QNPoohBear
asked:
How does it compare to the movie? It's a favorite of my oldest niece (now "almost 6") but I wasn't enamored with it.
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Howl’s Moving Castle,
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Marlee
I personally find the book much better than the movie. If the book never existed, I would say the movie was beautiful on its own, but the book leaves it in the dust. A lot more story and characters, much more humor, and very easy to get lost in.
Overall, if you're more of an art and animation fan, the movie is the way to go. If you want more story, the book.
Not to mention there are two books that follow it that are also high up on my favorites list.
Overall, if you're more of an art and animation fan, the movie is the way to go. If you want more story, the book.
Not to mention there are two books that follow it that are also high up on my favorites list.
Cj
I believe the movie is a bit more whimsical than the book. In my mind the movie is better suited for those who want a specific feel to a story; that being light hearted and almost nostalgic in depiction.
The book is more focused on laying out characters, backgrounds and relationships, but does so in a very real way. I think Howl himself is a bit darker and Sophie is given a huge amount of detail into her personality.
They are both great, and hold up for very different reasons. If you are a fantasy novel fan leaning towards the mysterious and unexplained wizardry of European-esque tales the book will not disappoint. If the flowing animation, music and colors of the movie is what brought you to the party, not an interest in Howl or Sophie as intelligent and real characters, then stay with the movie.
The book is more focused on laying out characters, backgrounds and relationships, but does so in a very real way. I think Howl himself is a bit darker and Sophie is given a huge amount of detail into her personality.
They are both great, and hold up for very different reasons. If you are a fantasy novel fan leaning towards the mysterious and unexplained wizardry of European-esque tales the book will not disappoint. If the flowing animation, music and colors of the movie is what brought you to the party, not an interest in Howl or Sophie as intelligent and real characters, then stay with the movie.
Shannon
Both have their own uniqueness to them. I watched the movie first and loved it! Only just recently I finished the book and was pleasantly surprised. There are big differences, but I still love them equally. Though, I think I rate them on the same level because I EXPECTED them to have differences. It is normal to like one over the other, so give both a try with an open-mind!
Lady Tea
Personally, I find the movie to be better. The descriptions and personalities of the characters match better to make it seem like a fairy tale. I started off the book with high expectations, yet sadly they were not met. The movie seems to be much more imaginative than the book, despite the corresponding ideas.
Charlotte Siobhan
I like to think of the movie as a different story altogether, because it basically is. After the first ten minutes or so when Sophie gets to the castle, the plot is completely different for the rest of the movie. The sisters are barely in it, only one is even really a character, the fourth door goes to like... the sky(?) instead of present day Wales, a lot of the characters are mashed together or completely changed, such as the witch of the waste who isn't even really the bad guy. And then there's this whole war that is barely mentioned in the book. I used to love the movie, but now, compared to the complex storyline of the book, it's just okay. It's still very beautiful and imaginitive and should maybe just stand on its own without really being associated with the book.
Maya Xu
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)
Kate Tate
The book is better than the movie. The movie leaves out the part about Sophie having powers and completely leaves out one of her sisters. I dont know how you can do that. Also, it also make Micheal a younger boy and he isnt anything like what he should be. The movie is still great regardless, but that is all thanks to the director Hayao Miyuzaki.
Brit
The novel and film adaptation are very different. I think the novel is more about disguise and character flaws. The film is more aesthetic and paired down.
Consume both and compare for yourself, I think it makes you appreciate both for what they are.
Consume both and compare for yourself, I think it makes you appreciate both for what they are.
MYNG
This is quite a late response, but I believe the movie was only loosely based off the book-- Ghibli didn't try to exactly replicate the plot, rather they took the concept and ran with it.
Writingwriterwhoreads
Hayao Miyazaki Movies will always hold a special place in my heart.
Jayanta Pandit
The book is much better in comparison to the movie. First of all book has a better sense of humor,a longer story line and the character have more depth to them. Although the movie is better in the sense of animation, there is more to a movie than animation. But the book has almost everything that reader like to see in a book. Also its a part of a trilogy with two more books to add to the current story.
Jenn
I just watched the movie after reading the book and honestly I think this is one of those books that the movie people should have just stayed right away from. The book was wonderful, the movie was really not.
J.M. Briggs
Both the film and book are good, but the film is quiet different from the book from about the midway point where the plot deviates greatly. I prefer the book myself as Sophie's power as a sorceress in her own right is explored more and Howl's flaws as a person are more intact. He is less heroic and his weaknesses make him a more interesting character. The book ending follows through with all the plot elements coming together in a final battle.
While the movie is good it changes the themes of the story and should really be regarded as a different work. The world of Howl's Moving Castle is supposed to be medieval or at best early Renaissance so the war elements of the film are the result of the directors desire to infuse his own message into the story. Both are good on their own merits for the story of Howl's Moving Castle give the book a try.
While the movie is good it changes the themes of the story and should really be regarded as a different work. The world of Howl's Moving Castle is supposed to be medieval or at best early Renaissance so the war elements of the film are the result of the directors desire to infuse his own message into the story. Both are good on their own merits for the story of Howl's Moving Castle give the book a try.
Amanda Carr
I watched the movie first possibly 7 years ago and fell in love with it. I've just finished reading the book and I must say that they are both very enjoyable but also very different (some of the extra information in the book I found truly bizarre). I will always have a special place in my heart for the movie though, despite how many changes were made.
Momelli
*** Spoilers***
I like to pick and choose bits from the move and bits from the book to put together how I wish the story went. lol. Sophie and Howl’s romance in the book is more bickering and Sophie’s realization she loves him is mostly shown through jealousy. But the movie just had cute happy romance parts. Few, but they were there and not in the book until literally the very end. Like, I don’t think they ever even kiss in the book. I also don’t think they ever even say they love each other. I wish their romance had some of the light hearted bickering and some of the tender moments too.
I also enjoyed the plot line where Sophie had magic but doesn’t really realize it at first. It was interesting to try at catch things that were her magically touch playing a role. That would’ve been interesting in the movie.
Overall, there were more things in the book I wish were in the movie, but the movie’s visuals really brought a completely different magically element. Calcifer was adorable and the castle was very well done.
I like to pick and choose bits from the move and bits from the book to put together how I wish the story went. lol. Sophie and Howl’s romance in the book is more bickering and Sophie’s realization she loves him is mostly shown through jealousy. But the movie just had cute happy romance parts. Few, but they were there and not in the book until literally the very end. Like, I don’t think they ever even kiss in the book. I also don’t think they ever even say they love each other. I wish their romance had some of the light hearted bickering and some of the tender moments too.
I also enjoyed the plot line where Sophie had magic but doesn’t really realize it at first. It was interesting to try at catch things that were her magically touch playing a role. That would’ve been interesting in the movie.
Overall, there were more things in the book I wish were in the movie, but the movie’s visuals really brought a completely different magically element. Calcifer was adorable and the castle was very well done.
Sean McQuay
Having just read the book, I wanted to watch the movie with my daughters. I was appalled. The movie, despite the name and inclusion of most of the characters, did not seem like it was actually based on the book. If anything, the writers of the movie read the book 2 decades ago and made the movie based on their memories of the book. Either that or they had their own story in mind and used elements from the book as a skin.
The feel of the characters were all very different. The nature of the Castle was very different. The war, so central to the movie, was something only alluded to as a future, impending event, not as a current event. As such, Howl was not involved in the war in the book, which is the primary character-driving experience in the movie. In the book, the main character is Sophie, whereas she felt side-lined the moment Howl showed up in the movie. The antagonist, the Witch of the Waste, remains the antagonist through the whole book, whereas the movie has a twist and secondary antagonist thrown in.
I found the movie to be a dark treatise on the horror of war. The book, to me, was about finding and creating community in individual trials.
Finally, the book was hilarious. I can't say that of the movie.
The feel of the characters were all very different. The nature of the Castle was very different. The war, so central to the movie, was something only alluded to as a future, impending event, not as a current event. As such, Howl was not involved in the war in the book, which is the primary character-driving experience in the movie. In the book, the main character is Sophie, whereas she felt side-lined the moment Howl showed up in the movie. The antagonist, the Witch of the Waste, remains the antagonist through the whole book, whereas the movie has a twist and secondary antagonist thrown in.
I found the movie to be a dark treatise on the horror of war. The book, to me, was about finding and creating community in individual trials.
Finally, the book was hilarious. I can't say that of the movie.
Anna
I adore both the book and the movie, but the book absolutely blows the movie away, no question about it. A lot was changed for the movie, including the ending, but I wasn't disgruntled by this. I think Miyazaki did the characters justice. They were as noble and lovable (especially Howl, who absolutely comes to life in both) as the original book characters. Not to mention Joe Hisaishi's soundtrack is gorgeous and fits the story to a "T."
Overall, I think both are good in their own right, but the book in astounding. (Though, admittedly, I will be humming "Merry-Go-Round Of Life" until the end of my days.)
Overall, I think both are good in their own right, but the book in astounding. (Though, admittedly, I will be humming "Merry-Go-Round Of Life" until the end of my days.)
Dylan
I found that the book was better, but to me they were close together. I saw the movie first and loved it. Later on I found out that it was a book and read it. Diana Wynne Jones is an amazing writer and just barely made a better story.
T.
I think it depends on what kind of story that you like. If you saw a movie first and expect the same intense plot line you will be disappointed. For me, I read the book first and saw the movie later. I like both of them but find the book is a better joy for me. I think the book contained more details and humor. Also, I'm in love with all characters in this book. It's all about your own taste. I love this book and reread it several times but my friend just thought nothing of it.
Kellie Thompson
I saw (and LOVED the movie) long before I even realized there was a book. I'm a little over halfway reading it right now and so far, I like the movie better. And I'm a "I ALWAYS love the book over the movie" person, however, the book allows for the tiny details.
Jenn
I felt like the book's ending was a little contrived. I kept hoping for some of sort of resolution to take place between Sophie and Fanny, but everyone just hugged and kissed to make up for it. (Unless this gets resolved in a future book; I haven't read the others yet).
I was a little put off that the movie didn't follow the story line of the book. =/ I do agree that if you prefer more of the story element, the book is the way to go. But I felt like the plot lines in the movie were tighter and made a bit more sense.
I was a little put off that the movie didn't follow the story line of the book. =/ I do agree that if you prefer more of the story element, the book is the way to go. But I felt like the plot lines in the movie were tighter and made a bit more sense.
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