Beginning with the story aspect, I will confess, it wont be nearly as enjoyable to those who decide to watch the movie without having seen the previous series or have read the light novels. The background knowledge I feel is necessary to fully enjoy the story elements in the movie. I gave it a ten out of ten for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the rising action in the story is well placed; as well as being diverse in the types of action received. "The Disappearance" however, is not an action packed film; but unlike the series that precedes it, it definitely presents us with a deeper story that we can only be compared to a few select moments in the series. Secondly, the climax is wonderful, and the ending is beautiful and unforgettable. The story-telling narrative told through the main character is also a asset to the unraveling of the plot. Overall, the plot of the story is intricate and interesting, with an emotional supplement without being messy or confusing.
To enhance the story that our dear author Nagaru Tanigawa has bestow upon us, is the brilliant visual art that really plays in the background to the movie. Honestly, there is nothing wrong with the art, but there isn't very much to take note on. The animation is extremely smooth, there nothing that would upset or deter anyone. If anything the art amplifies the story. The emotions of the characters portrayed and the seasonal effects (as it takes place in December) are good examples of the movie's art elevating the story elements and assimilating our consciousness into the setting of the film.
While good art is important, the sound of the movie is absolutely fantastic. The orchestrated pieces bring the emotions to life. The voice acting cast is top grade (the Japanese voices). I gave this a ten out of ten because I love a narrative in a story, and the Haruhi Series has one of the best narratives I have seen; and the movie is no exception. The only thing I could say I was unsure of at first, would be the song at the end, but now I am convinced that the lacking of instruments in that track are supplemental to the nature of the story.
Perhaps the backbone to supporting the story, are the lovable characters. There are five main characters who are quite unique in their own regard, and they are well developed in previous installments of the Haruhi series. The movie even furthers develops some of the characters. The mental psyche of Kyon and Nagato specifically are well explored in this film and will delight fans of both characters. However, the title character plays little role in this film, which is slightly regrettable, but it does not subtract from the awesomeness of this film.
The final 'critique' section would be enjoyment. If you haven't guessed by now, I thoroughly enjoy Suzumiya Haruhi no Shoushitsu. Even knowing the ending doesn't deter me from watching it over and over again--but I will reiterate what I said in the beginning of the review: Without seeing the previous installments of the series, the movie will not be nearly as enjoyable; many parts will be confusing, the suspense will be wasted. I would suggest not watching it otherwise. My enjoyment of this movie is snowballed with my love of the characters from when I was first introduced into them when I first started watching the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. I could then infer that if you didn't like the previous series, you might not enjoy the movie as much as I did. Still, keep in mind that the movie is less antics from the SoS brigade and more of a misadventure for Kyon, with the central character being Nagato.
To conclude this review, I would say that I have referenced the previous series far too much--which may fall in the category of commenting on other anime. However I insist that knowledge of such a series is important to fully enjoy this film, and I think most people would agree. I may have laxed a bit on the aspects of enjoyment, and a more thorough review could have been submitted. I tried to be concise in this review with a fair number of reasons without spilling out random facts all over the place. This may be the best display of the Haruhi characters to date. This film makes up for the horrendous Endless Eight, bringing us a segment in the Haruhi series that will be cherished as one of the greatest anime series films ever made.
