Story: 10
Okay, so I get that it's a slice of life movie and there isn't much to the story, but I think that, while it doesn't start where the series ended, it was known by viewers of the series that HTT would be going to abroad and I feel as if all the misadventures the gang gets into with the sushi place, impromptu concert, and follow the leader in no way take away the emotional resonance that most of the movie tries to deliver when elaborating upon the intentions of HTT in writing Tenshi ni Fureta Yo for Azusa. What I found particularly engaging was Yui's struggle over what kind of song HTT should write Azusa, wanting to write something of absolutely epic scale, only to realize, later than the rest of the group, that what they usually did was just fine. The song they wrote paid heavy homage to almost all of the recognizable songs they had made like, Fuwa Fuwa Time, Rice is a Side Dish, and the most primary inspiration: U & I. (Don't believe me? Listen to U&I and Fureta Yo in quick succession.) A quick comment I'd like to make on the end of the movie when HTT is singing Fureta Yo, instead of having the very emotional and intimate experience of watching HTT perform in real time, like we were in the series, we are instead treated to a flashback-slideshow of both HTT's experience of having Azusa in their lives and writing the song for Azusa and practicing it. This is fine and even furthers the thematic goal of going into the intentions behind Fureta since instead of experiencing for the first time, like we were with Azusa in the series, we are instead watching it after being informed on the struggles of the group to get it just right and are shown how THEY experience it for the first time, which I think is absolutely GENIUS on the part of KyoAni. There is more to talk about on the story of this film I just feel as if these are the underappreciated nuggets of gold that are overlooked by passive or first time viewers.
Anyway...Art, Sound, and Characters: 10
They are pretty much the same as the series besides the rendezvous in the London setting, which I'm told was done accurately.
Enjoyment: 10
I'd say that if you have seen the series and would like to watch the movie it might be helpful to do so with the things, no matter how little actually it has to do with the movie, I have laid out in mind. (And yes, I am aware of how arrogant that sounds!) If you want to rewatch it, you really should, it stands up.
Overall: 10
Look I'm not going to pretend to be an Otaku Gonzo Journalist or anything, or even an otaku, (At least until I've watched Eva) but I know quality when I see it. If that doesn't convince you, then I wasn't very helpful...
