Just got done watching HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE. I was blown away by the animation and the juxtaposition of all the main characters together; my favorite characters were Turnip Head and Heen. One thing I wasn’t too crazy about was the amount of time that was spent actually in the castle. I realize that those scenes were included to move the plot along, but I felt that they slowed up the movie.
What did I tell you? Frikkin’ awesome riiiiiight?? 
) HOWLxSOPHIE FOREVER! (fangirling like crazy in background)
I also love Howl’s Moving Castle - although it seems to have its critics (mostly people moaning about it not being like the book, which i haven’t even read).
I love Howl’s Moving Castle!
The book was a parody of fairy tale cliches, but the movie was a straight fairy tale. The movie is so much better than the book, and I think even the author agrees on some level.
Oh, so is the book similar to Shrek? 
I think Miyazaki made it clear that he was just borrowing the characters and some plot ideas/concepts from the book, not making a straight-up adaption of it. The author liked it. Shame she passed away recently. 
She did? That’s no fun.
Howl’s Moving Castle the book was not like Shrek at all. It just had a completely different tone and feel to it than the movie, and was much more lighthearted and less serious. I hadn’t heard that the author passed away, what a shame.
I really love the movie though, it was the first Ghibli movie I owned, and as a result I’ve seen it the most times of all of Miyazaki’s movies.
Oh there’s a book? I didn’t know. I should read it if it’s worth reading. One factor that contributed to my HMC fandom was Christian Bale. (I love when they dub it with awesome actors! CATE BLANCHTT AND TINA FEY ON PONYO, DAKOTA AND ELLE FANING IN TOTORO) but it kind of destroys the japan-ness for me.
The book is good, but you really have to go into it not expecting it to be anything like the movie.
^I’m fine with that!
The book had a sequel, too, called Castle in the Air. Confusing as Miyazaki already has an unrelated move called Castle in the Sky. 
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe that the only other Miyazaki movie (besides Howl’s Moving Castle) that was based on a pre-existing story was Kiki’s Delivery Service. Has anybody read it? I must say that it’s a rather elusive book; I can’t find it in any local library. Maybe it’s written in Japenese.
Yeah. It was a novel series that only stopped putting out books a couple years ago, I don’t think it was ever translated sadly.
Just got done reading the book and the only real differences is that the book focuses more on Sophie’s sisters, as well as Mickl’s spell deliveries.
I was watching some of the special features on my Grave Of The Fireflies DVD, and that was based on a book too
The author didn’t die in that version though
I would actually recommend My Neighbour Totoro to begin with, just because it’s so fairytale like and happy 
I still need to see Totoro. My friend Casey says she will loan it to me, though.
Out of all the Miyazakis I’ve seen, Totoro has the most irritating English dub, so be wary of that. All in all, Totoro is my favorite, so be sure to let us know what you think of it!
Oh no. If it’s irritating, I might hate it. Nothing rubs me worse than an annoying movie(even if it’s only the foreign translation.
Yes, be very wary of the English dub - for preferance, watch it in Japanese with English subs, it’s an even better experience that way.