Forum - View topicREVIEW: Summer Wars [Hosoda Collection] BD+DVD
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Jayhosh
 Posts: 972 Location: Millmont, Pennsylvania |
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I don't think the points the review makes are that effectively connected to the idea of "not holding up over time" that the reviewer uses as a basis. More like just general complaints some people might have, and always have had since it's release, about the film. Me, I think it's a great film that gets a lot of points for its pure entertainment value, style and character/family dynamic and interactions alone. Also the soundtrack is too good to deserve a B. 9/10 for me. Would probably be an 8 but granny is a total bad-ass and that's worth a whole point boost in and of itself. It's crazy to think this film came out 7 years ago already.
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CatSword
 Posts: 1489 |
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I have Summer Wars as a solid 10 and probably always will. It's by far my favorite anime film, with a solid set of characters, drama, and an awesome ending fight scene.
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Blood-
 Bargain Hunter Posts: 24136 |
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Yeah, I find the "test of time" thing odd. To me the weaknesses of the film were obvious from day 1. It's not like the intervening six years have suddenly made them manifest. They were always there.
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Sahmbahdeh
Posts: 713 |
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As others have said, I'm not sure why you framed the review in such a manner. In regards to the actual issues, I have to adamantly disagree with one in particular, namely
Maybe you could elaborate on how the network users coming together to help defeat Love Machine undermines the message of teamwork and community the film espoused? Because to me it did the opposite, and strengthened those themes. |
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Princess_Irene
ANN Reviewer
 Posts: 2652 Location: The castle beyond the Goblin City |
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I felt that having all of the other users come together to help the family undercut the "real" versus "virtual" network theme because they were all people known solely online, i.e. in the virtual world. Therefore they weren't physically part of the network like the people Sakae (Granny) called or present like the Jinnouchis. It seemed to me to imply that the same strength that the family connections presented could also be found in a virtual network, which goes against what Hosoda said he was going for.
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GeorgeC
Posts: 795 |
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Frankly,
I've NEVER seen the point of these special editions from Funimation. Sure, I like what I've seen of Hosada's films -- I STILL think Wolf Children is probably the best of his films that I've seen -- BUT there's nothing in the new releases/special editions that makes me want to pick them up when I already have the original Blu ray releases! So, so many complaints already about the poor packaging on the "Girl Who Leapt Beyond Time" SE release from Funimation and that one didn't even have the soundtrack CD that the Bandai "Girl Who Leapt Beyond Time" DVD special edition had! The lack of special features was part of the reason I passed on the Bandai BD of GWL in the first place...! That and the fact that the film was available on BD for less than a year the first time around in the US market... At least it came back around unlike the Satoshi Kon features released only on DVD which are STILL out of print in the States! Those I am glad I bought and kept the first time around! Special edition to me means content that's WORTHWHILE that I can't get on a regular edition release... Things like CD soundtracks and additional behind-the-scenes features and video specials you DON'T normally see on "regular" editions DVDs or Blu rays. I'm really NOT impressed by collector cards, transparent Amaray/BD casings, and such. That's NOT special edition... They practically used to give away the kind of special edition extras I'm talking about on the BETTER DVD releases in the past! These Hosada SE's just have the same BD as the original releases with a lousy, tiny artbook they're charging an additional $15-$20 for! I already have problems paying much more than $20 for MOST feature films on Blu ray let alone anime feature films. Anime has always been more expensive than the mainstream Hollywood releases but this "special edition" booklet stuff is almost beyond chintzy! Add to this the botched limited edition releases of Escaflowne AND Code Geass and it makes me wonder about Funimation sometimes. I don't like to complain about anime licensing companies in the US because there are NOT that many to begin with and the larger companies like Disney who DO have some anime licenses really don't promote them as well as they could. I mean for heaven's sake GKids is the company promoting Ghibli more often now and coordinating releases of films to theater that Disney had the home video licenses for!!! I'm not even speaking of Ocean Waves, Only Yesterday, or other Ghibli licenses Disney passed on for the US market -- I'm speaking of Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke which Disney COULD be doing more with even now!!! |
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Monster Hunter
Posts: 335 |
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I love this movie even with all it's faults. Sure the virtual stuff with Love Machine isn't as good and is a rehash of the Digimon Movie's first part but that is still enjoyable. The real world stuff is where the movie truly shines for me. I love the characters, their interactions, the family dynamic, and everything they are involved with. Extra points for how awesome and badass Granny was. I still cry every time during the reading of Granny's letter to the family and Wabisuke is remembering the first time he met Granny. To when he comes in crashing the car demanding to see Granny and has his final meeting with her. Dammit I am getting teary just thinking about it.
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Actar
 Posts: 1074 Location: Singapore |
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Speaking of which, for those who haven't noticed the similarities yet, I made a video earlier this year comparing the two movies scene-for-scene. |
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zensunni
 Posts: 1294 |
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I tend to agree with the others who have commented that time has little to do with the flaws the film has. They were always there, but I never considered them to detract from the film's worth. It is a great story with great characters. The grandma alone is worth her weight in gold! (That and the fact that spoiler[the geek gets the girl])
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Lemonchest
Posts: 1771 |
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To me summer wars always felt like two good films - one about meeting the in-laws & one about kids saving the world in VR - that were awkwardly cut together. Will take more than a sassy granny to win me over.
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xchampion
 Posts: 370 Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho |
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Its because they are both direct by Hosoda... |
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Blood-
Bargain Hunter Posts: 24136 |
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@ GeorgeC - your criticisms of Funi's "special editions" are legitimate and well put. Sadly, due to my huge love for Wolf Children, I suspect they are going to get my money on that one even if objectively I understand it's probably not worth it. I'll stick to the regular editions of the other Hosada, though.
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Fronzel
Posts: 1906 |
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I imagine the argument is that Hosoda shouldn't be repeating his own work so much. Personally I couldn't stand to finish this film and the high regard in which Hosoda is held is a mystery to me. |
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Jose Cruz
 Posts: 1796 Location: South America |
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Summer Wars was in my top 10 when I joined this forum over 4 years ago. A great movie indeed that I haven't re-watched in 5 years by now.
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Actar
Posts: 1074 Location: Singapore |
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Yes... I acknowledged that in literally the first seconds of the video... |
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