Weathering-With You: Review

Shinkai’s sensitive treatment of these real-world problems gives the fantasy of “Weathering With You” a thought-provoking edge many more lavish American animated films lack.

The animation is stunning, particularly in his depictions of a drowning, almost jungle-like Tokyo and in the ethereal inner ecosystems of omnipresent cumulonimbus clouds.

CAUTION: SPOILERS AHEAD!

This is another MASTERPIECE from Makoto Shinkai. Weathering With You returned to the old Makoto Shinkai in terms of the way how he presents his messages to the audience while remains the absolutelt gorgeous image style. TBH, this movie has gone far above my expectation. The story is simpler than Kimi No Na Wa (Your Name.), which is easier to understand, some narritives at the start of the movie might seem unnecessary, but they outlined Hodaka’s inner, why Hina is so important to him and the motivations of him making the decision at the end of the movie, all the “unnecessary” narratives are the build up towards the end of the movie.

Also, the ending of the movie is quite different from most people’s expectations because Hodaka sacrificed Tokyo to save Hina. It seems selfish, but just think about it. The society pushed you away when you desperately need a job to live, why would you save the society when it requires to sacrifice your love one? Besides, Hodaka is only 16, and since Hina is the only one that brought sunshine to his life when he’s abused by his father, can’t find a proper job in Tokyo, he would do everything to save Hina, to save his love one. “Please, god, don’t give us anything, and don’t take anything away from us.” It’s that simple, Hodaka just want a life with Hina. Not everyone is a hero, not everyone is that unselfish. It’s reasonable why Hodaka is willing to give up the good weather for others just to save Hina.

Overall, this is a GREAT movie, I really loved it. The music, the imagery, the voice actors…everything is just perfect in the movie! BTW, Makoto Shinkai stated this is a movie for young people, but the older ones might love the movie because Hodaka is willing to give up everything for his love one, but they might don’t like it because Hodaka’s plots and decisions in the movie seem bit to reckless in their opinions. However, this is really an AWESOME movie to watch, I recommend it to watch.