Now here's some advice, to those who are new to the Fate/Stay Night Series. I highly recommend watching the anime before committing to this movie. The reason I suggest this is simple. Try to compact a game which requires over 15 hours of play time into an hour and 45 minute movie. What are the flaws of doing that? It’s simplification. That means the supporting characters are like cardboard cutouts as you don’t get to see them much. Characters like Taiga, nor Sakura get hardly any screen time, nor other servants who in the original Visual Novel had a very lengthy screen time to learn of their plans and all their motives of doing what they’re doing and plus some of the humor that was in the route of Unlimited blade Works have been cut out for just pure action.
Story: The story of Unlimited Blade Works follows a different route to which Shirou isn't as protective of Saber as he is in the Anime. The Story separates from the anime shortly in the beginning after Rin takes Shirou to the Church. In this Movie Shirou is trying to win the war with little to no casualties. Unlike the Anime, the movie focuses more on Shirou and Rin as well as Archer. The only flaw in the movie is the simplification and doesn't nearly as much as the anime does, however the action in this movie is better than the anime which is more slow pace. The Story is faithful to the route in the visual novel and no changes are made, though the only thing that upsets me is that characters are like cardboard cutouts in which you don’t learn much about the characters in the movie as you would when you play the game. Because of the flaw I have to give it 7 out of 10
Art: The anime was made in 2006, and the artwork at the time was excellent. Four years later in 2010 the movie is finally released. So is the quality of art the same? No rather it takes its art up four notches and in top form. I applaud the people who made this and for not being lazy and slacking on the art. If need to be compare to the anime and the movie think of the anime like the original Hellsing anime compare to the Hellsing Ultimate OVA's. I award art 10 out of 10.
Sound: I made this point in my other reviews success on an anime or movie depends on the music, Art and characters alone can't tell the story. To make my point clear, put Barney the purple dinosaur I love you song in a scene in Dragon Ball Z where the fate of the world is in balance. Doesn’t work. Fortunately this doesn't happen in the movie. The Soundtrack is not as up to par compared to its anime counterpart. However, needless to say it gets it job done, not perfect, but done. Nothing feels out of place for any moment, no heartwarming moment is spoil by the wrong type of music and all is well; however it’s certainly not the top of the food chain, and has some flaws. This is the aspect where the anime version is superior. Sound I award an 8
Character: Everyone has favorite characters for different reasons. One character may be the favorite because of his attitude, another because of the jokes cause by the character, and last but not least, because that said character is Gar. My reason is different (though my favorite character being Gar isn't far from the truth). What this movie does it separates itself from the series by accurately portray the same characters differently and that they're not going down the same path. Shirou is not so protective of Saber as much in the movie as he was in the series (and i do admit that did annoy me sometimes) and this is where Shirou in this is different than his counterpart in the anime. Same goes for Archer and Rin as well as Saber, and in this movie it shows the characters ideals and these ideals are spoken through actions rather than words. However turning point to this is rest of the characters which are actually very important get very little development like Caster and her master, as well as a couple of others. Because of those drawbacks I give character a 7
Enjoyment: The only enjoyment watching this movie would be the action pack scenes, otherwise don’t expect anything else like romance and other things. 7 out 10 for enjoyment
Overall: So is this movie better than the anime? That answer will depend upon you. You are at the fork in the road and which path do you want to take? Path A which is the anime with decent actions and has a well explain story? Or Path B a movie that tells you the basic outline of the story and delivers action unlike any ever seen? The decision rests with you.
