This film review is long overdue. Last Thursday, I went down to Cathay Cineleisure in the afternoon with a friend, expecting to catch Michael Bay's Transformers. Yours truly, however, had apparently mixed up its opening day and suddenly found myself at a loss in front of the cinema box office counter. It was between Nancy Drew, Ocean's Thirteen, and an unknown Japanese anime which was dubiously entitled, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. My friend and I, being neither fans of the former two, decided to take a chance on the latter.Bespectacled Chinese girl behind the counter: "Is this a good film?"
Me: "I've got no idea! How long has this film been out?"
Girl: "Today is it's first day! But I heard it's a good film... "
In fact, it wasn't really much of a gamble since I've always enjoyed watching Japanese anime, especially those directed by Hayao Miyazaki. However, five minutes into the film, I realised that this was not going to be anything like the films by Miyazaki. For starters, the artwork/ animation of the characters are rather dull, with a feel much like anime characters created in the seventies or eighties. There are no wild, fantastical, out-of-this-world background scenes and no striking colour palettes or impeccably drawn images, which are typical in Miyazaki's films. But then again, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is NOT a Miyazaki film.
While some background work has been CGI-ed to look realistic, the director and animators maintained the "retro", two-dimensional look of the characters throughout the film. What really breathed life into the animation though, was the sparkling dialogue, the engaging storyline and wonderful light humour which kept grinning from ear to ear from start to rolling of the end credits.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time's story about a ditzy but plucky schoolgirl who accidentally discovered the ability to timetravel is riddled with loopholes, like myself, you will come to ignore these flaws in continuity and end up being sold by the irrepressible charm and wit of the film. Seriously, it exceeded my expectations beyond all measures. And did I mention that this film won the Best Animation Award at the Awards of the Japanese Academy this year???
my ratings -- 4/5 Stars!!!
