The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Makoto discovers a very odd ability to literally leap through time, leading to a rather frivolous lifestyle until she realizes that maybe other people are hurting in her adventures. She then sets to trying to make things better with her newfound ability.... only every time she tried to fix something, everything becomes exponentially worse. It takes the intervention of her friend, Chiaki, who it turns out isn't from her time at all, to fix everything she's done wrong, at the cost of his own ability to return home. Finally having some understanding of how everything works, Makoto is able to use one last leap to allow Chiaki to go home, though it appears maybe she doesn't really want him to leave after all. There's not really an ending to this movie as the whole time paradox and the limited number of jumps seem to leave it hanging in the air if these two friends will be reunited in the future or not.

Your Name

Your Name (2016)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a cute film where two teenagers are swapping bodies in their sleep, except apparently not on a parallel timeline, leading to some confusion when they try to search for each other. It seems as if fate has other plans for them and horrors of history may have been corrected only for these two to never meet. But can you really forget someone when you've lived part of their life?

Psycho-Pass: The Movie

Psycho-Pass: The Movie (2015)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

The movie itself is interesting, but there are obvious references that may not make the most sense if you haven't watched the first season of the anime yet. Akane Tsunemori is sent into a different country to find out what a previous co-worker and subordinate, Shinya Kogami, is doing supposedly helping a rebellion. What she finds turns out to be much bigger, and she was the lead to get the rest of her team, and country, in to take over - which doesn't sit so well with the honest-to-a-fault inspector. 

Attack on Titan 2: End of the World

Attack on Titan 2: End of the World (2015)

My rating: 1.5 of 5 stars


Still don't like the movie, but Part 2 didn't leave me cringing as badly as Part 1 did. There's still plenty of action and some gore as humans are literally stepped on and crushed from sweeping Titan arms. However, no one actually gets eaten or bitten apart in this segment, despite there being lots of Titan action. Actually the only action we see from the typically mindless Titans are the few who come through the wall to be killed by the transformed Titans and the recap of Part 1 at the start of the movie. While there are several transformed Titans in the original animanga, the characters are still changing outside of Eren in this one. Eren does help with sealing the wall this time, though it's his unknown brother who plays a bigger part with the bomb and deflecting the King Titan than Eren himself (no handy boulder hauling this time around). Almost makes you wonder after seeing some of the lab test recordings that created the Titans and then discovering that the same leader who was so set on killing Eren is actually the King Titan (supposedly this is the same Titan who originally breaches the wall, though this happens from the outside). There's also a bit more drama to the Titan transformations as well as outside of the original virus outbreak it appears to require a life threatening injury for the transformation to happen this time around instead of the convenient blood draw where Eren would bite his thumb to trigger his change in the anime. Mikasa also finally starts coming back out of her shell, though she proves to be just as skilled dodging the transformed Titans as the mindless ones. It almost makes one wonder why the mindless Titans are so bent on eating humans when they are essentially immortal and don't need either food or water. It's been stated multiple times that they can live literally without anything. So why then do they essentially chase down the humans though they've proven to ignore animals? It is rather disturbing to realize that Titans would not exist if not for the military experiments in the first place and the fear over who may or may not transform from the general public resulted in just as much, if not more, slaughter than the actual Titan attacks prior to the building of the wall and human seclusion. That obviously wasn't the end of the tests since Eren and his apparent brother are both test subjects carrying the virus, as well as this Commander who is more disturbing every time we hear him talk. Kept seeing flashes of mindless Titans moving towards the hole in the wall while the fight with the transformed Titans was taking place, which lead to some gut clenching wondering if there'd be a secondary bloodbath. Rather relieved with the much more positive note and less overall disturbing images than the first movie left. Seriously did not think I would end up watching this with how disturbed I was from Part 1, but the ending and not knowing, especially with Season 2 waiting to be watched. Hopefully having seen it to the end will close this chapter for me and let me start to forget how much Part 1 haunted me.

Attack On Titan 1

Attack On Titan 1 (2015)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


Realistically, the CGI is actually very well done here. However, there are a couple of reasons for the low score beyond just the fact that I really did not like this movie. First, they pretty much rewrite the series, which is especially annoying with a popular anime and manga both already in place following the same arcs. Large parts of the main characters stories/development are completely removed or rewritten. On top of that other big characters (like Levi) are missing entirely, yet we have a plethora of new characters that seem to have little to no meaning (other than becoming Titan food). Then there's the changes in the wall and how it breaks, one of the soldiers physically throwing a Titan (adrenaline surge or new ability?), the new commander who apparently replaces Levi and is just disturbing, the strange new character who hits on Eren before being eaten (the scene that still gives me nightmares two days later), and I can't even remember how many other little details now at this point. On top of that is the gore. Now, AOT is a rather bloody series to begin with given Titans literally eat people, I get that. Somehow though, this level or horror and apprehension didn't even register with either the manga or the anime. With this movie however, I find myself flashing back to certain scenes that leave my skin crawling, not wanting to close my eyes or look out windows in the dark. I know I can scare easier than some people, but usually I just watch something else (which I did this time too, I followed up the viewing with re-watching Kamisama Kiss in an effort to reset) and I'm fine, but that hasn't worked this time. It's left me feeling more than a little unsettled and wishing I hadn't actually watched the movie despite originally enjoying the anime with my husband. At least the kids were with grandparent's that night so they didn't catch any unwanted glimpses. There is a sequel film as this was apparently planned in two parts. Given the trouble I'm having with this one however, I'm doubtful about ever watching End of the World.

Origin: Spirits of the Past

Origin: Spirits of the Past (2006)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I can't recall why we ended up picking this one up, but we have it. The easiest way to get the plot behind this dystopia is to read the wiki. It was interesting in the fact that it was different; reminded me a little of Castle in the Sky. On the other hand it also wasn't very engaging. Good for a low-key movie night if you're interested.

Tsubasa: The Princess in the Birdcage Kingdom

Tsubasa: The Princess in the Birdcage Kingdom (2005)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Despite being a movie, this feels more like just a longer episode from the TV series. The art differs slightly, but is overall consistent with the characters feel and creation as it's been through the rest of the production. The Birdcage Kingdom is as strange as any other place that they end up, being an odd melding of different worlds and characters as they often run across faces they already know in different personas across the worlds. Despite growing in confidence in the other OVAs, Sakura plays a very minor background role in this film despite the fact that it's still her feather that is at the core of yet another mess. This series has no shortage of twists and turns, so it's best to pay attention if you don't want to end up rather confused.

xxxHolic: A Midsummer Night's Dream

xxxHolic: A Midsummer Night's Dream (2005)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


For a short film, this is entertaining and certainly stays true to the original series. However, this also means that it is highly confusing at some points and doesn't really leave you with a feeling of finality or completion at the end. Some of the hallways in the mansion are beyond ridiculous, just as the circumstances for their "party" there and the games the collector plays are both creepy and bizarre. At Watanuki hasn't lost any of his flamboyancy as he objects quiet strenuously to their predicament.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shambala

Fullmetal  Alchemist: Conqueror of Shambala (2005)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


Currently the only movie for the series, this takes place a the end of the original TV series, simply titled Fullmetal Alchemist. I'm not sure yet if it fits with the newer re-launch of the series as I haven't finished watching Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood yet. This film picks up shortly after the original series though, and fills in several gaps and questions as to what really happened to our main duo. It even resolves the issues of Hoenheim's fate, as well as that of the remaining humonculi. While I must admit to feeling a little bad for Winry by the end, it's rather amusing and heartening to see the brothers reunited and working together without the use of the alchemy they've studied and relied on their whole lives.

Munich, Germany, 1923. Two years have passed since Edward Elric was dragged from his own world to ours, leaving behind his country, his friends and his younger brother, Alphonse. Stripped of his alchemical powers, he has been all this time researching rocketry together with Alphonse Heiderich, a young man who resembles his own brother, hoping to one day find a way back home. His efforts so far had proven fruitless, but after lending a hand to a troubled gypsy girl, Edward is thrown in a series of events that can wreak havoc in both worlds. Meanwhile, at his own world, Alphonse Elric ventures deeper into the mysteries of alchemy in search for a way to reunite with his older brother.

- source: listal

Escaflowne

Escaflowne: The Movie (2000)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


This is basically a summary movie that flies through the events of the TV series with a few adjustments. The wardrobe is one of the obvious changes, along with Hitomi's attitude in the series and the lack of Alan's doppelganger in Hitomi's world. Merle is also much more friendly from the get-go in this film, and the key to piloting the Escaflowne is a bit different. Beyond that, the story line, characters, and overall purpose are all the same. I must admit to enjoying the TV series a bit more as, despite being much longer, it also provides a lot more detail and interaction between the characters. The growth and change between Van and Hitomi especially is key in the TV series and seems rushed in the movie. If you like the series, you'll enjoy the film, just don't expect every nuance from the other media.

Ninku / Yu Yu Hakusho

Ninku / Yu Yu Hakusho (2001)

My rating: 2 for 5 stars


This film is actually a collection of two shorter features rather than one full length film. The first flick features the cast from Yu Yu Hakusho on a brief adventure as a result of some misguided revenge plot from Spirit World Kindergarten. The artwork is not very detailed, the voices are very different than the rest of the series, and the story leaves you wondering at the end.

The second feature is from Ninku, focusing on a traveling group of surviving secret ninjas. With the same voices as from the Yu Yu Hakusho flick, it is somewhat confusing when it starts. This piece focuses on the group trying to earn money for food and gasoline when they come across a traveling circus troop posing to be exactly who they are - Ninku fighters. There's some good messages mixed in with the story, though they feel somewhat lost as there is no conclusion or real direction in the film. Perhaps the price of the pieces being so short to begin with.

Yu Yu Hakusho: Poltergeist Report

Yu Yu Hakusho: Poltergeist Report (1969)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


The animation quality is more on par with the sloppier art picked up in the late episodes of the Dark Tournament arc than the earlier artwork, and certainly not on par with the manga art. The story is somewhat random and likely difficult to follow for anyone who is not already familiar with the characters as there aren't any introductions or back story in this film. If you know the characters though it can provide some interesting tidbits, especially in regards to Kurama's past.

Vexille

Vexille (2007)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


This film is classified as anime, released by Funimation. The art style is more reminiscent of Final Fantasy's computer animation style than what you might consider traditional anime. Japan has been closed off to the rest of the world in this film. An undercover op to infiltrate Japan learns that it's citizens are all slowly becoming cyborgs due to an experimental vaccination the government required a couple of years prior. Vexille and her partner Leon end up the sole survivors of their crew as Tokyo crumbles and the cyborgs self destruct.

Black Butler

Black Butler (2008)

Review: 3 of 5 stars


Ciel Phantomhive was tortured and nearly killed as a child. He avoided his fate by signing a contract with a demon. The service: his butler, servant in all things. The price: his soul. Time is running out for him to stop the ultimate crime. Will the demon win, or the angel trying to destroy their world?

Watched this because it seems to be very popular lately and several friends recommended it. Not my favorite series, but it certainly was entertaining. Probably would have to read the manga to get the full details.