Kotonoha no Niwa [The Garden of Words] (Makoto Shinkai's movie)

[Dextro]

Originally Posted by Kakkou

Having attended the world premiere last weekend I figured I'd give a quick and spoiler free impression of the movie. The Garden of Words is short but delivers the story adequately imo. Characters acted true to their age and personalities. I really liked how the movie presented Takao's view of Yukino as a mysterious older lady to the viewers too. You're left guessing about Yukino's situation even when the POV shifts to her. It'll be interesting to see what people think of Takao and Yukino's relationship and the climax of the film.

The soundtrack is limited but the few tracks that did play were nice. However I felt that the volume could have been toned down when characters spoke cause it got a little distracting trying to listen to the dialogue. Production wise, it's another deathly gorgeous film as expected of Shinkai. Especially for foot fetishists. lol

If you think that it's like 5cm, then you're not really off but at the same time it's no 5cm rehash. The emotions are a lot less... bottled up(?) than 5cm, particularly towards the end. A lot of symbolism in it too. The Q&A session was pretty informative and shed some light on the symbolism and wordplay that went into the scenes. Unfortunately the interviewer was kinda incompetent, so the session didn't feel as well utilized as it could've. The audience's questions were only a little better. Most useless question award goes to "why are the characters less detailed than the background?". There's also a hilarious yet facepalm worthy moment where the interviewer brought up how people called Shinkai's works "scenery porn". I really wonder how his translator explained that to him.

Shinkai himself is a great man in person. Humble and friendly, he really did all he could in order to allow all his fans a chance to greet him to the point he held another autograph session after the movie for those who were at the back of the (very long) queue earlier and did not get to have a go. Those of us who were first in line were even allowed to come back to take photos with him. It was a truly unforgettable experience.

Damn... I feel like I was born on the wrong side of the planet now. Thanks for that report (even if I'm now extremely jealous )

[Mithfalath]

Originally Posted by Kakkou

Having attended the world premiere last weekend I figured I'd give a quick and spoiler free impression of the movie. The Garden of Words is short but delivers the story adequately imo. Characters acted true to their age and personalities. I really liked how the movie presented Takao's view of Yukino as a mysterious older lady to the viewers too. You're left guessing about Yukino's situation even when the POV shifts to her. It'll be interesting to see what people think of Takao and Yukino's relationship and the climax of the film.

The soundtrack is limited but the few tracks that did play were nice. However I felt that the volume could have been toned down when characters spoke cause it got a little distracting trying to listen to the dialogue. Production wise, it's another deathly gorgeous film as expected of Shinkai. Especially for foot fetishists. lol

If you think that it's like 5cm, then you're not really off but at the same time it's no 5cm rehash. The emotions are a lot less... bottled up(?) than 5cm, particularly towards the end. A lot of symbolism in it too. The Q&A session was pretty informative and shed some light on the symbolism and wordplay that went into the scenes. Unfortunately the interviewer was kinda incompetent, so the session didn't feel as well utilized as it could've. The audience's questions were only a little better. Most useless question award goes to "why are the characters less detailed than the background?". There's also a hilarious yet facepalm worthy moment where the interviewer brought up how people called Shinkai's works "scenery porn". I really wonder how his translator explained that to him.

Shinkai himself is a great man in person. Humble and friendly, he really did all he could in order to allow all his fans a chance to greet him to the point he held another autograph session after the movie for those who were at the back of the (very long) queue earlier and did not get to have a go. Those of us who were first in line were even allowed to come back to take photos with him. It was a truly unforgettable experience.

Oh my goodness, I'm extremely jealous too!!! Mind staying in this thread for a while until we manage to see it so if we have questions on the wordplay and symbolism, you can probably shed some light as discussed by Shinkai-san himself?

[Vito]

Thanks for the review, I hope I get to see it soon. First 5 minutes were played on TV Tokyo after Beyond the Clouds today

[Solafighter]

Now I agree. Feet fetish.

But damn, at the first sequence, the rain splashing on the water looks so amazing, almost to real.

[MisaoFan]

Originally Posted by Vito

Thanks for the review, I hope I get to see it soon. First 5 minutes were played on TV Tokyo after Beyond the Clouds today

I've seen the first five minutes of this movie, it was very beautiful indeed, I like the verdurous scenery as well the superb character designs. The story however is a typical "boy meets girl" romance story, it might not expand a lot but it will maintain some deep meanings behind the relationship. I'll probably watch it just for the awesome animation department.

[Dextro]

Originally Posted by MisaoFan

I've seen the first five minutes of this movie, it was very beautiful indeed, I like the verdurous scenery as well the superb character designs. The story however is a typical "boy meets girl" romance story, it might not expand a lot but it will maintain some deep meanings behind the relationship. I'll probably watch it just for the awesome animation department.

It's just the usual theme Makoto Shinkai uses for most of his works. I know it sounds stereotypical but the works tend to be powerful pieces with a meaningful message behind them. Don't disregard the story just because you've heard the premises a million times before.

[Kakkou]

Short version of the movie's image song "Kotonoha" by Motohiro Hata. There are clips from the movie not seen in the trailer or first 5 mins. No spoilers, so go ahead if you want more scenery porn before the BD comes out.

[Revan21]

That was a sweet movie.
A simple love story about two people who are feeling insecure on their own level of society but give strength to each other, and we get some extremely gorgeous art by Shinkai-sensei

Spoiler for Ending:

It also had a more optimistic outcome than we might be accustomed to coming from Shinkai

[bobokagagoka]

Originally Posted by Revan21

That was a sweet movie.
A simple love story about two people who are feeling insecure on their own level of society but give strength to each other, and we get some extremely gorgeous art by Shinkai-sensei

Spoiler for Ending:

It also had a more optimistic outcome than we might be accustomed to coming from Shinkai

what happened at the end? it doesn't have english sub at the end. i don't know what he's saying.

[Revan21]

Originally Posted by bobokagagoka

what happened at the end? it doesn't have english sub at the end. i don't know what he's saying.

Spoiler for Ending:

The contents of letter are apperantely not importnat, and Takao is saying:

"I now think that I was learning how to walk then, as well. One day, once I'm able to walk a far, far greater distance, I'll come for you."

[blakstealth]

Did they just get lazy with the Eng. subs near the end and decide not to translate it anymore? lol

I also have a question:

Spoiler:

Does anyone know what Takao was holding in the epilogue? Was it some kind of note or letter to Yukino? It was the thing with the date 2014/2/3 on the bottom.

[MeoTwister5]

It's difficult to describe the movie but... I think the closest comparison I can make is that it reminds me a lot of Lost in Translation. That is to say, two people who seem to be rather alienated from the rest of the world serendipitously find each other in a small park rest, and out of that habit of being there on rainy days a bond forms between two unlikely strangers who find comfort in a world they don't feel like they belong to.

Or some such. A simple but elegantly crafted 46 minute film about two people who find strength in each other when they can't find it anywhere else, animated in true Shinkai animation porn.

[garbage]

short, sweet, beautiful.

[bastek66]

5 wallpapers per second

[Kanon]

This was as gorgeous looking as Shinkai's other works. Perhaps even more so. Some shots were breathtaking. Rain has never look this pretty before. How does Shinkai do it? There's such a gap between his movies and pretty much everything else. The man is a god.

The story was also excellent. It somehow gave me an otona joshi no anime time vibe. Nothing groundbreaking but it was marvelously executed. A simple yet effective love story. I loved it.

Glad Shinkai is back to what he does best. I enjoyed Houshi o ou kodomo and it was probably an interesting experience for him, but romance is definitely his forte.

[Solafighter]

Just watched it. So great. It has been a while, seeing such a brilliant film. Enjoyed every single frame.

Well done, Shinkai!

[Master_Yoma]

This was very enjoyable but just so short

[Azuma Denton]

Shinkai's made porn anime is always delight to see...
Narration is sweet as usual.

But kinda upset with the ending.
I want the boy to give the shoes he made to Yukino, not just leave them at the garden they usually meet.

[Dextro]

Well, at least we got a somewhat happy ending for once. Still left my heart tight but at least it wasn't soul crushing like 5cm per second

Also: fantastic visuals as usual. I can't say I was a big fan of the direction though. The movie works perfectly fine but it feels like, at times, they wanted more to show off the amazing animation instead of using it to support the story. It's still a great movie but I wouldn't call it a masterpiece this time.

Note: I personally consider 5cm per second a masterpiece

[Vito]

Originally Posted by blakstealth

Did they just get lazy with the Eng. subs near the end and decide not to translate it anymore? lol

You watched a bad rip, that's all there is to it.