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It's been nearly 2 years since the first film, and I must say it's worth the wait. Let's just hope won't take that long for the third fim to come out.

The second film is more action heavy than the first, having 2 matches in one film with short glimpses of the other school teams matches against other school team. Some of them needs to be fully introduced. Like the Koala team with their khaki Outback uniform makes me wonder if they really listen to that silent Koala as their team captain. With Spain big-breasted team versus team Saunder's, it's Kay's killer thigh's the winner. They ... haven't shown any character from team Viking, which is a shame. I only saw one character from the Polish team.
Both of main matches deals with aspect of being lost in a maze and the team that can use their surroundigs to their advantage is the winner. Even with fast rushing action and dizzying surroundings one doesn't feel confused of the narrative and can easily catch the storyline, a sign of good directing and filmaking.

I like how in both BC freedom and the Chihatan match we are more focused on the opponents characters, not Oorai. We follow through BC and Chihatan as they go about their plan. We see the battle in their eyes more so than from the Oorai girls. It's quite refreshing as we get to know more of these characters than the main team, who we are now quite familiar now.
We see more that Marie is the glue that keep peace with the two opposing factions of BC freedom. Her acrobatic skills are nothing to sneeze at.

Sadly, Shark team did'nt do to well in this episode. It shows their lack experience, much like Anteater team was in final episodes of the TV. Hopefully they would do well in the next movie. The MVP of the match today is Sodoko's Mallards, they're the first one to notice the ambush in the first movie and now they sow havok in the second film. They we're able to save team Hippo too in the second match.

Chihatan learns quite quickly from Oorai, thanks to Fukuda keeping airheaded Nishi and hot-headed other girls in check. It's always funny how they always try to do outdated WW1 tactics but still willing to try out the new "cowardly" modern tactics of tankery, but giving it a more "honorable" spin.

Again, a very enjoyable and exciting movie. Worth the long wait, if Actas can keep up the quality, all is right with world. Though being expeditious would be much appreciated.

Perplexing has been the word to describe the world of the Monogatari series, and perplexing is how this final story of the series is gonna be.

After a quick review of the different adventures our main protagonist have been through in his high-school life, he now finds himself graduated and in that crucial crossroad of life's waiting room of a doctors clinic. Waking up one day, Araragi ponders about this when he suddenly notices his reflection in the bathroom mirror to be somewhat disjointed to his person. Touching the mirror pulls him in inexplicably into it. He wokes up naturally in a world like his own ... where everything is inverted, even the other characters are different to their real world counterparts.
Now, before we go "Through the looking glass" kind of thing of a simple total inversion of this world to the other, there's more to it than just a simple reflection of our workd. Anyway, Araragi must work his way around this delimma.

I like the look of movie in the openning part. It mimics the style of the book illustration of the series. Sadly it reverted back it's default look throughout the rest of it. The Monogatari series is well known for it's nonsensical exercise of visual display and shifting shots, Zuko is no different. It's like the Airplane movie of visuals "Don't like that graphics?! Dont worry we have 100 different more."

Watching the movie with a limited Japanese is a trial of forbearance, especially it running at 2 and a half so running time. Most of the film are static talking heads, so I do suggest to those language impaired to wait for a good translation of the film to come out. There are a lot of delightful moments to be sure, but not enough throughout the film to keep out the monotony of the long languid moments.

In the end I find it an intriguing film. The looking glass aspect is sure present, but not in a superficial sense, more of a personal and introspective one to Araragi. We never get to see our true selves when we look at a mirror, only a skewed and dim version of what others can see. At the very end, the reflection Araragi see is right in front of him in the beginning.

Intriguing, yes. Fun, somewhat. Perplexing, most definitely, .... as it should be.

Liz to Aoi Tori,

First off, to those not familiar with the series Hibiki Euphorium, the movie can be viewed standalone without any knowledge of the said series, however, knowing the series and the various character in it brings an extra depth and enjoyment when viewing the movie.

The movie deals with the simple yet close relationship between two side characters in the main series and the storybook tale of the affrementioned title of the movie. Mizore is a quiet and shy character who we see in her seemingly daily routine of quietly coming to school early and wait on it's steps for her only friend Nozomi, ... a lively and chipper girl. The way they don't need to talk much to acknowlede the other tells us this is their usual way. Mizore plays the oboe, Nozomi plays the flute, both of them plays an important solo on the school's band.

Nozomi brought along a book that interest Mizore. The book is "Liz and the blue". As Mizore reads the story, she finds herself symphathizing to the lovely but very lonely Liz in the book, especially when Liz grew fond of a pretty blue that suddenly came by.

The movie's main theme about love and about growing up and about the things one must give up especially to those we truly love rings true on how both Mizore and Nozomi interpret the said fairy tail. Both girls are going into their third year and last year of high-school, they've been together for a long time as seen in the flashbacks. Nozomi is the cheerful and popular one, with lots of friends. Mizore, whose very talented in playing the oboe is rather the introvert, wouldnt even bother to help her junior in the club to play their instrument without much prodding. We get to know more of the two with film's leasurely pace and unusually bright but flat artwork while juxtaposing it to Liz's colorful sorta Ghibli-esque watercolor wash. Both of the girls had their peaceful day on the sun, but sadly everything must come to an end like all good fairytale. A precious time in their life's chapter must come to bittersweet conclusion in order to move on to next chapter in their lives, sadly like the blue bird, each have a different path they must fly too. To have the strenght to let go of the other is probably hardest thing one can do. There lies the drama of Liz and the blue bird.

The film's quite different in look and tone of the main series. I for one like the more angular flat design of the film. It presents the characters in a more direct, less enhanced look. There's still the usual quirks by Kyoani and director Yamada in the film like the constant use of rack-focus on the characters close-up face, the quirky running that the girls do... Though I don't see thue usual cutting the characters mouth kind of framing that they used to do.

The film is quite engaging. Some people might get bored at the film's slow pacing and a rather uneventful drama, but the leasurely pace let me breath in more the films atmosphere and setting, it get's me more to emphathize with the movie's two protagonist, as well as showing the series main charcters in a new light.

Once again this film is one of those you either love it or hate it. The points that one considers weakness in the story or plot are also considered it's strenght to some. It's quite hard to point a finger into it's construction without exposing one's bias to either one.

This movie's tank battle is a fight for honor.

Momo is the center of this story. No save the school this time.

First off from the start of a new opening sequence it's quite clear that this 6 part movie is meant to be the new 12 episode second season. With a new season comes with new characters and new tanks and new tounament, but let's save that for later. That being said the movie indeed felt like a two parter episode. The production values are not as grand as "Der Film" but it's still very good. Besides the somewhat noticeable 3D Miho in the opening prologue ... the CGI used in the film is still quite impressive, especially showing the vast pastoral landscape of quasi-French rural area.

The movie is truly enjoyable. Every minute is so fun to watch that time passes very quickly. The movie is much better than the battle with Anzio. We can see that Marie is a more crafty person than what the previews would led us to believe and BC team are a much more formidable team.

It's a sheer enjoyment to watch. Everything clicks with the pacing, the funny rapporteur with the characters, the ever expansive world building and the great setup of things to come. But, then it became a big disappointment. I'll state why on the spoilers in the Forum, but I was disappointed at the end and it's got nothing to do with the quality of the film. No, the film is stellar. The makers haven't lost their touch in delivering a great story nor did they lost their creative juices in this. The characters are quite refreshing to see again, along with their usual antics.The film is pack with gimmicks, tricks and homages to other films but one doesn't get to feeling that it's forced or contrived. Yukari's clandestine filming of the rival BC team is hilarious. The new characters are a good addition to the cast, as well as a good foil to the bubbly cuties of the Rabbit team. The ED sequence "Enter enter mission!" is even sung with a naval tune to go with the new characters personas.

Yes, I was disappointed with the movie for different reasons but I also enjoyed it so much that I watched it thrice. Maybe it's my GuP fan partiality, but I really really really... can't wait for movie 2.

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4/14/18 update:

Since, the BD/Dvd is out for while now I can finally say why I'm disappointed in the film, it's because of the Cliffhanger at the end.

When I came out of the theater I can see in everyone's silent faces what they're thinking when the sad reality dawn on them "That is such a good and enjoyable movie!!! but damn, it'll be probably be months or even a year we get to see how they beat BC Freedom in part 2."

Sadly, still no word on Movie 2.:(