Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
profound anime!, January 19, 2008
I never thought that this anime would move me the way it did. I guess I watched it not really expecting much, but it really helped me reflect on my life and how my interactions with everyone has had an affect on who I am.
The title refers to the speed at which Sakura flower petals fall from the the tree. The petals are like us, falling from the tree of life. As we fall, we encounter all sorts of people. There will be people who we will fall in love with, however by the time the petals(us) reach the ground we don't know who will be beside us.
Its done rather well. I've never bought an expensive collectors version of any movie, but I went out right away and bought the collectors version. Hopefully, the dub is done well and the special features will also be included.
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28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Falling Cherry Blossoms, May 4, 2008
Once upon a time I used to watch Japanese animation fairly often, finding it an entertaining and easier method to improve my Japanese listening skills than watching live action films since a good portion of the medium is aimed at younger audiences. However, seven years or so ago, I grew tired of watching it, not so much because of the medium itself, but because of a number of the more obsessed, obnoxious fans with whom I did not want to associate or be associated with considering the fact I was beginning graduate work in Japanese studies.
Anyway, it has taken me over half a decade to watch some "older" shows such as Azumanga Daioh and more recent efforts as Kon Satoshi's Paprika. While I do not enjoy the medium as much as I did before, I found these works to be refreshing during high periods of stress, so, at a glacier's pace, I am checking out some random titles with the most recent being Shinkai Makoto's 5 Centimeters Per Second.
What initially drew me to the film were the screen captures on the back of the DVD box which challenged the artistic level of almost every other animated film that I have watched, also, I was attracted to the film because it is a simple love story between a boy and a girl who are separated because of matters beyond their control, meaning, there is no magic, giant robots, space cowboys, or what you.
5 Centimeters Per Second centers on the life of Tono Takaki, a melancholy, taciturn young man whose only friend in elementary school is a girl named Shinohara Akari, who, like Tono, is sickly, quiet and of a bookish nature. Quickly the two become glued together, and despite being teased by classmates, find in each other's presence what they lack in their own beings. However, because of their fathers' jobs, they have to move often and are soon separated from each other. They write each other often at first, but can their relationship remain as strong after Tono moves to Kagoshima?
5 Centimeters Per Second is not one cohesive film, but instead a collection of three short episodes depicting the life and growth of Tono from elementary school, to high school, to the workforce. Although he meets others, such as Sumita Kanae who falls deeply in love with him, Tono's love always belongs to Akari with the result that Tono is always a distant figure looking for the one to make him whole again; however, such quests are not always successful. A quiet, sad film meditating on relationships, time, space, distance, and nature, 5 Centimeters Per Second should appeal not only to anime fans but hopefully fans of romance films as well.
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22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
5cm per second..., February 13, 2008
"They say it's five centimeters per second."
"What do you mean?"
"The speed at which the sakura blossom petals fall... Five centimeters per second."
I've watched many anime movies, Hayao Miyazaki rating amongst my favorites, but Shinkai absolutely beat Miyazaki with this one, if you ask me.
5cm per second is the perfect portrayal of every day life. How many of us has had friends, even first loves, and thought they'd be together forever, only to have time pass by until we can barely remember their faces? How many times have we passed by someone and thought it might be someone we recognize?
The story is absolutely magnificent. Takaki and Akari, both children used to transfering, find each other after Akari transfers to the school that Takaki attends. Because they both prefer being inside, spending time in the library, they grow closer and closer, until even their classmates make fun of their supposed relationship.
But unfortunately, what could have been comes to an abrupt ending when life intervenes and Akari is forced to move all the way to Iwafune. And the story continues with Takaki's point of view, how time and distance rips him up from the inside. Because he'll always be looking towards some far distance place, having dreams about Akari.
She's the one for him and the fact that they're not together places him into a position where he's always troubled and where he doesn't even notice the other girls that do love him and are closeby.
It's breathtaking. The animation is magnificent and fantastically executed. The lighting and the backgrounds were just breathtaking, while the soft piano music that played in the background wasn't distracting and only added to the entire effect of the movie.
Trust me when I say that this is one worth to watch. And if you've downloaded it, it's definitely worth the 22 bucks to have the actual DVD.
Superb. And that's something I don't say often.
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