If you love this movie, you will most likely hate me for this review. Call me someone with a heart of ice, whatever you will. I am simply expressing my thoughts on it.
I'll break this into a two-part review. The first part will be my thoughts, written as I think of them, the second part an analysis with numbers for those who prefer it that way.
Oh, I am sitting here, after watching the movie, but it's not out of awe, it's out of bewilderment because despite all the reviews and recommendations from ,everyone that proclaim it the best movie ever, that the message of it is poignant and beautiful...I can't say that I fully agree. Maybe it's because I'm a heartless robot who has never felt love before, you would say, but no, I've cried and felt emotional at even the smallest hints of feeling, and I've most definitely been in love, known what it's like to feel heartbreak, desolation, the chill when you know the person you love will never share your feelings. But for some reason...I couldn't relate to this movie, try as I might.
Why did this movie completely fail my expectations? I'm still trying to make sense of it as I write this review. I'm a bit disappointed in myself, because it seems everyone else except for me was touched by this anime while I appear to be some stone-cold freak of nature. I had the tissues ready, the feels shield up, the family relocated to another room so that I could peacefully watch this and take all the dialogue in.
The most outstanding issue in 5 Centimeters per Second, for me, is that I don't feel that there was enough character development. I understand. Toko is in love with Akari, and in the first part, she reciprocates his feelings, but they can't be together. Yes, that is sad, but the way it was expressed just didn't seem to impact me. At the end of the movie, I don't know anything about them except that they're star-crossed lovers who, unfortunately, can't be with each other.
The movie does have wonderful messages in it. You have to move on from the past, learn to let go, and know when it's time to move on. However, I don't think that message is unique to this movie only. I've seen it expressed many times before. The story is interesting, but I think it needed a lot more plot and character development.
Yes. We can relate to the characters as they experience loss, heartbreak, falling in love for the first time. But for some reason, I didn't feel as though there was enough effort put into making the watchers really connect, to strengthen that link of empathy. I appreciate the symbolism used in this anime. The messages are indeed deep and something that many can relate to, but in my opinion they were not conveyed in the right way. I also think that some of the lines from the movie are elegant...Overall, this anime seemed to have all the elements to be wonderful, but for me, they didn't come together.
And for you data analysts out there, have a breakdown by numbers:
Story :: 7
It started out promising, but spiraled into something a bit boring and, at least for me, terribly predictable. The story is well-thought out and I liked how it was broken up into three parts, but it moved very quickly, and at the end I found myself shocked that there wasn't something more. It would have been much better if even half an hour was given to plot development. The way the story is played out is in soft hints of emotion, feelings that can be easily related to, and in a relatively tranquil way, but because of this, I felt that it was difficult to find the actual point of the plot. When the movie ended, I sat there and asked myself, "so what?". The answer was simply that "We have to learn when and how to move on". I was hoping that I would have been able to think of more. I appreciate, though, how it was portrayed realistically throughout, with nothing cheesy or sugar-coated.
Art :: 9
Ah, but I do have to say, the artwork in this movie is outstanding! The backgrounds, lighting, climate, everything. I was spellbound by the gorgeous landscapes that were concocted, with the perfect touch of surrealism and fantasy at every part. You see a routine town setting, and then look up at the sky...a nebulous wonderland, full of stars, conveying the idea that there really is no boundary to where we can go. I can't give this category a 10, however, because the people were somewhat disconcerting amongst all this scenery. I didn't feel as though as much effort was put into drawing them, and they looked a bit odd at times.
Sound :: 9
I play the piano, so all the piano songs in the background stood out and they really did provide a lovely backdrop for the movie, which is peaceful and not full of action or drama. The background music could most certainly put me at ease in any situation. I also appreciated the realistic sound effects, reminiscent of the sounds in a Miyazaki movie. It's clear that a lot of effort was put into this movie.
Character :: 6
These characters should be relatable. At times, I felt like I could relate to them. However, they were greatly lacking in personality development. Maybe, though, it's the point of the movie. As was noted in an article that I read some time ago, if the characters in a work of art are relatively simple, we use them as blank canvases on which to paint our own emotions. I think I would have appreciated a bit more character structuring, though.
Enjoyment :: 6
Like I said in the beginning of this review, I sat there the entire move trying very hard to like it. At some points, I did. I could appreciate the messages, clear or somewhat hidden, that were being given. However, for most of the movie, I was bored, as though I was waiting for something to happen. Maybe this is because I thought it would be a lot more sad than it turned out to be.
Overall :: 7
The messages in 5 Centimeters per Second are beautiful. I believe that they should have been conveyed more through character actions than through them having to tell a story to us using words. As I continue through my life, perhaps I will encounter scenarios that will make me think of this movie. I would still recommend that people watch this movie, because there are lessons to be learned and chances are that they'll enjoy it much more than I did, looking at the sheer amount of 10s that this movie has received. Until then, I'll continue pondering this movie, and why I, usually so quick to empathize with others and share emotions, was not moved by this piece. If my opinions change, I will be back to write another review. As was the message of Howl's Moving Castle, hearts can change, and people can too.
