There will be time to talk about the good aspects of the movie, so I will start with the things I didn’t like.
What bothered me the most were the lacking matches. I understand they were included mainly to give us insight into Nagi’s personal feelings, but they were so heavily cut that they became much less exciting. Additionally, it seemed like there was more CGI compared to season 1—or at least that’s how it felt to me. This impression might be due to the faster pacing I mentioned earlier.
Another thing I noticed was the different soundtrack, most notably during Bachira’s goal against Team V. A few songs felt mismatched with what was happening on screen, but overall, the music was pretty good, with some outstanding tracks, especially "Growth: EPISODE NAGI" and "REO" by Jun Murayama, as well as "オクターヴ" by ASH DA HERO.
Now, moving on to the things I liked. The music in four specific moments was outstanding:
1) Credits – A nice song, not a masterpiece, but enjoyable nonetheless.
2) Reo’s thoughts after Nagi ditched him – The music made Reo’s emotional breakdown more impactful, in my opinion.
3) The montage of Nagi’s journey with the team in season 1 (before Ego’s talk and the credits) – This scene featured a great song paired with good visuals, which hit the emotional mark perfectly.
4) Nagi’s internal monologue after losing to Team Z – The music complemented this moment wonderfully.
Before discussing other aspects, I have to mention the change in the style of Isagi’s direct shot. Setting aside the build-up, I think it looks slightly better than it did in season 1. I also really liked Barou being depicted as a lion during his match against Team V.
What added to my enjoyment of the movie were the backstories of Team V's players, such as Zantetsu, Reo, and Nagi. These stories made me see them in a new light, as the first season of the anime portrayed all of them—except Nagi—as not very likable. Zantetsu's motivation was particularly surprising to me, as I had assumed the author had simply made him seem foolish to serve as comic relief. I’m glad I was wrong.
The moments that left the biggest impression on me, and which I will remember best, are:
1) Reo’s reflection on himself after Nagi left him and joined Isagi’s team – The voice acting, music, and the portrayal of his tears left a huge impact on me. It was a very touching scene, and it made me appreciate Reo’s character much more.
2) Nagi’s inner monologue after losing to Team Z – The beautiful soundtrack, stunning art, and emotional voice acting turned this scene into a masterpiece. It’s hard to put into words exactly what I felt watching it.
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