5 Centimeters Per Second Makoto Shinkai
Pretty Pictures, Lonely Hearts: My *Slightly* Unpopular 5 Centimeters Per Second Take
Okay, okay, before you sharpen your pitchforks, let's talk about 5 Centimeters Per Second. We all know Makoto Shinkai is a visual wizard. His skies? Breathtaking. His train stations? So detailed you can almost smell the ramen.
But is it *just* pretty? That’s what I'm daring to ask!
The Visuals: Undeniably Stunning
Seriously, the man paints masterpieces with pixels. The cherry blossoms flutter. The light glints off raindrops. Even the *background characters* have more depth than some main characters in other anime.
We get it, Shinkai-sensei, you can make a powerpoint presentation look like a Ghibli film. My eyeballs thank you!
The Story: A Bit...Slow?
Now, for the, uh, "plot." Two kids, Takaki and Akari, are separated. They write letters, then...not so much. Distance, you see, is a real jerk.
Then there's the whole *third act*. Let's just say it involves a rocket, a vague unrequited love, and a whole lot of existential angst. Cue the rain, of course. Because Shinkai can’t resist a good downpour.
The Characters: So Relatable, It Hurts (or Just Hurts?)
Takaki is a guy who stares longingly out of windows. He seems eternally bummed. Maybe he needs a hobby? Or a therapist?
Akari is...nice? She’s sweet, polite, and basically disappears after the first act. She exists mostly to be a distant ideal. The unreachable first love.
Honestly, I spent most of the movie wanting to give them both a hug and a strong cup of coffee. And then tell them to *move on!*
My "Unpopular" Opinion (Brace Yourselves)
Okay, here it comes: is 5 Centimeters Per Second a little...overrated? Hear me out!
It's visually stunning. But the story feels incomplete. It's like Shinkai spent so much time making it *look* beautiful, he forgot to give us a reason to truly care.
But Wait, There's More! (Because Feelings Are Complicated)
Maybe that's the point. Maybe the film isn't about a grand romance. It's about the quiet ache of missed connections. The universal feeling of longing for something that will never be.
Maybe I'm just too cynical to appreciate the delicate melancholy. Maybe I need more explosions and less cherry blossom petals.
The Verdict: Still Worth Watching (Probably)
Look, I'm not saying it's a *bad* movie. It's beautiful. And it perfectly captures that feeling of being utterly, hopelessly alone in a crowded train station.
Just don't go in expecting a happily ever after. Or even a particularly satisfying "middle." Just expect pretty pictures. And a whole lot of yearning. And maybe bring tissues. Because, let’s be honest, even I shed a tear (or two).
So, watch 5 Centimeters Per Second. Admire the visuals. Maybe even feel something. Just don't be surprised if you end up wanting to yell at Takaki to just text her already!
