As far as anyone else is concerned, the animation in this work is definitely top notch and without question, one of the better animated I've ever seen for a movie going for something of this aptitude. The music is also good, as it does pull you in with all the right things it's supposed to.
Here's where it all becomes a mess, the characters. Sometimes you'll agree with their sentiments and stances and forget that they're kids, but also sometimes, you'll suddenly realize that they are, in fact, just kids
If you haven't seen the trailer, it's about a bunch of kids who "get stranded in the middle of the ocean while in a drifted building", on eminute, they're on the roof "playing", the next, water becomes their enemy. It definitely has vibes similar to the classic Zathura (the journey makes them reconcile and fix their differences), although I highly doubt that movie had influence in this one as this doesn't feel like an adventure, but more like a survival movie with a "hint of adventure", it's kinda.. confusing, actually. Maybe Life of Pi, yeah.
Going back to the characters tho, I don't hate any of them. But I do get the feeling some people who've watched this definitely felt differently than I did, and probably even more to the extreme. Considering the fact that they are, indeed, still kids with "kidlike personalities and thoughts"; they scream. A LOT. And argue, A LOT. And I thought that wasn't a problem, but it was over-the-top sometimes; as the movie makes you feel each characters' personality differently and separately, which is what the movie definitely was going for. But sometimes I wonder, if they really are friends. XD
The main character, most of all, is the biggest mixed bag out of all of them, as he gives me "Sasuke & Bakugo vibe". You know... the social outcast that hates everyone? Yup, that kind. He definitely has a sad backstory that explains it, but as an introvert myself that also hates everyone, I feel like his "annoyance" can be perfectly described as "wanting to be alone unless the person they really care about is in danger". I feel like they could've given him more heart as a lot of the times, he's either completly angry towards the girl MC or just everyone else in the group. I am fond of him, myself, but that's just a warning to anyone else who thinks he'll be as relatable as the aforementioned characters I compared him to. He's definitely a controversial character, indeed.
Nevertheless, this movie was better than I thought it was. After all, I watched this movie when I was completely bored out of my mind and not knowing what I really wanted to watch. I feel like if you're looking for a simple entertainment, this movie doesn't go "too deep" with the serious, but there's definitely a subplot here that relates to loss and fixing ruined bonds with people you did care about. Not only that, but it has messages about cherishing your overall memories, not just with people.. but with the places you've grown fond of as a youngster. As I'm sure we've all had those "sacred locations" we've put into special places in our hearts, be it either a former home, or school, or say, a playground people used to visit a lot.
And like I said, the animation's quality speaks for the movie's overall themes, if you like to somewhat revisit what it was like "being a kid with friends", this might become your fancy. I'll leave that up to you. Review out. :)
