This is my first review here, so go easy.

Anime Review: The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (Movie)

I enjoy a good movie, especially an anime one. Truth be told, I haven't seen any other anime movie other than films like Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle (I really need to find the time to watch Akira) but I love those films. However, when it comes to movies based around an anime/ manga series, like say Pokemon or Naruto, well, lets just say I don't have very high hopes for them.
However, let me state that I enjoy the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. It's not my top favorite anime, but I still like it, although I'm not what you call a huge fan. I've only watched the first few episodes of the second season, but I heard some bad things about it (Mostly concerning the "Endless Eight" portion.)

For those who are not aware of the plot of Haruhi Suzumiya, then there should be no reason as to why you clicked this thread in the first place, but if you're curious, just look it up. We'll wait...
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...Done? Good ^.^

As for me, I recently found out that a movie have been released back in February of this year, entitled Suzumiya Haruhi no Shoshitsu, or The Disappearance (or Vanishing) of Haruhi Suzumiya, based on the fourth light novel of the series. Me, not being a huge fan of Haruhi, didn't really expect much from it really, just though it would be a fun little adventure involving the Brigade. But then I realized it wasn't some cheap T.V. special like Pokemon or Naruto, but a full, theatrical movie, but I still didn't expect much.

The real problem actually came from looking for the movie, well, a good-quality version, seeing that the only version that exists online is a low-quality camrip. So I desperately search the internet, and everywhere I looked, it was just that one version. So I shrugged, and gave in. I sat there, watching the camera getting into position as the movie starts, and then sat back and watched the movie.

...And all I can say is...wow...

Not only was my expectations completely wrong, but it was just simply amazing in almost every aspect! Like I said before, I'm not a huge fan of Haruhi, but this movie just blew me away! I went in expecting a nice, entertaining comedy, and instead I got a dark, gripping, beautiful drama.

_{The fim starts of like any other day. The club makes plans for a nabe party on Christmas}

If you don't want the plot to be spoiled for you, please skip the following paragraph.

The story takes place from December 17th to the 24th. The SOS Brigade decides to have a nabe (Japanese Steamboat Dish) party for Christmas. Everything starts off normally (or by Haruhi standards, anyways.), including a new opening featuring the song Bouken Desho Desho? by Aya Hirano from the first season. But the next day on the 18th, Kyon arrives to school and finds out everything has suddenly changed. Haruhi and Koizumi are missing, Ryoko Asakura (The blue-haired girl who tried to kill Kyon) has mysteriously returned and is no longer an android, Mikuru does not recognize him, and Yuki is a normal human girl with emotions. And also, no one remembers Haruhi's or the SOS Brigade's existence except for him. It's a race against time as Kyon must figure out what happened and how to get things back to the way they were before something bad happens. Actually, the movie is less about Haruhi and more about Kyon. I don't wanna spoil anything, but Haruhi doesn't play as big of a role as I would've expected.

_{Kyon runs into a familiar face.}

Visually, it's stunning, even in a low-quality video I could tell. The tone itself is not as light hearted as the series, but it's a nice contrast to the normal comedic settings most of us are used to, but it does have its moments. The overall style made every moment a thing of beauty. There's this one simple scene that brought me to tears, and another that made me crap my pants O.O

_{In case you haven't notice, this ain't the same Yuki we know from the series.}

However, my favorite part is the music. None of those moments are made complete without a brilliant piece of music to compliment it. The soundtrack is just brilliant.

As for the bad, well, there's pretty much nothing wrong with it. It does, however, get a bit hard to follow towards the end. You need to watch some of Season 2 to get the most important part (I was so lucky I did before I watched the movie.) It's not a film for non-fans or anyone who just simply started. It's mostly just a film for fans or anyone who enjoy the series.

And finally, although it doesn't count as a real flaw, the only version available online is the camrip, as mentioned before, so you'd have to endure bad quality to enjoy the film itself, but it's not really that bad. You get used to it as you watch the movie. But if you insist on finding good quality, well, you'd just have to wait for the DVD to come out on December 18th of this year. Other than that, I can't really say anything bad about it.

If you're a Haruhi fan, or even remotely enjoy Haruhi, and have yet to see this movie, then do so RIGHT NOW. If you can't stand watching the camrip, you're really missing out. It's an amazing film that simply must be watched, and also surprisingly long, and it's now among my favorite anime films, as well as one of my favorite movies this year. Does it make up for the whole "Endless Eight" thing? Well, I can't answer that being that I never seen it, but you be the judge. As for me, I'll be waiting for the DVD so I could watch it again in high quality.

RATING: 5/5

Nice Review.
My only complaint is that you probably should have divided up each segment of the Review instead of letting each part go into each other.
but that's just me, over all it did flow really well, and the pics were a nice touch.
Other than that i liked it.
You touched on some good points and did a good job of not really spoiling anything.

Im a mild fan of the series.
I really want to read the books before i get into the Anime or Manga.
And iv heard that this move was great, some people think of it as a apology for the Endless 8.
Anyway, nice Review.
I look foreword to seeing this eventually.