Sean Coleman

I was so excited to see this movie, but I left the theater feeling kind of disappointed. I really, really wanted to enjoy it (especially after driving two hours, one-way, to a theater that was showing it) but the story as a whole was terribly underwritten. I couldn't help but think, "This movie made almost half a billion world wide?" Individual story elements were neat, but the arc of the movie from start to finish was choppy and overall really weak. For example and without giving too much away, Rengoku's fight at the end was awesome visually. Top notch animation and choreography. But I was consistently distracted by the very abrupt appearance of his adversary. Rather than savor the fight, I kept trying to think if I had somehow missed his appearance earlier in the film. Maybe I need to see it again, but overall it wasn't worth the four hours of travel.

Now that I have finished full seasons in the movie, I honestly don't know what to do myself now. I became so connected to the characters that their absence is now a tangible hole in my heart. But I might also just be a bit bummed that my ship didn't make the voyage. Can't recommend enough.