Good evening and thank you to the few who attended the last subbed viewing with me tonight.
For this review, please allow me to offer the following context:
Expectations going in for ball knowers:
New viewers:
The review:
Animation and design:
Bright and colorful, the character design and animation will be jarring at first. The animation quality increases as the film progresses. CG is used, but I can't tell every time where it was used. 98% of this has got to be animated. The animation par with what you would expect from an anime film with this premise and story. Maybe I am bias, but I felt the designs lead into good off-model animation. It had impact frames. It's good.
Characters and voice acting:
Character progression may appear slow and "late to bloom" but ball knowers will catch on to obvious camera pivots that offer plenty of foreshadowing. The striking red of Rita's hair even seemed to pop out more and more to me
Story, plot progression, resolution:
The plot is revealed in no time. Time in fact, feels hectic and extremely short. You know what's going on, and you realize there's very little that can be done about it. Again, ball knowers will not feel the hollow hopelessness of this to full effect due to lack of explanation on the sci-fi (it's also bright and colorful and not grimdark I get why many would not like this). However the depression is made to be more emotionally accessible for a general audience; and I think that's a good thing. The pacing is there. You understand the determination, disappointments, and the incredible efforts to end the cycle. Tag-along side kicks lighten the mood and make the film feel cutesy and lighthearted in the face of Live, Die, Repeat. There are book-specific references to battle progression/learning moments with the protagonists. Personally I received the resolution very well. My spouse? A bit miffed; but agrees - It's enjoyable. It's cute. Hard to hate it for what it is. End movie spoilers and my opinion on it ahead.
IN CONCLUSION I cried a little and the movie certainly made me want to go back to read the book. Tonally, the source material and this movie are completely different vibes. It's like Disney did ALL YOU NEED IS KILL. Sounds like a giant turn off but trust me it's worthy whether you're new to the characters and premise or not.
I used to never want to live for the day. Now I'm dying for tomorrow.
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