Miyazaki’s greatness comes again to big screens

I've often written about how much I admire the work of Hayao Miyazaki. The Japanese master animator is now mostly retired from the company, Studio Ghibli, that he co-founded in 1985. But his work lives on.

One of his best films, 2004's "Howl's Moving Castle," will celebrate it 15th anniversary by showing at a trio of area theaters — AMC River Park Square and Regal Cinemas locations at Northtown Mall and Coeur d'Alene's Riverstone Stadium — on three upcoming occasions: Sunday, Monday and Wednesday.

Sunday's screening, which will be dubbed into English, begins at 12:55 P.M. Monday's original language screening, with English subtitles, begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday's screening, again dubbed into English, also begins at 7.

"Howl's Moving Castle" has attracted many critical raves over the years. Here are just a few:

David Ansen, Newsweek: "Howl's Moving Castle has the logic of a dream: behind every door lie multiple realities, one more astonishing than the next."

Eleanor Ringel Cater, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "The procession of enchanting and spectacular images is intoxicating."

A.O. Scott, New York Times: "The latest animated tour de force from the Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki is a fitting introduction to one of modern cinema's great enchanters."

This screening is the debut of Studio Ghibli Fest 2019, which will run through December. So, the best is yet to come.