Howl’s Moving Castle discussion

I watched the movie before the book and actually enjoyed them both equally, which I NEVER say about any book/movie combo. The movie is GORGEOUS, like everything Miyasaki does, and the book is wonderful as well. There are some pretty major differences in plot and character between the two, but I think you would be ok watching the movie first.

If you read the book first you'd just be annoyed at what's left out or changed in the movie. I love both, but see the movie first. (Have you seen Ponyo and Kiki's Delivery Service?)

Belinda wrote: "If you read the book first you'd just be annoyed at what's left out or changed in the movie. I love both, but see the movie first. (Have you seen Ponyo and Kiki's Delivery Service?)"

Yes, I'd pretty much agree with this. To start with the film largely follows the book, but then goes starts to take a lot of liberties with the plot and some characters. Still a great movie, and Ponyo and Kiki's Delivery Service are both great too. Also My Neighbour Totoro!

But, DON'T watch Tales of Earthsea! It's a pale shadow of some elements of the books, characterisation is poor and the animation pretty minimalist. Read the books (six in all, so far!) and forget the film!

Howl’s moving castle book and movie I thought was sadle chances I love all of hayao Miyaski movie but , I was really confused About Tales of Earthsea movie well, I have not read the book so that may be the reason, I have see all of his movie I really like him. I say most of the time book based movie read that book. But. this one really close to the book

Koleen wrote: "I was really confused About Tales of Earthsea movie, well, I have not read the book so th..."

Tales of Earthsea was directed by Goro Miyazaki, not his father, and is rather less inspired for it.

I agree with what's been said, the movie is different enough from the book not to spoil your reading when you see it first.


Chris wrote: "Tales of Earthsea was directed by Goro Miyazaki, not his father, and is rather less ..."

Didn't know that, probably explains why it couldn't really hold my interest.


Chris wrote: "...and Ponyo and Kiki's Delivery Service are both great too. Also My Neighbour Totoro!"

"Only Yesterday" (Omoide Poro Poro), is a must see, too, from Studio Gibli, although it has a different director, it's absolutely gorgeous.

I love both the book and the movie. They're quite different, but still a lot of fun. The book is also quite a bit darker than the movie.

It would be better if you watch the movie first. It is great, but the book is even greater, so you will keep comparing both of them. Besides, you will have Christian Bale's voice in mind when reading the book, and that is a biig plus ;)

Sakura Yue wrote: "Besides, you will have Christian Bale's voice in mind when reading the book"

LOL! If anyone in my house is watching the movie, they know to call me for Howl's first scene. "There you are, sweetheart!" Love the voice.

Belinda wrote: LOL! If anyone in my house is watching the movie, they know to call me for Howl's first scene. "Ther..."

Oh yeahhhh **drools**

Elia wrote: "I watched the movie before the book and actually enjoyed them both equally, which I NEVER say about any book/movie combo. The movie is GORGEOUS, like everything Miyasaki does, and the book is wonde..."

You took the words right out of my mouth! I definitely agree that you can get away with watching the movie first. In fact I recommend it. Miyazaki gives the story and characters a different tone than the book so I'm sure you'll love them both. This isn't a case were you want to compare them because they are each just so fantastic on their own. Hope you enjoy them!

I'd definitely watch the movie first. Though the movie is splendid, there are parts that feel like they should have more depth than they do.

However, you get a fantastic romance with amazing images, so it's easy to shrug off.

When you read the book, those parts make a lot more sense.

However, the romance isn't as strong in the book, compared to the movie. Howl, though still fantastic, isn't quite as sympathetic. That said, there are two other romantic sub-plots that were very nice and Sophie is stronger in the book than in the movie. Even though there's less romance, I cheered more for them to be together because I felt they had a better chance at being equals than in the movie.

Anyway, yes, you won't miss anything by watching the movie first.

(Oh, oh, and you will definitely have Christian Bale's voice in your head when you read, just like Sakura Yue said. Good gosh, his voice fit well.)

Michaela wrote: "I thought the book and movie were very similar, but I think the movie has more meaning. :)
(Although, admittedly, I didn't really read the book cover to cover)"

Not being argumentative in saying this, but if you really read the book there isn't much that you could say was similar between the two. There were some elements that were present in both but the curse on Howl, overall plot, and many of the characters were very different. Probably much changed of all was Howl's assistant, Michael. In the movie he was a little boy and in the book he was in his teens and had way more personality.

Michaela wrote: "I thought the book and movie were very similar, but I think the movie has more meaning. :)
(Although, admittedly, I didn't really read the book cover to cover)"

As Kristin says, there is a lot that is very different in the movie version. In particular, the director's viewpoint on the horror of war dominates the feel of the end of the film, especially all that carpet bombing (Miyazaki was born four years before the end of the Second World War and the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki would be strong in his memories, not to mention the collective memory of his generation).

His family's involvement in aircraft manufacture also seems to account for his obsession with flying, seen strongly in pretty much all the films of his I've seen, such as Kiki's Delivery Service and My Neighbour Totoro, and very obviously in Howl's Moving Castle. I don't, however, recall much about flying in Jones' book.

The thing about these Japanese animated adaptations, it seems to me, is that they take their lead from the characters and ideas in the novels and then freely riff on them. This is why it's worth regarding the film as based loosely on the book rather than as a mere animated version of it.

Michaela wrote: "Hi, so I recently watched "Spirited Away" and absolutely loved it, and so I wanted to try his other movie "Howl's Moving Castle" - but I noticed it was based on a book... Do you think it would be a..."

It doesnt matter really. They are both good...but different good :)

If I had to choose I would say the book first though.

I loved the movie i saw it first cause i didnt know it was a book but the book is awesome too! but if i were you dont read the second and third book howl and sophie rnt really in it and it isnt very good but in the third it introduces their son who is still a kid but adorable

Ashton wrote: "I loved the movie i saw it first cause i didnt know it was a book but the book is awesome too! but if i were you dont read the second and third book howl and sophie rnt really in it and it isnt ver..."

I haven't read the second book, but I have read House of Many Ways, and while there's not much of either Sophie or Howl in it it is still a thumping good story, and just a teensy bit scary in places, especially the Lubbock.

Ashton wrote: "I loved the movie i saw it first cause i didnt know it was a book but the book is awesome too! but if i were you dont read the second and third book howl and sophie rnt really in it and it isnt ver..."

I read House of Many Ways and I enjoyed it in its own right but not nearly as much as the first.

I've read the 2nd book, and while it was not as good as HMC, I liked it, especially when the old characters made their appearances... Just for that I strongly recommend the book!

You need to treat them as two totally different entities.
The book is subtle and complex and funny. The movie is not. Miyazaki may have made a good movie, but it is not the same story. For those of us who loved the book it was hugely disappointing. Sophie and Calcifer were about all that didn't change too much.
I understand that making a movie from a book requires some alterations to the story because of the constraints of film. However, I think using the book as a springboard to your own story and claiming it's the same is insulting to the author and his/her fans.

I think you have to view the book and the movie as to completely different stories. I read the book first and was very disappointed by the movie.

Diane wrote: "You need to treat them as two totally different entities.
The book is subtle and complex and funny. The movie is not. Miyazaki may have made a good movie, but it is not the same story. For those..."

The only letter I ever had from DWJ was enthusiastic about the film of Howl's Moving Castle, even though it took many liberties with her book. That's certainly good enough for me.

The same can't be said of another Studio Ghibli film, Tales from Earthsea. The author of the Earthsea books, Ursula LeGuin, was incandescent about how Miyazaki's director son had distorted her intentions in the Earthsea series and particularly this book, and I have to agree with her: http://www.ursulakleguin.com/GedoSenk...
(She was equally dismissive about the TV mini-series, and with reason: http://ursulakleguin.com/Earthsea.html)
So, though not all authors are happy with adaptations, DWJ was OK with it.

It is definitely okay to watch the movie first! I did and afterwards I read the book. It kind of cleared up a few questions I had about the movie so that was nice. The movie is just spectacular. The book is an easy read and either way you should do both.
Also watch Kiki's Delivery Service, its also great.

Although Michaela (the OP) has already watched/read Howl's Moving Castle - In case anyone else is deliberating the same thing - I'd agree that it's better to watch the movie first.

I love the book but found the movie rather meh, even though I really liked Spirited Away.

Not only were several plot points/characters changed in the movie - the tone and atmosphere of the story was as well. The movie stripped out the humour and the snarkiness present in the book. It also watered down the characters out of recognition.

Part of Howl's charm is his many human failings, Sophie's strength is in her temper and her attitude - both are gone in the film version.

The film has merits in its own right - but it's just not the book. If you've seen Spirited Away, then it has the same type of wistful charm. If you've read the book, you know how little that type of atmosphere has in common with the actual story!

Read the book first so you can rip the movie apart later :)

They are simultaneously different and similar. It does not matter if you read the book or watch the movie first. :). And as stories, they are both very likable.

Michaela wrote: "Ladysw (Sara) wrote: "They are simultaneously different and similar. It does not matter if you read the book or watch the movie first. :). And as stories, they are both very likable."

Great answer :D"
Thank you!

Howl's Moving Castle is beautiful. The main difference between the book and the movie is that the characters in the movie are more "noble". I saw the movie first, which piqued my interest in the book itself. I suggest you watch the movie first, so you don't get annoyed by differences between it and the book (although I didn't get annoyed. I love both mediums of storytelling).

After actually watching the movie:
I think you shouldn't. Same for the Earthsea movie (any of them). /:
Unfortunately Studio Ghibli just took the characters, added a dash of what there is from the books and then made an almost completely different story out of it.
If I had known about that before I wouldn't have watched either of those movies.

I read the book first, then watched the movie a month or two later. I loved both, but I would say watch the movie first. I went into the movie saying to myself, "This is a completely different story than the book. They are not the same thing", which was a good idea. Even after doing that, I kept thinking, "Well, that didn't happen in the book, that's weird". I think that if you watch the movie first, that wouldn't be as much of a problem. Both were fantastic, however. :)

Sparrowlicious wrote: "After actually watching the movie:
I think you shouldn't. Same for the Earthsea movie (any of them). /:
Unfortunately Studio Ghibli just took the characters, added a dash of what there is from the..."

Le Guin was rightly annoyed by the Earthsea movie, a travesty of what the books were about. But then, it was directed by Miyazaki's son, not by Miyazaki himself.

I watched the movie first then read the book but it really doesn't make a big difference because they are actually really, really different. The characters even act slightly different. The book was better in my opinion but that is because you get to see more inside the characters heads and I liked the book ending better than the movie.

I watched the movie first and adored it!! Afterward I read the book and liked it but the movie is best ;)

I watched the movie first and then read the book; they're both wonderful pieces of art in their own right, but I am glad I watched the movie first. It was a way to see the whole story, and reading the book second made it seem more like a glimpse into Sophie's perspective only, giving it more clarity.

Nooooooooooooooooo!

That is all.