Kara no Kyoukai 5: Mujun Rasen (Paradox Paradigm) review
__"Araya what do you seek?"
"True Wisdom"
"Araya where do you seek it?"
"Only within myself"
"Araya where are you trying to reach?"
"That's obvious. To the end of this paradox spiral of a world."__
The fifth installment of the Kara no Kyoukai series takes an different approach compared to it's earlier chapters. This time not only the movie is longer (almost 2h), it has changes in it's direction and storytelling. Using gimmicks that show us just how talented the staff at ufotable truly is.
Before delving deeper into the review i wanted to point out that i have read all Kara no Kyoukai novels. I already knew what i was getting myself into and that this movie would adapt in my opinion the best chapter in the whole franchise.
This movie takes place roughly around two months after the event of Kara no Kyoukai 1: Fukan fuukei (Overlooking View). It is split into two arcs (Shiki's and Mikiya's) that take place around the same time.
Shiki's arc begins with a boy named Tomoe Enjou, who is saved from a group thugs by Ryougi Shiki. He claims to have committed parricide, she then allows him to use her residence as a hideout. Few days later Tomoe is shaken to discover that his mother is alive, even though he is convinced that he killed her. Then they go the newly constructed Ogawa apartment complex where he committed the murder to uncover the truth.
Mikiya's arc begins with him investigating a tip that his associate Touko Aozaki receives regarding the murder at the Ogawa apartment complex. Mikiya takes interest in Tomoe Enjou and decides to investigate him further. Which makes him discover the disturbing and cruel truth about that unique apartament complex.
Each entry in Kara no Kyoukai always had a small cast, but this time the amount of important characters is noticeably bigger. The main characters are given their own spotlight which makes them not one-dimensional. The returning trio: Ryougi Shiki, Kokutou Mikiya and Aozaki Touko. As well the newly introduced Tomoe Enjou. This chapter's antagonist is Araya Souren who was apparently an colleague/associate of Touko. Sadly i can't go into full depth as to why he's an amazing villain since it I would have to go into the spoiler territory, but his characterization and motives make him a great character. I mean he's voiced by Kirei (Fate/Stay Night) so you already know what to expect.
The music in Kara no Kyoukai is phenomenal. It is arranged by none other than Yuki Kajiura so you already know that you're in a feast. I instantly bought the full soundtrack. I consider it not only to be one the best works by her, but i could even argue it's one of the best in any anime i've seen. As well the ending song "sprinter" by Kalafina is so epic that it enhances the experience even more.
From the technical standpoint Kara no Kyoukai 5 doesn't disappoint. From the amazing studio ufotable it is no shock that the movie looks amazing and that the animation is consistent and for it's time still looks better than most of the stuff coming out nowadays.
At the beginning of the review i said that the movie uses gimmicks that shows just how amazing at film making is the director. Kara no Kyoukai 5 felt different compared to it's earlier installments due to it's visual presentation/techniques.The director wanted to convey the feeling of paranoia and spiral-like effect. To give a drier and more mundane feel, film grain was added alongside giving the film a more orange hue, the camera was pulled back to create greater distance with the viewer, as well repetition of the scenes and changing the order of the events.
Kara no Kyoukai 5: Mujen Rasen is a movie which i deeply love and for any nasuverse fan it was an amazing gift. From it's direction to storytelling and characterization. I consider it to be the best adaptation of any nasuverse work to date.
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