Student Film Reviews

Film reviews from theaters, couches, and film festivals

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1. Ivan Volkov 02.22.17 / 10pm

   I’ve heard from others this film is absolutely wonderful. I love how you point out that there countless reasons to watch this film, but you’ve narrowed them down to a few. I can only assume that these few reasons are some of the most important to you and most likely the reader. I like how you pointed out the establishing shots that let the audience know where the scene is. Also, I also agree that attention to detail can add to wonders to film. It sounds like the gnats and most likely other details that you haven’t mentioned really give a sense of immersion to the film. I might just have to watch this soon, since I am a huge animation fan and love being deeply engrossed into films. I suspect that the continual use of you comparing this film to an action film, must mean that this animation must be truly unique in the action that it does present.
2. Ivan Volkov 02.22.17 / 10pm

   I’ve heard from others that this film is absolutely wonderful. I love how you point out that there are countless reasons to watch this film, but you’ve narrowed them down to a few. I can only assume that these few reasons are some of the most important to you and most likely the reader. I like how you pointed out that there are establishing shots that let the audience know where the scene is. Also, I agree that attention to detail can add wonders to film. It sounds like the gnats and most likely other details that you haven’t mentioned really give a sense of immersion. I might just have to watch this soon, since I am a huge animation fan and love being deeply engrossed into films. I suspect that the continual use of you comparing this film to an action film, must mean that this animation must be truly unique in the action that it does present.
3. Audrey Carganilla 05.22.17 / 3pm

   Hello! It’s refreshing to see a review of a Japanese animated movie, and in particular, Your Name, on here. I feel like in the Western world, people tend to have a negative view on films or shows that are stylistically “anime” so seeing a film that isn’t by Hayao Miyazaki/Ghibli Studios like Your Name being brought to US theaters feels like an accomplishment. I enjoyed how you related elements of film making to this film and how immersive the cinematography is. Nice review!
4. Yueh Chun WU 06.10.17 / 11pm

   The film Your Name, directed by Makoto Shinkai, which is a Animation, Drama, Fantasy and nominated by Outstanding Achievement in Directing in an Animated Feature Production. This film was absolutely amazing for me, and also I like the way director describe the movie was not too straight forward, but you will use the each pieces of the movie to construct a big point of the movie. I think the most cooler part of the movie is when Taki Tachibana trying to find Mitsuha Miyamizu but she has already died in two years ago by the meteorite, and all of the sudden, you will find out all of the drama in the first part of the movie was just a fiction to Taki Tachibana.
5. daishanduan 07.28.17 / 8pm

   Thank you for bringing us a good review of Your Name. I have not seen this film yet, but I will have a try after reading your review. It is a clear and concise review. You have mentioned some advantages of this film. You believe this film is not like an animated film, but it is more like a live action film. That sounds perfect. I have seen so many animated films, and I also have seen those that seem like live action ones. I like both of them, but I like the “real” one more. Byousoku 5 Centimeter is my favorite. I know both of them are made by the same director, Shinkai. Therefore, I definitely should try Your Name.
6. Raissa Onglengco 09.03.17 / 11am

   Your review for Your Name makes me want to watch the movie and see all of this magic for myself! I like how you narrowed your praises to eight specific details that enhance the, what seems to be, amazing animation film. I was very intrigued when you mentioned that even though it was an animation film, all of the finite details seemed to be more real than what it actually is in real life. I’m also interested in seeing what you mean, when you say that Makoto makes his animation differently that an establishing shot may not necessarily be needed all of the time. Thanks for the spark of interest from your great review!
7. Jessica Le sbcc 09.07.17 / 9am

   I clearly remember my first experience watching “Your Name,” and it blew all expectations out of the water. It’s interesting the review mentions it’s the experience of a live-action movie when it is an animated film; I think it truly attests to how concise and fluid the animation is. Studio Ghibli films have always done a phenomenal job of capturing this detailed, vibrant but quiet method of animation but “Your Name” (produced by CoMix Wave Films) is the epitome of that. I’m thrilled to see an anime feature film be such a huge success in mainstream film because this movie captures so much emotional impact and the cinematography is breathtaking. I can see how and why it is currently the worldwide highest-grossing anime film. The form of the film captures the experience and feelings of the characters’ body swap, and the director, Makoto Shinkai, simply did an amazing job.
8. Leah Urzua 10.13.17 / 1pm

   I also remember how blown away I was after having watched this film myself. It was funny, strange, tragic, romantic, and magical. The cinematographers used so many vibrant colors, especially with the “meteorite” that dazzled me. Time was a strange concept in this anime because sometimes I was confused about which time period and setting the plot was at, it kept changing. The evidence that Mitsuha and Taki find points to their existence even when they cannot locate each other in real time. Furthermore, the animation had a lot of attention to detail with everything from the nature shots to the different towns. I found myself fiercely hoping that they’d finally find each other by the end and was very impressed with the director’s ability to evoke so many emotions using the character’s personalities, the animation, the sound, lighting, and cinematography.
9. Rujie Wang 11.09.17 / 12pm

   Not feeling better than the previous one? Instead, the big screen is more like a slide show, where is the story? It feels too unhuman and wants to be like a person who is completely unemotional. And there are moments when the work reveals deep indifference, and the romantic warmth of the surface package is more frightening than the beauty of the romance.
10. Ellia Rodriguez 11.15.17 / 7pm

    I love that the author of this review regards the cinematography comparable to a live action film, which I agree with. The settings for this movie is a point worth note. It’s true that each setting that was chosen is very special and captivating. I wish the author talked more about the shots of the two characters in their two different settings.
11. Nicholas Rodriguez 10.18.18 / 1pm

    This was a well-paced review for the film “Your Name”. To start I agree that the paced was well done as when you think it’s going to be repetitive the plot twist happen that leaves the viewer surprised and curious of what will happen next. Also, I agree that as you watch the film it feels less animated and more live action as the amount of detail shows in the backdrops of Tokyo and the village. Also, the cinematography was impressive as main shots have important purpose from seeing the meteorite falling to crater in the city. I feel that the director Makoto Shinkai is someone who will replace Hayao Miyazaki in the near future to prove his talents as a up and coming director.
12. Pablo Ortega 06.06.20 / 11pm

    This was a really pleasant review of your name to read. One of the main things that I remember from watching this movie was how distracted I was just watching the amazing quality of the art, that I often had to remember to read the subtitles. I did not remember noticing the shaky cam that you mentioned, which is probably a good sign that it was done in a good manner, to accentuate scenes, rather than the shakiness becoming distracting like they are in some live action movies. I agree with you that your name was a “masterpiece of story telling”, as when I saw the movie, and saw what the twist was, I actually felt moved by it. All the reasons that you listed are also the reasons that I loved this movie, and being the first Japanese animation movie that I watched (other than anime series), it made me realize that there is a whole genre of movies that I had not seen, but am slowly discovering them now thanks to Your Name.
13. Mohamed Dounane 10.16.20 / 3pm

    I enjoyed reading your review of “your name” (kimi no nawa), this movie changed my vision on Japanese animated productions, Makoto Shinkai focuses on every single details of the character’s daily life from cooking eggs to their facial expression when they wake up and it is really enjoyable. I believe in westerns civilization, generally we mistake Japanese anime for cartoons and don’t realize how different it is before truly watching a few of them. the story presented in Japanese anime can be really complex (“erased”, “promised never land”) thus, we should watch it seriously while considering what is question. I disagree when you say that no other Japanese movies focuses on the details so much, I believe movies such as “weathering with you” ,”silent voice” or series such as “Anohana” focus on details a lot. However, I completely agree with you, the realism pictured in “your name” is on another level, it makes it a masterpiece and personally one of my favorite movie.
14. Ryan Ando 09.08.22 / 6pm

    This is one of those movies that I wish I could see for the first time again. it’s nice to see other people share my love for this movie. The visuals like you said are incredible, it really is just beautiful to look at. The backgrounds, the ambiance, the music, and the characters, it is all done so well. excellent mise en scene. One of the things I like most about Japanese animation is that they make animated movies that could have been made much cheaper and easier if they were live-action with real actors, but they don’t because you lose the magic and beauty of any good animated film when you do that. That’s something Disney could learn to appreciate instead of giving all of their classics the live-action treatment.
15. Luke Spencer 10.19.22 / 9pm

    I completely agree with you. This film was truly a fantastic display of imaginative ability in regards to its animation. Not only was the story fantastic, but on top of it all it was just outstandingly beautiful to look at. I truly feel as if I would have been satisfied just watching the film with no audio. The film was a masterpiece. One of the best displays of the capabilities of animation that I have ever seen if not the best. It captured the moment of real life while remaining 2D and that is something that is difficult to achieve. (I am an artist so it was really awesome for me to see especially because I am interested in possible pressing animation as a future varied choice)
16. Lexani Esparza 03.05.23 / 3pm

    I enjoyed reading your review of “Your Name,” I really love the visuals that this film has and it’s a really fun one to watch as well. The settings (backgrounds), the characters, and the music really make this film come alive during the mise-en-scene. I agree with you about the pacing of this film because it does pull you in and then you start to get emotionally attached to these characters due to how well the narrative is. This animated film really focuses on details and doesn’t rush anything like live-action films does. “Your Name” really makes the audience feel like they are in the character’s world due to the realism and how you can connect with them when they switch bodies with each other. Most of all, the cinematography is thoughtful such as in other films like “Belle” or “A Whisker Away.”
17. Breza Quinones 09.26.23 / 9am

    Hi Luke, I️ felt your review of Your Name was short and simple. However, effective. I️ completely agree that the visuals and camera work of this film is insanely incredible. As if that wasn’t enough, the storyline of this film is also amazing and unique. One of my favorite things to look out for in animated films is the attention to detail. The director Makoto Shinkai did not disappoint in this field. It’s as you said “Somehow the cinematographer and director of this film made you feel like you were really watching a live action film rather than an animated one.”
18. Lingfeng Li 11.11.23 / 10pm

    I’m glad that the movie Your Name is being liked and getting so many reviews. I personally like Makoto Shinkai’s movies very much, and Your Name is also one of Makoto Shinkai’s masterpieces. As the author said, Your Name is far more like a real scene than an anime in terms of camera angles and details in the depiction of objects. Yes, Many of Makoto Shinkai’s animation styles, especially several recent movies, have put a lot of effort into depicting the details of objects. This has made Your Name not only highly praised for its storytelling, but also for its exquisite graphics. Gradually, some exquisite pictures of Your Name were edited into healing short videos by some attentive viewers.

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