If you want to know more then just read my original review for 1st season since this review is dedicated only to the movie.
I have never planned to watch the movie, I actually had no idea that it was suppoused to come out. I had accidently stumbled on it online while searching for other series. Knowing how lame 1st season was for me, I had no idea what a whole movie could be dedicated to so I decided to make slight skip through the series. To my suprise I found some very interesting moments, actually the idea of the world without Haruhi seemed perfect so I decided to give it a proper watch and here are my impressions.
The movie has some really nice animation with the whole shine effect and biggest part of music is epic and very likeble.
But here come the main points... characters finally got some development and I was not annoyed with them!
Haruhi was not irritating and actually showed some carrying, I actually had to take a look at some scenes from older episodes in order to remember why I hate her.
Mikuru wasn't squeling so much, we actually got to see her composed older self more which has bigger personality than her younger self that's for sure.
Koizumi showed more of his real thoughts/feelings and his explanations were not draging for ages.
Nagato, finally we got a look into what is happening in her head. Looks like there is far more to her than simple quiet, geniuse bookworm! I actually started to like and appriciate her more. She was the main star of the movie, some of her inner thoughts and struggle were brought to light. We actually see her care and show some emotions (not only in her alerted state).
If you looked through character list then ypu know that Asakura is back and she makes quiet an entrance there. She does not dissapoint until the end.
The movie happened to be quiet phsycological and brought several issues for consideration. Even I started to wonder as to what my final desicon would be... which world I would choose since as Kyon pointed out, his world is special and exciting because of those things that he constantly encounters like for example time travelling. You can't do it in normal life.
Seriously, Haruhi series would do so MUCH better if instead of being comedy they would become more dramatic as this movie. Haruhi sucks at comedy but it does really good job at phsycological drama.
I would give this movie 8 but considering the fact that I'm still Haruhi series hater and yet I managed to enjoy the movie, I give it 9.
