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Mar 21, 2022
This review may contain spoilers, read at your own risk.
Before I start this review I just want to state that I have not read the manga, and that this review is based purely on the movie adaptation. I realise that not reading the manga beforehand means I most likely do not 'fully comprehend' the context, history and motivations of certain characters, but like I said, this review will focus on the movie as it is, a standalone from other adaptations.
Story
Reincarnation is a fascinating subject, combined with Buddhism's perspective of karma, and you have an interesting combination of the two; especially when it's used as a
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plot device to further the story or a character's development. Sadly however, 'Houou-hen', does not adequately portray this plot device as much as I hoped it would. We're introduced to the 'Phoenix', the embodiment of reincarnation and overseer of karmic retribution, yet the all too convenient timings of its appearance honestly lessen the impacts of certain events in the story. For example, a certain character being visited by the 'Phoenix' to motivate them to do their duty for whatever banal reasoning is a pretty lame way to move the plot forward.
The story for the most part was easy to follow, however, it just was not as engaging as I thought it would be. There are constant time skips and we're not given enough background information on our two protagonists to really comprehend their situations.
Characters
The 'Phoenix' is portrayed as an enigmatic, awe-inspiring deity, however, the motivations or should I say, judgements handed down by the 'Phoenix' followed no reasonable or logical reasoning. I realise that this story is a take on Buddhist beliefs of reincarnation and karma, but I honestly could not understand any of the reasonings behind certain decisions of the 'Phoenix'. To illustrate, we have a character who's possibly killed dozens or hundreds of innocent people, why? Who knows, the movie does not go into depth, but because of a certain incident with his lover (who might I add, he raped and captured her), he all of a sudden has a change of heart and goes on some sort of 'disillusioned pilgrimage' to change his ways. All the while, we are made to feel sympathetic towards this scumbag of a character, while on the opposite end, we have our second protagonist, a wood carver who by all regards is literally just a normal person with normal aspirations but instead the movie paints him out to be a villain lmao.
As I am not a Buddhist, I do not fully comprehend the cause and effect of the karma system, however, I do realise that the moral or theme this movie tries to portray is that no matter how many wrong deeds one has committed, there will always be a way for them to repent? Or maybe not, because as I recall in the movie, when the 'Phoenix' is talking to Gaou, our reformed mass murderer, it informs him that he will "suffer eternal pain, sadness, and hate for all eternity" despite him already changing his ways. As for our second protagonist, the woodcarver, he is reborn into a "small fish" lmao just because he didn't follow his original dream of finding the 'Phoenix' and because he outed the mass murderer for being well, a mass murderer.
All in all, I fail to see any sort of deep meaning or message behind the movie. If repentance gets you nowhere, then why even bother, and if a momentary lapse in moral judgement dooms you for eternity, then I guess we're all doomed. The only take away from this I can really surmise is that the 'Phoenix' is an all around dick to everyone.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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Mar 11, 2022
I remember wanting to watch this movie many years ago as a teenager, but constantly getting side-tracked by other things. Now as an adult in my mid 20s, I can finally cross this movie off my 'to watch list'. I'm not going to get too much into the nitty gritty of the story and characters, but rather, their emotional journeys. Fair warning, I do tend to kind of ramble on but bear with me here.
'5 Centimeters Per Second' when compared to other contemporary romance or drama animes stands out as being unsurprisingly for lack of a better word, 'dull', or even unsurprisingly 'predictable'. However,
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it is because of this predictability that a story like this is able to truly showcase the realism of romance, relationships, first love, cynicism, indecisiveness, and perhaps even the yearning for a better future or at least an outcome better than yesterday's?
What most viewers fail to realise while watching this is that this is a story centred on the emotional experiences of our characters; romance isn't what this story is meant to portray, but rather, how the characters centre their emotional experiences around each other. I know that may sound confusing, but really, what it means is that while romance does play a large part in each characters' motivations, the main focus is on how each character is able to drive their plot points and character growths forward through the interpretation of their own emotional experiences. For Takaki, his emotional experience or goal was centred on his own perceived 'romantic' fantasy about Akari. Akari was his first love, and I imagine, to someone as reserved as Takaki, Akari was akin to his soulmate, however, reality is often disappointing, in that in this scenario the phrase "right person at the wrong time" undoubtedly holds true.
I'm sure many of us can relate to that saying in our past relationships, e.g., first love in our youths which made it seem as if we were on top of the world, only for reality to come crashing down and force us to realise the helplessness of our inability to really change anything because of our youthful circumstances. In Takaki's case, his inability or rather, the circumstances regarding his helplessness in pushing his relationship further with Akari meant that his emotional growth and experiences have effectively stagnated, not just with Akari, but altogether. Just as one might become frustrated with an unfinished story, the lack of any sort of closure in Akari and Takaki's relationship means that all of the emotional experiences they've shared and built up together have basically just been put on hold indefinitely. In Takaki's case, unable to accept the bleak reality, his lingering attachment to his first love has turned into an emotional anchor from which he cannot ever let go of, and that despite attempts from other romantic interests (Kanae), his emotional experiences/growth cannot ever hope to match theirs because as I wrote earlier, his emotional anchor is still stuck on his first love.
Takaki is a tragic but all too common case of someone that cannot get over their first love. It's natural to reminisce about one's first relationship, the feelings of euphoria and joy, as well as lament the emotional feelings of their first break-up (sadness, anger, guilt, dejection, and inevitable loneliness). These emotional experiences and feelings push us further to seek out similar experiences, and in both Akari and Takaki's case, you either sink or swim. While Takaki was emotionally stuck on the fantasy of his first love, Akari was able to seemingly move past her emotional anchor to Takaki and as a result, further her own emotional growth.
The movie does a good job of contrasting the innocence of youth and the cynical reality of adulthood. To quote Takaki in his childhood when he first kisses Akari, “In that moment, I felt like I knew where eternity, our hearts and our souls all lay”, and when he's an adult, "Through the act of living itself, sadness piles up here and there.". The inability to move on and entertain delusions of alternate scenarios in one's head of "what ifs", especially in Takaki's case, has meant that he has emotionally closed himself off from the outside world, unwilling and blind to the emotions of others, he instead wanders around aimlessly looking for what he has once lost.
A lot of this really hits home personally, the awkward yet euphoric feeling of a first kiss/relationship, enjoying every bit of the moment even though you know the reality of the future, and of course, the inevitable first heart break of your life. Being so much younger back then, it felt as if my world came crashing down, "what was it all for?", "what a waste of time", "I'm never gonna get over this", everything was much simpler back then. As I've gotten older however, the trials and expectations of adulthood have thoroughly worn me down as an individual, and as a result, I find it harder to be more emotionally invested in anything. So watching this movie has really allowed me to reflect on the emotional experiences that I've had throughout my adolescence up until now. That as long as we're able to move past our emotional anchors of the past, only then can we truly experience the joy of emotional growth.
"The overwhelming weight of our lives to come, and the uncertainty of time hung over us"
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Sep 27, 2021
Battle game in 5 seconds? more like I should've dropped this in 5 seconds.
Seriously, this show was absolutely mediocre in nearly every aspect. I don't really want to get into the nitty gritty of it, because most of the other reviews do a better job of it, so I'll just jot down some of the really irritating issues the show has.
From the get-go every character is a boring cliched stereotype, for example, Akira, the MC, is cold and calculating, he's your ideal loner, edgy "it's me against the world" character (like we've never seen that before). While he does have somewhat of a change of
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heart in the last episode, there really is no depth to the characters, especially side characters. The side characters are really just there to move the plot forward. I'll get to the plot in a second, but I just want to point out the cheap emotional tactics the show tries to pull on you towards Ichi and Kuroiwa, the two main antagonists towards the end. All of a sudden there are flashbacks and exposition on their "tragic" past that's meant to make us feel sad for these two scumbags, what a joke lol.
Plot wise, the introduction has everything thrown in your face but other than that initial exposure, it doesn't develop any further. The main plot point of who Mion and her organisation are doesn't really go anywhere and instead, it ignores the initial plot for subplots, i.e., the introduction of the third stage and numerous other subplots. By introducing all these other subplots and characters you get further and further away from the actual storyline.
One other issue I have with the show are the characters designs. The visuals are already mediocre, but even the characters' appearances are stereotypes, you have the bad guys looking like well, your typical bad guys, and so on and so forth. There really wasn't much thought into adding any sort of artistic flair to the character designs, as a result, everyone looks plain and uninspired.
CGI, especially towards the last episodes became downright hilarious. The CGI went all janky and stiff during fight scenes that I had to pause for a second just to calm myself down from laughing too much.
Honestly, the premise of the show is interesting, especially Akira's power, but the way the show went about it ruined the whole experience. Really though, it's not a show to take seriously or waste any sort of brainpower on, instead, just watch it with your mind turned off and I'm sure you'll have a blast.
Also, Mion's voice is incredibly annoying, she sounds like a dying cat.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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Aug 26, 2021
I know I'm pretty late to this series, even though I was a weekly viewer when it was releasing, I, unfortunately, had to put it on hold because IRL obligations took over. I won't ramble on for too long in this review, so I'll just give my honest opinions on what I liked and didn't like.
Story: 4/10
Honestly, the story was all over the place, I mean yes, there was a clear end goal, but it just went about it very messily. There were numerous plot holes and unexplained stories throughout of which I'll get further into detail. First off, time travel, which I am not
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a big fan of in this case, as it was just used as a deus ex machina plot device in the last episodes to 'neatly' wrap things up. Time travel was also barely explained and elaborated upon, which left a bitter taste in my mouth, the writers were definitely lazy in this regard. Also, there was barely any explanation on Kakitani and how he was able to transfer his consciousness into an AI, as well as how he received technology from the 'future' (revelation from heaven). Not to mention the mind-numbing amounts of time skips.
Other than the obvious plotholes and whatnot, there was barely any deeper meaning behind the reasoning of the AI's revolt. It was simply a "the human race is unfit for evolution, therefore, we, the AIs, will now take over". Vivy's decision to make her own song was apparently the 'catalyst' for the AIs revolting? But, that's never really expanded upon. Many organisations, characters, and their agendas are barely expanded upon. Organisations like Toak or the scientists that created the AI archive are never expanded upon, they're just used as convenient plot devices and roadblocks.
When you bring up issues of power, control, AI servitude/autonomy, and what it means to be 'alive', I'm expecting deep philosophical concepts that'll come into play, this, sadly, was not shown at all. Everything was just so shallow and superficial.
Art/Sound: 10/10
No surprise here, the art and sound absolutely carried this show. Some people might disagree with the idol genre of music, I, however, enjoy it very much and find that it very much fits the tone of the show. Animation is probably one of the smoothest I've seen in a very long time and the character designs are breathtaking. Seriously, Vivy's character design, especially in a few scenes are wallpaper-worthy.
Character: 5/10
Most of the side characters were very shallow, while yes, there were flashbacks of their past, none of that really matters when you only see them for 2-3 episodes. Most of the side characters are merely plot devices for the story, there's no real essence or substance to their being. Vivy for example, her original personality is quite plainly, boring, obviously, she's an AI, but her second persona after the first reboot is a much better version of her, but for the sake of the 'plot' we only get to experience her for only 2-3 episodes before we're given the old, boring Vivy back. I don't really want to ramble on for too long, but basically, it was very hard to really become emotionally attached to any of the characters at all.
Enjoyment: 7/10
Despite the very mediocre story, I did enjoy watching the show. The plot was an absolute trainwreck, but I did enjoy the dialogue of Matsumoto and Vivy (her 2nd personality) throughout, and of course, the amazing visuals and sound design.
Overall: 8/10
Honestly, I would have given the show a much lower score, but the visuals and sound design are just insanely good. I mostly judge shows on how well they pull on my heartstrings, Vivy, sadly, failed to do so, but I will give props to the art and sound design.
The opening song ''Sing My Pleasure" is also an absolute banger, not once did I skip the opening :)
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jun 23, 2021
Surprisingly, I quite enjoyed this anime. Despite it being a generic "VR isekai" anime with a realism plot twist-filled with cliches/tropes galore, it has a certain charm to it, a new take on the old that in my opinion is very enjoyable.
The story is a bit all over the place, but honestly, what really makes it for me are the interactions between characters. Interactions between Reona and Hiro have made me burst out laughing a few times and these two are really the dynamic duo of the show. Each character is basically an archetype taken to the extreme, but it's done in a way where
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each character has their own standing within the show that differentiates them from the rest, e.g., Mizarisa and Alicia, both are crazy but very distinct in their own ways.
The MC, Hiro, is at times irritating with the decisions he makes, but in the context of certain situations, a lot of them actually make sense. Hiro isn't some OP shonen protagonist (the last episode begs to differ), so he often has no choice but to go with the flow of events. I honestly quite liked how they depicted his past trauma as a reason for his meekness, it adds another layer of motivation for the MC to work harder and improve. I appreciated the character development of Hiro (although it was rushed), whereby in the beginning he's bothered by his past trauma but eventually moves past it and finds his own reason to keep going.
Everyone's complaining about the side characters and their motivations, i.e, Tesla, Mizarisa, Alicia and so on. However, what they forget is that the show doesn't revolve around them, it revolves around Hiro and how he deals with them.
Despite the last episode literally turning Hiro into some OP shounen protagonist, I was thoroughly satisfied with the ending. This show obviously shouldn't be taken seriously so don't expect anything master class, but for what it is, it was quite an enjoyable weekly watch.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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May 31, 2021
Whew, 2021, I know I'm late to this anime but I randomly had one of its OSTs recommended to me on youtube and decided to check out the anime.
Amazing is all I can say/write, I have not felt this much emotion from an anime in a very long time (maybe it's because I don't have much time to watch anime anymore, haha).
My head is still wracked from the buildup and ending, so I apologise if my thoughts are all over the place. I'm an absolute sucker for sad, bittersweet endings so I am absolutely biased in this regard.
I went into this anime with zero expectations;
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I know that it's an adaptation of a VN but never got the chance to play it.
The anime's beginning is quite slow and doesn't really start to ramp up until later, but man oh man is it worth it. If we're talking story, then there are two aspects to it; the beginning that sees the formulation of the band is the first, but it's merely a plot device to highlight the real story, the romance. The romance is a complex web of lies, selfishness, and miscommunication on each characters' behalf, but really, that's what makes it so good, because it captures the self-centredness of what it means to be a high schooler in love. This 'romance' encapsulates each characters' agendas, motivations, backstories, and most importantly, their reasonings, all of which are perfectly portrayed and explained.
It is very easy to empathise with all three main characters, but it is also quite easy to become frustrated with many of their actions, such as Haruki instantly accepting Setsuna's confession despite his doubts (dick move), Setsuna constantly emphasising the importance of their friendship despite being aware that she forced her feelings onto Haruki, and Touma for not speaking up at all about her feelings. These are just a few examples but you get my point, despite this, however, all of their actions are what makes it all the more real and heartbreaking, because there are layers to each of their personalities as characters.
In short, Haruki is a people pleaser and goes with the flow, however, he slowly but surely grows a pair and decides what he wants. Setsuna is selfish, yet honest, her insistence that all three stay friends is guilt on her part for taking Haruki away from Touma. She means well, but, she just ends up hurting herself even more. Touma is in the same boat as Setsuna, because of her standoffish personality she ends up hurting herself even more (despite winning in the end), but, it's revealed that underneath her cold exterior, she is fragile and pitiful, basically just Setsuna on the inside. These aren't criticisms of the anime, however, instead, these are what make the anime such a masterpiece of melodramatic high school romance.
One of the most memorable scenes that has stuck with me is after the graduation ceremony, wherein Setsuna informs Haruki that Touma had just left. The absolute panic and desperation Haruki felt as he was searching for Touma was heartwrenching. How Takeya grabs Haruki's shoulder as he's about to search for her and the defeated look Setsuna gives him as he momentarily turns around before regrettably running off is a melodramatic masterpiece. That one very scene symbolised how fragile Setsuna and Haruki's relationship was, how fragmented Haruki''s and Setsuna's state of mind and feelings were, and how the whole relationship was a facade to begin with.
Story: 9/10 (Slow start, but it's definitely worth it)
Art: 7/10 (Understandable, however, as it is an early 2010s anime)
Sound: 10/10 (From the OP, ED, and BGM, everything just fit so well)
Character: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Overall: 10/10 Wish my love life was just as melodramatic and bittersweet as this :'(
This anime has convinced me to play the visual novel, which I heard is even more heartwrenching and tear-inducing (wish me luck).
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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May 31, 2021
Much more of a slow-burn type of show, however, I do appreciate the 'realism' and slow-paced nature. Aside from Haruto and Komiya, many of the cast aren't overly loud or boisterous, so when it comes to the topic of romance and dating, this becomes very frustrating.
Honestly, this whole show was just a back and forth of miscommunication and passivity, and that's what makes the show so irritating, if only the protagonists (Eita and Mio) had just been frank with each other then it wouldn't have dragged on for so long; anime logic for you, though.
In terms of dating compatibility, Eita and Mio are definitely
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much more practical, however, they both lack any sort of chemistry onscreen. This lack of chemistry makes it hard for me as a viewer to support them at all. This one-sided notion of love/crushing is just so toxic and laughable. Terrible compatibility between the two, Komiya and Eita are much more suited for each other.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Apr 12, 2021
I remember watching this when it first came out in 2016. I was very much younger back then and did not fully appreciate the message of the show. Feeling a sense of nostalgia, I decided to rewatch this show, and to my shock, I do not understand how I could have ever written off this show as being a plain-old slice of life anime.
The message or overall theme of the show I feel is society and its expectations of individuals. By this, I mean the dominating almost suffocating hold of expectations society expects of each and every one of us. These expectations have such
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an adverse effect on our lives that we are forced to conform, regardless of our individualities and personal desires. Our main protagonist is a clear-cut example of this, trauma from his past, unable to cope with the demands expected of him from society at large, he is then pushed into a corner mentally and physically.
However, what this show does to turn our protagonist's situation around is provide him with a convenient life rope to bail him out of his predicament; convenient, not that it's a bad thing, but it's essential to the plot itself. Although, not explicitly stated, slowly, but surely, our protagonist relearns to find himself again, his individuality, his goals, his desires and his own personal reason to continue moving forward. In essence, this show deals with themes of personal growth, healing and change (the self and others).
I first watched this show when I was much younger, and now, of course, I am much older. These past four years of my life have changed who I am as a person; who I was back then is not who I am now. This might seem presumptuous, but this anime really made me realise the importance of one's own past, learning from it and being able to let go of aspects that hold you back.
In short, I feel that the older you are, the more you'll be able to resonate with this anime. Because as we grow older we tend to self-reflect more and pile up our regrets, this anime deals with many of those issues we experience in our lives and does a pretty good job of it.
It isn't the be-all-end-all type of anime, but it definitely does have its deep, introspective moments, which I wholeheartedly appreciate.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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