The characters had next to zero development and next to zero introspective expositions, combine that with a complete lack of a tight, finished plot(really, because there was none) and you get one of the most pointless anime's ever made, which would never be capable of enthralling or delivering something as complex and satisfying as an emotional catharsis. Sure, it was entertaining -- at times. And yet, at times, you also just wanted to smack Haruhi's static, annoying and completely flat character with a .45 Magnum, just to crack her skull and see if there was anything other than air inside of it. Same goes for Mikuru and Koizumi, and while Kyon and Nagato did get a few more introspectives than the others, it never leads anywhere, and you're left wondering what was even the point of those characters. Abandon all hope of something as complex as character development if the series can barely introduce character introspection or exposition, that's what I usually say.
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya lacked both in character and in plot, plain and simple. It's nothing but relatively entertaining mediocrity, and definitely not worthy of the many praises it gets.
That being said; you should go out and watch it.
Yes, go out and dreg your way through it. Even if you're someone like me, who dislikes entertaining, pandering drivel, you should watch it.
Why? Well. Because, like I said, the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is "nearly" pointless. It does have something which actually holds great value.
It acts as a prologue to this movie: The Dissapearance of Haruhi Suzumiya.
Story: 9
+ This story is, for all intents and purposes, a Nagato and Kyon story. They're it's main characters, and every other character revolves around them, all for the betterment of telling the story. Saying this as a fair warning, if you're one of the few dozen Mikuru or Koizumi fans, prepare for dissapointment -- this story is not about them.
And if you're one of the hundreds of Haruhi fans, well, prepare for dissapointment as well. Her role is besides Mukuru and Koizume in this one. Which is, actually, a breath of fresh air, and the movie gains alot from minimizing Haruhi's role as much as possible, considering how polarizingly terrible her character is in comparison to the nearly universally loved mains of this movie. However, moving on.
+ Naturally, though, there is a great difference in tone and atmosphere. While the Melancholy was surprisingly up-beat and cheerful, the Dissapearance wants to show some of it's characters in their deepest and desperate. All for the better of understanding their development and struggles.
+ Mainly, this story is about a choice, a person asking the one closest to them what he thinks of this choice. Kyon has always been reviling how his life turns out into such chaos because of the supernatural happenings around him, so what would happen if one day, he got his wish, and woke up in a completely normal world? No time-travelling, no talking cats, no laser beams, no-one heroically saving your life. All of Kyon's friends maintain their persona's(save for Yuki), but they're all dead-drop normal and powerless, even when re-assembled.
How does Kyon feel about this? How will he react to the lack of the adventure he's come to know? How does he feel about the only person in the group whose acting completely different from their usual selves? And what does all of this mean? Why did it happen?
+ Permeated by many themes that were completely absent in the original Anime. Mainly: appreciate what you have, and pay attention to your friends, because they may be suffering due to you, and you don't even know it.
+ This movie's plot is self-contained, however. Don't come here expecting questions such as "What is haruhi" or "What is the purposes of the different organizations surrounding her" to be answered. But this is actually a good thing. Such plot questions should've been answered in the main series, and in this movie, they'd only be distracting from the real substance.
Art: 9
+ The animation is fluid and intense. It takes upon the good from the series and improves upon it even more. The movie is pleasant to see in motion, and the visuals all bear color and vibrancy, as is standard for the style of the series.
+ Everything seems to be completely hand-drawn, and you can and will greatly appreciate the subtle expression changes that happen in emotional moments. A fainter smile, an eye dropping slightly, a small shaking of the head, etc.
Sound: 10
+ The sound is a definite plus. The voice acting could not have been better and the musical score ramps up exactly when it needs to and never takes up too much space, allowing for the real substance to appear when it needs to.
+ One of the best original soundtracks I've heard. Definitely fits the theme of the movie in it's own unique way.
Character: 10
+ How can I put this?
The Melancholy had no character.
This movie is all about character.
+ Character development is stark and memorable. Powerful and cathartic. Immensely satisfying in it's conclusion to the initial conflict, for both of the main protagonists. We get to see the workings of both Kyon's and Nagato's inner thoughts, and not only does it add several dimensions to their relationship, it fleshes out just what kind of emotions had been wafting in that relationship. Their final scene toguether is incredibly powerful and telling, and brings one of the two main conflicts of the movie into a stunning closure.
+ Individually, Kyon and Nagato also develop. Kyon in particular, we see developing on-screen, while Nagato's development, due to the nature of her character it'self, is more subtle, but no less powerful. It's actually ironic that the emotionless alien showed more emotion that 3/5's of the rest of the cast combined, but at the same time, incredibly gratifying.
When I once pegged Kyon and Nagato as characters near as flat as the rest of the cast, this movie takes those two from Melancholy and simply gives them space to breathe. Going from flat to spherical in a matter of hours. It would not be a stretch to say they've become terrific characters because of this movie.
+ As it's been said before, this is a Nagato and Kyon story. The other characters get no development, and nearly no introspection, save for a couple moments here and there. Even in the normal world, they still retain their normal persona's. Koizume with his perpetual disarming smile, Haruhi with her annoyingly control-freaky/bossy self-important self and Mikuru is the moe-damsel. Don't worry, though. They don't appear for long, nor do they receive focus. The fact that their roles is diminished is certainly a positive, especially Haruhi, whose character is so sociopathically dominant that the kind of introspection and development we got from both Nagato and Kyon wouldn't be possible if the developers hadn't put her in the side-lines.
Enjoyment: 10
It is thoroughly enjoyable. Really, I'd classify it as a "must see". It is a tricky must see, though, since first you have to dreg your way through the Melancholy. It follows the novel faithfully enough, and it leaves you with several thoughts for chewing even after finished. Completely revitalized my standing when it comes to this franchise.
Overall: 10
Overall, go watch this movie.
Yes, you'll have to suffer(slightly) through the serie's initial mediocrity, but this movie will take your time wasted in all those episodes and pay for it twicefold. Pay special attention to Nagato and Kyon's character traits, because they will be important here.
Really, just consider the anime as a prologue for this movie, because it's just that worth it, and not dissapointing at all. This movie takes the series, and injects into it what it was sorely lacking: character and plot. And does so magnificently. It's the culmination of the franchise, and even considering the later novels(Dissapearance is n#4), it is incredibly unlikely that Dissapearance will ever be topped.
This movie is the Haruhi franchise at it's finest. Go watch it.
