--- title: "Howl's Moving Castle: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/howls-moving-castle/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/howls-moving-castle" critics_score: 71 critics_reviews: 8 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Howl's Moving Castle (2004): what the critics said Critics' score 71 from 8 reviews: 5 positive, 2 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics respond warmly to Howl’s Moving Castle, with praise centred on Miyazaki’s visual imagination and the detail of its animated world. The walking castle itself draws repeated admiration for its elaborate, inventive construction. Beyond the spectacle, several reviews find charm, humour and tenderness in the fairytale, particularly its treatment of love and kindness. Even critics who struggle with the storytelling generally find pleasure in the images. The divide concerns whether the story gives those images enough purpose. Reservations cluster around a convoluted plot, uncertain character motivations and an extended, uneven final stretch. The spread is wide: The Times praises the sophisticated plotting and reads the film as an emotionally substantial response to the invasion of Iraq, while RogerEbert.com finds the narrative murky and the spectacle short of meaning. Emotional engagement is similarly disputed, with some reviews finding sensitivity where others find too little feeling. ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★★★★★. 18 December 2020. Calls it a stunning reaction to the invasion of Iraq but more than an anti-war polemic. Singles out the dazzling visuals, real emotion and sophisticated plotting as far beyond your average cartoon. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/howls-moving-castle-2004-review-stunning-reaction-to-the-invasion-of-iraq-hgp3wt9l2) ## The AV Club — Tasha Robinson Rating B+. 7 June 2005. The critic finds the adaptation a charming and absorbing treat that blends Jones' clever fantasy with Miyazaki's visual playfulness and detail, though the dense plot and familiar themes make it feel somewhat redundant and hard to follow for younger viewers. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/howls-moving-castle-1798200809) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 13 September 2004. Festival review. The critic calls it visually inventive and unremittingly charming like its predecessor Spirited Away, with funny, exhilarating and touching moments, but notes it lacks the spiritual and metaphysical depth of that film. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/howls-moving-castle-hauru-no-ugoku-shiro/4020100.article) ## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 17 February 2005. The critic praises the spellbinding set pieces, intricate details, and the inventive moving castle but notes the story lacks logic, emotion, and clear motivation, making it a frustrating but visually captivating experience. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/howls-moving-castle/) ## Radio Times — Sloan Freer Rating 3/5. The review praises Miyazaki's wild imagination and the visually ingenious adventure but notes that eye candy comes at the expense of plot development, with a rushed final third and surreal conclusion likely to confuse children. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-vkw3je/howls-moving-castle/) ## Time Out — BW Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 20 September 2005. The critic highlights the film's visual dazzle and imaginative high-imperial fantasia setting but finds the structure increasingly baggy with a fluctuating tone and cloying conclusion that diminishes engagement. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/london/film/howls-moving-castle) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 9 June 2005. The critic finds the film a disappointment compared to Miyazaki's recent masterpieces, with a murky plot that grows impatient at spectacle without meaning, though it has undeniable charm and visual wonderment. The castle itself is singled out as an amazing visual invention. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/howls-moving-castle-2005) ## Empire — Andrew Osmond 1 January 2014. The film is a hand-drawn visual treat full of delightful touches and a star turn from the walking castle, but its lack of clarity and unfocused plot may frustrate viewers expecting more coherence. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/howl-moving-castle-review/) ## Evening Standard — Derek Malcolm 10 April 2012. Miyazaki's astonishing imagination and detail shine through in this adaptation, with a marvellous moving castle, though the story is at times confusing and too long, losing its way in the final half-hour. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/magic-from-the-scrapheap-7385820.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan 10 June 2005. The critic hails Miyazaki's gift for wonder and fearless visual imagination, describing the film as magical and breathtaking with an idiosyncratic emotional through line. The castle and themes of love, kindness, and the evils of war are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jun-10-et-howls10-story.html) ## The Guardian 23 September 2005. The critic finds it a floatingly delightful fairytale and touching parable about the transforming power of love and the scary burden of youth. Praises its visual exuberance, gentleness and unshowy intelligence and emotional literacy. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2005/sep/23/1) ## The Independent 22 September 2005. The critic finds the film less enchanting than Spirited Away due to its convoluted plot and surreal twists that may bore some viewers, though it remains likeable with strong visual flair and a standout walking castle. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/revolver-15-howl-s-moving-castle-u-314390.html) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott 10 June 2005. The critic calls it a fitting introduction to one of modern cinema's great enchanters, praising its visual ingenuity and sensitivity as a storyteller. The castle is highlighted as one of the most extraordinary contraptions on screen. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/10/movies/a-cursed-teenager-turns-90-let-the-adventures-begin.html) ## Total Film 23 September 2005. Miyazaki delivers a dazzling, wonderful fairytale bursting with joy, enchantment and a marvellous clanking castle, though the convoluted story and lengthy finale prevent it from matching Spirited Away. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/howls-moving-castle-review/) ## Digital Spy — Daniel Saney Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 26 September 2005. The critic finds the film a visually breathtaking work with solid voice acting and likeable characters, though the pacing feels uneven after the midpoint and the plot is occasionally confusing. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a24726/howls-moving-castle/) ## Eye for Film — Anton Bitel 22 September 2005. The critic hails the film as anime at its finest, a surrealistic fairytale that is lightning-paced, visually stunning and feverishly creative. They single out its fluid, magical logic and imaginative set pieces, such as elderly women climbing a staircase. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/howls-moving-castle-film-review-by-anton-bitel) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/howls-moving-castle.md