The Place Promised in Our Early Days
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Movie Reviews of The Place Promised in Our Early Days
Movie Review: Brilliant! Amazing! Yet not for everyone...
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie definitely deserves to be in my top 5 list of great Japanese animation. At the same time, this is definitely too slow moving and emotionally sophisticated for anyone who isn't at least of high school age. The person who would enjoy this movie most is a moody romantic - or at least somebody with the patience to enjoy a Scandanavian art-house movie. The story, imagery and music are moving, haunting and beautiful. Other reviewers have mentioned how key plot details are kept hidden till the end. It is true that the story can seem confusing at times, but puzzling out what is happening is actually part of the fun with this movie. At any rate, the story certainly packs an emotional punch. Despite the Sci-fi story elements, the emotional realism of the main characters is going to stick with you for days after finishing this movie.Movie Review: beautiful and wonderful are too weak of words
Summary: 5 Stars
When I used go to BlockBuster on a regular basis I always checked out the anime section first,and for months I ignored the gut feeling that said rent this one, and finally I ran out my normal genres of anime to watch. So I decided to rent this title. At first I thought it was going to be "OK" not good not bad just in between. My assumption was wrong.
I have seen 500+ movies in my life and I can honestly say this is the best movie I have ever seen. The musical score is outstanding and goes with the movie perfectly. The story is truly original. No humungous robots no robots period no crazy hair no powers just humans it could be classified as sci-fi for ten minutes of the movie even though it's based in another deminsion. The voice acting is done perfectly, and the ending is perfect as well. This is a movie that will leave you satified even before the end. This movie is truly beautiful. If you like anime and even if you don't like anime see this movie at least once it is an expierience you won't forget or regret.
Movie Review: Stunning animation - but story was not very engaging for my children
Summary: 3 Stars
This review is not intended as the final word on this film -- but primarily just a quick note to say that reviews making comparisons with Miyazaki should not mislead you into thinking this film will be as well-appreciated or understood by children as Miyazaki's films. Obviously, there are several fans of anime who love this film, and I can see some of the reasons why. I got this film, though, mostly for my children who love everything they have seen from Studio Ghibli, and did so on the strength of comparisons in the reviews posted here and elsewhere with the work of Miyazaki. As it turned out, though, my kids became quite bored halfway through this film and lost interest in seeing it to the end. I kept it on, but found myself drifting a bit as well.
The visuals were stunning -- as good as any I have seen in animation. I also thought the story held promise and was overall touching, but also suffered from what seemed to me to be contradictory aims. On the one hand, the filmmakers seemed to want a simple story about childhood friendships and dreams, that can be lost sight of for a time but possibly recaptured. On the other hand, the filmmakers wanted a strong science fiction premise that explored the possibility of alternate realities. I don't think either aspect worked as well as it could have. The plot is not really, though, the main problem that I saw with this film; I think it had more to do with a feeling that the characters never felt to me as if they had been brought to life. Some of the early sequences reminded me of the simple evocations of childhood and wonder found in Studio Ghibli's "Whisper of the Heart" -- but what carried that movie all the way through was the personalities and overall interest of the characters. By contrast, I never felt very connected to the characters in this film, and my children didn't either. My children's response to the film did not seem to have as much to do with the complicated storyline as its failure to create truly memorable and likeable characters. Shinkai is a talented artist who creates beautiful and inspiring images, and I will certainly keep an eye out for his future films -- I hope that in the future he can collaborate with a storyteller who can help him bring his stories to life through the characters.
Movie Review: Art was beautiful, but I just couldn't take the story...
Summary: 3 Stars
*This is Johanna Rosen's daughter, mind you*
I was incredibly eager to see this movie after seeing art for it everywhere, including Newtype USA. I will admit that the art for this movie is gorgeous, but the story was... for certain tastes only. It was partly confusing, boring (I literally cried, it was so bad), and I struggled to finish the picture. It really depends on your taste as to whether you enjoy the story. If you have the opportunity, there is an extended trailer included in the extras- check that out, it's basically the entire movie in less that five minutes. The voice acting was also very well done for both Japanese and English versions of the film.
3 stars- because the art is worth it.
Movie Review: Heartwarming and winsome fantasy about dreams of human heart
Summary: 5 Stars
Makoto Shinkai's second film "The place promised in our early days" tells a beautiful, touching and complex tale of three school friends who share a secret and take a vow to unravel the secrets of the mysterious tower in a war torn land, in Japan but things go haywire as one of them falls into coma. Will the promise be kept? Well, that's what shapes the rest of the film in a visually stunning and unusual way.
From the very beginning the movie draws you in with the way it unfolds. The breathtaking scenery and the mesmerising background score leaves you speechless. Fans of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli films will undoubtedly love this movie since it almost has the same beauty and depth as their films. The dreamlike scenery, open spaces, lush backgrounds of the film transports the viewer to the alternate universe which the film talks about. The artwork of the film is absolutely stunning, one of the best I've ever seen. The story becomes more and more complex as things unfold hence a second viewing may be in store. But trust me, its so much worth it!
"The place promised in our early days" is a must have dvd and not to be missed film, not just for any anime fan but for anyone interested in beautiful and meaningful cinema. Trust me, that's a promise!!