Reviewed by thepunktheory on
It is so much how much alike yet completely different book and movie are! I usually being with my thoughts on the novel but since I am more familiar with the film and only picked the book after revisiting that for the umpteenth time, today I'll start with the adaptation.
If you followed my Studio Ghibli review series last year (to be continued this April), you already know that I love the film and consider it to be among the Studio's top productions. Let's recap real quick why that is the case.
First of all, the movie looks simply stunning. It's not just a story about magic, the pictures are so well made, magic is almost dripping from your screen. The colors, the details, everything is vibrant and enchanting.
On top of that, we get quirky and funny characters. Some with a penchant for sarcasm, others who are a bit overdramatic. Nevertheless, I love all of them and wouldn't change a single thing about them.
While this may not be Studio Ghibli's best production story-wise, there is so much going for it that you are more than inclined to forgive little imperfections.
So, the book. I had never been aware that this movie was based on a novel. However, while browsing Tumblr recently somebody pointed out not only the book but some specific details about Howl that made me drop everything and pick the book up straight away: apparently androgynous, lithe movie Howl is originally a Welsh rugby player.
It soon turned out that this is not the only difference. Howl's past (and future) pan out rather differently in the book. And let me tell you, that's a rather interesting story! Also, while in the movie a big war is basically the backdrop of the story, it is barely mentioned in the book. Moreover, Howl has no involvement in it. So, you can already tell that this has to pan out rather differently.
While the film chose to focus on magic all the way, the novel brings in some more real-world elements, especially in connection with Howl. I'm trying hard not to include any spoilers, so forgive me for being vague here.
However, the two takes on the story being so different is not a bad thing!
I found both versions to be intricate, interesting, exciting, and simply wonderful. As I mentioned before, it amazed me that although starting from a similar point and sharing the same characters as well as a big chunk of the story, book and movie went in such unique directions that both worked extremely well.
Each of the takes on the story is enjoyable and wouldn't change a thing about them. They have different foci but it's beneficial to the respective roads taken.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 18 April, 2020: Finished reading
- 18 April, 2020: Reviewed