[Last Sinner]

Saw the film 2 weeks ago. Summary of my thoughts:

Spoiler for Summary of thoughts on final FSN HF film:

- I think a few scenes before Rider v Saber Alter were a bit lacking in execution, particularly Rin being visited by shadow Sakura instead of how more in depth it was in the VN. I also felt those awesome segues present in the first two movies were not there in this one. Those car segues gave me grief. Also felt Ilya explaining the Grail war origins got a bit dry.

- I thought Saber seemed to be lacking visuals a bit in that fight. Excalibur effects looked weird. Rider looked like an absolute boss. And given how much Rider was almost a discarded Servant across other arcs and first HF movie, it was about damn time.

- I think one of the subtly well executed things in the movie is almost being made to believe Rin is emotionless to an almost sociopathic level before she spares Sakura. That brief poker scene where Sakura had a junk hand while Rin had a full house but pretended she lost was genius.

- Another favourite moment is Sakura extracting Zouken from her. The satisfaction of Zouken getting what he deserved in such a manner was much needed.

-I thought smoke/blood/flame vapour effects looked gorgeous. I thought little moments like the 12 Hercules tasks when Berserker Alter was defeated was genius. Rider losing her chains was subtle but felt gigantic. Those mini Angra Manyus were troll but befitting. The joke of that final one giving Sakura some much needed clothing was hilarious.

- Flashback timing felt off at a couple of points. Why having one halfway through the Rider - Saber would be a good idea is beyond me. Kotomine flashback and the church shadows scene of establishing he had nothing to sever while Kiritsugu did and thus could put something back served as a major difference between him and Rin, which definitely helped Rin's cause.

- Zoroastrianism rant may feel a bit long winded but is a necessary parallel to give some sympathy for Sakura despite what she has become. Rin (Reason) vs Sakura (Emotion) rant was easily the best rant in the movie. Ilya running towards a silhouette of Irisviel felt like much needed closure for both of them.

- One of the Aozaki sisters appearing in the final minutes, leaving the store as Rin and Sakura enter to find the homunculus to reincarnate Shirou into. In general, the post final battle stuff showing Sakura recovering is one of the best unique things the movie has along with seeing adult versions of the characters.

- Was surprised they didn't use the New Dawn tune at all in the final minutes since it was a major payoff in completing Heaven's Feel in the VN. Wish Madman subbed the Aimer ED like they did in the first two films.

And on that, (re)adaptations of Witch on the Holy Night and Tsukihime are probably the remaining things I would see of Nasu's work anymore. He isn't an author anymore in 2020, he is a mogul now. But fair enough. Has to make money at some point. And there is the issue of whether ufotable's tax evasion issues will harm the studio long-term. I guess future work will show whether that is the case.

A career pre-mogul that gave Garden of Sinners, Tsukihime, Witch on the Holy Night and Fate/Stay Night is a pretty darn good one.