Suzume
I love anime just as much as the next person, but I have to acknowledge that his most recent effort is also his least strong to date. Although critics have often criticized Shinkai's writing in his earlier films, the relatively strong visuals and music in Suzume are unable to save the film's beleaguered narrative. Suzume by Shinkai doesn't try to break any new ground, and viewers will find that the plot pretty much follows the same pattern as his previous two works. Unfortunately, there's just a little bit too much packed into its two-hour running length for anything to be satisfactorily addressed. A coming-of-age/self-discovery subplot, a romantic subplot that feels a little forced and awkward, as well as some family strife and pain, are all included. It all comes off as a bit of a cop out with little to no emotional payoff because none of these links are given enough time to grow. Overall, even by Shinkai's standards, not very good. Like always, the graphics ste...
