If you have watched the series before, the movie pushes aside every character who isn't Karen, Hikari, and Nana to make time, which definitely makes this the inferior viewing option. But, the Nana and Giraffe conversations, the new graphics of the title cards, and the final few shots make the entire thing a fairly new and refreshing experience, so I'd still recommend it.
The last thing I want to note is that, as someone who had very much enjoyed the original series but hadn't watched it since my first time three years ago, watching this movie very much reinvigorated my love of the series. It reminded me why I loved it, and since rewatching the movie when it released on Blu-Ray back in February, I've watched this movie at least 3 more times, as well as the entire original series. It really is an amazing series, and I cannot recommend it more to those who feel it had lost its shine.
