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REVIEW: Kizumonogatari: Koyomi Vamp Anime Film Review

I was really let down by this comp. Far from me being present for the fanservice scenes but to have so many cut completely out felt more like censorship than anything else. And as if Araragi could be motivated without them. Some cuts seemed good-- there were long discussions with Hanekawa that I always felt begged the question of, "Is Kizu trying to be a parody of cliche scenes right now or is it really sincerely this bad?" And probably the answer was always the latter. So those were cut which is perhaps a good thing.

Perhaps because why cut anything at all. Just watch the original three. In addition to the sexy scenes, dialogue, and plot (A stolen heart, for example,) some violence was also removed. Both scenes of Heart-Under-Blade and Araragi searching their memories. Those are like five seconds each so again, feels like censorship. "It's still hella gory!" Yeah it is but then we come back to, why edit it at all? If a viewer can't manage to enjoy three movies and needs them mashed into one, alright, no movies for you. I see no imperative to make a worse movie.

Feeling the missing scenes (I really couldn't believe the gym scene was completely cut except for "sin.") left a lot of room to feel how Araragi is truly the worst part of Monogatari and the series is good in spite of him. The conclusion harkened me for the first time to End of Eva and not in Kizu's favor. EoE pulled it off, the devastation, but Monogatari wants us to like Araragi and stay with him for the rest of the series after this shit. Final shot is him smiling because he's happy making everyone miserable if it means he doesn't suffer alone. And again, important to note, Araragi is always played as our dumbass-but-lovable protag instead of the despicable pedophilic narcissist he is. But, well, I believe in a person's right to die and Nisio Isin doesn't.

edit: and in case anyone gets confused by the EoE reference. EoE/Kizu spoiler: spoiler[Araragi and Shinji did opposite things but that they acted against others' wills is my point. Asuka wanted to live, Shinji strangles her again. Heart-Under-Blade wanted to die, Araragi forces her to live. ye]

Not sure what arc you mean, but the Araragi from Kizu was given a more antisocial personality since it is a year before Senjougahara met him and Hanekawa at least woke up his friendly side by force. There is something about Araragi's characterization in other series that feels like there is a big trainwreck in Araragi's head. We never see them, but it is said Araragi's parents are cops who once gave such a disciplinary punishment that only that made him into a "hero" who will always put himself in danger just to save others. Senjougahara apparently understands the guy a lot as seen in that monkey hand arc which apparently is the true reason Araragi ended up falling in love with her rather than Hanekawa. Owarimonogatari was meant to end Araragi's story but they say his adult life will be explored in future works.

Heart-Under-Blade wanted to die, Araragi forces her to live. ye