Comments on: 5 Centimeters per Second review

By: Brent

Brent — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:08:00 +0000

I didn’t really like this movie too much. I watched it because it was pretty highly rated on anime news network so I wanted to give it a try. I guess my main problem was that it didn’t feel like there was any meaning behind anything that happened in the movie. I felt like the movie was attempting to seem like it had a message and some a deep meaning but nothing was really there.

However, I thought the whole part with the train in episode 1 was extremely well done. I felt like it was sort of ruined by the ending though because as great as that first part was the ending really took away any value it had to me.

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:56:32 +0000

There are a few puzzles that I don’t understand. From the series of flashbacks at the end, it seems that Takaki (nearly) came across with Akari several times after they parted at the end of the first movie.

In one scene, Takaki seemed to be riding on his motor scooter (somewhere in Tanegashima presumably), where he saw a girl with long hair walking on the beach. Is she Akari?

Another one happened in Tokyo when Takaki was on the train and a girl looked Akari was standing on the opposite platform, reading a book.

By: Murray

Murray — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:53:08 +0000

This, I believe, is the most touching thing I’ve ever seen. I was so inspired by the first episode. Not knowing anything like this myself, the first episode made me feel so hopeful and emotional. I quickly continued to the second episode, where I was deeply touched in a completely different way. The second episode related everything I had felt to real life. It sort of depressed me, but really integrated my feelings into my reality. Then when the third episode ended, I got temporarily upset with whoever it was that made this movie. It was thoroughly depressing and sad; it made me cry. But overall, after reading the great review at the top of the page, I am so glad that I watched this movie and I enjoyed it so much. I just finished about half an hour ago, so my mind is spinning. I probably won’t think of the right things to write in my comment until tomorrow morning but as is the message of this movie(at least to me), life doesn’t always work out. My least favorite thing about it is directly tied the my most favorite. It ends in sadness, but it helps me to understand life and love. Love can be so strong, but it doesn’t always work out, and that’s life. It’s just a part of living and learning. We’re all meant to love and to be happy, but that doesn’t mean that we won’t have sadness. Just thinking about this movie gives me all sorts of emotions. Truly inspiring and touching. 10 out of 10 and 3 thumbs up.

By: Java Lu

Java Lu — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:58:13 +0000

I have a different take on why and how Akari and Takaki drifted apart and never got back.
my reasoning: In episode 3 during the theme song, it shows Akari and Takaki both checking mail box for each other’s mail and neither of them got any. Then notice in episode 1, Takaki promised to write and call(not cell phone) to Akari but we all know Takaki never did that. Akari wanted Takaki to move on since she and Takaki think they will never meet again, as she said in the end of episode 1 that Takaki will be fine with out her, but ofcourse Akari didn’t mean it. Takaki is nervous to write just like the girl who is nervous to confess in second episode that’s why he never wrote but he waited for Akari to write to him as he also did not know if Akari really meant that He will be fine with out her(you will be fine with out me seem to me as a break up sentence). So Akari was waiting for Takaki to contact her the whole time, she even try to write a mail to Takaki on the same pink clove letter as her first letter but she was too sad to finsh it(episode 3 theme music part)because she told him to move on in episode 1. So if she is not contacted as promised, i guess she really thought Takaki has moved on and feel bad if she did send him a letter. Where as Takaki think and took Akari’s word to heart “you will be fine without me”.

So my take is they were both still in love with each other, but hassertation, miss judgement of words and time( time because they only have each others contact when they were 13 years old ) broke them. I bet that when Takaki was writing all those text message he wished that he knew Akari’s number.

By: steven

steven — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:32:43 +0000

this movie was definitely one of the best anime ever in my opinion.
it touched me just as much as a movie with live actors.
i loved the ending too, it’s cool how takaki decided to move on after not seeing akari on the other side of the train. beautiful.

By: just another lover of great movies

just another lover of great movies — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:03:30 +0000

this was perhaps the most stunning and beautiful movie I have ever seen and it wouldn’t stretch the truth if I said: ‘I have never been as moved by any movie or anything else of the sort’, this was also a stunning review and comments page because what i didn’t get in the film was made clear on this page and it made the movie all the better (although a little sadder).

“This movie is so grounded in reality that it makes the movie even more depressing, and I know for sure that this movie will be among my top rated DVD’s ever, period.” -Joedaman (post above)

I cannot agree with you more. This will also be among the greatest movies I will ever have the privilege of watching. I was so moved by this movie that if I so much as see the movie case it pulls at my heartstrings.

Thank you so much Makoto Shinkai, Yumeka and all the people that posted you have made my week and my top rated DVD’s all that much better

By: Joedaman

Joedaman — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 05:19:04 +0000

Just finished this movie, and I don’t think I have been so touched by such a realistic anime, or movie in general.

To the dude above me, I doubt that it was Kanae in bed with Takaki. Throughout the entire third episode you get to see a black haired women, who is Takaki’s ex. That’s who is in bed with Tohno.

This movie is so grounded in reality that it makes the movie even more depressing, and I know for sure that this movie will be among my top rated DVD’s ever, period.

By: E.J

E.J — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:52:23 +0000

First off…great movie. I loved the art, it was amazingly beautiful and very detailed. The story was so brilliant and real. Just Amazing.

I believe that the ex-girlfriend mentioned in the 3rd ‘episode,’ was Kanae. My reason to believe is a half second image in the third episode where it seems that Takaki and Kanae were on the same bed. You have to pause it just in time to see it.

Great review, it made more aware of the things that a missed.
Thanks

By: Brent P. Newhall

Brent P. Newhall — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:28:44 +0000

I agree with Ilasir – I think the point was that physical separation strains love. I think one of the reasons Takaki didn’t contact Akari was that distance. He didn’t know what she was like anymore, which scared him. So he’d write messages, but couldn’t bring himself to send them.

Now, certainly, long-distance relationships can work. I think this is an example of one that didn’t, and how long one person struggled with it. One of the problems here was that Takaki kept himself in limbo — unable to start a new relationship, and unable to re-connect with the old one. And he ultimately lost a lot of time that way.

I and a compatriot talk about this in great detail on our podcast at http://brentnewhall.com/otaku_no_video/archive.php?id=34 if you’re interested.

In any event, thanks to Yumeka for the review! Great to see a long, thoughtful, and emotionally involving review.

By: totitot

totitot — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:27:06 +0000

very nice review and a great movie… i do agree that the third episode was kinda unclear and a bit frustrating but the entire movie was great… though ultimately i would have preferred for takaki and akari to end up together… because the first episode was too damn good!!!!!