Ranked #9

Kara no Kyoukai 7: Satsujin Kousatsu (Part 2)

Kara no Kyoukai review Part 7.

There's an old aphorism about saving the best till last, and Kara no Kyoukai ~The Garden of Sinners~ has done just that.

The seventh, and final, movie in the franchise doesn't simply follow the events of the second movie, but uses threads from several previous stories. The second part of Satsujin Kousatsu (Murder Speculation), takes place in February 1999, one month after the events in Oblivion Recording, and more than three years after the first part.

This time around it seems the serial killer from part one is back, and as the bodies are found one by one, Mikiya Kokuto searches for answers as he continues to believe Ryougi Shiki was not responsible for the murders in the first part, and that she is innocent of the crimes commited now. Meanwhile, Shiki prowls the dark alleys night after night....

One thing that really sets this movie apart from the rest of the series is that the plot is much tighter and more flowing than in most of the previous outings. There is also a conscious effort to tie up some of the loose ends left over the course of the series, and while there are still several unanswered questions left over from previous movies, the movie does manage to offer some catharsis in respect of Shiki and Kokuto's relationship.

That said, the writing isn't perfect. There are still some plot points that remain unanswered, and while they may not have a major impact on this movie per se, they do leave one feeling that the overall story is a little incomplete. Also, the dialogue suffers from an abundance of intelligence as every character can philosphise their actions in some manner, and this can make the movie feel a little arrogant at times, even though this is probably unintentional.

In terms of looks this is right up there with the best in the series. Ufotable have, once again, pulled out all the stop for this finale, and it shows. The characters move with an animal grace that is rare to see, and the overall animation is stunning in it's quality and choreography. The opening credit seuqence is particularly noteworthy as it shows great imagination, as well as some stunning techniques that will hopefully appear in more anime. As for the movie proper, there are some fantastic lighting effects throughout which add a more ominous atmosphere to much of the story, especially when used alongside the often dark, dank backgrounds and settings. That said, there are occasions where the lighting is a little off (for example, characters are easily distinguishable in areas where there is no readily available light source), however this is a minor gripe as the majority of the movie is the most atmospheric and well animated episode in the franchise.

The sound is another area where the movie excels, and it's only because of a few minor flaws that I didn't score this section a ten. The cast are at their best in this episode, and their experience with the characters, especially Kokuto (Suzumura Kenichi), and Shiki (Sakamoto Maaya), really does shine through. In terms of effects, this is probably the best movie by far, with each sound being clear and distinguishable. The real triumphthough, is the music.

In the simplest terms, Satsujin Kousatsu Part 2 is one of the most well choregraphed anime I have ever seen when it comes to animation and music, and the choice of tracks is nothing short of inspired. The music for the opening sequence is a choral, hymn-like track which perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the movie. The song featured at the end of the movie is very much a bittersweet ballad which also seems to fit the feel of the movie come the end. As for the thematic music, this is where the choreography really shines. The tracks have a generally dark feel to them (this is a dark story after all), however their usage throughout the movie can sometimes leave on speechless.

As for the characters, this is by far and away the best movie of the series. One of the issues that the Kara no Kyoukai franchise has had is that the characters are often underdeveloped in terms of the plot, however this issue has finally bee put to rest, and what a way to do it. The introduction of Shirazumi Lio is the one thing that forces both Kokuto and Shiki to grow as characters, as his presence in the movie casts a pall over every aspect of every story in the franchise.

The franchise makes the effort to portray Souren Araya as the main "bad guy", and his goals may be the drivers for many of the events in the story, but he never affected Kokuto and Shiki in the way that Lio does. It's his actions in the movie that cause Kokuto to "get off his backside" for once, and push Shiki to the edge of reason. As a character, Lio is also noteworthy for the great amount of characterisation that has gone into him. He is a complete character from start to finish, and while there is virtually no development on his part, he honestly doesn't need it.

To be perfectly frank, I found this to be the best installment in the series, and while it is somewhat more graphic than other episodes, this only serves to improve one's understanding of the characters and events (as opposed to simply being graphic in order to be "cool"). A case in point is one particular interaction between Lio and Shiki, which while being rather sexually charged, is more reminiscent of a child pulling the wings off a fly. It's this emphasis on improving the viewer's understanding of the characters that really sets the movie apart though, especially as this is what has been lacking for most of the series.

If you're a fan of the series, or of TYPE-MOON, then you should really watch this movie. As a standalone it holds it's own against many other releases, but with it being part of a series the movie is raised to a whole new level, however to fully appreciate this one would have to watch the rest of the series first.

That said, I'm more than pleased with how the series has closed off and, given that I'm pretty hard to please these days, that's saying something. read more

This is the final and possibly best installment of the series Kara no Kyoukai: The Garden of Sinners. I would like to mention before I begin that you have a minimal knowledge of the previous movies in the series, or else this may spoil the greatness for you. Let me also say, I have not read the novels, for in a way, I wanted to savor the animation and suspense these movies bring. And boy am I glad I did. When I finished this anime, I was taken back for a moment. It's one of those few anime miracles that occur, a deep breath, an awkward sigh, and then followed by a short reminiscence of what you just spent two hours watching. The sequencing, the characters, the animation, the sound, all astounding. Subtly tying the entire series together, almost nothing is left unexplained - while many questions remain.

Story: 10/10
The story wraps up what the other six movies manage to establish - an awesome gut-wrenching plot that really shifts your way of thinking. Now I can't really say anything because I don't want to spoil the movie, but this movie really does it right. The character you saw for a brief moment during the end of the fifth movie appears, playing a major role. But what really makes this anime different in the story telling department is (and this is why I love it) not the solid plot itself, but the details that surround it. A minor phrase can inadvertently change how the story progresses, or a scene that occurred a few movies earlier can really influences what happens.

Now about the seventh movies story. Shiki and Mikiya's love is really held high here, seeing as it is the final and climactic movie. The time is also set as the furthest set time to date, which was threw me for a loop because since this movie was called "Murder Speculation (Second Half)" I thought it would be a direct sequel to the second movie. It is in fact not, and explains what happened shortly after the second movie through flashbacks. The fight scenes are as always, top-notch. The 'other Shiki' is explained in this movie, for up until now the idea of 'another Shiki' (SHIKI) seemed rather abstract. As I said before I can't say too much about the story, seeing as it would ruin the suspense.

Art: 10/10
The art and animation are far beyond any anime, rivaling 5/Centimers Per Second. The fighting scenes are so high tension that you can't help but move a little in your seat every time the camera switches angles. Ufotable, which also worked on Eve no Jikan and Pale Cocoon uses the same kind of art style, so if you liked those you should also like the way this anime looks. Some moments of animation are just jaw-dropping. In a scene where Shiki is lying down the camera pulls forward, pulses blue, pulls back a little and continues to zoom in. It may be hard to visualize in your head but this one scene was so intense I move closer to my computer screen, as if the anime was drawing me in. The chiaroscuro used in this anime really enhances the overall experience. The horror scenes in this anime are too, really disturbing, not because of the what is happening but how it is presented (an anime that does not truly excel here is the original Hellsing, where what is happening is creepy, but without proper animation it seems to lack the oomph Kara no Kyoukai has). No 3D elements or CG can be scene although the way this is animated makes it feel as if another dimension exists between the two, the movements of characters, vehicles, and even magic are so realistic it's fascinating.

Sound: 10/10
Not much to be said about the sound other than it too, is stellar. The opening song really creepy. I started drawing short breaths when it was finished, it fitted this anime quite well and it matched the animation to a T. The background music is creepy in its own, quiet, way. It plays as light filler in the background for when the fighting scenes start, building suspense all the while. The sounds of the cars, the rain, the sound of knives clashing with one another - all superb. It's like your really standing in front of a knife fight (that is without worrying for your life). The voice acting, too, is done really well, the voices fit the characters well and are executed without problems (I'd say more but I'm not an expert on VA). The ending song like all Kara No Kyoukai ending songs, fits the movie well, using lyrics that actually relate to what you just saw.

Character: 10/10
The characters reach a climax in this movie. All that you knew and didn't know about them meets here. Mikiya begins to reveal his love for Shiki, and you see him in a new, darker light. You'll find yourself asking "Is this the same guy from the second movie, or what?" the change is quite apparent. Shiki and her counterpart SHIKI's motives are explained and the view you have of her will also change from the beginning to end of this movie. I do digress that Araya had less of a role than in previous movies, seeing as he was such an interesting character, I wish they made more use of him. He does appear but doesn't say much. The new character, Lio, was briefly shown in earlier movies, but is revealed as Shiki's "stalker". He is a pivotal character that explains a lot of what happened in the second movie which was essentially the catalyst for the entire series. Once again, if I say too much, it'll be ruined.

Enjoyment: 10/10
By God! If you're still reading, you should know that I harbor a deep love for this series, these characters, and this movie! What an incredible experience. There was not a single moment that I didn't enjoy this movie. Now you're probably thinking "Well because yeah, you were having a freaking orgasm the whole time just by staring at the animation", and essentially, you could say I was. I'm writing this to heavily suggest you watch these movies. I want to you, the reader, to want to watch this, not because it's gimmicky, or all the cool kids are watching it (but they are) but because it's simply amazing.

Overall: 10/10
Masterpiece.

Closing note: This is my first review, and I'm writing it because I feel that more people should know about this anime. My review may sound pretentious (which my writing may be, but not this movie) and over-exaggerated but it really isn't. This is truly one of the great anime epics, holding its own with Legend of the Galactic Heroes and Monster. read more