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| 2. Olmanek
The strength of love, and the cruelty of it, is made painfully
clear in this movie, instead of presenting a placating ending where everyone sings
and dances as the sun shines high, we are subjected to a black and white world,
to symbolise the nature of the events and the behaviour of Kasuga, with however
the past moments all in colour, I assume in some association with the title of
the movie. A more realistic side of the characters
is presented to help you appreciate the tone of the movie, thankfully however
this new direction doesn't seem even remotely contrived, with the characters easily
embracing the new direction as a simple extension of their own personality's which
was just not properly played out until this point. Due to the length of the series,
and then the extra set of OAV's, the viewer comes to find a real sense of empathy
for every character, thus making every experience every moment and every situation
very intense and personal, finding that the difference between happiness and tragedy
lies simply in the vantage point you have. Notably there is a potent moment, towards
the end of the movie, a quiet but powerful one which shows and sums up the movie,
it only takes 30 seconds, while the movie is over an hour, I do not wish to speak
of it in detail, as we all take different things from movies, it is best to let
each individual find their own meanings from what is offered. |
| 1. Cross
Scars
For an entire 48 episode TV series and an 8 part OAV viewers
of Kimagure Orange Road have been waiting to see how the love triangle
between Kyosuke, Hikaru and Ayukawa will finally be resolved. This
then, is the movie where all KOR fans get exactly what they've been waiting
for as Kyosuke finally makes a decision about which girl he truly loves. But rather
than being an all out soppy movie this film is in fact quite honest and harsh
about the result of Kyosuke's decision. Kyosuke makes his choice well before the
end of the movie and so we see the consequences of it, focusing on how those three
people who were the best of friends can no longer be together at all, as the one
on the outside is painfully ignored, and hence the title of the movie. Kyosuke
may have made his decision but it doesn't mean that even he is going to be completely
happy. This is not a full out happy fun as you might
expect, the happy ending is seriously muted, as is the romantic humour we've come
to expect from KOR. But this all works in favour of the film as it makes
the events that take place all the more touching. This feeling is enhanced as
after so many episodes with these great characters you feel as though you've developed
a real bond with them. It may have taken a long time to get to the end but it's
sure worth it. |
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