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His smile means that he's come to accept that he and Akari weren't ever meant to be together, and that he's happy that she's also moved on. And, in a way, they were finally able to see the cherry blossoms together again. Plus the two trains moving in opposite directions could be an analogy of their lives. That's how I interpreted it.
^Yup.
[Spoiler]
The very last episode explained everything, "even if we exchanged 1000 text our hearts wouldn't be able to be even 5cm closer" or something similar. I thought it was a great ending, even though it wasn't the happy ending that most would want. It was amazing and portrayed more of an actual situation of how people would actually be in real life. I of course wanted him to be with her but every time I think about it, it just made the movie that much greater that he didn't. irl you can't always get the girl, and you have to move on, which both of them did. Although I was very pissed at Akari at that very last scene.... it was amazing. Oh yeah, and the only reason Akari was reflecting on the past was because she found the letter that she never gave to him back when they first met again after a few years. Damn, if only Takaki didn't drop his in the train station. :/
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btw, I'd recommend all his movies, but if I'd had to rank them I'd say 5cm per sec > The Place Promised in Our Early Days > Voices of a Distant Star. And he actually varies with his story a lot more than you think event. You'll just have to watch and see. ;)
In retrospect, the only criticism I can think of is the lack of closure given to Kanae. What did everyone else think of this?
eh? She realized that no matter what she'd never be able to reach him cause he always had Akari in his heart. Basically, the same as what Takaki had realized, but it just didn't take her as long to. And well, it's hard to say since he never actually liked her like that, he'd text himself about how for some reason he was hanging out with this girl and wasn't sure why. But that was really it imo. I guess I could feel bad for her, but all it really was was a one sided love. :/Quote:
Originally Posted by be0wulf
And...well I feel bad about his ex girlfriend Misuzu, who was the one that was texting him about having something important that she had to say while she was at work right. Iono, I just felt like she knew she should move on but didn't want to. There are plenty of people out there like that. It was really a one sided thing and I'm sure she knew it which is why she broke up with him. But I'm sure if he was actually going to meet up with her again she'd ask him about marriage since there was that ring on the table.
I don't know... I mean... It felt like there wasn't that much more to tell about their relationship. I mean, they never would be a pair as she acted and the way the story went her tale had already been told. The story could have moved another way to give her closer, but then the last part might not have been as interesting as it was.Quote:
In retrospect, the only criticism I can think of is the lack of closure given to Kanae. What did everyone else think of this?
And on a side note on realism, like when he went to Shinjuku station in the first part was like deja vu to me. Amazingly well represented and recreated. It felt real. And damn... I could relate to his feelings on the train. Shit like that has happened to me loads of times. Always with girls I've been interested in of course. That uneasyness is hard to catch in fiction, but here it was dead on.
Agreed, but I might place Hoshi no Koe one step higher than Promised Place. Just because he did it in almost all entirely by himself, which is one hell of a feat. And the ending is so damn moving. Can't wait for Shinkai's next movie, whenever that may come.Quote:
btw, I'd recommend all his movies, but if I'd had to rank them I'd say 5cm per sec > The Place Promised in Our Early Days > Voices of a Distant Star. And he actually varies with his story a lot more than you think event. You'll just have to watch and see
Damn...I'm currently on a downloading spree for Shinkai's work.\
But yea, I don't think him and Misuzu will be able to get together again. Although I'll have to rewatch for the text messaging part.
The first part, at the conclusion, when you see Akari holding the love letter, you just know it's gonna be an emo ending. Who knows what might've happened if he hadn't lost the letter...
p.s. The director-san's name is MAKOTO. Ring any bells, vphamv? =D
Be0....fux you. D:
and yeah, his work is awesome. I had his website showing what he was working on, some more short stories but I lost the link. ;_;
I'm sure I'll probably see more of his work pop up sooner or later, either that or I'll be googling it up.
@lews - iono, maybe for the sheer fact that he did it himself you could, but the movie as a whole was just better imo. :S
If it was about credit for his work in each of the movies then ya I'd say the same, but yeah...
Well... It is a romance drama, how could it not have an emo ending? It's like a trademark of his, even though Promised Place might be an exception. A little bit. The last lines in that movie rocks.
I didn't get this :DQuote:
p.s. The director-san's name is MAKOTO. Ring any bells, vphamv? =D
P.S. I started the things like Shinkai Makoto's works thread some time back and I've got to recommend Pale Cocoon, that was recommended there, to anyone of you who hasn't seen it. Not the same style exactly, but it had the right feeling and I'd think you'll all like it.
Jesus, the art in the beginning of the second ova when they're sitting on that hill is good enough to make this whole movie worth watching. All the emotions the characters were feeling were spot on and so easy to relate to. I haven't seen a lot of drama-anime, but i'm gonna go watch the rest of this guys stuff now.
The first part was the best imo, I completely connected with how Takaki was feeling on the train.
I think throughout the movie there was a lot of "what-ifs". What if the train didn't run late? What if Takaki didn't lose the letter? What if Akari had given Takaki the letter? In the end, it's basically just dealing with us being fallible and making mistakes, but moving on nonetheless.
p.s. It's a running joke between vphamv and I. See my sig for a clue.