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Reviews
Arukimedesu no taisen (2019)
Not even what you could expect, only better.
If you are looking for a typical war flick full of explosions, machines zooming around, and wise cracking soldiers... THIS IS NOT FOR YOU. However if you have the slightest patience, are willing to be absorbed by the story, and hold on to the very end, this movie is something special to the point of pure cinematic gold.
This movie is an EPIC of amazing proportions and personalities. I will admit at first I was confused and slightly annoyed at this product of the legendary Toho studios. It somehow didn't fit with my expectations of giant monsters and beautifully crafted models. Little did I know that the leviathan at the heart of this movie would prove to be far and away a very different creature from the usual offerings. To put it bluntly this movie submits an apocryphal or possibly romanized reason as to why Japan truly lost the war.
It must be said that it helps to understand naval history to some extent and how the various warring powers viewed their navies. That is to say where they thought their strength should lay and what the future portended. It also helps to understand something of Japanese culture and the original Anime that inspired this live action version. However leaving all those aside the story/movie can and does carry itself. The acting is excellent with most characters being well fleshed out. Even the subtle humor provokes a hearty laugh because it is so well placed. The cinematography, the sets, the use of graphics are all well done and stand to enhance the story. I find so little to criticize about this movie, either out of cultural ignorance or lack of historical knowledge, that any errors or failings I do see I just don't care enough to be bothered about because the balance of the piece more than makes up for them.
MOST important is the ending, which I will not spoil here. I thought I had a bead on this movie right up to the last few minutes when it all came together. I'm not ashamed to admit it caught me wonderfully off guard. Also having never read the source material I had no fore knowledge, only having glanced at it in passing. The pounding weight of history, the REAL people portrayed, and the characters who may or may not have been real are SO convincing as to.suspend disbelief to such a degree as to leave one stunned and quietly admiring the efforts of all involved.
Again this movie isn't the typical action spectacular so often foisted on audiences these days. It's far more cerebral, subtle, and in the end refreshing for its originality and scope.