Story 10: Wow. I think the best thing about this movie is, it shows you only snippets of each year, of each summer, but you already feel that you know what happened for those two months of hot sun. You only see about 40 minutes of their precious time together, but in that short bit of time, you'll find yourself rooting for them. And even if you'll know, unconciously or not, how the movie will end, you find yourself wishing that it doesn't happen. And the surprising thing is, when that inevitable happens, you cry, your heart breaks, but you know it was for the best.
ART: Background details were priceless, but I think the character's themselves, would have used more work. They are good enough, when their faces are up close. However, when the camera moves farther away, some details that matter (Blush, tears), don't appear clearly anymore.
CHARACTER: The two main characters are Gin and Hotaru. Hotaru starts out as a six year old, and in the course of the anime, matures into a beautiful woman. Her character is well displayed, that cheerful, bubbly personality. The anime was consistent on displaying this attributes of hers. Also, when the time came that Hotaru was away from Gin, the movie successfully brought her to this vacant and distracted phase, while not bringing her away from her main identity. Whenever she snapped out of her reveries, the old Hotaru always pops out. However, the best character portrayed in the movie, was Gin. Throughout most of the movie, he wears his Spirit mask, and this would have been a barrier in the display of his emotions. Here is where the saying "action speaks louder than words" greatly come into display. With the help of the voice actor's emotions, and the characters actions in itself, you can almost see the face behind Gin's mask. His constant smirk as he watches Hotaru's embaraced face; his pleasantly surprised face as he recieves her gift; and the way he smiles when they go on their date.
SOUND: Sound, elevated the mood--not only the emotions, but brought me to the scene themselves. The constant ringing of cicadas and the dry padding of footsteps brought me to the summer, and the eerie silence and gusts of wind made me shiver in december. Also, the music pieces, played in just the right moments, just welled up inside me.
ENJOYMENT: There are no fighting scenes here, no moments that leave you biting your nails, no dragging moments of climax, but still you end the movie with a satisifed( though somewhat heavy,) heart, knowing you've watched a movie you won't soon forget.
(Not that it matters, but this is my first ever review :"l So please be kind, maybe?)
