. In the book, he often falls in love with a girl very easily, but once she falls in love with him, he runs away scared and tries to avoid her at all costs. He then becomes mopey and sad until he falls in love with the next girl.

7. Howl is reputed to kill beautiful young women, then later in the story calls Sophie beautiful. Is she in danger?

Sophie is not in danger; this was a rumour spread I believe to make the girls leave him alone, spread by his apprentice, Markl, to try and stop girls coming to Howl, because Markl was being taught magic by Howl and whenever Howl was engaged with the courtship of the girl, he would concentrate on that, give Markl a riddle to figure out and leave. It's a point better expressed in the book.

8. Where does the black pie slice of the dial go?

The book again solves this query. The black part is meant to go to Howl's childhood home, where his sister and family lives. It's explained more in the book, because they actually go there, and I believe Miyazaki found that there was simply too much of the story in the book and therefore had to cut it down severely to make it a feature.

9. If Howl doesn't want to have anything to do with war, what is he doing flying around fighting in it?

This is actually referenced in the book again. I think Howl was only fighting to give time for his castle to get a move on to a safer place, ie because certain parts of the dial would be connected to a house in the area near the war. I think at one stage in the book, he fought to divert the war from his families home too.

10. Was Sophie's curse ever "officially" lifted?

Yes it was. It was a time of learning for Sophie and as said before about her hair, it was a time where she matured in thinking and became more sure of herself and the things she wanted.

I hope that helps you out, but really I recommend reading the book. It does explain so much, but there is quite a lot in it. It's a lovely book and the story is charming. :D

[CatMarieS]

The war is a little confusing, even in the book. The war is being fought between the King and a neighbouring kingdom (which is where the prince-turned-onion-head is from). I believe the war was started because of the disappearance of the onion-prince and that it was his country that had started it. It was the Witch of the Waste that had turned him into the onion-head and had caused his disappearance, because he had snubbed her by turning down her romantic persuasions.


Aha, explains a lot, except that if Sulliman saw that the prince had been restored, wouldn't she want to get Demitri, er, the neighboring king on the red phone instead of her minister of defence?

[dessa]

In the book there wasn't a war... And the Prince was the King's younger brother... and Turnip Head wasn't the Prince... and "Sulliman" from the movie was Mrs. Pentstemmon, who wasn't working for the King... and...

Everything confusing in the movie is because it was changed from the book... Yet I still like the movie better.

[CatMarieS]

I'll have to do more research on the book. I only know what Wikipedia has told me...

[kit1]

Oops! Lol.. it's been a while since I read the book. I actually see the book and the movie as two seperate things that I like. There're alot of differences and they both have a different sort of feeling too. The book travels slower I feel. The movie races, but I love both. :D

[CatMarieS]

It makes me really wish that the movie didn't rely on the book to answer the questions though. Miyazaki should have realized that most of his target audience will not read the book, and therefore should have made the plot tighter. I don't care if there were time constraints, he shouldn't have made the movie have so many loose ends. One of the strengths of Sen to Chihiro/Spirited Away and Mononokehim/Princess Mononoke was that they had airtight plots.

[Anjolina]

To be sincere, I don't like this movie as much other miyazaki's works.

[Lavendermc]

I find that weird; I actually found this movie made more sense to me than Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke. I didn't know it was based on a novel; now I want to read that novel! :)

[CatMarieS]

Well, this movie does have one thing the others don't. The english dub has a bit of Crispin Freeman. Always a plus.

[Lavendermc]

...what's Crispin Freemen?

[CatMarieS]

Only the coolest American voice actor ever. He's extremely talented and versatile, probably due to his background in theater. He's done Alucard, Hideki, Straight Cougar, Tsume, and a zillion other roles.

[Lavendermc]

Oh, sorry. :( I'm dumb.

Who does he play in the movie???

[CatMarieS]

The prince at the end. He only got a few lines, but it's better than nothing. I maintain that he would have been better suited to play Howl than Bale was, but Disney does love their celebrity voices.

[Lavendermc]

The prince at the end. He only got a few lines, but it's better than nothing. I maintain that he would have been better suited to play Howl than Bale was, but Disney does love their celebrity voices.


Agreed. Ah well, it's all good; I really adored this movie. :D Now I can't wait to read the book!! :D

[kazuchiyo]

I've moved this thread into the anime sub-forum, as this really counts more as anime than Asian cinema.

[vanityvile]

Okay, the movie was cute and quaint in a that particular Miyazaki style, but oh my god, read the book. It's 100% better than the anime. If you do read the book, never ever try to compare it to the anime. Think of it as a nice piece of animated fanfiction....which it is.

Also, three kicks to Miyazaki for not using the scene where Howl drives his beat up old car around Wales. There, I said it :rolleyes:

[Lin West]

How easy is the book to get a hold of and who's the original author? I would really like to get a hold of it for a spring break read. :)

[keax]

It was pretty confusing plot-wise, and I must say I enjoyed Spirited Away more in comparison. But certain characters were unforgettably adorable.

[Andy]

I saw Howl's Moving Castle recently- and loved it (even though I had the same questions that were asked). Now I'm going to buy the novel- I had no idea there was a novel (so happy)! By the way, some shmuck on Tech Tv totally trashed this movie and told people not to watch it because it's a waste of time! That punk!:mad:

[Wrath]

The book was written by Diana Wynne Jones (only THE best author in the entire world!!!) It should be fairly easy to gwt ahold of, due to the popularity of the movie and all. ^^ Happy findings.

My notes on it were that the movie was freakin confusing and I highly disliked the portrayal of Calcifer (who was my favorite character in the book) I mean, ew, Billy Crystal?! Blech! But it was alright if you think of it as fanfiction.

My favorite scenes in the book were the part where Sophie first meets Calcifer, (any scenes with Calcifer, really), the part where the suit gets all gigantic, and the part where the scarecrow chases the castle down. That was hilarious! ^^.

[emer_westlake]

Ok, most of it's been answered but the black pie slice is not officially his childhood home. It's Wales as in the country next to England, which is where Howl comes form and it's where his sister lives with her kids. And it's like modern day so there's cars and stuff. In the book Sophie and Michael (Markl, but older) go with Howl and they get really freaked out cause Howl drives a car and stuff. The book is amazing. You should read it. Stuff in the film was changed, like Wizard Suliman was a guy and an old friend of Howl's who was cursed along with Prince Justin (Turnip-head) so much more is explained.

[angie]

There are two books both of which I purchased on E-bay and both were very well written. I have not seen the movie yet and from what I have read here, about what is left out, I am not so sure that I want to.:confused:

[Iyashii]

You should see the movie. I happened to really like it, and I read the book before I saw the movie and then again immediately after. Yes, things change from the book, but that's pretty much a given when a novel is turned into a movie. It's entertaining, even if it's not Miyazaki's best movie ever, I can can watch it over and over just to watch Howl throw his temper tantrum like a teenager. So at least go rent it, if you don't buy it! ^_^

[CatMarieS]

As for the author, I know she's good. I also enjoyed her Chrestomanci series.

[evilmingdoctor]

i was quite proud to get to see it so early - sometime in march last year; another visually great film; ghibli succeeds at kids films where disney has been failing in recent years

[CatMarieS]

I think the fact that it is highly detailed hand drawn work definately has a hand in its success.

[evilmingdoctor]

+ it's just a pleasant way to spend time; and turnip head's is gr8!

[kyotoko]

Howl's moving castle was the best ive seen
the ending was great XD

[Meroko Yui]

I want to read the novel as well.... who would agree that Howl was sexy?

[MephistoWaltz]

Wow I read the book a LONG time ago and recently bought the movie and those questions brought back LOTS of lost memories. Thanks a lot!:D

[Wrath]

Yes, the chrestomanci series was quite good too. I pretty much like everything DWJ writes. ^^

Why did they change Michael to Markl, anyway? And what's up with him being so...young???


(Oh, and Iyahsii, is it from Arc the Lad or Tales of Phantasia?)

[Durante]

I watched the Japanese version. Mine had terrible English translations (due to the fact that my copy is a pirated one that was sold for less than US$2), but nevertheless I was able to understand the storyline and plot. The movie was fantastic.

[purplegoo89]

I haven't read the book, but I've seen the movie twice in theaters and now I own it. From what you guys have been saying it seems that maybe it would be better if you thought of the book and the movie as two separate things. I know there are a lot of questions after you watch the movie, but the more times I watched it the more I kind of answered the questions for myself. I think Miyazaki wanted you to be able to use your imagination a little bit when you watched it. Well, thats just my opinion. I loved it!

I think I'm going to have to go pick up the novel. You all seemed to enjoy it.
i love this scene, it makes the movie opening so awesome
http://www.ds9r.com/dlog/wp-content/images/miyazaki_howl.jpg
http://www.canmag.com/images/front/moviereview/howl2.jpghttp://www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au/filmimgs/howls_moving_castle.jpg

[baka101]

I watched the Japanese version. Mine had terrible English translations (due to the fact that my copy is a pirated one that was sold for less than US$2), but nevertheless I was able to understand the storyline and plot. The movie was fantastic.

You may have seen the same one that I saw then. My brother sent it to me from Iraq, and it had was definitly pirated. The image quality was pretty bad in some scenes, and the translations were messed up, but it was still awesome. I later got the English version also.

[Durante]

You may have seen the same one that I saw then. My brother sent it to me from Iraq, and it had was definitly pirated. The image quality was pretty bad in some scenes, and the translations were messed up, but it was still awesome. I later got the English version also.
Oh but mine had DVD quality images, and it's from Malaysia, the country where you can purchase pirated PS2 DVD games for less than US$1:D

[decorahearts]

I loved that film ^^ its best watching in cinema on big screen I loved the art^^

[Akanke]

ok apparently a few people have seen and/or read the book....
I saw the movie maybe a little less than a month ago and i loved it. Now, i'm reading the book. I just made it to chapeter five only but so far i like it.

i have a question though....did anyone know that they have a "film comic" for it? (i was seraching for it under "What I'm reading" in xanga and came across it and decided to google it...and yea it exists...to my complete surprise {why im surprised i dunno...i hsould have expected it but eh}) and also...have u read it or know anything bout it? for example, is it just the movie made into a literary work of sorts?

[cagalli1543]

Read the book.

[Riri_chan]

I t hought the movie was very cute!
I liked it alot ^^