Suzume Soars and Stumbles: A Shinkai Spectacle Reviewed

While echoing previous tales, it offers its own cinematic charm, proving that Shinkai's magic, even if revisited, rarely dims. A visually delightful ride worth every frame. 🍿🎬✨

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆☆

(4 stars)

I sat down, waiting for Makoto Shinkai to dazzle me once again, and dazzle he did. With his latest anime movie venture, "Suzume," he certainly didn't skimp on the “wow” factor. Each frame? An artful embrace that begs to be your next desktop wallpaper.

Déjà Vu: The Shinkai Blueprint?

It’s hard not to juxtapose this story with Shinkai’s past epics. While meteors graced "Your Name" and ceaseless rain in "Weathering with You," it's Earthquakes in Suzume.

The disappearing love interest theme? Still there. The ethereal final arc? Yep, that too. This might be Shinkai’s signature dish, but I've had that flavor before- Young love, natural disaster, fantasy, a poof!—disappearing act—followed by a soulful search.

Love and Randomness: Suzume’s Emotional Landscape

Your Name's body-swapping antics added depth to character relationships. Taki and Mitsuha's feelings? Authentic. Gourmet. A slice of soulful tiramisu. In Weathering With You, we had runaway kids figuring out life on their own in a big city. There was a deeper nuance, a shared emotional experience.

In Suzume, within the first arc, the male lead, Souta is turned into a chair, as hinted in the trailer. At this point, he is pretty much a stranger– and things quickly move to, "I don't want a world without Souta." The gravity wasn't just there. Also, the dynamic between Suzume and her aunt flips randomly. There are characters like the Keystone Kittens whose actions and motivations aren't clear. Felt disconnected.

Pacing and Plotting: Doors, Running, and Earthly Woes

Starts off like a SpaceX launch and settles into a hot-air balloon pace. That’s Suzume for you. Speaking of signature styles, you guessed it- lots of running and traveling! Shinkai's films might as well come with Nike endorsements at this point. It’s like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible but with teenage angst, supernatural events, and jaw-dropping visuals- the classic Shinkai marathon, and you have a visually stunning road trip through love, lore, and loss.

Ultimately, a random sequence of events in the world beyond the doors is paradoxical and never fully explained. The plot certainly falls a bit short, but I guess that's not what we are here for.

Sonic Delight: Where’s The Encore?

The auditory feast served is, as always, beautiful. But if you’re yearning for that one song sequence that'll tug at your heartstrings, you might be left tapping your feet in wait till the curtains drop.

This is significantly different from his previous works, where songs were a major part of key sequences in the movie.

Antagonistic Innovations

For once, our antagonist isn't just an abstract force of nature. The "Keystones," the "Worm" - they aren't just narrative devices, they're characters in their own right. It's refreshing, even if their purpose sometimes feels like they’re merely a plot-propelling afterthought.

Summing the Spectacle: The Shinkai Scale

Comparing Suzume to its predecessors is inevitable. It stands tall, not just on the shoulders of giants, but as a giant itself - in the world of visual artistry. However, narrative-wise, it leans on Shinkai’s earlier masterpieces. While it’s undeniably a magical experience, it’s also reminiscent of past magic. The bar Shinkai set? Perhaps too lofty, even for him.

The Final Frame: Artistry over Explanation

Events flutter in like confetti, settling where they may, without much ado. But that's the Shinkai style: prioritizing the paintbrush over the pen. It's Shinkai's best work yet in that context. While Suzume may not be his magnum opus with the plot, it's a testament to his unwavering commitment to delivering a cinematic spectacle each time.🍿🌌🎥

It's an eye candy worth experiencing for moviegoers of all demographics.