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[JoeHonkie]

Well this one is based on someone else's novel and Miyazaki still applied his own visions to it. I, personally, like it a lot. The pacing is very refreshing in my opinion and encourages multiple viewings.

It's apparently quite different from the novel, though.  I should read the novel, because it sounds like his imprint on the movie largely overwhelms the source material.

[Nava]

It's apparently quite different from the novel, though.  I should read the novel, because it sounds like his imprint on the movie largely overwhelms the source material.

Yes, the book is quite different, in terms of both plot and theme. Sophie and Howl have a strong love-hate relationship on the page (mostly hate until the end), and the powerful connection between them that Miyazaki illustrates with such force isn't really present in the novel. It's more about magic and adventure, similar to Harry Potter, which isn't surprising given that Diana Wynne Jones is a writer of children's fantasy books whereas (I've always felt, anyhow) Miyazaki is speaking mainly to adults to remind them of the magic that exists in the world (represented by love, in this case).
Still, I enjoyed the book. If you're not above reading children's books, then by all means... it's a fun and charming little adventure that captures the imagination and tells a good story (and if I remember correctly, the plot twists are different so your having watched the film may not lessen the excitement and mystery).

[JoeHonkie]

I am above very few things.

[Nava]

I am above very few things.

  good man.

[Shade Jackrabbit]

I am above very few things.

Same here, as most guys who I kick in the balls find out.

[Anthony Flack]

I liked Howl too, although it was definitely a bit messy. But I still liked it because it was one of those movies that tells you exactly who the director is; it couldn't possibly have been made by anybody else. Not their best work, but almost a kind of manifesto for their whole career. Eyes Wide Shut was a bit like that too.

Late-period Miyazaki has got this obsession with physical deformity, outrageous fluid dynamics and downright spookiness that my eyes can't get enough of regardless of whether the story hangs together or not.

[skaldicpoet9]

This is why I will be watching the subtitled version:

Noah Cyrus
Frankie Jonas
Tina Fey
Matt Damon
Liam Neeson
Cate Blanchett
Cloris Leachman
Betty White
Lily Tomlin
Madison Davenport

Ugh, I hate it when they have to over-saturate animated movies with celebrity voices acting. I just find it really annoying and distracting to say the least. I would have preferred if they just went with a bunch of no name voice actors. Besides, real actor != good voice actor at all.

On the note of Miyazaki. The man makes some damn fine movies and I am glad that I stumbled upon his work. I always heard about Princess Mononoke and finally decided to rent it and I am glad I did, that movie was beautiful to say the least.

After watching Princess Mononoke I was pretty much hooked.

[Bones]

Princess Mononoke had Billy Bob Thorton in it, that was about all I noticed celebrity wise.
And I think he fit in quite nicely, I never understand peoples complaints about voice acting in english.
I've heard so many people complain that they would rather listen to the non-dub'd version.
I dunno, I guess I'm just not that picky about my animes to care about voice acting.

Though I almost want to boycot the movie because a Jonas brother is doing a voice...

But none the less I'm sure my craving for anime will force me to watch this in the theater.

[skaldicpoet9]

Princess Mononoke had Billy Bob Thorton in it, that was about all I noticed celebrity wise.

Haha, I didn't know that.

Then again I watched the dubbed version so, meh.

I just think that it is a sad marketing gimmick to stuff a movie full of celebrity voices. Just so people can go, "oh man, Bruce Willis is going to be the voice of Garfield!"

[Μarkham]

From the previews I saw before "Up," I'm surprised Nicolas Cage isn't in there somewhere.

[skaldicpoet9]

He is in Up your just not looking hard enough.

[KennEH!]

Princess Mononoke had Billy Bob Thorton in it, that was about all I noticed celebrity wise.
And I think he fit in quite nicely, I never understand peoples complaints about voice acting in english.
I've heard so many people complain that they would rather listen to the non-dub'd version.
I dunno, I guess I'm just not that picky about my animes to care about voice acting.

Though I almost want to boycot the movie because a Jonas brother is doing a voice...

But none the less I'm sure my craving for anime will force me to watch this in the theater.

Princess Mononoke was one of the few dubs that were done right. Most of them(at least for me) just can't compare to the much bigger voice acting business in Japan. I will say though that I always give the English dub a chance first.

[Afinostux]

Ghibli is awesome. their movies are pretty much the only thing I watch that isn't a b movie. Because whenever most films try to be deep, they are really hard to take seriously. Ghibli can be serious without making you go all

Also, since when have english voice actors NOT ruined imported animated movies. I ended up biting the bullet and watching porco rosso muted with subtitles on, and my playlist on random.

[Titch]

I'm fairly sure the guy who made the first Ghibli films retired already. This is his son, I think. This one made Howl's, I believe.

I think.

I believe.

Maybe.

His son made Tales From Earthsea, which I guess didn't do so well, and brought Miyazaki out of retirement or something.

The story, as I understand it, goes something like this.

Hayao Miyazaki asked his son, Goro to direct Earthsea. Goro wasn't really into animation and pretty much said 'After this I don't want to do any more' so the two of them fell out. Apparently they made up after. Seeing as the male protagonist in Ponyo is based on Goro when he was young, you could imply that it was part of this reconciliation.

Mononoke and Nausicaa have to be my favourite Miyazaki movies. Howls Moving Castle's weird pacing let it down, although some of the art was amazing. It was especially disappointing compared to the story of the novel, which played more on the idea of having an old lady as the protagonist. Although the Disney dubs do take FOREVER they always feel competent enough to me. They are probably overpaying for the big name talent, but I would rather that the utter trash you get in a lot of other anime that gets dubbed for US.

[Zest]

I haven't seen Howl's Moving Castle yet, but the clips I saw of that castle made my jaw drop. For those who don't know, the castle was made up of several 2D parts, painted in Photoshop and manipulated cut-out style. You can see some of this in the trailer here- it's crappy video, but you can still see how much insane detail they put into the parts.

[raiten]

The story, as I understand it, goes something like this.

Hayao Miyazaki asked his son, Goro to direct Earthsea. Goro wasn't really into animation and pretty much said 'After this I don't want to do any more' so the two of them fell out. Apparently they made up after. Seeing as the male protagonist in Ponyo is based on Goro when he was young, you could imply that it was part of this reconciliation.

No, it was nothing like that. Goro and Hayao's relationship is bad because Hayao was an awful father, spending all his time working and none of it actually being a father. Hayao didn't ask Goro to direct the film, in fact he objected to the decision which was taken by other Ghibli executives. While Goro was working on Earthsea Hayao was even avoiding him. In one of the making of-documentaries I watched, he basically snuck into the Ghibli office and left when he realized Goro was nearby. The documentarian asked why, and Hayao said "I'm not that good of a person" (or something in that vein). When Hayao was watching the premiere of Earthsea, he walked out halfway through, sat down for a smoke and said things like "he hasn't become an adult" (this was all caught on camera). His official response (which he didn't even tell Goro in person) was that it was "an honest movie, and therefore it was good", though (this is from memory, not exact wording)

[phubans]

HOLY @$#1234917!!14L23KJSD

MIYAZAKI-SAMA IS COMING TO BERKELEY ON JULY 25TH!!!!!

 

I AM SO THERE 

http://ieas.berkeley.edu/cjs/miyazaki.html

[Xion]

I'll see you there?

[phubans]

I'll see you there?

You bet! I definitely can't miss out on this chance of a lifetime.

[Anthony Flack]

I hate the dubs too.

They just feel wrong. I'd rather have the voice acting supervised by the actual director of the film, thanks. At least that way you get to hear the characters as intended, and not Japanese girls talking in extremely broad American accents ("Hey Maaawwwm, wait for me!") or Phil Hartman using Gigi as a vehicle for his own wisecracks (and changing the end of the film to boot; the cat is supposed to stop talking at the end of the movie, that's the fucking point).

Bottom line: it's somebody else dicking around with the movie after the fact. Okay, I realise the necessity of doing dubs so children can enjoy it, but Miyazaki is a good enough director to be worth seeing the films as they were actually intended, if you are able to. And he's sure as hell good enough for Disney to resist the urge to "improve" his scripts, thanks.