The story is efficient but predictable. At least there's no wasted time when it comes to plot details. It blazes on past them.
~Art~
The art is more of a demo for trigger testing its 3D animating abilities. The entire movie comes off this way, just a testing ground for trigger to use 3D technology. But what is drawn, is drawn beautifully. Some visual sequences are pure ecstasy given form.
~Sound~
The music is crispy. More wonderous work from Hiroyuki Sawano. Able to dip between dramatically touching to dramatically bombastic in a heartbeat. With almost every song being a banger. And shout out to Superfly for giving Lio his theme, which is of course another great addition to the soundtrack. Having watched both dub and sub, I'm spoiled for Crispin Freeman's rendition of Kray Foresight. He's perfect for the role. So I prefer dub in this instance.
~Character~
The characters didn't get as much development as I'd liked outside of the two main characters and villain. There was a romantic sideplot that gets pretty much entirely shafted for the main conflict. But nothing of super import was lost tbh. One of the main character's sisters goes through a semi-complete arc but that's about it for character development. I didn't expect too much from a film under 2 hours.
~Enjoyment~
Now, despite the negatives I've already listed down before this point. I enjoyed every god damn second of this movie. I had the privilege of watching it along side an entire row of hyped trigger fan boys. The way it was made to be watched. I have literally never laughed and smiled as hard as often and with such intensity at any piece of media as I have in my life as this one movie. And that's not hyperbole. This wasn't just a movie for me. It was an experience.
And it was the best god damn comedy/action movie experience I've ever had. Hands down. Nothing even comes remotely close to the enjoyment I had laughing it up with my friends during my first viewing. And yeah, it's kind of cheating to add my friends as a bonus to this movie's score. But screw that. I don't think any other movie would've had the same effect. And they haven't. I've seen plenty of movies with the exact same guys with no where near the same level of hype.
~Overall~
This film was essentially pure distilled joy from start to finish. Trigger did an absolutely bang up job with this. Every reference to Gurren Lagann, Kill la Kill, Darling and Little Witch was just a cherry on top of an already delectable piece of work. Their lightning fast pacing, stellar visuals, instantly recognizable and likeable character designs and most importantly- the fast and kinetic animation, all unify into a single harmonious anthem of trigger goodness when the heart pumping action scenes are on display. And it's all set to its amazing soundtrack. Promare generates a non-stop accelerated railgun shot of hype directly into the eyeballs and ears of its viewers from beginning to end, offsetting any and all blemishes I had with the story and its execution. I didn't come here for a thoughtful and introspective work about the human condition. I don't care if the conflict of its plot was super interesting or explored to its utmost potential. It was the WAY it was resolved that made up for it. And god damn. Did it not disappoint.
None of its flaws come close to tarnishing what actually mattered when it came to my experience with Promare.
I got everything I expected and more. I got hype. I got Kamina. I got Trigger goodness. I got DEUS X MACHINA. And it's left me more than thoroughly satisfied after a good session at the edge of my seat.
10/10 would trigger again. If someone is here to tell my that Promare is objectively NOT a 10/10, then they can suck a lemon. Objectivity is out the window when I've enjoyed something this much.
I mean. I would give it a 10/10 but, Inferno cop exists.
