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Enchanting
Tale HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE: Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Based on the book by Diana Wynne Jones. U.S. Production: Directed by Rick Dempsey and Pete Docter. English language adaptation by Cindy David Hewitt and Donald H. Hewitt. Produced by Rick Dempsey, Ned Lott. Executive producer, John Lasseter. Starring Christian Bale, Emily Mortimer, Jean Simmons, Billy Crystal, Lauren Bacall and Blythe Danner. Studio Ghibli. Walt Disney Studios. Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, 2005. PG. 129 minutes. If there is one frustrating thing about wholeheartedly recommending Howl's Moving Castle, the latest magical confection from Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki, it's that English seems insufficient to convey the beauty of the film. Part adventure, part social commentary and mostly fairy tale, Howl (based on the book by Diana Wynne Jones) takes elements from Miyazaki's work thus far and combines them into a soaring delight.
The heroine of Howl's Moving Castle, Sophie (Emily Mortimer), is a steadfast, generous girl, a hatmaker in a quaintly European sort of village, when she first encounters the dashing, charismatic Howl (Christian Bale). Sophie's quiet life is thrown into upheaval, but not because of Howl (who's rumored to eat the hearts of beautiful young women). It seems Howl's attentiveness to Sophie caught the eye of the corpulent Witch of the Waste (Lauren Bacall), whose jealousy leads her to put a spell on poor Sophie: She turns into a 90-year-old woman (voiced by Jean Simmons), unable to tell anyone how she got that way. Though Sophie doesn't really know it yet, she is, like all Miyazaki heroines, plucky and adaptable. She only seems to mope about her fate for a day before heading off into the Waste, where the witches and wizards are. An encounter with a peculiar scarecrow leads her to Howl's castle, where she sets herself up as the cleaning lady (an employee Howl clearly needs) after striking a deal with Calcifer, the fire demon who powers the castle. And what a castle it is: Creaking, lumbering, a conglomeration of sheds, domes and pipes, with a strong suggestion of a face, this castle is a magical masterpiece on four chicken legs. Its inhabitants tend to be as changeable and peculiar as its facade: Howl may be a powerful magician, but he's also a sulky, petulant boy, and Calcifer is a strange juxtaposition of immense power and childlike appearance. Far from the willful blue sprite of the book, this fire demon is bright orange and, well, very much like a regular old fire, just with huge, round eyes and the voice of a pleasantly restrained Billy Crystal. Sophie's part in this strange family (which also includes Howl's chipper young apprentice, Markl) grows with her confidence: Stripped of her youthful concerns and fears, Sophie finds unexpected strength in her old-woman guise. She speaks her mind, does what she feels is right and welcomes the adventures that come her way as a result — including the adventure that is falling in love with a vain and powerful wizard. Secondary to Sophie's story and her somewhat sidelined quest to turn back into her young self is a slightly murky plot concerning the war between Sophie's land and a bordering kingdom. While he has, at times, laid on his message a bit strong (as in the environmentally weighty Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind), here Miyazaki resists the impulse to over-emphasize the folly of war. He shows rather than tells: Speeches are replaced with stunning landscapes, some barely touched by civilization (though Howl admits to using magic to help the flowers grow) and others utterly devastated by battles. As Sophie comes into her own and Howl comes to terms with himself, his power and a deal he made long ago, Miyazaki's light touch and the gifted work of the voice actors bring the story's many threads together into an exciting climax, and one that's made more magical for the admirable way the translators refrain from spelling everything out for the audience (a trait that hurt the dubbed version of Spirited Away, which nonetheless won an Oscar for Best Animated Film). Uplifting and enchanting, Howl's Moving Castle becomes, by the end, a strikingly heartfelt film about being true to yourself — and having an open heart.
OPENING
OR RETURNING: Bewitched: Nora Ephron (You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle) directs this story about a producer remaking the classic sitcom "Bewitched" who unknowingly casts an actual witch for the lead role. Stars Will Ferrell and Nicole Kidman. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. House of Wax: "Prey. Slay. Display." Elisha Cuthbert, Chad Michael Murray star, Jaume Serra directs, and Paris Hilton's in it. R. Movies 12. Land of the Dead: The master of zombie movies, George Romero, brings us another wacky gore-fest in which the undead have taken over the world, closing in on the living holed up in a walled city. Stars Simon Baker, John Leguizamo & Dennis Hopper. R. Cinemark. Mad Hot Ballroom: Directed by newcomer Marilyn Agrelo, this documentary follows 11-year-old public school New Yorkers as they learn the meringue, rumba, tango, foxtrot & swing, transforming from reluctant students into determined competitors. This inspirational story is told by the kids, themselves, filmed in and around their schools, neighborhoods and homes. PG. Bijou. The Ingredients: The band, The Ingredients, produced and star in this unusual comedy. In an attempt to make the band famous, their evil manager comes up with an evil plan that may have lethal consequences. Features music by the band and cameos by local celebrities Mr Appliance and Frog. NR. Bijou LateNite. XXX: State of the Union: Samuel L. Jackson takes on the role of the agent who needs a new face (Ice Cube) he calls XXX to track a military splinter group, led by Willem Dafoe, who is planning to overthrow the government. Directed by Lee Tamahori. PG-13. Movies 12.
CONTINUING: A Lot Like Love: Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet are opposites who keep running into each other over the years after an initial disaster. Are they friends or is this love? Directed by Nigel Cole (Calendar Girls). PG-13. Movies 12. Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girls in 3D, The: Cayden Boyd stars as a boy whose imaginary superhero friends come to life and join him on a series of adventures. Directed by Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Spy Kids). PG. Cinemark. Batman Begins: Christopher Nolan (Insomnia, Memento) directs an all star cast to bring you the story of how young Bruce Wayne (Christopher Hale) becomes the Dark Knight. Also stars Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth, Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman and Katie Holmes. PG13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Cinderella Man: Russell Crowe stars as real-life, Depression Era boxer Jim Braddock; Renee Zellwegger plays his supportive wife, Mae. Directed by Ron Howard, picture also stars the great Paul Giamatti. A complicated, focused and courageous fighter, Braddock not only spars in the ring but also struggles to keep his family together despite the country's widespread, crippling poverty and record unemployment. Very highest recommendations. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. Online Archives. Guess Who: Bernie Mac stars as the father of Zoe Saldana, who brings her boyfriend, Ashton Kutcher, home, and he's white! Comic retake on the 1967 Sidney Poitier movie. PG-13. Movies 12. Herbie, Fully Loaded: More hijinx and shennanigans from that animated, but so unlike Christine, VW bug, Herbie as he heads to NASCAR. Starring Linsay Lohan and Justin Long. G. Cinemark. Cinema World. Hitch: Will Smith stars in this romantic comedy as a New York "date doctor" who helps hapless men woo the women of their dreams. Costars Kevin James, Amber Valletta, Eva Mendes, Michael Rappaport and Adam Arkin. Directed by Andy Tennant. PG-13. Movies 12. Howl's Moving Castle: Another phenomenon by Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke) at the top of the charts in Japan, finally makes its way to Eugene. This time he brings us a love story about a young woman cursed into an old woman's body who must, of course, make her way in the world and find a cure. Beautiful animation and powerful stories characterize his films. Don't miss this one. PG. Bijou. See review this issue. Kicking and Screaming: Will Ferrell and Robert Duvall as rival youth soccer team coaches. Directed by Jesse Dylan, it also stars Mike Ditka and Kate Walsh. PG. Movies 12. Kingdom of Heaven: Set in the 12th Century, this epic Crusades film is directed by Ridley Scott (Gladiator). It stars Orlando Bloom, Liam Neeson, Jeremy Irons and Eva Green. Highly recommended. R. Movies 12. Online archives. Longest Yard, The: Lots of world-class athletes from NFL players to kick-boxers and wrestlers star along with Adam Sandler, Burt Reynolds and Chris Rock in this comic tall tale of a group of diverse inmates who team up to play against their guards. PG-13. Cinemark. Madagascar: Computer-animated comedy stars voices of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith as animals who escape from the Central Park Zoo for a big city adventure. But they are captured and put on a ship headed for Africa, where they must survive in the wild. Directed by Eric Darnell (Antz) and Tom McGrath ("The Ren and Stimpy Show"). PG. Cinemark. Cinema World. Monster-in-Law: Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez duke it out verbally in this comedy directed by Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde). Also stars Michael Vartan and Wanda Sykes. PG-13. Movies 12. Mr & Mrs Smith: An action adventure romantic comedy thriller about a bored married couple (Angelia Jolie and Brad Pitt) who is surprised to learn that they are assassins hired to kill each other. Directed by Doug Liman (Bourne Identity). PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. Online archives. Pacifier, The: Disgraced Navy SEAL Shane Wolf (Vin Diesel) is given a new assignment to protect 5 kids from enemies of their recently deceased father – a government scientist whose top secret experiment is still in the house. Thriller? Drama? Tear-jerker? Nope, it's a comedy. PG. Movies 12. Perfect Man, The: Mark Rosnan (A Cinderella Story) directs Heather Locklear and Hilary Duff in this romantic comedy about a teenager inventing the "perfect man" for her single mom. PG. Cinema World. Cinemark. Robots: Chris Wedge's amusing tale of a robot lad who dreams of being an inventor. This creative world of mechanical beings is never dull because these endearing, pieced-together, talking tin cans convey comfort and safety. Voices by Ewan McGregor, Halle Berry, Robin Williams, Mel Brooks, Amanda Bynes, Stanley Tucci, Greg Kinnear. Not preachy, but a good teaching tale about differences. Warmly recommended. PG. Movies 12. Online archives. Sahara: Penelope Cruz, Matthew McConaughey and Steve Zahn team up to look for a long-lost Civil War battleship that protects a secret cargo. PG-13. Movies 12. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants: Four young women who've been friends since childhood are now going their different ways. They wonder how they'll stay in touch until they discover a pair of jeans that fit each of them perfectly. Stars America Ferrera, Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel and Amber Tamblyn. PG. Cinema World. Cinemark. Online Archives. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith: The long-awaited final episode in George Lucas's series stars Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman. From Village Voice reviewer Ed Halter: "Lucas packs his latest with physics-defying deep-space dogfights and zhoozhing lightsaber battles, frequently cutting back and forth between two simultaneous melees on separate planets, deploying his signature Flash Gordon wipes." PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. Online archives. Travelers and Magicians: Khyentse Norbu (The Cup) directs this story of two men: one, chasing love, ends up in a dream. The other, chasing a dream, leaves love behind. Filmed in Bhutan, Travelers and Magicians opens a window into this beautiful, tiny Buddhist kingdom and the Bhutanese culture. NR. Bijou.
MOVIE
THEATERS Bijou
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