Book vs. Movie Review: Howl's Moving Castle

Hello!
I just re-read Howl's Moving Castle - by Diana Wynne Jones, which reminded me how much better it is than the movie! Here I am to review both!

Howl's Moving Castle - by Diana Wynne Jones:

 

The eldest of three girls, Sophie, knows that since she is the eldest nothing will ever happen to her, or if she tries to seek her fortune something terrible will happen. The best thing to do is sit in the hat shop and make hats.
"You are going to have to marry money."
One day, the Witch of the Waste storms in and turns Sophie into an old woman! And the worst part is she can't tell anybody that she is under a spell unless they already know! Sophie runs away and comes upon the Wizard Howl's Moving Castle. Where she pretends to be a cleaning lady to try to find a way to break the spell she is under.
Genre: Fantasy
Characters: 9, there are so many fun characters and they are all so complex!
My Favorites:
Sophie, it is so interesting to see how a person's view can change. She is so determined. "Out Spiders! Out of my way!"
Michael, he is so sweet and kind and does his best.
Calcifer, he has quite a trickster side.
Lettie and Martha, I love their stories through all of this!
Words: 8, a few bad words, but not too bad. "Now go downstairs and think of something else to do. Please. I hate quarreling with people."
Quotes: 9, "Help me someone! I'm dying from neglect up here!"
Storyline: 9, it is such a good story! It has a little bit of playing with another person's feelings, and some drunkenness. I definitely recommend this!
Good For: Once again, anyone can read any book, but I think these people would really like them!
Sisters, Anyone who feels different than others, anyone going through a hard time.
Overall Score: 9!

VS.

Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

  

Based on the book by Diana Wynne Jones.
After being turned into an old lady, Sophie goes to the Wizard Howl's Moving Castle posing as a cleaning lady. She makes a deal with the fire demon, Calcifer, that if she breaks his contract he will break her spell.

"I'm the worst kind of witch, the kind that cleans!"

Genre: Fantasy

Costumes: 9, well, we are talking about animation here, but I like this.
Script: 9, only one or two bad words. "She likes my spark!"

Crew: Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki. Produced by: Toshio Suzuki. Screenplay by: Hayao Miyazaki
Based on: Howl's Moving Castle - by Diana Wynne Jones
Starring: (As this film is in both Japanese and English, I will list both country's actors.)
Chieko Baisho (Japanese) and Emily Mortimer (English) as young Sophie, √ Emily Mortimer has a bit too much of an accent.

Chieko Baisho (Japanese) and Jean Simmons (English) as old Sophie, √

Takuya Kimura (Japanese) and Christian Bale (English) as Howl, √

Tatsuya Gashūin (Japanese) and Billy Crystal (English) as Calcifer, √

Ryūnosuke Kamiki (Japanese) and Josh Hutcherson (English) as Markl, Eh

Akihiro Miwa (Japanese) and Lauren Bacall (English) as the Witch of the Waste, √

Music: 8, very nice!
Music by: Joe Hisaishi
Quotes: 9, "I don't cook. I'm a scary and powerful fire demon!"

"Nom, nom! Nom! Nom, nom!"

Notes: In one point Sophie is looking out the door and Markl asks, "Wanna lose your nose?" meaning that he is going to close the door. In another Hayao Miyazaki film, Spirited Away, one person asks another the same question!!
Storyline: 5, I'm giving it a lower score because of how different it is from the book (not that I really mind), but the content isn't bad. There are just some scary and intense scenes which may be too much for little kids. About 11 and up would be fine, but it depends on the person.

What happened! This is not the same thing as the book.
1. Who in the world is Markl!? In the book it is Michael, and he is fifteen, not nine.
2. What is with Howl turning into the creepy monster!?
3. Were they feeling sorry for the Witch of the Waste? That is not at all how her story goes!
4. They didn't do anything with Lettie and Martha!
5. The ending is all screwy!
But, it is a Hayao Miyazaki movie so it is spectacular!
Good For: 
All ages, but there are some really creepy scenes that little kids might not be able to handle.
Overall Score: 7

The book wins!

I have reviewed this for:

Meredith's Beauty and the Beast Week!
Howl's Moving Castle is really a retelling of Beauty and the Beast!

SPOILER ALERT! If you have not read or seen Howl's Moving Castle, read no further! 

1. Sophie is Belle, and Beast. She has to go off and live with this wizard, but because she is the ugly one not the beautiful one. She is under a spell and she is hoping that it will be cured.
2. Howl is Beast. He is more like Beast in the movie because of the terrible monster that he turns into. But he is still very vain.
3. Michael, or Markl, is sort of a Lumier, he is very kind and lets Sophie in though he does get tired of her.
4. The book is more like Beauty and the Beast it the way that so many things turn into other things.
5. (drum roll please)..... Calcifer is the Rose!

I hope you all liked this review!
Have you been able to see the 2017 Beauty and the Beast yet? I haven't, but I can't wait!
Thank you so much Meredith for hosting this great week!!!

MovieCritic

Beauty & the Beast Week Starts ~ The Tag!

Hello!
Be my Guest and read all about:

Meredith's Beauty and the Beast Week!!! I am going to fill out this tag then later do a review! Go check out all the fun!

The Tag Questions: 

1.When did you first experience Beauty and the Beast?


In the 1991 cartoon Beauty and the Beast.

2. In what forms(book, movie, retelling) have you experienced Beauty and the Beast?


I've read the book.
I've seen the 1991 cartoon version: 

  

I've seen the 1946 black and white version that is in French: 

  

I have read Beauty - by Robin McKinley:

  

I've read the book of Howl's Moving Castle - by Diana Wynne Jones:

  

And I've seen that movie:

  

3. Who is your favorite character in Beauty and the Beast?


Who doesn't like Belle? She is so sweet and loves all things and wants to do good.
But I also really like Beast, how he changes.

4. What is your favorite song from the cartoon Beauty and the Beast?


I've always liked Be Our Guest, but I also like There's Something There That Wasn't There Before. I think that's what it's called.

5. If you were turned into a piece of furniture what you want it to be?


Oh fun! I might like to be a piano, but only if there were good players, But I think I would like to be a footstool dog thing.


6. What would your dream cast for Beauty and the Beast be? (This can be as elaborate or simple as you desire.)


I love Meredith's idea of Georgie Henly being Belle. But it would have been awesome to have had a Errol Flynn and Olivia DeHaviland one! 

*swoons*

  

7. If your school were performing BatB which character would you want to play?

So, I'm terrible at singing, so probably just some plate or utensil in the Be Our Guest scene, if I can fake singing. Or the Footstool thing.

8. Like Belle, do you enjoy reading books multiple times?


There are so many books in the world that I usually just read a book once, but if I really love it I will read it a few times.

9. If you were to write a retelling, what would you change?


I'm not really sure. Any ideas?

10. Are roses your favorite flowers?

No, I don't think so, but I love the smell!!

Thank you so much Meredith! I can't wait for everything else this week!!!

MovieCritic

The Oscars Results 2017

Hello!
Yes, it is me, even though I am extremely late to the party because the Oscars were days ago.
"The queen is never late, everyone else is just early."
Sorry, I can't pass up a good quote opportunity! Anyone know where it's from?
Back to the subject at hand, The Oscars!
This is a movie blog, and the Oscars are the biggest movie awards, so naturally, I will give you the results! (And some of my favorite dresses because they are too pretty to pass up, they will just be randomly scattered.)

Dakota Johnson. How old Fashioned! (Source)

Best Film Editing:

Hacksaw Ridge

Best Animated Short:

Piper

Best Animated Feature:

Zootopia

Comment: For the Best Animated Feature, I was really hoping Kubo and the Two Strings would win because it was nominated, but it didn't.

Brie Larson. I would like it better if it had a lower slit, but it still is so pretty! (Source)

Best Live Action Short:

Sing

Best Documentary Short:

The White Helmets

Best Sound Mixing:

Hacksaw Ridge

Best Sound Editing:

Arrival

Best Visual Effects:

The Jungle Book

Comment: Once again I was hoping Kubo and the Two Strings would win.

Halle Berry. I could do without the hair, but the dress is gorgeous! (Source)

Best Costume Design:

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Best Make-Up and Hairstyling:

Suicide Squad

Comment: Why?

Best Production Design:

La La Land

Best Original Song:

"City of Stars" -  La La Land

Comment: I was hoping "Can't Stop this Feeling" would.

Auli'i Cravalho. Love this dress! (Source)

Best Original Score:

La La Land

Best Foreign Language Film:

The Salesman

Best Original Screenplay:

Manchester by the Sea - Kenneth Lonergan

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Moonlight - Barry Jenkins with story by Tarell Alvin McCraney

Alicia Vikander, Gorgeous! (Source)

Best Director:

Damien Chazelle, La La Land

Best Documentary Feature:

O. J.: Made in America

Best Supporting Actor:

Mahershala Ali - Moonlight

Best Supporting Actress:

Viola Davis - Fences

Viola Davis, who won Best Supporting Actress for Fences. (Source)

Best Actor:

Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

Best Actress:

Emma Stone - La La Land
(Source)

Best Picture:

Moonlight

Comment: Too bad about that whole mix-up. Announcing La La Land as best picture, but then finding that they had opened the wrong envelope.

Total Oscars:

La La Land - 4
Moonlight - 3
Hacksaw Ridge - 2
Manchester by the Sea - 2
Arrival - 1
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - 1
Fences - 1
The Jungle Book - 1
O. J.: Made in America - 1
Piper - 1
The Salesman - 1
Sing - 1
Suicide Squad - 1
The White Helmets - 1

Zootopia - 1

Two other parts were the Oscar people messed-up, were in the memorials, they had a memorial for someone who is still alive.

"I'm not dead yet! I'm gettting better!" ("Anyone, Anyone?')

And they had the wrong picture for another memorial!

Since it is Lent, I will not be on here a lot, but I will be participatining in Meridith's Beauty and the Beast Week! How exciting!

MovieCritic