Howl's Moving Castle

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⭐6/10

Miyazaki WHY!!! I come back so often because I truly want to believe, and I go in with such a full heart and such low expectations. Almost every time I am burned. 

This movie is absolutely gorgeous. It is maybe his prettiest movie with beautiful landscapes and cool character designs and cute lil monsters. The music is outstanding, maybe the most recognizable main Ghibli theme, and it is not used sparingly which I actually always love. I wanted to love this movie. It has themes of the evils of industrialization and the horrors and senselessnes of war - everything I want and normally connect with.

But this movie again is utter and total nonsense. No two scenes follow logically in any sense in this movie and it drives me crazy because if the story was merely passable I would defend this movie to the death. I get that themes and ideas are hidden and worth exploring, but I need some semblance of a story to follow or I will zone out, and that's exactly what happened. 

I went into this one with exactly the right attitude, I swear. I told myself I would let the plot wash over me, that I would just appreciate the beauty and charm and imagination. But we ended up watching this movie in 3 segments because I could not stay awake. What's keeping me awake? Certainly I have no interest in what will happen to the characters because I have no concept of what they want or what this world is even about. I am telling you that this movie is the most ridiculous one of all. 

At first I took a little comfort in this. There is something nice about watching something anxiety free, knowing there is no logical consequence to anything that you are seeing. It is especially nice to take in during the slow moments, which is Miyazaki's specialty. But by the second half it is all bizarre sensory overload and I could no longer admit I had any appreciation for this movie. 

So yeah, super disappointed. I always imagine that Miyazaki is a kindred spirit, that he has the soul of a true artist that speaks to my innermost heart, but I can't defend this one. I've loved other similar anime movies, notably the ones by his colleague Takahata, but I continue to inch closer to thinking I just don't like Miyazaki. Oh well, guess I'll keep watching his movies until I do. What's next? Kiki? 

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