Kidou Senshi Gundam SEED Freedom

Best of the SEED series by far.

This movie made me really like the SEED franchise.
The first SEED was too similar to the original Gundam for my taste. SEED Destiny felt like an improvement, until it turned the protagonist into the villain. SEED Freedom does not have any of these problems.

Story:
The story is simple but it does its job. Kira and Lacus are the heroes in the end, but they are neither annoying nor preachy. They managed to introduce powerful, worthy villains in a natural way.

Characters:
This is where SEED Freedom shines. I felt that Kira was not relatable and Lacus was preachy in ... the previous SEED entries. However, here, they are humanized and Kira is shown to have actual flaws. Also, Shin and Luna-Maria are given many moments to shine as well as Athrun.

Action:
Despite the action being CGI, I felt it was really good. It was definitely more natural and fluid than THE ORIGIN. Also, it has some fan favorite mobile suits return and have their time in the spotlight that they always deserved.

Conclusion:
IF you don’t like SEED, watch this movie. It is far better than the other two entries in this series. It will change your mind about SEED. If you like SEED, also watch this movie. It’s amazing and is now one of my top 5 Gundam works along with the original, zeta, IBO and Hathaway. I really have no complaints. Long live SEED.

A gundam seed movie truly written with love for the series. With many of the recent gundam series they felt different almost not gundam like but this movie was definitely different, it not only was unmistakably gundam but screamed the themes of gundam seed.

Many references to both gundam seed and gundam seed destiny were included in the movie so a rewatch prior to watching the movie is recommended.

The art for the most part was actually quite good and even the weird lips that Lacus has were easily tuned out with so much great art surrounding it.

the pacing was very fast with much of what would ... be considered huge focal points if this was a television show and not a movie just glossed over.

If i had only one complaint for the movie it would be how the Voice actor for cagalli was changed. Shindo Naomi (original VA in seed and destiny) did decline the role but no one can replace her as she did such a superb job voicing Cagalli. Nanako Mori (New VA in seed freedom) did try but ultimately was not able to live up to the role.

Kira Yamato and Lacus Clyne : The Movie.
Also lips : the movie.

If you like these 2 characters then you will like the movie. I like these 2 as couple but I like Cagali and Arthurn more.
The aspect I love the most especially in SEED is the interaction from these 2 couple, but this movie mostly revolves between Kira and Lacus.

Story & Plot.
Straight as an arrow. Barely even a plot twist. I believe straightforward story is great for the movie like the 1st season of tv series. Although there is massive plot hole then again, I remember this is SEED series, it meant to have giant ... plot hole. The wow factor of design and animation negate plot inconsistency as the tradition of the series.

Character & Character Design.
All the OG characters is back with their own design. The addition of the lips makes the characters more sensual.
The new character especially the villain is simple both in design and characteristic but flesh out enough to make an impact.
Personally I hate the CG FREEDOM design at start the movie, look so simple but then again the final FREEDOM make my dong hard.

Animation.
We all know SEED series is the golden child of Sunrise and for extend Bandai Namco(this is reaching).
Of course the animation especially the action scene is top tier. Despite all the Gundam, war ship and action is CG but hot damn it is beautiful. I tell you right now that I will certainly buy the BLU-RAY when it come out.

Sound & OST.
New song from T.M.Revolution and See-Saw. No complain. I always love the sound design and ost of the SEED series whether the OP, ED and OST. I love them all and still listening to it nowadays. Top score in this department.

Conclusion.
This movie mostly will not make new fan (if you like this movie then the tv series as a must) and certainly will not make SEED hater to like the series. I don't mind because Gundam SEED Series was the 1st mecha story that I fully watched so it has special place in my heart. Many anime fan bash SEED series as poor teenagers angst fantasy , cringe writing/plot , undeserved OP mc, too many deus ex machina and many more.
You know what , all that is why I love SEED series and consequently this movie too.
I am biased and nostalgic that why the score is high but again your childhood anime come back after long time , so who wouldn't?

This movie accomplishes so much in a two hour time-run, and has at no-point been unengaging. It does so much justice with the story left off from the end of SEED Destiny, by building up on what has already been established, as opposed to creating something completely different. Moreover, it explores the horrors that comes with segregating people based on genetics and skills, and the consequences it has on human and societal development.

As such, all the characters are written perfectly; even reamending characters that were previously despised in the last series to the point they are now beloved (Shinn Asuka). Both the music and animation ... is truly to be commended for as well, with iconic songs also being brought back in greater appreciation of the two preceding series. In addition to this, there are many great and comedic moments in the film that keeps the audience entertained throughout the whole run.

Everyone should take the opportunity to watch this amazing anime film in cinema, as its focus is so much more than just mecha action!

At long last the much-anticipated sequel to Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny has released and thankfully it was well worth the wait. Whilst I absolutely loved the original Gundam Seed as a modern remake/alternative version of the original Gundam, Gundam Seed Destiny was largely a letdown due to the shift to a far worse cast (Shinn) and a feeling that the old characters were getting purposefully dumbed down and discarded. Gundam Seed Freedom is to me Destiny done right.

Although a lot of the plot is a retread of the themes of Destiny, with the new villainous organisation entitled Foundation even aiming to carry ... out the Destiny Plan from that series, Sunrise made the right choice to this time squarely focus on the relationship between Lacus and Kira with the other characters coming secondary in importance. Due to this, the message of both Destiny and Freedom – that the individual must have the freedom to control their own destiny, rather than the government or their genes – is conveyed far more clearly and in keeping with what we know of the characters. Kira and Lacus are thereby allowed to make active plot advances and grow both separately and as a couple.

The other key focus of this film is love. The new characters Orphee Lam Tao and Agnes Giebenrath essentially act as the foils to Kira and Lunamaria, with Orphee seeing love as a purely pragmatic matter and Agnes using it to distract from her own insecurities. In contrast, the movie sends the message (through Lacus) that one should need the person they love rather than love the person they need; a rather simplistic yet poignant point that sums up much of this aspect of the movie. By the end, all of the couples we have come to care for get a moment to shine and connect, strengthening their relationships from the TV series quite satisfactorily.

Sunrise has once again kept up their high production levels with this film. Action scenes are as usual brilliantly dynamic and exciting, with excellent sound design creating a truly cinematic feel to the fighting. The music too is fantastic including epic orchestral pieces (some remixed from the TV series) and the return of T.M. Revolution and See-Saw for fitting new theme songs.

Even with so much to like, there are of course a few blemishes present in this film. Much of the melodramatic teenage angst that is present in Gundam Seed (and indeed most Gundam series) is back here, so those who find such characters frustrating will not be won over by Freedom. Additionally, the aforementioned similarity to Gundam Seed Destiny may leave some finding this film to be a little superfluous, although I do think the improvements to the structure and characters largely negate this issue. Fans of Athrun and Cagalli may also be disappointed to find these two lacking really any presence in this movie especially compared to their role in the past, however this too I think is a justifiable trade off in order to keep the focus on Lacus and Kira within the constraints of the 2-hour runtime.

Overall, I think Gundam Seed Freedom is a triumphant return which fixes much of the series past problems and confidently concludes (at least for now) one of Gundam’s most prominent series. If you already liked Seed, this movie will definitely be a fun and satisfying return to the Cosmic Era timeline, although it probably won't do much to win over new fans.