Customer Reviews

New Kimagure Orange Road - Summer's Beginning

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the second movie from the popular "Kimagure Orange Road" series.

"Kimagure Orange Road" began as a 48-episode TV series which capture the hearts of many anime fans. The show features a family of ESPers: Kyousuke, the main character, his twin sisters and his non-ESPer father. The show revolves around Kyousuke's life at a new highschool and meeting two roughneck gangsters: Hikaru and her best friend (tough fighter and talented musician), Ayukuwa Madoka. Hikaru loves Kyouske who loves Ayukuwa but despite her feelings for Kyousuke, she holds her emotions because of her best friend.

Then came the six OAV's which led to the emotional rollercoaster movie where the love triangle had to come to an end.

The movie picks up years later where an older and buffer Kyousuke is a professional photographer who is nearly killed in Bosnia. Before he is hurt, he manages to warn Kyousuke (a few years younger) that he is going to get a major accident and to be careful. When the two get hurt simultaneously, the younger Kyousuke ends up in the older Kyousuke's timeline with an older Madoka and the return of Hikaru. How will Hikaru feel when she sees Kyousuke again? How will Madoka bring back the Kyousuke of the present? Also, what will be of the relationship between young-adult Kyousuke and Madoka?

For one to truly appreciate this movie, I highly recommend you watch the TV episodes or even the OAV and then the first movie. People just watching this drama may or may not enjoy it if they haven't seen the previous episodes but to truly enjoy this movie, it is recommended that you catch up on the previous episodes.

As for the DVD, I'm disappointed that ADV didn't include any extras. ADV trailers, different language tracks and menu doesn't count. Also, how about showcasing the beautiful art from KOR. They could of included a gallery.

But aside from that, if you want to watch the second movie from a popular anime called "Kimagure Orange Road", especially if you seen the previous episodes, this DVD then comes highly recommended!

I picked this movie up on a whim, having never seen the series before. I remember watching it and enjoying it quite a bit when I first got it last year, even without a fully developed backstory on it. Now, after having watched the TV series, I decided to watch the movie again and see if it was better/worse than what I remembered... and I must say that this movie is totally amazing, whether you've seen the TV/OVA series or not!

This is a story of young man, Kyosuke Kasuga (Kasuga Kyosuke to we English speakers), who has supernatural powers, like teleportation, along with his sisters (his father doesn't have the "power" because his wife had the power and he married into it). Something the movie doesn't explain is that they are considered ESPers (people with ESP), so if you aren't familiar with the Anime term, you may not realize EXACTLY what is going on at the end of the movie (you sort of miss a "joke" without this information). Kyosuke, Hikaru and Ayukawa have been long time friends, Kyosuke having chosen Ayukawa over Hikaru when he finally decided who he was in love with for real, I believe at the end of their Junior High School "career".

One day Kyosuke receives a phone call from someone who claims to be HIM, warning him to "watch out for the car". Heeding it no mind (as he is running late), he leaves his apartment for school. Well, as fate would have it, Kyosuke is hit by a car and sent to the hospital... in body anyway. When Kyosuke is hit by the car his "spirit" is sent forward in time 3 years, leaving just his body in '91. We learn that THIS Kyosuke is here and at the same time he was hit by the car, his self from this time (1994) was in another crisis, thus he displaced the 1994 Kyosuke.

The movie revolves around the feelings of Kyosuke, Ayukawa and Hikaru (who never really got over Kyosuke) and the crisis of returning the 1994 Kyosuke to '94 (from a pocket dimension where time doesn't exist) and the 1991 Kyosuke back to '91.

It isn't very often that a movie can touch me the way this movie, and this series, has. It shows the true power of people's feelings for each other and what they can do when motivated by these feelings. Very rarely do tears come to my eyes while watching a movie, and this is one of the few that has that much power and feeling behind it.

Of course, I only wacthed the movie subtitled, and as such, Japanese voice actors tend to REALLY play their roles as actors, not just someone supplying a voice for a lifeless cartoon (like most Anime dubs).

I really cannot recommend this movie enough. This movie is so much more than a good Animated movie, it's a GREAT film. Unless you are a hard core action movie only sort of person, you should be able to glean enough enjoyment from this movie to justify the price of purchase or rental, and if you're anything like me, MORE enjoyment than the price.

I've been a huge fan of KOR since college. I own the manga and DVDs of both the OVAs and the TV series. After watching this movie, I can't believe that the story can get even better. Maybe I'm just getting older, but I definitely prefer the New Kimagure over the original, which I thought was already perfect. I would strongly advise watching at least the OVAs before this movie since it would enhance your experience.

Excellent Flick. brings some closure to the whole series if anyone out there feels they need it. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys Kimagure Orange Road.

If you have watched all the TV episodes, the other OAVs, and the final movie for KOR (I want to return to that day--the inevitable and heartrendingly beautiful/painful resolution of the love triangle), you very likely have as much love for the series as I do, and can overlook (or embrace) the occasional bits of cheesy silliness that were present in all of KOR except the final movie, instead submersing yourself in the true beauty and sweetness of the series.

This OAV (which is NOT part of a new series. It's called "new" to show that it comes AFTER "I want to return to that day") has the cheese, and has the sweetness and fun, just like the other OAVs did.

Although I believe this OAV could stand alone, I think it is much better suited to be watched after someone's seen a good portion of the TV episodes, one or two OAVs, and absolutely the Final Movie (which is, IMO, stunningly good.)

This OAV makes a good postscript to the series by showing not only that life and joy and friendship go on, but also showing how they went on in the lives of the characters we've come to love. I'd give it five stars, but not for anyone watching it without having seen the series, so I'm leaving it at four.

This movie makes a beautiful end to the KOR saga, which is a bit ironic because I got the distinct impression that it was meant to relaunch the series.
It isn't really necessary to have seen the TV series or the OAV's to understand the movie, there is enough background given to give the new viewer an idea of the love triangle that existed in the past, but I do think that some familiarity with the franchise would be helpfull.
KOR, from the series to the movie, has quite a bit of subtle detail, which is why a single error regarding the family name bothered me a little. If you haven't seen the TV series, then you won't notice so I won't say exactly what it is. It's not that important and doesn't detract from the plot of the movie.
I highly recomend this movie to anyone, but be warned, if you're new to KOR it may spark an obsession.

I have never seen the series but I still loved this movie.It deals with emotional difficulties very well particularly love triangles.The movie didn't have much action but it was still impossible to stop watching.The ending was perfect they showed exactly the right amount of the main characters first time and didn't exploit it like most shows do.I would recommend this to people who like romance shows but be warned this isn't like any other romance anime I've ever seen.This is not too soppy but more realistic and deals with the important things in life.

Picking up where the OVA and Movie left off, New KOR has our hero jumping in time. it neatly shows what the future will hold Kyosuke. the character design is not by Akemi which is a bit of a negative, but the story makes up for it. KOR fans should definately pick this up

Given that the original KOR movie ended the series pretty effectively, one would be forgiven for assuming that this followup would be nothing more than a wholly cynical exercise in dead-horse-beating. And it is, to an extent. The nominal premise of the film, in which Kyosuke gets displaced in time after being hit by a car, certainly feels forced. However, as it turns out, the film manages to aquit itself fairly well, and, most importantly, it doesn't compromise the source material.

It's an oddly paced piece of work, to be sure. The bulk of it works at the probably inevitable task of achieving some sort of reconciliation between Kyosuke and Madoka and Hikaru, and then, this accomplished, it suddenly veers jarringly off into 'Kyosuke really, really wants to get laid.' This first is done about as gracefully as one could expect; ie, fairly. It threatens to venture into well-trodden 'allegedly comic misunderstanding' territory at one point, but, surprisingly, it dodges this bullet, for once. Some may complain that the integrity of the events in the first movie is ruined by mitigating the quite violent breaking off of relations, but I don't really see that...it's only natural that, as time does its wound-healing thing, people should mellow out a bit, and, let's face it, Hikaru was treated pretty shabbily in the original; it seems only fair. Not that fairness is always warranted, of course, but in this case it's all good.

But then it just gets sort of weird; the material with Kyosuke wanting to have sex with Madoka feels very drawn-out and not a little pointless. Firstly, I find the idea that they didn't consummate their relationship in the two years between the first film and this one VERY hard to swallow, even if we ARE dealing with Anime Romantic Comedy Land, which is known to be inhabited by the most superhumanly restrained people in the universe. And secondly...well, so what? I suppose the creators wanted to finish off the whole enterprise with a bang (okay...poor choice of words), but it's such an inevitable formality that I had difficulty bringing myself to really care. And don't get me started on Kyosuke's impassioned, if not particularly coherent, little speech before the big moment. I found the kiss at the end of the TV series to be much more affecting, honestly.

What else to say...for unknown reasons, this film features new character designs. Less cartoony, perhaps. This doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would, but I still can't say I see the point, although the more mature-looking Hikaru is well-done, once you get over your double-take the first time you see her.

One thing that I found a bit disappointing was the lack of a number of characters from the show. Even if they weren't integral to the plot, it would've been nice to at least see them. I mean, come on, guys, it's not like we're talking great art here; a little pandering to the fans wouldn't kill you. Komatsu and Hatta make brief cameo appearances (which, let's face it, is really all one needs), but Yusaku--who I was quite curious about--is nowhere to be seen, nor are Kazuya or Akane (okay, so she was a minor character, but I still like her and wish she'd been in more than just a few OVAs), or, puzzlingly Kyoksuke's father. But the ultimate insult: no Umao and Uskiko! Come on, guys--get it together here.

I suppose you could watch and more or less understand this film without having seen the earlier material, although I have no idea why you'd want to. As for established KOR fans...well, what's the point in saying anything? Obviously, you're going to see it. And it is unlikely that you'll be particularly disappointed--it's not everything I could have hoped for, but it's not anything I would have dreaded, either. That's pretty good.

New Kimagure Organe Road is an epilogue of sorts to the Kimagure Orange Road anime series. The anime was centered around Kyosuke Kasuga, a young man with ESP powers who fell in love with the rebellious but artistically talented Madoka. However, Hikaru, Madoka's best friend, falls in love with Kyosuke and he strings her along because he likes her and doesn't want to break her heart. And while Madoka slowly falls in love with Kyosuke, she doesn't act on her feelings because that would be betraying her best friend. The series ended with Kyosuke facing Hikaru and declaring her love for Madoka. This causes a great strain in Madoka's and Hikaru's friendship, driving them apart.

New KOR takes place after the end of the series. Kyosuke and Madoka have been together for two years now, and Hikaru has moved out of town. But one day, while Kyosuke was walking to college, he is run over by a car. Due to his ESP powers, he is thrown five years into the future. To get back in time, he has first to find his future self, a photographer who has been declared MIA in the Bosnia war. In the process, he will find out what the future has in store for Madoka and Hikaru.

The great problem with this movie is that it assumes that you know about the KOR characters. The movie is watchable if you have never seen KOR, but don't expect it to make a lot of sense: you will miss plenty of references and probably you won't care for the characters that much. And, at the end, you will end with more questions that answers. It is still an enjoyable, romantic movie, but nothing to write home about.

But if you have seen KOR, you are in for a treat. This movie solves many threads left unresolved by the series. Hikaru and Madoka at least get some closure between them, as well and Kyosuke's and Madoka's first steps into the next stage of their relationship. The brief snippets of their future selves together are very satisfying.

All in all, if you haven't seen KOR, then it is an average romance/adventure movie at best. But if you have sen KOR, then it is simply great. Give it a try.

The DVD itself is no big deal. You get the movie with japanese and english audio tracks, subtitles.... and that's it. There are no extras to speak of (unless you count the previews for ADV's other titles as extras). If you already have the VHS version, there's no reason why you should get the DVD, unless you are a completist.