MovieChat Forums > Hauru no ugoku shiro (2005) Discussion > So many differences between the book and...

So many differences between the book and the movie!

posted 11 years ago by ebush1981
3 replies | jump to latest

I watched this years ago and didn't remember it much. Then, just recently, I read the book and couldn't put it down! I decided to re-watch the movie to see if I would appreciate it more. Probably a big mistake.

The film is interesting, but they changed so many of the characters, plot, etc. I guess they had to make it more "dramatic." Markle (Michael in the book) isn't supposed to be a child, and Sophie has two sisters, one of which is his girlfriend. Howl is obsessed with his appearance in the book because he's always wooing women, trying to find one that will love him perfectly and break his curse. The wizard Sulliman is both male and not evil. The Witch of the Waste is still the main villain, and wants to use Howl, Sulliman and the prince to make a perfect puppet to control, not because she wants Howl's love. The war isn't happening directly in the book, or is far away. The King's quest for Howl is to find his brother so his brother can help w/ that, not to have Howl and the other wizards fight. The dog wasn't a spy or in love with Sophie. He and the scarecrow were cursed by the Witch of the Waste. So many more things!

Anyway, if you are confused or have questions about certain things in the movie, the book MIGHT answer your questions. Otherwise I suggest reading it simply for the awesome story.

I would love to see a true adaptation of this book. The movie as a stand-alone piece is still interesting, but don't expect it to be like the book.

[–] anders-474 11 years ago

Yeah, the movie is mostly nice, but the story is really messed up. The book is miles better!

And if you liked the first book, then read "Castle in the Air", which is a "sequel". It was released only a few years ago =)

Just don't look it up on wikipedia since that page apparently spoils the whole book X(

I really do hope they make a version more true to the book/books!

[–] RbSnedlap 11 years ago

Was Sulliman `Evil` in the film either?
Manipulative yes, clearly working to her own agenda and had her fingers in a lot of decidedly dirty politics, she`s probably the best suspect for whoever put that curse on the Prince and started the war!
But Evil though, she probably justifies everything as for "the greater good".

Yes the film is only loosely based on the book and isn`t a straight adaptation but its not all that bad on its own terms.

"Any plan that involves losing your hat is a BAD plan.""

[–] Jayla-Warden 10 years ago

Until I read the book, my view in books being adapted into films was always "the source material will always be the best, no exceptions." But Howl's Moving Castle forced me to appreciate both, and to remember that they are adaptations, not conversions. Others made me do this too, like Fight Club (where the film was miles better than the book) and The Shining, but HMC was what set it in stone.

Like you I saw the movie first, and then read the book years later, and they really are two different stories. I always like to think that the stories are the same but taken from different timelines; in the book the war was only threatened, but in the film it's been going for a long time and because of that the characters have different agendas and traits. (Obviously it doesn't hold when you look at things like Sulliman's gender and Michael's age, but it's interesting to think about.)

For me, the film flowed so much better, but the book is charming. :)