Comments on: 5 Centimeters Per Second – Review http://blog.animeinstrumentality.net/2008/04/5-centimeters-per-second-review/ Anime Music! OP/ED and Soundtrack Reviews. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:32:36 +0000 hourly 1 By: zzeroparticle http://blog.animeinstrumentality.net/2008/04/5-centimeters-per-second-review/#comment-5 zzeroparticle Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:51:53 +0000 http://blog.animeinstrumentality.net/?p=3#comment-5 @Josh Definitely. Maybe people should gather together and hire a scriptwriter so that he's not stuck in this same general rut. It'd be nice to see him put his artistic talent to putting together... I don't know... an action sequence or two? That'd make for a nice change if nothing else. @Josh
Definitely. Maybe people should gather together and hire a scriptwriter so that he’s not stuck in this same general rut. It’d be nice to see him put his artistic talent to putting together… I don’t know… an action sequence or two? That’d make for a nice change if nothing else.

]]> By: Josh http://blog.animeinstrumentality.net/2008/04/5-centimeters-per-second-review/#comment-4 Josh Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:16:30 +0000 http://blog.animeinstrumentality.net/?p=3#comment-4 Yeah, I was a bit disappointed to hear that his next movie would just be taking the same theme a little bit further, but to be optimistic, it's supposed to be a "resolution" to the problem, so maybe he'll move on after that. I think what makes his work stand out is really how he puts things together. I understand that this is unreasonably vague, and I'm really bad a pinpointing things like this, so I'll just leave it at that. Hopefully someday I'll know what I mean. The art is definitely a good part of it though. Yeah, I was a bit disappointed to hear that his next movie would just be taking the same theme a little bit further, but to be optimistic, it’s supposed to be a “resolution” to the problem, so maybe he’ll move on after that. I think what makes his work stand out is really how he puts things together. I understand that this is unreasonably vague, and I’m really bad a pinpointing things like this, so I’ll just leave it at that. Hopefully someday I’ll know what I mean. The art is definitely a good part of it though.

]]> By: zzeroparticle http://blog.animeinstrumentality.net/2008/04/5-centimeters-per-second-review/#comment-3 zzeroparticle Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:50:53 +0000 http://blog.animeinstrumentality.net/?p=3#comment-3 @Josh Shinkai hasn't really done much to set himself apart if you look at everything but his art since the commonality of the themes that link each of his past works means you're watching different variations of it. I guess the reason why he's so successful is because a lot of people are able to identify with those feelings really strongly. Excellent observations all around and I too hope to see him expand beyond his comfort zone and dabble/experiment around with other plots. @Josh
Shinkai hasn’t really done much to set himself apart if you look at everything but his art since the commonality of the themes that link each of his past works means you’re watching different variations of it. I guess the reason why he’s so successful is because a lot of people are able to identify with those feelings really strongly.

Excellent observations all around and I too hope to see him expand beyond his comfort zone and dabble/experiment around with other plots.

]]> By: Josh http://blog.animeinstrumentality.net/2008/04/5-centimeters-per-second-review/#comment-2 Josh Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:48:57 +0000 http://blog.animeinstrumentality.net/?p=3#comment-2 The biggest problem people tend to have with this film is the lack of definitiveness in the ending, but I've never really had a problem with "open" endings. I mean, fundamentally, what is wrong with that? It leaves something to the imagination; you can sort of interpret his smile at the end as a sign that he's realized that Akari has moved on and that he should do the same, or you can interpret it as nothing and say that he'll live a miserable life. The first episode establishes their unique relationship and how it is torn apart. The second episode shows that he's unable to let go, and the third episode shows how this is detrimental to his adult relationships with others. I honestly think an extra episode would've been superfluous; whether or not he does let go or not, the point was already made after three episodes, and a fourth wouldn't have contributed to that. It would've only served to appease fans. I felt like there wasn't much more to say. Further, the ending was a bit anti-climatic, but I also don't think this is that big of an issue either, especially given the format of the film (three short stories). A lot of short stories, especially in modern literature, don't really have climaxes and resolutions. The idea is that it's trying to describe something, and if that something happens to be sort of mundane, then there's really no hope for a climax. Maybe mundane isn't quite the right word, because I don't mean it in a negative sense; what I mean is it's describing something that is in no way extraordinary. Anyway, I think this was a pretty good movie; I had some small random (irrelevant) beefs, but mostly I agree with what you've said (in particular about the artwork and soundtrack). If I do have a complaint about Shinkai so far, it's that his works seem to revolve around some common themes (separation) and exploit similar symbols (trains). Since he's only done two films so far though, I think it's a bit premature to pass judgment. I really hope he's able to diversify his work, because so far I'm a big fan of what he's done. The biggest problem people tend to have with this film is the lack of definitiveness in the ending, but I’ve never really had a problem with “open” endings. I mean, fundamentally, what is wrong with that? It leaves something to the imagination; you can sort of interpret his smile at the end as a sign that he’s realized that Akari has moved on and that he should do the same, or you can interpret it as nothing and say that he’ll live a miserable life.

The first episode establishes their unique relationship and how it is torn apart. The second episode shows that he’s unable to let go, and the third episode shows how this is detrimental to his adult relationships with others. I honestly think an extra episode would’ve been superfluous; whether or not he does let go or not, the point was already made after three episodes, and a fourth wouldn’t have contributed to that. It would’ve only served to appease fans. I felt like there wasn’t much more to say.

Further, the ending was a bit anti-climatic, but I also don’t think this is that big of an issue either, especially given the format of the film (three short stories). A lot of short stories, especially in modern literature, don’t really have climaxes and resolutions. The idea is that it’s trying to describe something, and if that something happens to be sort of mundane, then there’s really no hope for a climax. Maybe mundane isn’t quite the right word, because I don’t mean it in a negative sense; what I mean is it’s describing something that is in no way extraordinary.

Anyway, I think this was a pretty good movie; I had some small random (irrelevant) beefs, but mostly I agree with what you’ve said (in particular about the artwork and soundtrack). If I do have a complaint about Shinkai so far, it’s that his works seem to revolve around some common themes (separation) and exploit similar symbols (trains). Since he’s only done two films so far though, I think it’s a bit premature to pass judgment. I really hope he’s able to diversify his work, because so far I’m a big fan of what he’s done.

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