This is a salty but serious review.
SPOILERS of a mild nature.
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Visuals:
10/10, moving on.
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As you can see, I gave Kimi no Na Wa the rating of 4/10. Keep calm and learn why:
Mainly because I have once again failed to integrate in my mind the appeal of what I heard was called "subtlety" in japanese storytelling. The elements of the story were not only predictable but they were also presented in such a way that they are just *almost* half-assed, meaning that the various intentions of the storytelling were willfully inhibited just a little bit, just enough to make this movie, by the end of it, feel like an itch you'll never be able to scratch and because of that you'll want to hurry to forget you've ever watched it.
I mean, it was trying not to be indulgent, but it was already stupid and melodramatic, so the only way it could have redeemed itself was by having the two protagonists (if I can call the girl a protagonist--the guy had a stronger personality than her, was more assertive in the story, which in turn made him seem like the "real hero" of the movie at some point, and that is alright since the whole movie is cliché and dumb, except it seemed to have a different intention in mind with the premise, but OH WELL IT TURNED OUT LIKE THIS ANYWAY) the only way it could have redeemed itself was by having the two idiots literally fucking tear at each other the second they met, because that at least is satisfying to watch even if it's dumb, more satisfying to watch than the two idiots being undecisive until the last permissible moment of the movie holy fuck literally.
I hate this about Japanese stuff.
A certain anime I've watched before Na Wa. that I won't spoil here was completely degenerate, it didn't try to be anything better, so much so that it was sort of refreshing. It was an idle, relaxing watch for me, and memorably, it did something in one episode close to the end, something in which the protagonist's "side girl" who obviously likes the protagonist and contrary to the "main girl", knows exactly what she wants, actually lays one on him. She says things to him that kick the story miles forward (in relation to its snail pace) and affects change in him. She actually pushes him on top of her bed and he doesn't freak out or indulge or—He has a very human reaction to the whole deal. The scene had a point and it reached it. No playing around. The scene was not vulgar, indulgent, melodramatic or unsubtle. It seemed pretty natural. I wish there could be more of this style of storytelling in anime and manga.
'Course, the example I used here involves romance, but I meant what I said in a broader sense, just those examples are the most straightforward or simple examples that came to mind.
Not to mention, shrewd civilain Versus clueless countryperson: Offensive trope is offensive.
Not to mention, plot-holes of glory. I'm sure there are articles online that are dedicated to pointing out these funny little things, articles that aren't busy sucking Na Wa's multitude of dicks.
Visuals:
10/10, moving on—wait, there was a a handful of "timelapse" sequences that egregiously flaunt brand marks at you and serve no deep purpose other than striking awe into the audience. And financing the movie production.
Sound:
They did the cheesy insert song thing 3 times. I'd only be able to tell the 3 individual songs apart after a dozen listens. Rad Wimps are rad though, check em out.
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Conclusion:
This movie was so, so dumb. And so pretty, it made it seem more dumb.
It's more of a lack of ambition to be anything cool or smart than dumbassery though. This movie liked itself as lame as it was and it proudly wiggled its tail at me like a dog dressed in a glittering dress and wrapped in christmas lights woof???
Kimi no Na Wa. made me write a "review" though, for that little push towards initiative, I am grateful.
Jul 31, 2017
Kimi no Na wa.
(Anime)
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This is a salty but serious review.
SPOILERS of a mild nature. * * * Visuals: 10/10, moving on. ... |