Howl's Magic Castle: details

No, my seeing it and loving it doesn't mean I'll turn into a lover of anime, but this one movie I really did enjoy, and I don't even like anime. So, hunt it out in your local arthouse.

Plot: Sophie, a young woman who designs hats, is cursed by the Witch of the Waste to look like an old crone. She takes refuge and tries to find out how to break the spell in Wizard's Howl's moving castle, where she makes friends with his boy apprentice and his cranky fire demon, acquires a dog and an old lady (long story), and falls in love with Howl himself, who is likewise under a spell of sorts.

I thought the animation was utterly beautiful. I want to live in Howl's castle myself (though preferably after Sophie has cleaned it). And I adore Sophie who reminds me of one of those unflappable, pragmatic Heyer heroines. In fact, the whole relationship between her and the mysterious and moody Howl, who is cartoon-drop-dead-gorgeous (if I were a cartoon I'd be his groupie), reminds me of Mary Challoner and Dominic Alastair in Heyer's "Devil's Cub," though Howl is a lot sweeter.

( Spoilery reasons to like )

In other news, crumpeteer posted about Batman Begins and expressed what I felt only better than I could. Go read it here

Howl's Magic Castle: details

No, my seeing it and loving it doesn't mean I'll turn into a lover of anime, but this one movie I really did enjoy, and I don't even like anime. So, hunt it out in your local arthouse.

Plot: Sophie, a young woman who designs hats, is cursed by the Witch of the Waste to look like an old crone. She takes refuge and tries to find out how to break the spell in Wizard's Howl's moving castle, where she makes friends with his boy apprentice and his cranky fire demon, acquires a dog and an old lady (long story), and falls in love with Howl himself, who is likewise under a spell of sorts.

I thought the animation was utterly beautiful. I want to live in Howl's castle myself (though preferably after Sophie has cleaned it). And I adore Sophie who reminds me of one of those unflappable, pragmatic Heyer heroines. In fact, the whole relationship between her and the mysterious and moody Howl, who is cartoon-drop-dead-gorgeous (if I were a cartoon I'd be his groupie), reminds me of Mary Challoner and Dominic Alastair in Heyer's "Devil's Cub," though Howl is a lot sweeter.

( Spoilery reasons to like )

In other news, crumpeteer posted about Batman Begins and expressed what I felt only better than I could. Go read it here

Howl's Magic Castle: details

No, my seeing it and loving it doesn't mean I'll turn into a lover of anime, but this one movie I really did enjoy, and I don't even like anime. So, hunt it out in your local arthouse.

Plot: Sophie, a young woman who designs hats, is cursed by the Witch of the Waste to look like an old crone. She takes refuge and tries to find out how to break the spell in Wizard's Howl's moving castle, where she makes friends with his boy apprentice and his cranky fire demon, acquires a dog and an old lady (long story), and falls in love with Howl himself, who is likewise under a spell of sorts.

I thought the animation was utterly beautiful. I want to live in Howl's castle myself (though preferably after Sophie has cleaned it). And I adore Sophie who reminds me of one of those unflappable, pragmatic Heyer heroines. In fact, the whole relationship between her and the mysterious and moody Howl, who is cartoon-drop-dead-gorgeous (if I were a cartoon I'd be his groupie), reminds me of Mary Challoner and Dominic Alastair in Heyer's "Devil's Cub," though Howl is a lot sweeter.

( Spoilery reasons to like )

In other news, crumpeteer posted about Batman Begins and expressed what I felt only better than I could. Go read it here

Just your usual update

Wearing: Grey sleeveless blouse and black striped pants.
Reading: Eragon. Given to me by Best Friend, as she knows I am idiosyncratic about fantasy and will read only a very small, specific set. But she vetted it.
Last book read prior: reread HPV
Last movie seen in movie theater: Howl's Magic Castle
Next movie to see in movie theater: Revenge of the Sith (again)
Last movie seen at home: Dil Ka Rishta
Next movie to watch at home: The War Lord (Charlton Heston)
Last Play Seen: Garrick's "Clandestine Marriage"
Next play to watch: Lady Windermere's fan
Icons I currently have: SW: 12 Bollywood: 9 Howl's: 7 Misc: 5 Farscape: 4 LOTR: 3 Hayden Christensen: 3 BSG: 3 Christian Bale: 2 Moulin Rouge: 2

Just your usual update

Wearing: Grey sleeveless blouse and black striped pants.
Reading: Eragon. Given to me by Best Friend, as she knows I am idiosyncratic about fantasy and will read only a very small, specific set. But she vetted it.
Last book read prior: reread HPV
Last movie seen in movie theater: Howl's Magic Castle
Next movie to see in movie theater: Revenge of the Sith (again)
Last movie seen at home: Dil Ka Rishta
Next movie to watch at home: The War Lord (Charlton Heston)
Last Play Seen: Garrick's "Clandestine Marriage"
Next play to watch: Lady Windermere's fan
Icons I currently have: SW: 12 Bollywood: 9 Howl's: 7 Misc: 5 Farscape: 4 LOTR: 3 Hayden Christensen: 3 BSG: 3 Christian Bale: 2 Moulin Rouge: 2

Just your usual update

Wearing: Grey sleeveless blouse and black striped pants.
Reading: Eragon. Given to me by Best Friend, as she knows I am idiosyncratic about fantasy and will read only a very small, specific set. But she vetted it.
Last book read prior: reread HPV
Last movie seen in movie theater: Howl's Magic Castle
Next movie to see in movie theater: Revenge of the Sith (again)
Last movie seen at home: Dil Ka Rishta
Next movie to watch at home: The War Lord (Charlton Heston)
Last Play Seen: Garrick's "Clandestine Marriage"
Next play to watch: Lady Windermere's fan
Icons I currently have: SW: 12 Bollywood: 9 Howl's: 7 Misc: 5 Farscape: 4 LOTR: 3 Hayden Christensen: 3 BSG: 3 Christian Bale: 2 Moulin Rouge: 2

Movies seen this year

Because I am a compulsive list-maker. This includes only movies that came out this year, in order from best to worst:

Movies I adored:

1. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. It was a love it or hate it movie and I adored every single minute. The larger-than-life epicness and downfall, the doomed hero (and the equally doomed love story), the duels. What's not to like?
1. (tie) Howl's Moving Castle: It made me happy. It made me feel like a kid again. And it was utterly beautiful.
3. Kingdom of Heaven: Medieval epic that is actually intelligent, has oodles of my favorite actors and fierce battles. How could I not love it.
4. Parineeta: My favorite romantic movie of the year (at least live action, as otherwise Howl's would be in serious running), this is just...perfect.
5. Batman Begins: Superhero movie the way it should be. Dark, angsty and delicious
6. Bunty aur Babli: Hilarious, romantic and waaaaay too much fun.
7. Layer Cake: British crime drama with more twists than a pretzel and a really likeable main character. I love a movie that acknowledges that I am intelligent.

Movies I liked:

8. House of Flying Daggers: I loved the angst, and it's visually beyond striking
9. Lucky: A romantic fairy-tale done right
10.Kisna: Yet another angsty forbidden lovers period drama, it's a bit too overdone, but still lovely
11.Karam: A Bollywood thriller that is well plotted is as rare as a movie that makes me feel for the hitman trying to rescue his wife.
12. Fever Pitch: It was cute, sweet and unpretentious. I had fun.
13. Elaan: Enjoyable actioner done right with plenty of eye candy for both sexes.
14. Kung Fu Hustle: it was a bit too overdone sometimes, but it had absolutely hilarious and beautiful moments.
15. Bride and Prejudice: It's not as romantic or passionate as a good BW movie, nor as tightly plotted or scripted as a good HW movie but it has some rather lovely moments.

Meh:

15. Sahara: I didn't claw my eyes out. Neither did I remember anything about it once I left.
16. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe: "meh" was invented to describe this movie
17. Cinderella Man: Manipulative tripe. But Russell Crowe excellent as always
18. Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants: Manipulative tripe. But with no good acting to redeem it.

Hate is too weak a word:

19. Sin City: amoral, chauvinist and grisly. It was yet another one of those "love them or hate them" movies, only this time I was on the "hate" side

Movies seen this year

Because I am a compulsive list-maker. This includes only movies that came out this year, in order from best to worst:

Movies I adored:

1. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. It was a love it or hate it movie and I adored every single minute. The larger-than-life epicness and downfall, the doomed hero (and the equally doomed love story), the duels. What's not to like?
1. (tie) Howl's Moving Castle: It made me happy. It made me feel like a kid again. And it was utterly beautiful.
3. Kingdom of Heaven: Medieval epic that is actually intelligent, has oodles of my favorite actors and fierce battles. How could I not love it.
4. Parineeta: My favorite romantic movie of the year (at least live action, as otherwise Howl's would be in serious running), this is just...perfect.
5. Batman Begins: Superhero movie the way it should be. Dark, angsty and delicious
6. Bunty aur Babli: Hilarious, romantic and waaaaay too much fun.
7. Layer Cake: British crime drama with more twists than a pretzel and a really likeable main character. I love a movie that acknowledges that I am intelligent.

Movies I liked:

8. House of Flying Daggers: I loved the angst, and it's visually beyond striking
9. Lucky: A romantic fairy-tale done right
10.Kisna: Yet another angsty forbidden lovers period drama, it's a bit too overdone, but still lovely
11.Karam: A Bollywood thriller that is well plotted is as rare as a movie that makes me feel for the hitman trying to rescue his wife.
12. Fever Pitch: It was cute, sweet and unpretentious. I had fun.
13. Elaan: Enjoyable actioner done right with plenty of eye candy for both sexes.
14. Kung Fu Hustle: it was a bit too overdone sometimes, but it had absolutely hilarious and beautiful moments.
15. Bride and Prejudice: It's not as romantic or passionate as a good BW movie, nor as tightly plotted or scripted as a good HW movie but it has some rather lovely moments.

Meh:

15. Sahara: I didn't claw my eyes out. Neither did I remember anything about it once I left.
16. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe: "meh" was invented to describe this movie
17. Cinderella Man: Manipulative tripe. But Russell Crowe excellent as always
18. Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants: Manipulative tripe. But with no good acting to redeem it.

Hate is too weak a word:

19. Sin City: amoral, chauvinist and grisly. It was yet another one of those "love them or hate them" movies, only this time I was on the "hate" side

Movies seen this year

Because I am a compulsive list-maker. This includes only movies that came out this year, in order from best to worst:

Movies I adored:

1. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. It was a love it or hate it movie and I adored every single minute. The larger-than-life epicness and downfall, the doomed hero (and the equally doomed love story), the duels. What's not to like?
1. (tie) Howl's Moving Castle: It made me happy. It made me feel like a kid again. And it was utterly beautiful.
3. Kingdom of Heaven: Medieval epic that is actually intelligent, has oodles of my favorite actors and fierce battles. How could I not love it.
4. Parineeta: My favorite romantic movie of the year (at least live action, as otherwise Howl's would be in serious running), this is just...perfect.
5. Batman Begins: Superhero movie the way it should be. Dark, angsty and delicious
6. Bunty aur Babli: Hilarious, romantic and waaaaay too much fun.
7. Layer Cake: British crime drama with more twists than a pretzel and a really likeable main character. I love a movie that acknowledges that I am intelligent.

Movies I liked:

8. House of Flying Daggers: I loved the angst, and it's visually beyond striking
9. Lucky: A romantic fairy-tale done right
10.Kisna: Yet another angsty forbidden lovers period drama, it's a bit too overdone, but still lovely
11.Karam: A Bollywood thriller that is well plotted is as rare as a movie that makes me feel for the hitman trying to rescue his wife.
12. Fever Pitch: It was cute, sweet and unpretentious. I had fun.
13. Elaan: Enjoyable actioner done right with plenty of eye candy for both sexes.
14. Kung Fu Hustle: it was a bit too overdone sometimes, but it had absolutely hilarious and beautiful moments.
15. Bride and Prejudice: It's not as romantic or passionate as a good BW movie, nor as tightly plotted or scripted as a good HW movie but it has some rather lovely moments.

Meh:

15. Sahara: I didn't claw my eyes out. Neither did I remember anything about it once I left.
16. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe: "meh" was invented to describe this movie
17. Cinderella Man: Manipulative tripe. But Russell Crowe excellent as always
18. Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants: Manipulative tripe. But with no good acting to redeem it.

Hate is too weak a word:

19. Sin City: amoral, chauvinist and grisly. It was yet another one of those "love them or hate them" movies, only this time I was on the "hate" side