Howl's Moving Castle (2004) Hauru no ugoku shiro

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Plot: A witch curses a girl and makes her an old woman. She hooks up with a strange young magician who owns a magical moving house.

Review: This is a whimsical fantasy that I really enjoyed. The images are charming and the story keeps you involved. The plot is creative.

Cast and crew: directed by Hayao Miyazaki

Rating: 3.5 flasks
1/2

More:
Highly recommended

The Reader

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Plot: The Reader A 15-year old, Michael, (David Kross) in 1950's Germany has an affair with a female former Nazi Prison guard, Hanna, (Kate Winslet). In payment for the sex, the "kid" reads for the woman. Later we find out that she had Jewish prisoners read for her as well. At the end of the movie, the now-adult Michael (Ralph Fiennes) sends audio books to Hanna in prison.

Review:  This is a substantial drama, and the character of Hanna is well-drawn. The movie unfolds slowly and the plot twist with the war crimes trial picks the story up a bit. I did not think the law school scenes were worthwhile, and why was Michael's daughter in the movie at all? The post-climax bit with the survivor daughter would have been interesting if this were a true story, but is too trite and preachy for a fictional ending. Kate Winslet's performance was great, and watching her was the best part of the movie. Ralph Fiennes was solid.

Cast and crew: Kate Winslet, Ralph Fienes, David Kross; directed by Stephan Daldry
Rating:   3.0 flasks


More:  Out classed by Doubt, Slumdog and Frost/Nixon, not to mention Wall*E; about as good as Benjamin Button. Winslet is great, but Meryl still rules.

Even More:  In the unlikely event a movie is made of my life, I want Ralph Fiennes to play me, and that is not because he plays Voldemort.