2012-06-29, 15:24 | Link #881 |
I disagree with you all.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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I don't feel like anything was resolved at the end. I mean, sure, it's nice for the three of them to see they're all doing fine, but they've all built their lives apart from each other. What are they supposed to do now?
Especially Kaoru and Ritsuko. It's not like they couldn't have gotten in touch if they wanted to. We're supposed to believe that now they're going to reconnect? That their "love story" meant anything after high school? Is Ritsuko Kaoru's beard or something? |
2012-06-29, 15:42 | Link #882 | |
Me, An Intellectual
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: UK
Age: 33
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Quote:
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Last edited by Haak; 2012-06-29 at 16:25. |
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2012-06-29, 17:55 | Link #885 |
Me, An Intellectual
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: UK
Age: 33
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Really? I thought introspection was what made that film. For me, good introspection means I can feel more emotional attachment to a character because I know exactly what he's thinking. If all I'm seeing are faces then I'll just feel like a spectator. But for the record, 5 Centimetres is still in my personal top five so maybe it's just a matter of taste.
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2012-06-29, 19:09 | Link #886 |
Old God Member
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I'm so conflicted on Kaoru as a character. I didn't think it was possible for someone to be such a bitch half the time and a pretty awesome person the other half. I think this is the main reason I disliked the romance angles with this show, it seemed to bring out the worst in the characters, while the friendship's left me feeling a lot happier. I feel Kaoru would of been a bunch better character if he wasn't always trying to get with Rii-chan.
And like others, I'm conflicted on the last few episodes as well. I wasn't too happy with episodes 10 and 11, and the first half of 12 was incredibly infuriating with the usual Kaouri/Rii-chan ackward awfulness that they have to jam into every episode, but I quite enjoyed the last half, even if it was incredibly ambiguous. I haven't read the manga so I can't comment on how different is was. Fitting that the artsyle is so close to Nodame, and I even see some Usagi drop in there. Or maybe it's because Shoujo/Josei Mangaka seem to have very similar artstyles a lot of times.(not that that's a bad thing.)
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2012-06-29, 20:43 | Link #887 | |
Loves the Experience
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Earth...hopefully
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Still, I've made it clear in the past that I hate narration with a passion.
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2012-06-29, 23:10 | Link #888 |
Math Ninja
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Ventura County CA
Age: 59
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I liked the church jam session. Similar things happen at my church several times a year. And since I'm the archivist for the music department, I can share one of them with you:
Spoiler for Musical selection...:
I also like that Ri-chan showed up at the end. After seeing this final episode, I now think that the primary focus of this story was not the Kaoru/Sentaro relationship, but rather the relationship between all three of them. Together they are family, and the bond runs between all three. |
2012-06-29, 23:40 | Link #889 | ||
Banned
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As for the friendship side of the story, a lot of that was conveyed through the jazz jam sessions as well as the ways that they supported each other. They also fought on occasions and came back together after like happens in pretty much any friendship and unlike a lot of stuff I've seen the fighting didn't really feel like an attempt to inject tension into the story, because the tone of the story never really changed so much as shifted gears. I don't know, I guess this one just clicked with me in a way these types of shows often fail to do and thus I just can't be disappointed in it. It felt genuine and heartfelt and decidely non-commercial and that to me is more important than how well a show follows the source or how "rushed" it feels, which is I understand of utmost importance to a lot of people. That's cool, but the way I look at it is that It's never going to be it's source material, it was evident at the beginning of production when it was announced as a noitaminA. Thus I simply did not expect it and instead chose to take the story as it was presented to me which frankly was fine. I guess I'll let that be my final word on the overall show. Between this and Chihayafuru I'd say good character drama is alive and strong in anime. Quote:
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2012-06-30, 04:11 | Link #890 |
Did nothing wrong
Author
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When I was informed that the series was 12 episodes, I was kinda worried, because I was wondering what the hell could they do resolve this, and naturally this episode had plenty of whiplash, with Kaoru almost going into emo-mode, but thankfully this show is actually well written and averted disaster. Still, with the time skip it was pretty rough, but the musical performance at the end was just too awesome to ignore.
I suppose there were no grand plots to resolve, battles to be won, romances to be cemented, but that's not what Kids on the Slope is about. It's just about life itself, and we just got a piece of it for our wonderful cast; like I've said, this show is about the experience. I suppose I wasn't truly into any of them, but they were memorable, execution was great especially concerning the music and lord knows we need more quality male characters. This season has done well in providing them. That ending with Sen and Kaoru running back meeting up with Ritsuko and the very excellent OP (best one thus far this year) in the end, is really something. 8/10 for that finale, and 8.5/10 for the series overall. It's been a great ride.
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Last edited by Archon_Wing; 2012-06-30 at 04:21. |
2012-06-30, 05:14 | Link #891 |
Your average fangirl
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: U.A.E. - Dubai
Age: 38
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Ep 11 + Ep 12
OH, that was breathtaking! You just know, KNOW, that Sen will run away after his step-dad is back wether it was a car accident, or a school festival incident or anything else that might affect the fragile connection. The 8 years time skip was quite jarring. I wish they dedicated a whole episode rather than just half, because the coincidences seemed forced. As for the open-ending... I can always wish for extras or something. (moar SEN x KAORU~ ) Over all, I absolutely loved this series! I'll never forget the jam sessions, I'm beginning to like Jazz. TRACK IDENTIFICATION REQUEST: In the last episode (12), When Ri-chan is with her friend in the cafe (around 2:37), what's that song in the background? It sounds awfully familiar...
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Last edited by Lilith; 2012-06-30 at 05:41. |
2012-06-30, 05:48 | Link #892 | |||
Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: .nl
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Quote:
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I can understand that the loss of a child or some other external event could cause a person to change. But if this was the case with Kaoru, then the anime should have spent more time exposing this change and making us understand it. As is, he just seemed to throw away all his feelings for Ritsuko along with Sen's departure. He seemed to decide he could no longer be with Ritsuko, and started being deliberately hurtful, cold, and distant just so she would be soured to him. It IS possible he decided to go to Tokyo and he did all this in an attempt to make his departure easier for her. But in that case, at the very least, there should have been an internal monologue scene describing his internal strife about this. You could again argue that would run counter to the "show, don't tell" principle, but IMO this is such a crucial point to the ending of the show, that it would have been entirely appropriate. Quote:
Time to read the manga, I guess. I do feel that in retrospect, maybe I've been too negative about the show overall. Illustrates the imporance of good endings, I suppose. It was an amazing ride, and without question one of the most memorable anime in recent memory.
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2012-06-30, 12:30 | Link #893 |
.: A bad doggy :.
Join Date: Jun 2007
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I don't think there's quite anything wrong with treating this show negatively, at least certain portions. It's clear that they had to cut and compress things into 12 episodes but that doesn't mean what we got worked out for the better. The pacing just fell apart after episode 10 (specifically when we went from Kaoru wildly confessing to Rii-chan and it suddenly being months later after the commercial) and the show suffered for it.
Personally the last half of episode 12 is practically inexcusable. Hell, the whole situation hurts my head thinking about it. It's why I can't willingly tell people to watch this show, the end just really fucking ruins it.
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2012-06-30, 17:27 | Link #894 | |
さっく♥ゆうきゃん♥ほそやん
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: in the land down under...
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Quote:
Spoiler for About the scene in the manga...:
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Last edited by karice67; 2012-07-06 at 07:31. Reason: added spoiler tag |
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2012-06-30, 18:51 | Link #895 |
Bittersweet Distractor
Join Date: Nov 2007
Age: 32
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I think people are blowing things way of proportion in regards to the ending episodes.
I haven't read the manga nor do I intend to, but seriously this wasn't ever going to be a 1-1 adaption of the manga and it couldn't realistically pack in everything people wanted it to. If we look at the anime just by itself, there's honestly not that much of an issue. Yes the time skip after the confession in episode 10 was a little jarring, but honestly what did we really miss? Was there some sort of plot line that was glossed over of much importance? Was there an emotional disconnection between the two parts, even knowing that the romance was hardly the main issue in the closing episodes? I honestly felt no problems otherwise, and it only made me stop for a moment before I got on and enjoyed the rest of it. I felt the friendship of the main two characters was conveyed excellently, and the emotions in the last episodes were very real. Perhaps I find friendship more touching than others, but I really enjoy this sort of exploration we went through in this show. I really felt this show was an easy and VERY enjoyable watch. I think what Watanabe set out to accomplish in his main priorities were masterfully done, and with that I didn't really feel I had to watch anymore at the end of the show. What more could I really say? I'd give this a 9/10.
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2012-06-30, 19:20 | Link #896 |
I disagree with you all.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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I've only read the last volumes, and yes, it did change my perspective on things.
For one thing, it explained how Kaoru and Ristuko really parted ways, which makes the idea of their reunion less bizarre. It also explains Kaoru's plans for his life. |
2012-06-30, 19:45 | Link #897 |
Hyakko Fanboy
Join Date: Nov 2008
Age: 33
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To be honest, I think its will be better idea if Nakamura and co just write original anime with similar theme instead adapting some manga and trim it to the death.
I adore all production aspect on this anime, the directing, art and especially the music.. but the story, not so much.. At first its looked strong but after a couple episode I think its just another story that you can easily found in other Jousei story, the fact they rush it isn't helping too in the end. I know everyone saying about how different this anime, but I wonder if that still true if the media isn't anime, but an asian live-action for example. Its still enjoyable ride though, and I look forward to Natsuyuki Rendezvous after this.
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2012-07-01, 01:27 | Link #898 |
.: A bad doggy :.
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Dude, jarring was skipping a few months ahead after Kaoru confessed to Ritsuko.
Going eight years into the future without any mention whatsoever of what happened within those eight years is absurd. Oh look you just happened to run into Yuriko who just happens to have a photo of Sen. Then the two of you play music together like nothing happened and Ritsuki comes out of nowhere (literally) and end credits. Uh no lol
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josei, shoujo, slice of life |
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