|
SYNOPSIS:
Makoto Konno, a girl attending high school in Tokyo's shitamachi,
gains the power to go back in time and re-do things (the time-leap)
when she gets involved in an accident at a train crossing
one day.
A little bewildered with her new powers at first, Makoto uses
them extravagantly to avoid being tardy and to get perfect
grades on tests. However, things begin to turn bad as she
discovers how her actions can adversely affect others. Along
the way, Makoto's aunt, Kazuko Yoshiyama offers some advice
to her niece, with the hint that she herself had done something
similar in the past. One of Makoto's friends Chiaki is the
one who had brought the item that caused Makoto's powers.
MOVIE
REVIEW
The first
thing that made me realize that I’ll like this anime
film is the use of the lovely piano in its opening titles.
Somehow, the melancholic tune of the tinkling piano always
has an effect on me whenever I watch Japanese animation films
– it leaves me deep in thought.
Then came
the creativity, the imagination and the unpredictability of
the movie’s storyline which affirmed my liking for this
Best Animation Film at the 2006 Awards of the Japanese Academy.
Based on the novel written by Yasutaka Tsutsui (Paprika),
the screenplay is brought to life by Satoko Okudera (Hana).
Who would have thought of having a clumsy girl attending high
school to literally leap through time to realize that some
of our lives’ most precious moments last only for the
moment?
The story
sees Makato gaining the power to travel through time to save
herself from getting into trouble that she can avoid. Soon,
she realizes that this will affect others, and at the same
time, one of her best friends becomes involved in this magical
tale that will leave you reflecting about the memorable years
gone by.
Like most
anime films from the Land of the Rising Sun, this one charms
with its powerful and imaginative storyline, there is no way
you’d predicted how the plot would progress at the beginning
of the movie. The subplots do not pale in comparison when
they are weaved into the main plot, and you’d be remembering
every character and their individual stories.
The simple
animation is appealing and effective too, without being too
showy and phony. There are some moments when a more high-tech
animation is infused into the story (the parts where Makato
travels through time), and it works well enough for you to
sit up and notice. And speaking of which, director Mamoru
Hosoda (Digimon: The Movie) is a master storyteller because
the filmmaker made me grab the edge of my seat in one pivotal
scene which takes place at a railway track – without
giving too much away, let’s just say it’s one
of my favorite movie sequence this year.
Everyone
will enjoy this pleasant production - Whether you are a teenager
who will find the scenes where Makato and her friends chatting
about teenage-hood familiar and affective, whether you are
an adult who will find the whole concept of cherishing every
moment of your life thoughtful and meaningful, whether you
are a animation lover who is always on the lookout for a sincere
anime film: this will definitely satisfy you.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
This
Code 3 disc only comes with a trailer – what a shame,
because so much could have been said about the concept of
the movie.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The
visual transfer of the animated film is pristine and pleasing,
while the audio soundtrack is presented in Japanese Dolby
Digital 2.0.
MOVIE
RATING:
DVD
RATING :
Review
by John Li
|
