Art/sound :
I usually don't like to separate my reviews by category, but with how the first movie (and the other ones actually) presents itself, I thik it's actually pretty legit in this case.
The movie starts with shots of a girl on a roof accompanied by a soft music. And this first scene alone encapsulates the appeal of the first movie : everything is scary and unsettling, yet you are drawn by its beauty. Be it Ufotable's work on lighting, or Kajiura's compositions, everything keeps feeling strange, yet... incredibly beautiful.
Character/Story :
And then, suddenly, it cuts to a dialogue between our two main characters Shiki and Mikiya, and you feel that this is, indeed, a work of the master Nasu. You may know him for the Fate series, and if you do, you will know how this movie will turn out : a fairly interesting story driven by its incredible characters and their dynamic. As usual, you can feel that while every character is interesting on its own, it's really when they interact with each other that they shine.
But what sets Nasu's works apart from the rest (except maybe from Taro's latest works) is that strange optimistic passion that drives the main characters in an otherwise nihilistic world. unfortunately, I can't explain it without going into spoilers, but know that it is the main thing that sets this anime apart from all the edgy bullshit they serve you once in a while.
In the end, Kara no Kyoukai 1 offers an "overlooking view" at what makes the serie as a whole a masterpiece : complex and interesting characters, an unsettling atmosphere that you can't help but be drawn in, and a strange sense of optimism in a dark and depressing world. If you enjoyed that movie, I can guarantee that you will enjoy the Kara no Kyoukai serie as a whole.
