048 For the people who say this movie is anti-American because our government is the bad guy , thank you for worrying me over nothing ! I had already purchased this product when I read one review about the movie having an anti-America theme , and it made me regret buying it . This movie is in no way offensive . If anything , we're hardly mentioned at all , and it even says that the military did not know it would have these results and became out of their control . So , don't believe what those people say . It's perfectly fine . It's a bit corny in some parts towards the end , but the animation is FANTASTIC and it's an enjoyable movie . The main character is quite adorable , and I would definitely recommend this movie .
132 A stunningly gorgeous film with some of the most brilliant animation to date ; using its fancy visuals to bring to life the wonderful love story of a family who sticks together , which brings forth the best of humanity . Trolls beware ; you're about to meet your match .
054 Good seller , product and shipping etc .
Good storyline given it's a family friendly film . The use of the Stuxnet virus developed by the DOD / CIA / Mossad intel agencies to target Iran and others was interesting , especially in that it was ' tested ' on Japan , an assumed ally , but then that's how it is usually done if you know anything about past bio agent R & D programs .
Nice film .
053 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
Good seller , product and shipping etc .
Good storyline given it's a family friendly film . The use of the Stuxnet virus developed by the DOD / CIA / Mossad intel agencies to target Iran and others was interesting , especially in that it was ' tested ' on Japan , an assumed ally , but then that's how it is usually done if you know anything about past bio agent R & D programs .
Nice film .
057 There is an american movie from the 1980 ' s era called War Games that has the same premise as Summer Wars , so I figured the creators of Summer Wars was influenced by the movie War Games . However , eventhough both movies feature a computer AI that takes on a life of its own and is determined to screw up the world , I think it's cool that Summer Wars put a fresh spin on this premise . I showed the movie to my japanese club members today at the jr . high school where I work and the kids loved it . I was a bit worried about showing the movie to them since kids love anime with crazy effects , but to my supprise and delight , they really got into the movie and we all enjoyed it . It's nice to see that the kids can hang with an anime movie that is more about subtle character studies rather than large scale effects . I am so impressed with this movie , im going to show the other movie from this creator ( The Girl Who Lept Through Time ) to my club members in a few weeks . Great movie for everyone to enjoy in my opinion . Kudos to the team in Japan for making an excellent and fun movie to watch . Well done .
050 This Japanese movie is amazingly done . The graphics in this movie is unbelievable and greatly appreciated : ) The story line is quite good and not too artistically hard to follow hahaha
068 We are huge fans of Hayao Miyazaki and because of Him we are now big big big fans of Anime and Manga . Love all the details in the movie , the way the live , eat and love . It makes you feel you are part of the movie .
123 Great animation and sound , touching story and a good amount of action , Summer Wars is a fun movie to watch and very emotional towards the end . The plot itself isnt so original and a little , or more clich , Its still a fun movie to watch and the characters believable and impressively passionate , which is different than what i tend to watch like bleach which is just fighting . Anyways great Animation , Awesome soundtrack , and characters you actually grow on , and at 20 bucks , lets you show off how good bluray can look for Anime . Great Purchase .
144 The first glimpse of this movie , I was expecting another great anime from Japan-it was delivered with great story telling , animation , and emotional draw that leaves any movie fan not just anime wanting more . The movie tells a story of High school teenagers who through angst , family commitment , and power overcome obstacles together through shared experiences and of course social networking . Think of FaceBook taking over the world in an official sense , but a hack breaks it , causing the world to collapse . The only downside to this well delivered drama is that at times it's marred with Hollywood and anime clich s ; these distractions remove the viewer from focusing on the plot at hand , and at certain moments the character development . Yet , that would be the only thing that I could lament that hurts the film - at best . As whole , it is still a great film that any anime and non anime lover will enjoy .
149 This movie was amazing . Mamoru Hosoda ( Director ) is getting the publicity that he deserves , directing spectacular movies that are worthy of becoming classics . Summer Wars is a movie for the now , involving the technological views of today and blending it into a masterpiece that all can enjoy . Like how Disney classics are portrayed as being a film of all ages , I believe Summer Wars will be a 21st Century classic . Winning awards for having simply outstanding artwork and animation , seeing it in 1080p resolution will blow your mind . Without a doubt , a must watch for those looking to see an all around amazing piece of work .
064 This movie is the equivalent to the Digimon Movie ; just with a bit less action and more of a focus on story & drama / emotions . I still have an attachment to Digmon the Movie , but this has just as much re-watch value ; never getting tired of the awesome dialogue & art style ! I'd recommend this to anyone ; especially younger children .
090 This is an extremely good movie and shows you not use a Facebook-like thing too much , which is good because I do not use it . More importantly this movie is a great example of Japanese anime , with the technology and the family coming together to save the world . It is also a sad movie at some times .
069 I've loved Mamoru Hosada's work ever since i saw The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and I think Summer Wars is his best film to date . It's funny and heartwarming and the story really does a great job of building to a narrative climax at the end . The film is also highly relevant today when so many of the things we do day to day are controlled by computers . It's very worthwhile to watch and I'd recommend it to anyone . It feels great just remembering the story again .
011 I just bought this DVD last night and I've already watched it twice . I'm glad to say that this is something I would definitely be watching again . The plot was so good it kept me on the edge of my seat . I loved how it revolved around being a part of a family and how everyone came together , in more ways than one . The music score fit and was quite entertaining . I would definitely recommend this movie to families young and old .
138 This is one of the best that I've watched . And I've been around a while now . Seen a lot of movies / anime . You'll probably be burnt out emotionally by the end of this one .
080 There's only a few things I can say . If you are a fan of anime and loves a good science fiction story with epic ending then this is for you . The only downside is the picture above is a bit misleading . When I got my blu-ray dvd it only comes with the plastic blu-ray casing sealed with a plastic packaging without the blu-ray cardboard box . I want the box because it's going to be part of my growing anime blu-ray collection . It is a bit disappointing not have the box included with my copy but I am not gonna deduct the score on this product , simply because this anime is just plain amazing .
015 So intense when watching this movie . Made me laugh , cry , mad , whatever emotion there is . I love this movie , this movie could makes me speechless .
059 Starts out slow but once it takes off you're hooked . It was enjoyable for the most part but seemed tailored for a somewhat younger audience . I did not notice that it was rated G until I had already purchased it ( not always a bad thing ) .
062 I was completely blown away by this movie . It is one of the best looking animated movies I have seen and is an exciting , emotional and clever piece of art . The plot is a bit silly sometimes , but if you can get past that , and love animated films , this movie is one to keep in your collection .
070 This movie has done the best of showing a family supporting one another in a battle against a single enemy . I loved the grandma motivating the network . It came at the price of being a target , which was a poignant story development . They dealt with family that had become ostracized and it is all set on a neat rural property . I can recommend this one to family and friends .
088 great story , animation and the English dub is a v / a star-studded cast ! This movie had me laughing and crying at just the right points . I recommend this movie to any Anime fan who wants to round out their collection .
094 This film not just has an amazing plot but wonderful graphics as well . . . If you have a blue ray player , i would definitely recommend buying it in BR . I love all anime movies and this one has to be one of my top favorites . It has action , romance , sorrow , and etc . It's everything you would ever want in a anime film .
098 I was originally gonna rent the movie to watch but instead I bought it . I dont regret it either . It is fun to watch and I really liked it . If you are an anime lover like me , I recommend you watch this . You will surely not be dissapointed ! ! : )
102 I saw this movie at a local theater for Anime Night and I decided I had to purchase a copy for myself . It is amazing . I highly reccommend it to everyon !
106 This is one of those special films that really shows the focus on emotional storytelling . This film is one of those rare films that actually made me cry when I watched it . It is that well executed . And not just emotionally . The visuals and animation - for both the real world and digital world - are stunning and the characters are all well developed and likable . All in all , this movie hits almost all the right high notes in all the right times . A definate recommendation for any anime fan .
111 Just everything about this movie I loved , you will love this movie even if you are no an anime fan .
113 I usually don't like any anime that is not produced by Miyazaki . . . but this one is quite good ! Great soundtrack too !
130 First of I have to say I went on a whim to order this movie , I went purely off of the trailer . After I watched the trailer I just had to order this anime . I'm happy to say I was not disappointed ! It is truly a beautiful anime , both visually and in story . I absolutely love how they tied in the importance of family and how our actions can affect the ones we love . If you are looking for something heart-warming and that you can watch with the whole family , I highly recommend Summer Wars !
133 I though this movie was great . The story was a blast to watch . After i finished watching the first time I had to watch it again so i pushed play one more time .
135 Well I love Anime and so do my Kids . I thought the movie was a really good film and the animation was great . When my kids categorize this as one of the best Anime movies they havedwatched thus far , then I Must say A Great Film . . . . . .
146 Movies , especially anime , usually go for about $20 . So to get this movie , one of the highest quality in animation I've ever encountered , for half that ? Yes , I believe I will buy this , thank you .
165 Hi I was just wondering if this movie on this page was in English . The trailer I found on funimation is in English dub , but on this page it says subtitles and I would really like it dubbed . So if anyone can tell me where I can find this movie in English dub thanx so much ! !
178 I saw a preview of it on my new Black Butler DVD , and I plan to buy it when it comes out , but is it just me , or does anyone who saw the preview think the plotline of the movie looks a little too much like one of the old Digimon movies ? It's the one where that super digimon virus took over the internet , and the digidestined all teamed up with their digimon to enter digital internet space to stop the virus before it caused worldwide catastrophe while everyone around the digimon universe world with a computer watched the battle online and on tv ? * lol *
116 What could make an already great movie better . An awesome case . The case comes with a slip over cover which is the featured cover on purchase . When you remove the cover it reveals the characters in their human form instead of their avatars . The reverse poster cover looks great as well . The dvds look quite attractive as well . Featured film dvd is a cute panda on a plaid blue dvd . The extras is a toony girl with cheetah ears and a tail on plaid red . It all looks great with the clear case looking through to the reverse cover poster .
092 I'm a mathematician myself , so i might be biased , but having the main character as a mathematician was pretty cool , as well as the use of hanafuda in the story . Its a great family movie and even non-anime fans will enjoy the detailed animation and deep story telling .
131 When I first anticipated this movie , I was hoping to be immersed in the cyber reality of the social network of OZ . I thought the characters would spend most of their time as their avatars . What I got was much better . Not a sci-fi fantasy like the Matrix or Tron but a character study in family relationships . This film was entirely fullfilling as we got to see this extended family come together through all of their difficulties and to work through their differences to accept each other as they are . After all no one is perfect . I especially liked the redemptive quality this film conveys . It truly offers a perspective about what is important in life .
139 I cannot recommend this title highly enough . The visuals are stunning , especially in the OZ sequences and equal for the real world . The story , equally as well done , will keep you watching until the very end . The movie is a great adventure for those seeking a thought provoking and fun title to entertain whenever you watch . Don't pass up this title !
141 one of the best movies i have seen in years not only does the animation grate it's one of the best story lines to be tolled . If you ever watched . Hack / / you will love this movie and to any who love good anime .
021 This movie is excellent it doesn't go by too fast nor is it slow . If you want to watch a movie that will make you laugh and smile the whole way through , then this is just for you .
084 this movie is epic ! you just have to watch it ! the dvd and casing is also well made and high quality
154 This is a great movie so far this year . i love the animation , blue-ray version is much better than the DVD , and the story is fresh . THUMB up if you love it .
Summer Wars ( DVD )
You can pretty much recognize a Studio Ghibli production when you see it . Kind of think of an Anime version of Walt Disney . I happen to like them after reading more about them - - they won't license an English release of their product .
Taken from Wikipedia :
The company is well-known for its strict no-edits policy in licensing their films abroad . This was a result of the dubbing of Miyazaki's Nausica of the Valley of Wind when the film was released in the United States as Warriors of the Wind . The film was heavily edited and Americanized , with significant portions cut and the plot rewritten . The no cuts policy was highlighted when Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein suggested editing Princess Mononoke to make it more marketable . In response , a Studio Ghibli producer sent an authentic katana with a simple message : No cuts . [ 4 ]
I mentioned it because you can rest assured when watching this one , that you are getting the original dialog and plot without any Americanizing . This is important to me because I respect the difference in culture and want a dub to stay as true as possible to the original.I didn't watch this and come away thinking Hunh ? because the edits didn't make sense .
What I will say is this . I loved this film . More than enough of these reviews will rehash the plot , so I won't do that . The setting in Oz really isn't the centerpiece of the story . It's important , but you get the feeling that you could take these characters and put them in any sort of crisis and it wouldn't matter . This film is more about the strength of family and love . I felt like the writers took a Kenji and put him into their lives to allow us to see just a small part of what can make family so great . Here you're watching from Kenji's point of view , and watching him come into his own . By just being around a family he grows out of his shyness somewhat , develops confidence in himself and learns the importance of love and how it can literally move mountains . All of this because he found a place in a family who accepted him with open arms .
This film has some genuine heart and by the end of it , my palms were sweaty and I was grinning ear to ear . I won't lie - - I teared up at a few parts because it did a good job of reminding me what it can be like to lose someone important to your family , and how in times like those , we are the angels of each other's lives . Family can save you , and it also can tear you apart if you let it , and that almost happened . The characters were all wonderful and funny and quirky in the ways that make me think of my own family and I wouldn't hesitate to show this film to anyone else . There's no fan service in this film but there are a few jibes about sex - - but nothing you wouldn't hear in your own home unless you're some kind of UBER prude or something .
My daughter and I really enjoyed this together and I hope we can see other films as good as this one .
051 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
On par with most Studio Ghibli movies , this fun and imaginative title comes from the same creator / director who brought us The Girl Who Leapt Through Time which is another fantastic film . The colours are vivid and the story is enthralling , but what captivated me the most was the incredible music combined with beautiful animation . Definitely a must watch if you're a fan of animated movies .
060 I bought the blu-ray of this movie several months ago and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good movie in any genre . The blu-ray transfer is vivid and the animation is very detailed and beautiful . Overall it is a very high quality product .
For those who saw and enjoyed The Girl Who Leapt Through Time , this is Hosoda's next masterpiece . For those who are not big anim fans , but enjoy the work of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli , this movie will more than satisfy them and , no doubt , they will probably want to check out The Girl Who Leapt Through Time , if they haven't already .
The story of Summer Wars is rich and rewarding . We meet a nerdy young man who is tricked into being her pretend fianc by his high school's resident queen bee ( most attractive and popular girl ) . They go to the 90th birthday of the girl's grandmother in Ueda , along with the rest of the Jinouchi family . In the middle of the first night , the boy gets a text message on his mobile phone with a code and a message Solve me . . . .
This is where things start getting interesting .
I found the film to be a very strong emotional experience . It reminded me of some times in my life with my own family . If there is any message in this film it is this : Never give up on family , even when the going gets rough , especially when the going gets rough .
The film may be watched with or without subtitles in the original Japanese language . I am happy with that and it is good to hear the original voices , but I am not an original language chauvinist and the English dub is excellent . Brina Palencia ( Natsuki ) and J . Michael Tatum ( wayward Uncle Wabisuke ) are here , as they seem to be everywhere at the moment , ( see Spice And Wolf and many other recent anim movies and series ) and both bring much to their characters , as they always do . Both Japanese and English language versions are fabulous .
I will watch this movie again and I will enjoy it again and I think you will too .
I eagerly await Mr Hosoda's next movie . I hope it's soon !
073 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
This movie is one of the best anime movies I have ever watched and I've watched a lot of anime . I normally stick to Ghibli movies but I give this a try and absolutely loved it so I decided to get the dvd as well . There are a lot of funny moments but I especially love the family elements . As I hope to have a big family of my own someday , I hope were as close as this bunch is .
074 This movie is one of the best anime movies I have ever watched and I've watched a lot of anime . I normally stick to Ghibli movies but I give this a try and absolutely loved it so I decided to get the dvd as well . There are a lot of funny moments but I especially love the family elements . As I hope to have a big family of my own someday , I hope were as close as this bunch is .
128 Other than the works of Miyazaki , I don't see a lot of Japanese animated films . I was in the biz when they started to break and , as exciting and eye-popping as they were at the time , they wore thin pretty quickly . There were always the exceptions such as ' Ghost in the Shell ' et al but I just grew tired . ' Summer Wars ' received really good user reviews and the story outline seemed interesting so I thought I'd give it a go . I'm way glad I did .
Here's the scoop . OZ is the new , ultimate web-site where anyone can do almost anything . It's used by individuals and governments alike . It's been inadvertently hacked into , and compromised by , a math geek who has unwittingly unleashed an AI construct that is fouling up the the whole thing . To boot , while all this is going on , said math geek has been tricked into playing his female acquaintance's fiance at granny's 90th birthday at a huge family mansion out in the country . The party is populated by the entire clan and they're a diverse , wild bunch . Can the math geek save the world and find true love ?
There are a couple of other sub-plots involving a high school baseball championship , a particular card game and a black sheep cousin . It's the way the movie juggles both the main and sub-plots that puts it high on the quality scale . The animation is OK . The production design is a bit uneven . OZ is pretty cool with a great design and color palette . Some of the real life sets a very good , others are pedestrian . The character designs are OK but don't reach a level that you haven't already seen elsewhere , and some of the facial expressions don't reach beyond TV grade Anime . That being said though , overall , this is still one of the better looking pieces you'll find out there .
I had a great time watching this . I liked the story , the characters and the pace . At 2 hours I was not at all in a hurry to get things over with . The final scene is more than a bit too cute but by then , the movie was over so what the heck . I can't put this up with any of the Miyazaki films but it's still really good . If you like this sort of thing at all you probably won't be disappointed in watching this .
142 In a world where Disney sucks the life and soul out of an avant-guarde , pre-cyberpunk , pre-Ghost in the Shell story in order to monetize it , comes a story of how the Second-Life world of Tron has really evolved and kept pace with the modern Internet , gaming and society .
This is a story of how people's Avatars still play fighting games StreetFighter'ish , share their lives Facebook'ish , and blend the Internet world's reality and fiction on many levels . Yet , it's a world that bears a MCP's power to control lives in reality .
At the same time , it is surprisingly , easily wrapped and connected into a communal , nostalgic , grass-roots , family , day-to-day lives between two maturing Japanese teens and their friends and family .
150 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
You can pretty much recognize a Studio Ghibli production when you see it . Kind of think of an Anime version of Walt Disney . I happen to like them after reading more about them - - they won't license an English release of their product .
Taken from Wikipedia :
The company is well-known for its strict no-edits policy in licensing their films abroad . This was a result of the dubbing of Miyazaki's Nausica of the Valley of Wind when the film was released in the United States as Warriors of the Wind . The film was heavily edited and Americanized , with significant portions cut and the plot rewritten . The no cuts policy was highlighted when Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein suggested editing Princess Mononoke to make it more marketable . In response , a Studio Ghibli producer sent an authentic katana with a simple message : No cuts . [ 4 ]
I mentioned it because you can rest assured when watching this one , that you are getting the original dialog and plot without any Americanizing . This is important to me because I respect the difference in culture and want a dub to stay as true as possible to the original.I didn't watch this and come away thinking Hunh ? because the edits didn't make sense .
What I will say is this . I loved this film . More than enough of these reviews will rehash the plot , so I won't do that . The setting in Oz really isn't the centerpiece of the story . It's important , but you get the feeling that you could take these characters and put them in any sort of crisis and it wouldn't matter . This film is more about the strength of family and love . I felt like the writers took a Kenji and put him into their lives to allow us to see just a small part of what can make family so great . Here you're watching from Kenji's point of view , and watching him come into his own . By just being around a family he grows out of his shyness somewhat , develops confidence in himself and learns the importance of love and how it can literally move mountains . All of this because he found a place in a family who accepted him with open arms .
This film has some genuine heart and by the end of it , my palms were sweaty and I was grinning ear to ear . I won't lie - - I teared up at a few parts because it did a good job of reminding me what it can be like to lose someone important to your family , and how in times like those , we are the angels of each other's lives . Family can save you , and it also can tear you apart if you let it , and that almost happened . The characters were all wonderful and funny and quirky in the ways that make me think of my own family and I wouldn't hesitate to show this film to anyone else . There's no fan service in this film but there are a few jibes about sex - - but nothing you wouldn't hear in your own home unless you're some kind of UBER prude or something .
My daughter and I really enjoyed this together and I hope we can see other films as good as this one .
158 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
I'd watched this movie online , and it is one of the best animated movies , that Japan has to offer , next to Studio Ghilbi , Highly recommend this movie to anyone who loves riveting thillers , comedy and sci-fi like action . Can't wait unitl it comes out on blu ray ! ! !
176 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
I was very excited for this movie . The excellent reviews were convincing . I watch a lot of Studio Ghibli and am a big fan of family friendly anime . This movie is confused about what it is trying to be . It is obviously targeted at families with its PG rating and subject matter , but in one scene a family member persistently asks two teenagers , who are pretending to be engaged , if they have had sex . In another scene an uncle tells a young boy that he is looking at A woman with big boobs . when asked what he is looking at on his cell phone . Over all , there is no actual exposed nudity , but there are several family bath scenes where people are completely naked with strategic bits covering erogenous zones . This movie was meticulously drawn and had a lot of redeeming qualities but it was ultimately ruined by suggestive , unnecessary , awkward scenes . The heroine of this movie is also a complete brat . She is adored for apparently no other reason than she is hot , aka Paris Hilton Syndrome . Many people find this sort of growth and maturity storying redeeming , I just find it annoying .
There are too many other good movies out there to waste your time on this one , especially if there are young children that will be watching with you . If you like hardcore anime and want nudity and such , this movie is also not for you . If you are like me , you will more likely appreciate something by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli .
Overall , a confused movie that is family oriented one moment and teenage oriented the next .
177 I was very excited for this movie . The excellent reviews were convincing . I watch a lot of Studio Ghibli and am a big fan of family friendly anime . This movie is confused about what it is trying to be . It is obviously targeted at families with its PG rating and subject matter , but in one scene a family member persistently asks two teenagers , who are pretending to be engaged , if they have had sex . In another scene an uncle tells a young boy that he is looking at A woman with big boobs . when asked what he is looking at on his cell phone . Over all , there is no actual exposed nudity , but there are several family bath scenes where people are completely naked with strategic bits covering erogenous zones . This movie was meticulously drawn and had a lot of redeeming qualities but it was ultimately ruined by suggestive , unnecessary , awkward scenes . The heroine of this movie is also a complete brat . She is adored for apparently no other reason than she is hot , aka Paris Hilton Syndrome . Many people find this sort of growth and maturity storying redeeming , I just find it annoying .
There are too many other good movies out there to waste your time on this one , especially if there are young children that will be watching with you . If you like hardcore anime and want nudity and such , this movie is also not for you . If you are like me , you will more likely appreciate something by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli .
Overall , a confused movie that is family oriented one moment and teenage oriented the next .
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
I'm not a film critic . I am an anime fan . I'm a bit biased towards this movie as a result . However , this release garners 5 stars from me for several logical reasons . First of which being , the English voice-acting is of a very high quality . The translation is accurate to the spirit of original Japanese , if not the content explicitly . The actors seem very authentic , and with very few exceptions sound quite invested in their work .
That said , I prefer the Japanese . I'm familiar enough with the culture to appreciate it from an outside perspective . So why do I care so much about the English ? I don't like watching movies alone , and not all of my friends and family are comfortable reading subtitles . I tell them learning Japanese is the best solution , but most aren't quite interested in becoming that invested . High-quality English makes for easy introduction to this movie .
What carries it , is the easy pace and undeniable style of the film . The visuals are stunning in their attention to detail , both in the real world and OZ centered scenes . The movie sets itself up effortlessly in just a few minutes , and then throws you into the center of the story rather quickly . Kenji's status as a math nerd and social idiot is a tried and true one , and the cool beauty of Natsuki isn't new either . Simply well executed here . Without spoiling the story too much , the introduction of Natsuki's family to both Kenji and the audience is a whirlwind ( putting it lightly ) . While some people would argue the sheer number of characters would make them shallow and not leave time for development , I would tend to disagree . Kenji is overwhelmed at the situation , he's our protagonist so we should share that with him . That said , despite the huge number of folks flicking on and off screen the important few shine through in just the right way . The stern but loving grandmother , eccentric uncles , overbearing aunts , and annoying cousins are damn near universal in most families . They're all here too , and more like my own than I might care to admit . So , surprise surprise , it's a bit of a family film . Of course , throwing in the high-tech near-future environment of the OZ Network gives you an entirely new layer to work through .
OZ isn't too far away from how we live now . We bundle cell phones , home phones , internet , and TV . OZ is that , plus Facebook , and pretty much all of your billing and work-related systems slammed into one . Games , media , communications , business , and financial services all through one central hub . Just like in the real world , the cyber world of Summer Wars starts reaching into everyday life in very unexpected ways . Of course , things go quite a bit further in the film . This is where that little Deeper Meaning comes in . The Wars in question are between the real people of the movie and the online world they depend on day to day . The movie is a bit of a hint towards what we're heading to today with our dependence on social media and online conveniences . Most of us are guilty of it . I'm 26 , of course I am . Again , trying not to give anything away here , but suffice it to say that we probably don't want to be quite as plugged in as the folks in Summer Wars .
Of course , this isn't some broad-reaching culture modifying epic which will forever change movies as we know it . It is , however , an amazingly completely experience . People can argue that it's not terribly meaningful , lacks some depth , is unrealistic , or even somewhat immature . In some ways , all of that is correct . To me the strengths of this movie perfectly compliment the few weaknesses . It's a parallel of real life with a dash of science fiction and just a bit over-the-top . It's approachable , enjoyable , funny , heart-warming , heart-wrenching , and endlessly watchable . To be fair , that's all I really want from an entertainment movie . To be entertained . Summer Wars does this for me , my friends , and my family . I've seen the movie at least 5 times now , and I don't think it will wear out it's welcome anytime soon .
002 Or is it the other way around ?
Reminiscent of American movies like War Games , as well as anime greats like Spirited Away , this movie blends suspense , comedy , family , and a touch of romance in an expert mixture that is fun and heartwarming .
Kenji is a math genius with no self-confidence and , in his opinion , nothing else he is good at , especially when it comes to the fairer sex . He is spending his summer break working in tech support for the mega-giant , all pervading social networking site Oz when the girl of his dreams , the popular upperclassmen Natsuki , asks if he can work for her over the summer . The job is simple , she says . He just needs to accompany her on a trip to her Grandmother's house for a family reunion and do whatever odd jobs are needed to help out her big family . When it turns out that the real job is to pretend to be her fianc , he balks at first . After all , he has never even taken a girl on a date , let alone gotten serious enough to be engaged ! ( My perception is that he was thinking that he can't pretend to be in love with someone that he has loved from afar for years ! ) But he agrees to go along with the ruse with some gentle pleading by the pretty Natsuki . When an AI cyber-terrorist attacks Oz using Kenji's avatar , most everything hits the fan . But Natsuki's large , eccentric family mobilizes , with inspiration from the matriarch and an extra push from Kenji himself , and works to counter this threat to the world , since much of the real world's infrastructure is routed through Oz , and Oz is being eaten by the AI . Can a math geek , a middle school fighting game expert , and a beautiful , self confident young woman save the world ? Watch this masterpiece by Mamoru Hosoda , the director of the stunning The Girl Who Leapt Through Time , and find the answer .
The BluRay is well presented , with easy to use menus and stunning graphics . The background art , both in and out of Oz , is breathtaking art in it own right . The character designs in the real world are natural and effective . The Oz avatars are cute , but have amazing capacity for creepiness and emotional expression . The English dub cast , comprised of veteran voice actors like Brina Palencia , Michael Sinternicklaas , Todd Haberkorn , and J . Michael Tatum , do a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life . Many big name anime films use big name actors instead of professional voice actors , and the dubs frequently suffer because of it . Summer Wars does not fall into that trap . The dub script is well wrought , with extremely natural turns of phrase and an excellent lip flap match , so much so that it is hard to tell that it isn't the original language of the film . There were a few spots were on-screen kanji were not translated that would have been helpful , but other than that , the localization is extremely well done .
In short , I highly recommend this film to young and old , anime fans or not ! It is more than an anime film , it is a great story !
003 I received my preorder of this DVD the other day , and I'm thoroughly delighted with it . Having seen the original Japanese version , I was pleased to see that the localization to English was well done . The dubbing is good , the translation natural , and the voices match to the originals quite well . There are subtitles in a few places where necessary . You get art cards showing the Oz avatars of the main characters , which are quite nice . And the extras ( interviews with voice artists and original commercials for the movie ) are good too . Besides being a great story in its own right , this'll be the perfect DVD for me to share with family and friends to help them understand what this crazy anime hobby of mine is all about .
004 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
I love Madhouse . The Studio has produced some of the best anime to come out of Japan in the last decade , including the recent The Girl Who Leapt Through Time . Much of that team re-assembled to put together the ambitious Summer Wars . The result ?
I was entertained and disappointed . I felt moments of wow , that's storytelling and stretches of that doesn't make sense . I was impressed by creative plot twists and turns that ultimately wound up in all-too-familiar territory .
One thing I found was that two dozen one-dimensional characters didn't engage me in the least , but I would have sat and listened to the wisdom and life stories of the family matriarch for hours on end . Unfortunately , even the main players - - whom I found really interesting , or bold , or mysterious at first - - evolved into stick figure shadows of themselves by the end of the film .
Hosoda's attempt to create a sort of anime version of Nicholas Nickleby is daring , and I admire the effort . I couldn't escape the film without wanting to tweak it here and there , to temper its extremes and make its deus-ex-machina moments a little more plausible . It was as if the writers wanted it to be a slice-of-life fantasy with romantic elements and martial arts combat mixed in with deep historical roots set in a William Gibson-esque landscape - - and the whole thing collapsed under its own weight .
So , I was less impressed by this than other Madhouse productions . I wanted to really like this film , but instead came away with melancholy feelings of what might-have-been .
005 I love Madhouse . The Studio has produced some of the best anime to come out of Japan in the last decade , including the recent The Girl Who Leapt Through Time . Much of that team re-assembled to put together the ambitious Summer Wars . The result ?
I was entertained and disappointed . I felt moments of wow , that's storytelling and stretches of that doesn't make sense . I was impressed by creative plot twists and turns that ultimately wound up in all-too-familiar territory .
One thing I found was that two dozen one-dimensional characters didn't engage me in the least , but I would have sat and listened to the wisdom and life stories of the family matriarch for hours on end . Unfortunately , even the main players - - whom I found really interesting , or bold , or mysterious at first - - evolved into stick figure shadows of themselves by the end of the film .
Hosoda's attempt to create a sort of anime version of Nicholas Nickleby is daring , and I admire the effort . I couldn't escape the film without wanting to tweak it here and there , to temper its extremes and make its deus-ex-machina moments a little more plausible . It was as if the writers wanted it to be a slice-of-life fantasy with romantic elements and martial arts combat mixed in with deep historical roots set in a William Gibson-esque landscape - - and the whole thing collapsed under its own weight .
So , I was less impressed by this than other Madhouse productions . I wanted to really like this film , but instead came away with melancholy feelings of what might-have-been .
006 There have been many excellent reviews written about Summer Wars already , but as a member of a family that does not frequently watch Japanese animation I have an obligation to let people know that this is not a niche film . Summer Wars , like all great animation , succeeds on many levels . It has stunning visuals , an excellent and intriguing story , ( that's not hard to follow despite it being largely set in cyberspace ) and excellent characters . The story is about a family , but , unlike so many animated films , the family doesn't take a backseat to the story - - it IS the story . It's amazing to watch a realistically depicted ( although delightfully quirky ) family reunion transform into a show of touching family resolve that will ultimately inspire viewers both young and old . I highly recommend Summer Wars to be viewed as a family or , of course , by any lovers of animation .
One last thing I have to add . The Jinnouchi family's matriarch , Sakae , is the true star of this film . She is a character that you will not soon forget . Satoko Okudera , the screenwriter of Summer Wars , manages to bring to Japanese cinema an elderly woman that demands respect for her both her wisdom and her bravery .
007 While some reviewers have compared Summer Wars to a Miyazaki type of work , Summer Wars really fills a space between Isao Takahata ( Pom Poko , Only Yesterday , My Neighbors the Yamadas ) and Satoshi Kon . Summer Wars has the pace and intrigue of Satoshi Kon but melds in a human side similar to Isao Takahata's more slice-of-life type works . The characters are warm and believable , the action fast paced , and you will fret and cheer along with a fantastic crew of characters in a fun to experience world .
The story follows math nerd Kenji into the vibrant and chaotic family life of his classmate Natsuki just as the world goes crazy . A virtual program , OZ ( think Facebook + Second Life and raised to the 5th power ) which links much of life together , goes haywire because a hacker trying to ruin the world . Kenji and Natusuki's whole clan rush into action to save the day .
Two intriguing themes in the film are ( 1 ) how digital life is both blessing and curse and ( 2 ) how something as old fashioned as family can never be done without . Both themes are played off each other as in a mix of the old , the new and the enduring in the face of the possibilities we create for ourselves , both good and bad .
009 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
I don't care if some claim it is a Digimon movie remake . To me this is on another level then Digimon . I am 28 years old and have only remember slightly seeing some episodes in my younger days . This anime was breathe taking . There was not a single dull moment through out the entire movie . It had everything comedy , action , romance , and family standing by each others side . I also happen to be a huge fan of Brina Palencia so it was a bonus to have her playing the voice of Natsuki . I will not give away to much of the plot of the movie so i will just say if you enjoy a fun anime with lots of action and amazing story telling this anime is definitely for you . It ranks up there with my other favorite animes of all time , classics like akira and other less known animes such as Ninja Scroll and any anime with Brina as a voice actress , Beck , School Rumble , ect . . .
014 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
So intense when watching this movie . Made me laugh , cry , mad , whatever emotion there is . I love this movie , this movie could makes me speechless .
016 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
How this stuff doesn't get nominated for an Oscar for best animated movie of the year is beyond me . It may not be the one voted best , but it deserves a spot in the nominees at least .
018 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
Summer Wars isn't exactly a new theme for anime , or movies in general . It's the sometimes trite and mostly overused boy meets girl meets problem = awww 3 . That out of the way it is an original it is beautiful and it is a fantastically well done take on a tired theme . I'm not going to delve into the actual plot , as there are plenty of other reviews that do so . . . as such please consider this a spoiler free review .
The DVD comes with some small cards of characters you will meet in the anime , a beautiful box , and a second disk of extras , previews , and other bits of information on Summer Wars . It's a nice way to handle the issue of adding extra content , a separate disc is far preferable to wading through the menus . The subtitling is done very well and is never obtrusive nor does it move so quickly that you're distracted from actually watching the anime . That in and of itself is often a difficult task to achieve with subtitles and they should be lauded just for that fact .
The graphics are beautiful and the color palette is massive . The change between the real world and OZ is a phenomenal example of this as things become brighter , the colors less natural and more deeply hued , and yet it all seems natural as if you could login to OZ today and create your own avatar . In the real world the saturation and blending is most apparent with the backgrounds , sunsets , sunrises , fields , and cities are richly animated and nothing feels like an afterthought . It is no wonder that this series won so many awards , just based on the art alone it is an epic achievement .
The story of Summer Wars has more to do with family , cooperation , and faith in your fellow human being than the actual goings on of OZ . Each character is well developed , though some are more distinct than others . You can tell that the creators took each individual character very seriously and tackled subjects that may otherwise be difficult to handle .
Your main characters are a painfully shy high school student who has never kissed a girl and is focused on math , a young lady unsure of where she is in the world and desperate to please her grandmother , uncle , and other relatives even if that means lying . The grandmother is a proud matriarch of a respected but now ( comparatively ) penniless family who has lived a life of conviction , clearly holding her clan together . Others include bombastic uncles , snotty aunts , overly inquisitive young children , a quiet loner of a child with a secret revealed halfway through the anime , and an uncle who fills the role of being the titular black sheep .
It's a big cast that would be easy to lose track of if you weren't introduced to them so thoroughly and if they weren't all distinct . It's a feat that Summer Wars manages to keep everything together so well throughout the entire show .
Summer Wars is a very family oriented anime in that it is based around a family , and the family of a world connected all the time through OZ ( a much evolved Internet ) . It reflects that while we may want to solve our problems alone , hide our pain and worries from the world , and share only what makes us seem the best - we can't solve anything that way and we must learn to communicate . This is a timeless message that still comes across fresh in Summer Wars and is endearing if just for the way it is presented to us .
019 Summer Wars isn't exactly a new theme for anime , or movies in general . It's the sometimes trite and mostly overused boy meets girl meets problem = awww 3 . That out of the way it is an original it is beautiful and it is a fantastically well done take on a tired theme . I'm not going to delve into the actual plot , as there are plenty of other reviews that do so . . . as such please consider this a spoiler free review .
The DVD comes with some small cards of characters you will meet in the anime , a beautiful box , and a second disk of extras , previews , and other bits of information on Summer Wars . It's a nice way to handle the issue of adding extra content , a separate disc is far preferable to wading through the menus . The subtitling is done very well and is never obtrusive nor does it move so quickly that you're distracted from actually watching the anime . That in and of itself is often a difficult task to achieve with subtitles and they should be lauded just for that fact .
The graphics are beautiful and the color palette is massive . The change between the real world and OZ is a phenomenal example of this as things become brighter , the colors less natural and more deeply hued , and yet it all seems natural as if you could login to OZ today and create your own avatar . In the real world the saturation and blending is most apparent with the backgrounds , sunsets , sunrises , fields , and cities are richly animated and nothing feels like an afterthought . It is no wonder that this series won so many awards , just based on the art alone it is an epic achievement .
The story of Summer Wars has more to do with family , cooperation , and faith in your fellow human being than the actual goings on of OZ . Each character is well developed , though some are more distinct than others . You can tell that the creators took each individual character very seriously and tackled subjects that may otherwise be difficult to handle .
Your main characters are a painfully shy high school student who has never kissed a girl and is focused on math , a young lady unsure of where she is in the world and desperate to please her grandmother , uncle , and other relatives even if that means lying . The grandmother is a proud matriarch of a respected but now ( comparatively ) penniless family who has lived a life of conviction , clearly holding her clan together . Others include bombastic uncles , snotty aunts , overly inquisitive young children , a quiet loner of a child with a secret revealed halfway through the anime , and an uncle who fills the role of being the titular black sheep .
It's a big cast that would be easy to lose track of if you weren't introduced to them so thoroughly and if they weren't all distinct . It's a feat that Summer Wars manages to keep everything together so well throughout the entire show .
Summer Wars is a very family oriented anime in that it is based around a family , and the family of a world connected all the time through OZ ( a much evolved Internet ) . It reflects that while we may want to solve our problems alone , hide our pain and worries from the world , and share only what makes us seem the best - we can't solve anything that way and we must learn to communicate . This is a timeless message that still comes across fresh in Summer Wars and is endearing if just for the way it is presented to us .
020 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
This movie is excellent it doesn't go by too fast nor is it slow . If you want to watch a movie that will make you laugh and smile the whole way through , then this is just for you .
022 I have watched an amazing amount of anime , I also own more than i can handle so i feel i have a decent understanding of which anime are worth watching and those that are not . With that being said , this is easily one of the best anime i have ever seen . The plot is thick , the characters are very well fleshed out , and the plot twists / ending were both exhilerating and held my interest every time I've watched it . I would definately say this is a family oriented film , especially considering that family is a major element .
All-in-All this is a great anime . I would suggest that you watch with friends and family or just that special someone , but if you like anime watch summer wars
023 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
You don't need to be an anime geek to enjoy this . It's like Neal Stephenson and Hayao Miyazaki had an anime baby . . .
024 You don't need to be an anime geek to enjoy this . It's like Neal Stephenson and Hayao Miyazaki had an anime baby . . .
026 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
I ordered this movie while serving a tour in Afghanistan . I remember watching the trailer for this movie time and time again , anxious for its release in the U.S . I had such an interest in this movie my friends quickly became convinced that the movie would be worth their time to watch . Now I admit that Anime isn't for everyone . There are several Japanese culture and subculture fillers in all of Anime that for the casual movie or TV show watcher it might be a bit over-whelming . Summer Wars is filled to the brim with said culture and it is exactly that which makes this movie both unique and extraordinary for all . This movie fully assumes the audience is Japanese and as such is a wonderful and colorful experience for everyone . This may seem contradictory to the previous fact but what a great way to see the culture in its purest form . This isn't some action film that is full of unreal scenarios or Please Teacher setting where the women are objectified , but rather this movie is a full fledged family movie both funny and exciting .
The film takes place in a modern day time setting where an MMO ( massive multi-player online ) system controls everything . Everyone uses this system and even more so they depend on it . This seems plausible considering how much we depend on technology today . Well what would happen if something in that system went wrong ? This movie answers that question with an interesting and entertaining plot .
So if an interesting crisis plot , a love story , family oriented , and Japanese Cultured movie sounds like something you might be interest in try this movie on for size . Forget that it is animated and try to keep an open mind . You might be surprised how much you like it . The people I was deployed with loved it . Try imagining 10 grown men sitting in a small break room , in uniform , covered in Afghanistan dust , and tired from a full days work , watching an Anime .
027 I ordered this movie while serving a tour in Afghanistan . I remember watching the trailer for this movie time and time again , anxious for its release in the U.S . I had such an interest in this movie my friends quickly became convinced that the movie would be worth their time to watch . Now I admit that Anime isn't for everyone . There are several Japanese culture and subculture fillers in all of Anime that for the casual movie or TV show watcher it might be a bit over-whelming . Summer Wars is filled to the brim with said culture and it is exactly that which makes this movie both unique and extraordinary for all . This movie fully assumes the audience is Japanese and as such is a wonderful and colorful experience for everyone . This may seem contradictory to the previous fact but what a great way to see the culture in its purest form . This isn't some action film that is full of unreal scenarios or Please Teacher setting where the women are objectified , but rather this movie is a full fledged family movie both funny and exciting .
The film takes place in a modern day time setting where an MMO ( massive multi-player online ) system controls everything . Everyone uses this system and even more so they depend on it . This seems plausible considering how much we depend on technology today . Well what would happen if something in that system went wrong ? This movie answers that question with an interesting and entertaining plot .
So if an interesting crisis plot , a love story , family oriented , and Japanese Cultured movie sounds like something you might be interest in try this movie on for size . Forget that it is animated and try to keep an open mind . You might be surprised how much you like it . The people I was deployed with loved it . Try imagining 10 grown men sitting in a small break room , in uniform , covered in Afghanistan dust , and tired from a full days work , watching an Anime .
028 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
I was thrilled when I watch it the first time !
This anime tells a great story based off our own world-society as a widely known and used operating system / social media is affected by an unknown user , throwing the entire world into total chaos . Family meetings , feuds , love , hate , different people joined together in an adventure of a lifetime , all under a single roof . Many compare it with famed series Digimon , but this is how Digimon should have been .
On a deeper note , it reflects mankind's almost total dependence on the virtual world on all matters , from online shopping , social sites to managing people's health , lifestyle and even further , managing proper order in cities and countries and their governments . This movie shows how fragile our real life infrastructure , dependent mostly on computers can really be . But it also shows that with determination , anything can be resolved , from family matters to world crisis , of course , determination en masse .
Movie is longer than an hour and a half , and the climax towards the ending is only matched by , say , mission impossible , but with a different twist !
029 I was thrilled when I watch it the first time !
This anime tells a great story based off our own world-society as a widely known and used operating system / social media is affected by an unknown user , throwing the entire world into total chaos . Family meetings , feuds , love , hate , different people joined together in an adventure of a lifetime , all under a single roof . Many compare it with famed series Digimon , but this is how Digimon should have been .
On a deeper note , it reflects mankind's almost total dependence on the virtual world on all matters , from online shopping , social sites to managing people's health , lifestyle and even further , managing proper order in cities and countries and their governments . This movie shows how fragile our real life infrastructure , dependent mostly on computers can really be . But it also shows that with determination , anything can be resolved , from family matters to world crisis , of course , determination en masse .
Movie is longer than an hour and a half , and the climax towards the ending is only matched by , say , mission impossible , but with a different twist !
030 Wow . . . my mind has literally been blown away , something I haven't felt for a long time since first watching some of my now favourite Hayao Miyazaki's films such as Howl's Moving Castle , My Neighbour Totoro , Spirited Away & Laputa , Castle In The Sky + more .
The storyline is fantastic and whilst based on technology that is superior to our own at the moment , it's actually something that could happen in the future if social networks keep growing and people give permission for them to access even more personal details , maybe not in the exact same way , however as we live in a totally internet / computer dependent society , the idea isn't as far-fetched as some may think .
One thing that you will certainly love about this film is how much emotion it pumps through you ; I was laughing , crying and biting my lips in suspense all the way through the film , not once did I feel that the film was dragging on , there was always something there to keep your attention towards the film right from the beginning to the very end .
One thing I must point out is that the film is in BOTH English & Japanese audio for your own choosing , Amazon currently states it's Japanese audio only with English subtitles , so for those that are wary of buying this product because they struggle reading subtitles like I do , I can assure you that this is in English audio .
If you loved The Girl Who Leapt Through Time which was also directed by Mamoru Hosoda , then just wait until you get your hands on this !
031 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
At risk of sounding like a complete and utter otaku nut , I can honestly say that this is one of the best Anime movies that I have seen in a long long time . The story is fun and upbeat , never too serious for too long , so enjoyable and family oriented and after watching it for the first time , I just had to watch it again . I am not sorry I took a chance on this movie and I suggest it for anyone looking for an entertaining animated film with a strong story , strong and fun characters and the best animation sequences I have seen in a long while .
Have a nice day .
032 At risk of sounding like a complete and utter otaku nut , I can honestly say that this is one of the best Anime movies that I have seen in a long long time . The story is fun and upbeat , never too serious for too long , so enjoyable and family oriented and after watching it for the first time , I just had to watch it again . I am not sorry I took a chance on this movie and I suggest it for anyone looking for an entertaining animated film with a strong story , strong and fun characters and the best animation sequences I have seen in a long while .
Have a nice day .
033 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
I heard from Japanese reviews that the voice over actors are not well . I noticed it a little , but it does not bother me that much .
The story is amazing and made me keep watching this movie over and over again .
I think this story capture Japanese cultures .
034 I heard from Japanese reviews that the voice over actors are not well . I noticed it a little , but it does not bother me that much .
The story is amazing and made me keep watching this movie over and over again .
I think this story capture Japanese cultures .
035 I am an avid Anime fan . I actually learned Japanese in college 20 years ago ( has it been that long ? ) for 3 years for the sole purpose of watching Anime and reading Japanese Comics ( aka Manga ) .
Director Mamoru Hosoda made a name for himself after winning the 2007 Animation of the Year at the Japanese Academy Awards with
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time [ Blu-ray
] . If people thought that win was a fluke , he came back with Summer Wars and won the same award in 2010 !
Both movies have a lot in common , which stems most likely from Director / Writer Hosoda's ability to blend multiple categories such as comedy , romance , slice of life , sci-fi and drama seamlessly into a modern day culture ( well , a Japanese culture in his movies ) . I believe that's why he is able to draw the audience deeply not only into the movie but makes the characters more believable and likeable ( unlike some Jar character in another Sci-Fi movie ) .
Summer Wars mixes the cybernet and the real world , making consequences in one world affect the other and vice-versa , much like the classic Tron in terms of the premise and consequences .
I was actually expecting a lot from this movie because it was Director Hosoda's 2nd movie after making The Girl Who Leapt Through Time , and although the cyberworld felt a little quirky in the beginning for me , I was able to get into the movie and enjoy it even though I had high expectations . I laughed in many parts and in other parts I really wanted to punch a couple of the guys there who didn't understand that their small actions had bigger consequences .
This movie's theme might be summarized shortly with actions and consequences : good or bad = )
036 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
Summer Wars is a richly colored film that delves into themes of family , responsibility , and perseverance . For extras the features include interviews with the Japanese voice actors , TV spots , and trailers for other Funimation titles .
I found the yellow subtitles difficult to read in some places , particularly in the Oz segments ( up against a white background ) , but the English dub will get the job done for non-speakers . The story is straightforward which is a strength and downfall because there leaves little reason to re-watch it story-wise ( the richly colored Oz will entice the visual dilettante for another viewing ) . I only wish they developed the Kenji / Natsuki relationship more . It is an entertaining film , extras and the story will leave a little to be desired for some .
037 Summer Wars is a richly colored film that delves into themes of family , responsibility , and perseverance . For extras the features include interviews with the Japanese voice actors , TV spots , and trailers for other Funimation titles .
I found the yellow subtitles difficult to read in some places , particularly in the Oz segments ( up against a white background ) , but the English dub will get the job done for non-speakers . The story is straightforward which is a strength and downfall because there leaves little reason to re-watch it story-wise ( the richly colored Oz will entice the visual dilettante for another viewing ) . I only wish they developed the Kenji / Natsuki relationship more . It is an entertaining film , extras and the story will leave a little to be desired for some .
038 From everything that is out there with anime movies , that aren't OVA's from a series , this is one of the best . It has great action a little Matrix like . And great comedy , along with some heartwarming and wrenching moments . The one problem I had with the movie were the little kids running around . All the other people in the movies were great and had their own personality the kids were thrown in for comic relief and just came out as an annoynce .
At the start I thought the computer generated Oz was going to be an odd addition to a story that had to do with the family party but the writer rolled them together .
With everything I thought it was a great movie , I hope they don't ruin the good with adding a sequel or trying to turn it into a series , don't think they will but you never know .
039 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
I'm not going to go into a long descriptive paean to the film here ; the visual side of the film is more than acceptable , as are the characters and the story . What I particularly enjoyed about the film is the way the individual characters interacted within the bounds of their extended family . Like most families , there are inherent tensions and conflicts - but there are also shared pasts , common interests , and a recognition of the ties that transcend the petty . It's knowing that there are people who will always have your back .
When Kenji , the introverted college student and math prodigy is inveigled into posing as the fiance of his classmate Natsuki so that she can cope with the expectations of her extended family , he has no idea what he is getting into . A classic nerd type with a part time job doing systems upkeep on the vast virtual reality of Oz and no experience with girls ( let alone one as attractive as Natsuki ) , he is way over his head . When he meets her vast family at the palatial estate in the country , presided over by her clan's matriarch on the occasion of her upcoming 90th birthday , much comedy and many awkward moments ensue .
While attempting to sleep the first night , a mysterious math puzzle arriving via his phone turns into an obsessive all-night effort to solve it . When he does , his reward is not what he expects . He goes back to sleep , only to find on awakening that he's now wanted as a cyber criminal who appears to have hacked into Oz . In the ensuing confusion , Natsuki's ruse about his real identity is unmasked as well ; a family member who is also a policeman hauls him off under arrest .
But the havoc now being unleashed within Oz is manifesting in the real world , which has become dependent on the cyber world as a place to meet , shop and carry on much of its business . Disorder spreads , and Kenji is brought back to the estate because massive traffic jams have made travel impossible . Now as there as himself , he begins to start finding out what is happening - and begins to really interact with Natsuki's family , which is where the story begins to take off with a number of twists and surprises .
Watching Kenji discover what he has been missing from his own life , watching him unfold and blossom as he begins to become involved with Natsuki's family is a joy , as is watching how he the outsider begins to remind the group of its own strengths and values , something that familiarity can obscure . His interactions with the matriarch of the clan are especially pleasurable . She is one formidable old lady , and she sees more in him than he knows about himself .
The battles within the virtual world of Oz , the conflicts outside - ultimately the story is about how functioning families are made up of people who see each other for who they really are , care for each other despite the pain that sometimes results , and come together to face their challenges as a family . ( Even if they are not related by blood . ) One of the turning points in the movie is seeing the On-line community in Oz suddenly become a cyber-extended family . In a virtual world it's still possible for all the things that make us human to manifest when needed .
While there's plenty of action and suspense in the story , there's also a wealth of great character interaction on a very human level . That's what makes this much more than just another anime film with some flashy visuals and some violent action . All in all , it's a wonderful story .
There's some extras in the DVD package I haven't had a chance to get to yet - some trading cards , and another disk full of extras . It's a nice bonus with an outstanding film .
040 I'm not going to go into a long descriptive paean to the film here ; the visual side of the film is more than acceptable , as are the characters and the story . What I particularly enjoyed about the film is the way the individual characters interacted within the bounds of their extended family . Like most families , there are inherent tensions and conflicts - but there are also shared pasts , common interests , and a recognition of the ties that transcend the petty . It's knowing that there are people who will always have your back .
When Kenji , the introverted college student and math prodigy is inveigled into posing as the fiance of his classmate Natsuki so that she can cope with the expectations of her extended family , he has no idea what he is getting into . A classic nerd type with a part time job doing systems upkeep on the vast virtual reality of Oz and no experience with girls ( let alone one as attractive as Natsuki ) , he is way over his head . When he meets her vast family at the palatial estate in the country , presided over by her clan's matriarch on the occasion of her upcoming 90th birthday , much comedy and many awkward moments ensue .
While attempting to sleep the first night , a mysterious math puzzle arriving via his phone turns into an obsessive all-night effort to solve it . When he does , his reward is not what he expects . He goes back to sleep , only to find on awakening that he's now wanted as a cyber criminal who appears to have hacked into Oz . In the ensuing confusion , Natsuki's ruse about his real identity is unmasked as well ; a family member who is also a policeman hauls him off under arrest .
But the havoc now being unleashed within Oz is manifesting in the real world , which has become dependent on the cyber world as a place to meet , shop and carry on much of its business . Disorder spreads , and Kenji is brought back to the estate because massive traffic jams have made travel impossible . Now as there as himself , he begins to start finding out what is happening - and begins to really interact with Natsuki's family , which is where the story begins to take off with a number of twists and surprises .
Watching Kenji discover what he has been missing from his own life , watching him unfold and blossom as he begins to become involved with Natsuki's family is a joy , as is watching how he the outsider begins to remind the group of its own strengths and values , something that familiarity can obscure . His interactions with the matriarch of the clan are especially pleasurable . She is one formidable old lady , and she sees more in him than he knows about himself .
The battles within the virtual world of Oz , the conflicts outside - ultimately the story is about how functioning families are made up of people who see each other for who they really are , care for each other despite the pain that sometimes results , and come together to face their challenges as a family . ( Even if they are not related by blood . ) One of the turning points in the movie is seeing the On-line community in Oz suddenly become a cyber-extended family . In a virtual world it's still possible for all the things that make us human to manifest when needed .
While there's plenty of action and suspense in the story , there's also a wealth of great character interaction on a very human level . That's what makes this much more than just another anime film with some flashy visuals and some violent action . All in all , it's a wonderful story .
There's some extras in the DVD package I haven't had a chance to get to yet - some trading cards , and another disk full of extras . It's a nice bonus with an outstanding film .
041 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
i started off writing a detailed synopsis of the movie but that's pointless . . . writers with much greater skill have already done so .
really , i just needed to rate the movie and make sure people realize this is quite the addition to their anime ( or non-anime ) collection of blu-rays .
first off , the movie is very entertaining . it is well drawn , animation smoothly done . . . artistically , its unmatched by most full feature length animes from japan . although i typically cringe from cell-shading , it works well the cyber environment created . the fight scenes were fast paced and exciting , dynamically different from most other animations where mechas blow up ninjas and high schoolers take on demons . my complaint here would be that there wasn't enough action . . . but the time spent on such a unique story made up for that .
characters do grow , but there ALOT of them . . . in fact , an entire family reunion to keep up with . overwhelming as it is when you first see all of them , you grow to know each of them if only briefly for some . comedy and a tragedy , this movie is quite a gem .
the story from what i hear is not as original ( something about digimon ) as i had hoped , but seeing that the same person wrote both stories , i'm not going to fault him for reusing his own material and create a new product for another audience . i have no interest in watching digimon ever ( tried it , not for me ) even though i'm an avid fan of japanese animation .
and you can relate to the movie . cell phones , laptops , and tvs integrated with the internet all connected to a giant cyberworld that uses avatars to complete transactions , socialize , and conduct business . . . we already live in that world ! they do this today on secondlife , world of warcraft , etc . . . but on a much grander scale . ( albeit , the having a life factor does weigh heavy in our own reality ; )
042 i started off writing a detailed synopsis of the movie but that's pointless . . . writers with much greater skill have already done so .
really , i just needed to rate the movie and make sure people realize this is quite the addition to their anime ( or non-anime ) collection of blu-rays .
first off , the movie is very entertaining . it is well drawn , animation smoothly done . . . artistically , its unmatched by most full feature length animes from japan . although i typically cringe from cell-shading , it works well the cyber environment created . the fight scenes were fast paced and exciting , dynamically different from most other animations where mechas blow up ninjas and high schoolers take on demons . my complaint here would be that there wasn't enough action . . . but the time spent on such a unique story made up for that .
characters do grow , but there ALOT of them . . . in fact , an entire family reunion to keep up with . overwhelming as it is when you first see all of them , you grow to know each of them if only briefly for some . comedy and a tragedy , this movie is quite a gem .
the story from what i hear is not as original ( something about digimon ) as i had hoped , but seeing that the same person wrote both stories , i'm not going to fault him for reusing his own material and create a new product for another audience . i have no interest in watching digimon ever ( tried it , not for me ) even though i'm an avid fan of japanese animation .
and you can relate to the movie . cell phones , laptops , and tvs integrated with the internet all connected to a giant cyberworld that uses avatars to complete transactions , socialize , and conduct business . . . we already live in that world ! they do this today on secondlife , world of warcraft , etc . . . but on a much grander scale . ( albeit , the having a life factor does weigh heavy in our own reality ; )
043 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
I liked it much more than I thought I would . In a similar genre as Eden of the East , and with a delightfully refreshing animation style . I will treasure this animation with other films of similar feel - The Girl Who Leaped Through Time , Whisper of the Heart , and Eden of the East . . . Youthful , exuberant , upbeat , and exciting .
The story revolves around a young man ( and math geek ) , as well as a family he is introduced to . The young man , accepting a Summer job on a whim of a pretty girl he is acquainted with . It quickly runs out of control as he is introduced as her fiance . . . and spirals out of control when the internet is hijacked , vandalized , and broken beyond recognition . What's more , the young man finds out that he's the one to blame , and may have brought society to a complete standstill breaking point .
This story primarily deals with the interactions of that eccentric family , and a thrill-ride as the main characters try to take back the internet before Millions in Japan are killed .
044 I liked it much more than I thought I would . In a similar genre as Eden of the East , and with a delightfully refreshing animation style . I will treasure this animation with other films of similar feel - The Girl Who Leaped Through Time , Whisper of the Heart , and Eden of the East . . . Youthful , exuberant , upbeat , and exciting .
The story revolves around a young man ( and math geek ) , as well as a family he is introduced to . The young man , accepting a Summer job on a whim of a pretty girl he is acquainted with . It quickly runs out of control as he is introduced as her fiance . . . and spirals out of control when the internet is hijacked , vandalized , and broken beyond recognition . What's more , the young man finds out that he's the one to blame , and may have brought society to a complete standstill breaking point .
This story primarily deals with the interactions of that eccentric family , and a thrill-ride as the main characters try to take back the internet before Millions in Japan are killed .
045 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
My Christmas eve 2010 was spent with my extended family but I had the pleasure to spend that Christmas day in a movie theater with the Jinnouchi family . I went to see the movie Summer Wars in San Francisco on that rainy Christmas day and it was well worth the 100 mile drive .
In my humble opinion Summer Wars directed by Hosoda Mamoru is the best animation I've seen in a long time and I just per-ordered this dvd on Amozon .
The heroes of this exciting , hilarious and heartwarming movie are Kenji and the Jinnouchi family .
The best animations have authentic believable characters and here we find several of them most notably Sakae , the family's charismatic matriarch . If there was an Academy award for best supporting actress in an animation it should go to her . In what could have easily stayed a simple scifi adventure alone , Hosoda has seamlessly weaved in an extensive cast of charming heart and togetherness .
The male lead Kenji is a shy math geek who has never even dated a girl before . He agrees to a summer job escorting Natsuki , the most popular girl in school , to her family's gathering . A sprawling earthy ancient rural family estate where the Jinnouchi clan has gathered to celebrate the family matriarch's 90th birthday . This is the real world setting where the enemy strikes however the movie doesn't just take place in this world . It starts introducing you to the white sterile appealing online universe called OZ that has all but completely taken over all the worlds workings . As in the Wizard of OZ something there declares it self as all powerful and starts stealing peoples very identities and online privileges .
Kenji stuck in the middle of nowhere like a fish out of water has to ask for help from the people he just met and instead of saving the day alone , is becomes the catalyst that helps unite the family together in battle .
Yes it gets deadly serious , and just when you think the battle is over the villain strikes back once more and then once again putting you on the edge of your seat .
Not being Japanese , I enjoyed being introduced to things like the ancient card game of Hanafuda Koi Koi and the anime cliche wherein a shy boy gets a nose bleed when kissed by a beautiful girl .
If you liked Mamoru Hosoda's the Girl Who Leapt Through Time ( and why shouldn't you ) then you'l definitely love this movie .
046 My Christmas eve 2010 was spent with my extended family but I had the pleasure to spend that Christmas day in a movie theater with the Jinnouchi family . I went to see the movie Summer Wars in San Francisco on that rainy Christmas day and it was well worth the 100 mile drive .
In my humble opinion Summer Wars directed by Hosoda Mamoru is the best animation I've seen in a long time and I just per-ordered this dvd on Amozon .
The heroes of this exciting , hilarious and heartwarming movie are Kenji and the Jinnouchi family .
The best animations have authentic believable characters and here we find several of them most notably Sakae , the family's charismatic matriarch . If there was an Academy award for best supporting actress in an animation it should go to her . In what could have easily stayed a simple scifi adventure alone , Hosoda has seamlessly weaved in an extensive cast of charming heart and togetherness .
The male lead Kenji is a shy math geek who has never even dated a girl before . He agrees to a summer job escorting Natsuki , the most popular girl in school , to her family's gathering . A sprawling earthy ancient rural family estate where the Jinnouchi clan has gathered to celebrate the family matriarch's 90th birthday . This is the real world setting where the enemy strikes however the movie doesn't just take place in this world . It starts introducing you to the white sterile appealing online universe called OZ that has all but completely taken over all the worlds workings . As in the Wizard of OZ something there declares it self as all powerful and starts stealing peoples very identities and online privileges .
Kenji stuck in the middle of nowhere like a fish out of water has to ask for help from the people he just met and instead of saving the day alone , is becomes the catalyst that helps unite the family together in battle .
Yes it gets deadly serious , and just when you think the battle is over the villain strikes back once more and then once again putting you on the edge of your seat .
Not being Japanese , I enjoyed being introduced to things like the ancient card game of Hanafuda Koi Koi and the anime cliche wherein a shy boy gets a nose bleed when kissed by a beautiful girl .
If you liked Mamoru Hosoda's the Girl Who Leapt Through Time ( and why shouldn't you ) then you'l definitely love this movie .
049 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
This Japanese movie is amazingly done . The graphics in this movie is unbelievable and greatly appreciated : ) The story line is quite good and not too artistically hard to follow hahaha
055 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
This is a awesome movie . I watched it with about 10 friends and they absolutely loved the movie . They really got into the movie , which is hard for die hard anime fans to do , especially with a DVD movie . I would definitely watch the movie in the Japanese with English subtitles .
The movie does start off a bit slow , but it starts moving faster and faster . I want to say that it is probably the best movie , I have seen in the past 2 - 3 years .
056 This is a awesome movie . I watched it with about 10 friends and they absolutely loved the movie . They really got into the movie , which is hard for die hard anime fans to do , especially with a DVD movie . I would definitely watch the movie in the Japanese with English subtitles .
The movie does start off a bit slow , but it starts moving faster and faster . I want to say that it is probably the best movie , I have seen in the past 2 - 3 years .
058 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
Starts out slow but once it takes off you're hooked . It was enjoyable for the most part but seemed tailored for a somewhat younger audience . I did not notice that it was rated G until I had already purchased it ( not always a bad thing ) .
061 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
I was completely blown away by this movie . It is one of the best looking animated movies I have seen and is an exciting , emotional and clever piece of art . The plot is a bit silly sometimes , but if you can get past that , and love animated films , this movie is one to keep in your collection .
063 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
This movie is the equivalent to the Digimon Movie ; just with a bit less action and more of a focus on story & drama / emotions . I still have an attachment to Digmon the Movie , but this has just as much re-watch value ; never getting tired of the awesome dialogue & art style ! I'd recommend this to anyone ; especially younger children .
065 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
The first movie I saw by Mamoru Hosoda was ' The Girl Who Leapt Through Time ' When I had seen the trailer and poster I didn't think I would Like it because I am a big Hayao Miyazaki fan and I did't expect to like any anime other than his ( I don't like manga's and tend to not like many anime ) . But after seeing it I loved it ( it's a must have . So after having seen it I was very excited to hear that ' Summer Wars ' was coming out .
I loved this movie . Although I preferred Mamoru Hosoda's first movie this one was still beautiful with an interesting story and from my point of view the dubbing was good ( I tend not to mind dubbing ) .
So if you are an anime or Hayao Miyazaki lover . . . BUY THIS !
For ' The Girl Who Leapt Through Time ' :
[ . . . ]
066 The first movie I saw by Mamoru Hosoda was ' The Girl Who Leapt Through Time ' When I had seen the trailer and poster I didn't think I would Like it because I am a big Hayao Miyazaki fan and I did't expect to like any anime other than his ( I don't like manga's and tend to not like many anime ) . But after seeing it I loved it ( it's a must have . So after having seen it I was very excited to hear that ' Summer Wars ' was coming out .
I loved this movie . Although I preferred Mamoru Hosoda's first movie this one was still beautiful with an interesting story and from my point of view the dubbing was good ( I tend not to mind dubbing ) .
So if you are an anime or Hayao Miyazaki lover . . . BUY THIS !
For ' The Girl Who Leapt Through Time ' :
[ . . . ]
067 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
We are huge fans of Hayao Miyazaki and because of Him we are now big big big fans of Anime and Manga . Love all the details in the movie , the way the live , eat and love . It makes you feel you are part of the movie .
075 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
This was a show that just came from nowhere and took my be surprise . I'm a huge fan of the Miyazaki films and this is right up with them when it comes to animation and story .
The story centers around the male lead ( Kenji Koiso ) and the female lead ( Natsuki Shinohara ) as they travel to Natsuki's grandmothers house for her grandmother's birthday . While at her families house Kenji's account in OZ ( the world wide social network in the movie ) is hacked and systems and companies all throughout Japan start to go haywire , while Kenji is framed for the cyber attack . Now its up to Kenji with Natsuki and her family to stop this crazy virus Love Machine before the entire net is destroyed , and possible the real world as well .
For those of you who like . / / hacksign and Outlaw Star this will be one you'll want to add to your collection .
076 This was a show that just came from nowhere and took my be surprise . I'm a huge fan of the Miyazaki films and this is right up with them when it comes to animation and story .
The story centers around the male lead ( Kenji Koiso ) and the female lead ( Natsuki Shinohara ) as they travel to Natsuki's grandmothers house for her grandmother's birthday . While at her families house Kenji's account in OZ ( the world wide social network in the movie ) is hacked and systems and companies all throughout Japan start to go haywire , while Kenji is framed for the cyber attack . Now its up to Kenji with Natsuki and her family to stop this crazy virus Love Machine before the entire net is destroyed , and possible the real world as well .
For those of you who like . / / hacksign and Outlaw Star this will be one you'll want to add to your collection .
077 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
I think this movie is a masterpiece . It's a great representation of how crazy big families can be . Throw a fake fiance and an internet computer virus into the mix , and it creates havoc , and thankfully , entertainment ! I can personally relate to this gigantic , crazy family , and love seeing how everyone interacts ! = )
This movie made me laugh SO hard , cry , and then smile at its beautiful ending .
078 I think this movie is a masterpiece . It's a great representation of how crazy big families can be . Throw a fake fiance and an internet computer virus into the mix , and it creates havoc , and thankfully , entertainment ! I can personally relate to this gigantic , crazy family , and love seeing how everyone interacts ! = )
This movie made me laugh SO hard , cry , and then smile at its beautiful ending .
079 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
There's only a few things I can say . If you are a fan of anime and loves a good science fiction story with epic ending then this is for you . The only downside is the picture above is a bit misleading . When I got my blu-ray dvd it only comes with the plastic blu-ray casing sealed with a plastic packaging without the blu-ray cardboard box . I want the box because it's going to be part of my growing anime blu-ray collection . It is a bit disappointing not have the box included with my copy but I am not gonna deduct the score on this product , simply because this anime is just plain amazing .
081 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
I used to be a big-time anime otaku and I still am a bigger fan than most people I know , so when I heard about this film and the critical acclaim it had received , I was shocked that it had flew past me . Well , after watching it , I can say that the hype is , indeed , to be believed . From the high quality , high budget animaiton , to the amazing story within a story presentation , everything about this film shines on the same level as any of the great anime films . It is certainly the most impressive and entertaining animated feature I have seen in the last 10 years since 2001 ' s Spirited Away awed me similarly . ( Miyazaki's more recent films , Howl's Moving Castle and Ponyo , did not elicit such a response from me , as I am sort of a harsh critic . )
To put it simply , if you are an anime fan , you absolutely MUST see the movie . I would say it should be added to anyone's required viewing list . And of course , if you decide to get it , you should really get the Blu Ray ! I have not seen the DVD version of the movie , but I can say that the use of HD resolution was glorious , and I can not imagine watching it in SD ! You must see it in High Definition for the true experience !
So , should you buy this ? In a word , YES !
082 I used to be a big-time anime otaku and I still am a bigger fan than most people I know , so when I heard about this film and the critical acclaim it had received , I was shocked that it had flew past me . Well , after watching it , I can say that the hype is , indeed , to be believed . From the high quality , high budget animaiton , to the amazing story within a story presentation , everything about this film shines on the same level as any of the great anime films . It is certainly the most impressive and entertaining animated feature I have seen in the last 10 years since 2001 ' s Spirited Away awed me similarly . ( Miyazaki's more recent films , Howl's Moving Castle and Ponyo , did not elicit such a response from me , as I am sort of a harsh critic . )
To put it simply , if you are an anime fan , you absolutely MUST see the movie . I would say it should be added to anyone's required viewing list . And of course , if you decide to get it , you should really get the Blu Ray ! I have not seen the DVD version of the movie , but I can say that the use of HD resolution was glorious , and I can not imagine watching it in SD ! You must see it in High Definition for the true experience !
So , should you buy this ? In a word , YES !
083 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
this movie is epic ! you just have to watch it ! the dvd and casing is also well made and high quality
085 Poor Kenji may be a total math geek but sometimes that's not necessarily a bad thing . The whole premise of the movie of the world wide web being taken over and corrupted is especially scary when you start to consider how more and more the world is coming to rely on easy access to the internet . Kenji offers to be a boyfriend for a weekend without really knowing what's going on and runs smack head on into a huge family with all it's pleasantries and it's problems . The in the middle of all this confusion someone steals his web alter-ego ( his avatar ) and starts to wreck havoc in his name .
Having married into a large ( almost clannish ) family I can certainly relate to the total bewilderment and wonder that Kenji experiences . The family interaction is something to behold . The sequences that take place in the virtual world are visually arresting on Blu-Ray and the action is top-notch . My wife who has only recently started enjoying the anime world claims this movie to be one of her favorites with enough comedy , drama , and action for almost everyone .
Please take the time to check this one out !
086 The plot pieces used in this film are familiar but they are used so well that you are bound to come away uplifted and satisfied .
I watched this in English Language . The voice actors did a great job . No doubt there is a part of Japanese culture that is lost in translation , but it does not detract .
A cynic might say that the one thing we learn from this film is that every single person in Japan has some form of wifi game , even if only on a smartphone . Or maybe it's just this particular family ?
Family connections , inclusiveness , balance , and the desire to overcome mankind-threatening AIs : these are values we can all cherish . Thank you , Summer Wars .
087 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
great story , animation and the English dub is a v / a star-studded cast ! This movie had me laughing and crying at just the right points . I recommend this movie to any Anime fan who wants to round out their collection .
089 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
This is an extremely good movie and shows you not use a Facebook-like thing too much , which is good because I do not use it . More importantly this movie is a great example of Japanese anime , with the technology and the family coming together to save the world . It is also a sad movie at some times .
091 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
I'm a mathematician myself , so i might be biased , but having the main character as a mathematician was pretty cool , as well as the use of hanafuda in the story . Its a great family movie and even non-anime fans will enjoy the detailed animation and deep story telling .
093 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
This film not just has an amazing plot but wonderful graphics as well . . . If you have a blue ray player , i would definitely recommend buying it in BR . I love all anime movies and this one has to be one of my top favorites . It has action , romance , sorrow , and etc . It's everything you would ever want in a anime film .
095 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
This movie is absolutely amazing !
Every time you think the movie can't be better , he does , what made me want more and more of this movie .
This is what I think that the future will be , with every people connected to the same App in many ways ! People sharing information and doing friends and translating languages in real time . A brilliant movie , that I risk to say it's one of the best movies I ever seen so far !
No movie caused me so much excitement like Summer Wars . Unfortunately ( or not ) , there is no series or another movie . It's just perfect like it is !
I couldn't expected a better movie = )
096 This movie is absolutely amazing !
Every time you think the movie can't be better , he does , what made me want more and more of this movie .
This is what I think that the future will be , with every people connected to the same App in many ways ! People sharing information and doing friends and translating languages in real time . A brilliant movie , that I risk to say it's one of the best movies I ever seen so far !
No movie caused me so much excitement like Summer Wars . Unfortunately ( or not ) , there is no series or another movie . It's just perfect like it is !
I couldn't expected a better movie = )
097 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
I was originally gonna rent the movie to watch but instead I bought it . I dont regret it either . It is fun to watch and I really liked it . If you are an anime lover like me , I recommend you watch this . You will surely not be dissapointed ! ! : )
099 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
this was a very great movie ,
if you loved the digimon movie this one is kind of like it .
i enjoyed this movie , i watched it a few time with different friends
100 this was a very great movie ,
if you loved the digimon movie this one is kind of like it .
i enjoyed this movie , i watched it a few time with different friends
101 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
I saw this movie at a local theater for Anime Night and I decided I had to purchase a copy for myself . It is amazing . I highly reccommend it to everyon !
103 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
i fell in love with this story because its basically a family film . all generations of 1 family coming 2gethr 2 rid the world of an internet threat . think facebook getting hacked by an evil program . this is the same thing and u'll understand where this story comes from because u can relate to it n a way . characters are all very comical , and u'll care what happens 2 them . i love it , and i know u'll luv it 2 .
105 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
This is one of those special films that really shows the focus on emotional storytelling . This film is one of those rare films that actually made me cry when I watched it . It is that well executed . And not just emotionally . The visuals and animation - for both the real world and digital world - are stunning and the characters are all well developed and likable . All in all , this movie hits almost all the right high notes in all the right times . A definate recommendation for any anime fan .
107 So . . . in the near future the internet has coalesced into the online VR realm known as ' Oz ' . This online world is populated by avatars of nearly every person on Earth with access to a computer and internet . People , companies , governments , all are online in Oz . Very similar to the internet we know today except that this online world is hosted in a virtual reality interface of sorts .
So to the film : Though this isn't quite as solid as their film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time , it is a stunning film nonetheless . The animation is fantastic , especially the computer animation used to depict Oz . The characters are all likable , and the Japanese voice acting solid .
Essentially this is a story about friendship , family , and togetherness . There are a few sad moments , some funny moments , but overall it is very touching and heart warming . The computer program as a villain is nothing new , but it is given a new and sinister twist in this film . It is enjoyable to watch the main character Kenji fumble around , lacking common sense and confidence in the beginning , ' man up ' as the movie progresses . The film is well paced and I never felt it was too long or too rushed .
Madhouse has something good going and I hope to see more of these types of films being released from their animation studio .
108 Takashi Murakami's book Superflat presents us with deep social commentary in the guise of a discussion of the sources of current trends in anime and manga in historical Japanese art .
And what might that have to do with this movie you may ask ? Because more than anything else Summer Wars is the same social commentary brought to life in anime form . It looks at the conflict Japan , and the rest of the world , faces when tradition and modern technologies and trends collide . This is made visually evident in a family , portrayed in a style that deliberately gives a the flavor of Miyazaki to things going on the the real world , while the virtual world is as deliberately Murakami in its flavor .
This sets the stage for not only a battle of visual styles , but a battle of all flavors of new and old , pitting electronic networking against old fashioned connecting in person and by phone , video games against baseball , programming against pen and paper , and in the end a contest of two wills , electronic versus human .
As such it is not only a marvel to watch , but is also an incredibly revealing and very intentional piece of social commentary where the metaphorical death of the traditional makes it clear to those affected not only how important those traditions truly are but how they must adapted by the next generation to face a new world .
109 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
the blu-ray version of summer wars is awsome ! great story line ! greate anime ! if you like stuff from hio miyazaki or the girl who lept through time or tokyo godfathers , paprika then you will love this !
112 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
I usually don't like any anime that is not produced by Miyazaki . . . but this one is quite good ! Great soundtrack too !
114 General overview : This movie was liked by my father who usually can't stand watching anime and he actually laughed several times during it ! It flows nicely and doesn't leave really any plot holes in either English or Japanese . I believe it deserves the awards it has won , and is a pleasant diversion from the boob flashing Animes that sometime seem to invade the realm of anime . I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good anime mixed with laughs and drama .
Further break down :
Voice acting : It is both awesome in English and Japanese so if you don't like to read subtitles English is a good alternative . ( Some of the subtitles go too fast in Japanese and clip out before the actors are done talking though . )
Profanity : This movie isn't huge on swearing , there are a few clips of it . ( more in the Japanese I think . )
Nudity : There is one bath scene where the main girl is giving her siblings a bath , you see some of her chest from the side but it's not accentuated . There is a transformation sequence with about the same degree of revealing . The main male also walks into the bath ( after the girl is out ) with a towel covering his front .
Violence : Bloody nose and martial arts ( No over the top violence really . )
Moral : This story features a good overall moral to the story , it features many aspects of what a family does , as well as sticking to something .
Characters : Each character has distinct characteristics , no one is the same , and all are funny in their own way .
Other adult material : When introducing the main male character to her family one of her relatives jokes that he must have already did it with her and that's why he's there .
Enjoy !
115 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
What could make an already great movie better . An awesome case . The case comes with a slip over cover which is the featured cover on purchase . When you remove the cover it reveals the characters in their human form instead of their avatars . The reverse poster cover looks great as well . The dvds look quite attractive as well . Featured film dvd is a cute panda on a plaid blue dvd . The extras is a toony girl with cheetah ears and a tail on plaid red . It all looks great with the clear case looking through to the reverse cover poster .
117 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
Is essential if you are a lover of anime ( Like Me ! ) have this movie . Unites all the ideas that a good movie should have .
I recommend it to anyone who wants to enjoy a good anime .
118 Is essential if you are a lover of anime ( Like Me ! ) have this movie . Unites all the ideas that a good movie should have .
I recommend it to anyone who wants to enjoy a good anime .
119 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
I'm not a film critic . I am an anime fan . I'm a bit biased towards this movie as a result . However , this release garners 5 stars from me for several logical reasons . First of which being , the English voice-acting is of a very high quality . The translation is accurate to the spirit of original Japanese , if not the content explicitly . The actors seem very authentic , and with very few exceptions sound quite invested in their work .
That said , I prefer the Japanese . I'm familiar enough with the culture to appreciate it from an outside perspective . So why do I care so much about the English ? I don't like watching movies alone , and not all of my friends and family are comfortable reading subtitles . I tell them learning Japanese is the best solution , but most aren't quite interested in becoming that invested . High-quality English makes for easy introduction to this movie .
What carries it , is the easy pace and undeniable style of the film . The visuals are stunning in their attention to detail , both in the real world and OZ centered scenes . The movie sets itself up effortlessly in just a few minutes , and then throws you into the center of the story rather quickly . Kenji's status as a math nerd and social idiot is a tried and true one , and the cool beauty of Natsuki isn't new either . Simply well executed here . Without spoiling the story too much , the introduction of Natsuki's family to both Kenji and the audience is a whirlwind ( putting it lightly ) . While some people would argue the sheer number of characters would make them shallow and not leave time for development , I would tend to disagree . Kenji is overwhelmed at the situation , he's our protagonist so we should share that with him . That said , despite the huge number of folks flicking on and off screen the important few shine through in just the right way . The stern but loving grandmother , eccentric uncles , overbearing aunts , and annoying cousins are damn near universal in most families . They're all here too , and more like my own than I might care to admit . So , surprise surprise , it's a bit of a family film . Of course , throwing in the high-tech near-future environment of the OZ Network gives you an entirely new layer to work through .
OZ isn't too far away from how we live now . We bundle cell phones , home phones , internet , and TV . OZ is that , plus Facebook , and pretty much all of your billing and work-related systems slammed into one . Games , media , communications , business , and financial services all through one central hub . Just like in the real world , the cyber world of Summer Wars starts reaching into everyday life in very unexpected ways . Of course , things go quite a bit further in the film . This is where that little Deeper Meaning comes in . The Wars in question are between the real people of the movie and the online world they depend on day to day . The movie is a bit of a hint towards what we're heading to today with our dependence on social media and online conveniences . Most of us are guilty of it . I'm 26 , of course I am . Again , trying not to give anything away here , but suffice it to say that we probably don't want to be quite as plugged in as the folks in Summer Wars .
Of course , this isn't some broad-reaching culture modifying epic which will forever change movies as we know it . It is , however , an amazingly completely experience . People can argue that it's not terribly meaningful , lacks some depth , is unrealistic , or even somewhat immature . In some ways , all of that is correct . To me the strengths of this movie perfectly compliment the few weaknesses . It's a parallel of real life with a dash of science fiction and just a bit over-the-top . It's approachable , enjoyable , funny , heart-warming , heart-wrenching , and endlessly watchable . To be fair , that's all I really want from an entertainment movie . To be entertained . Summer Wars does this for me , my friends , and my family . I've seen the movie at least 5 times now , and I don't think it will wear out it's welcome anytime soon .
120 I'm not a film critic . I am an anime fan . I'm a bit biased towards this movie as a result . However , this release garners 5 stars from me for several logical reasons . First of which being , the English voice-acting is of a very high quality . The translation is accurate to the spirit of original Japanese , if not the content explicitly . The actors seem very authentic , and with very few exceptions sound quite invested in their work .
That said , I prefer the Japanese . I'm familiar enough with the culture to appreciate it from an outside perspective . So why do I care so much about the English ? I don't like watching movies alone , and not all of my friends and family are comfortable reading subtitles . I tell them learning Japanese is the best solution , but most aren't quite interested in becoming that invested . High-quality English makes for easy introduction to this movie .
What carries it , is the easy pace and undeniable style of the film . The visuals are stunning in their attention to detail , both in the real world and OZ centered scenes . The movie sets itself up effortlessly in just a few minutes , and then throws you into the center of the story rather quickly . Kenji's status as a math nerd and social idiot is a tried and true one , and the cool beauty of Natsuki isn't new either . Simply well executed here . Without spoiling the story too much , the introduction of Natsuki's family to both Kenji and the audience is a whirlwind ( putting it lightly ) . While some people would argue the sheer number of characters would make them shallow and not leave time for development , I would tend to disagree . Kenji is overwhelmed at the situation , he's our protagonist so we should share that with him . That said , despite the huge number of folks flicking on and off screen the important few shine through in just the right way . The stern but loving grandmother , eccentric uncles , overbearing aunts , and annoying cousins are damn near universal in most families . They're all here too , and more like my own than I might care to admit . So , surprise surprise , it's a bit of a family film . Of course , throwing in the high-tech near-future environment of the OZ Network gives you an entirely new layer to work through .
OZ isn't too far away from how we live now . We bundle cell phones , home phones , internet , and TV . OZ is that , plus Facebook , and pretty much all of your billing and work-related systems slammed into one . Games , media , communications , business , and financial services all through one central hub . Just like in the real world , the cyber world of Summer Wars starts reaching into everyday life in very unexpected ways . Of course , things go quite a bit further in the film . This is where that little Deeper Meaning comes in . The Wars in question are between the real people of the movie and the online world they depend on day to day . The movie is a bit of a hint towards what we're heading to today with our dependence on social media and online conveniences . Most of us are guilty of it . I'm 26 , of course I am . Again , trying not to give anything away here , but suffice it to say that we probably don't want to be quite as plugged in as the folks in Summer Wars .
Of course , this isn't some broad-reaching culture modifying epic which will forever change movies as we know it . It is , however , an amazingly completely experience . People can argue that it's not terribly meaningful , lacks some depth , is unrealistic , or even somewhat immature . In some ways , all of that is correct . To me the strengths of this movie perfectly compliment the few weaknesses . It's a parallel of real life with a dash of science fiction and just a bit over-the-top . It's approachable , enjoyable , funny , heart-warming , heart-wrenching , and endlessly watchable . To be fair , that's all I really want from an entertainment movie . To be entertained . Summer Wars does this for me , my friends , and my family . I've seen the movie at least 5 times now , and I don't think it will wear out it's welcome anytime soon .
121 Mamoru Hosoda followed up his Academy Award-winning sci-fi shojo movie of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time with an extended remake of his original Digimon short movie ( which was the second chapter in the American release of Digimon : The Movie ) . Summer Wars is a full-length feature blending in high school romance with digital armageddon .
At the beginning of summer vacation in Japan , math whiz Kenji is working with his buddy Takashi as a moderator for the massive online network called OZ ( no Wizard Of Oz puns present ) which is a virtual world similar to WOW , but with less of a midevil setting and more like playful icons involved in fighter tournaments . Kenji's cute energetic classmate Natsuki offers him another quick job to help her prepare for her great-gramma's 90th birthday . He accepts , and the two of them go off to Natsuki's family estate in the country . They are a large and diverse family descended from a samurai clan , and the great-grandmother Sakae is about everything you'd be looking for in granny . Kenji is shocked though when Natsuki claims to her family that he is her boyfriend , but she says that in order to make her grandma feel safe about her . Confused during the night , he gets a strange text message send in code , which he uses his math skills to crack , and sends it back . He awakes the next morning to see on the news that OZ has been been hacked into and that he is being blamed for it . It turns out that an A.I . program masquerading as Kenji's avatar , calling itself Love Machine . It proceeds to take over OZ , which Kenji tries to stop with a new avatar Takashi made for him , along with Natsuki's cousin who is really the brilliant game fighter , King Kazma . They tangle with Love Machine , but after absorbing a few other avatars , it goes all Super-Saiyan and kicks them out of the system . It then proceeds to infect computer systems all over the world , causing mass confusion and hysteria . Its later revealed that Natsuki's estranged uncle is the one who actually created the A.I . that the American military try to use , but it escaped into OZ . This news infuriates Sakae as she banishes him from her home . The ensuing action causes Sakae to pass away in her sleep . The family believes that Love Machine is responsible , so they pull all the stops to try and pull the plug on it . They call in resouces from all over the country , even by bringing in a huge supercomputer to back them up . Natsuki uses her superior skills at tea ceremony card playing to challenge Love Machine to a final card game . She gets help from players all over the world to shut him down . However , it causes a satellite to begin falling towards their location . Kenji hacks into the satellite's system , and has it crash near the estate .
Summer Wars features some impressive digital effects , specifically in the online world , although you sorta wish there was more added to it than the cartoonish avatars . The style used for the offline parts are a little more standard , at least for a generic non-Ghibli anime movie . The main appeal for this movie though is the compelling story , and the tightnit seperate world the family of characters exist in . They're very believable , despite some of the standard anime tropes that are present , and you can recognize at least one member of your own family in Natsuki's . This film makes for a great watch , at least as a gateway anime since it takes alot of what makes for a great story and an engaging syle .
122 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
Great animation and sound , touching story and a good amount of action , Summer Wars is a fun movie to watch and very emotional towards the end . The plot itself isnt so original and a little , or more clich , Its still a fun movie to watch and the characters believable and impressively passionate , which is different than what i tend to watch like bleach which is just fighting . Anyways great Animation , Awesome soundtrack , and characters you actually grow on , and at 20 bucks , lets you show off how good bluray can look for Anime . Great Purchase .
124 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
I enjoy anime and this is one of the better titles I have come across . There was an actual plot with a good story instead of the mass screaming of excitable half naked characters .
126 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
Summer Wars is an awesome friggin ' movie - - it's got a rich blend of sci-fi , fantasy , humor , romance , action , etc . with great characters and a fun setting . The only real problem I had with the movie itself was the vague anti-american vibe you get .
Unfortunately , I bought it on Blu Ray by accident . I can still watch it on my PS3 , but I can't bring it over to my friends ' houses and show it to them ! I friggin ' hate blu-ray because it's generally more expensive ( not in this case ) , requires a separate player , and just isn't really any better than a DVD ! Plus , all blu-ray disks come in a garish blue plastic case that is a different size than DVD's and video games , so they really stand out in your collection . If you like blu-rays , however , knock yourself out .
127 Summer Wars is an awesome friggin ' movie - - it's got a rich blend of sci-fi , fantasy , humor , romance , action , etc . with great characters and a fun setting . The only real problem I had with the movie itself was the vague anti-american vibe you get .
Unfortunately , I bought it on Blu Ray by accident . I can still watch it on my PS3 , but I can't bring it over to my friends ' houses and show it to them ! I friggin ' hate blu-ray because it's generally more expensive ( not in this case ) , requires a separate player , and just isn't really any better than a DVD ! Plus , all blu-ray disks come in a garish blue plastic case that is a different size than DVD's and video games , so they really stand out in your collection . If you like blu-rays , however , knock yourself out .
129 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
First of I have to say I went on a whim to order this movie , I went purely off of the trailer . After I watched the trailer I just had to order this anime . I'm happy to say I was not disappointed ! It is truly a beautiful anime , both visually and in story . I absolutely love how they tied in the importance of family and how our actions can affect the ones we love . If you are looking for something heart-warming and that you can watch with the whole family , I highly recommend Summer Wars !
134 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
Well I love Anime and so do my Kids . I thought the movie was a really good film and the animation was great . When my kids categorize this as one of the best Anime movies they havedwatched thus far , then I Must say A Great Film . . . . . .
137 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
This is one of the best that I've watched . And I've been around a while now . Seen a lot of movies / anime . You'll probably be burnt out emotionally by the end of this one .
140 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
one of the best movies i have seen in years not only does the animation grate it's one of the best story lines to be tolled . If you ever watched . Hack / / you will love this movie and to any who love good anime .
143 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
The first glimpse of this movie , I was expecting another great anime from Japan-it was delivered with great story telling , animation , and emotional draw that leaves any movie fan not just anime wanting more . The movie tells a story of High school teenagers who through angst , family commitment , and power overcome obstacles together through shared experiences and of course social networking . Think of FaceBook taking over the world in an official sense , but a hack breaks it , causing the world to collapse . The only downside to this well delivered drama is that at times it's marred with Hollywood and anime clich s ; these distractions remove the viewer from focusing on the plot at hand , and at certain moments the character development . Yet , that would be the only thing that I could lament that hurts the film - at best . As whole , it is still a great film that any anime and non anime lover will enjoy .
145 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
Movies , especially anime , usually go for about $20 . So to get this movie , one of the highest quality in animation I've ever encountered , for half that ? Yes , I believe I will buy this , thank you .
148 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
This movie was amazing . Mamoru Hosoda ( Director ) is getting the publicity that he deserves , directing spectacular movies that are worthy of becoming classics . Summer Wars is a movie for the now , involving the technological views of today and blending it into a masterpiece that all can enjoy . Like how Disney classics are portrayed as being a film of all ages , I believe Summer Wars will be a 21st Century classic . Winning awards for having simply outstanding artwork and animation , seeing it in 1080p resolution will blow your mind . Without a doubt , a must watch for those looking to see an all around amazing piece of work .
151 You can pretty much recognize a Studio Ghibli production when you see it . Kind of think of an Anime version of Walt Disney . I happen to like them after reading more about them - - they won't license an English release of their product .
Taken from Wikipedia :
The company is well-known for its strict no-edits policy in licensing their films abroad . This was a result of the dubbing of Miyazaki's Nausica of the Valley of Wind when the film was released in the United States as Warriors of the Wind . The film was heavily edited and Americanized , with significant portions cut and the plot rewritten . The no cuts policy was highlighted when Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein suggested editing Princess Mononoke to make it more marketable . In response , a Studio Ghibli producer sent an authentic katana with a simple message : No cuts . [ 4 ]
I mentioned it because you can rest assured when watching this one , that you are getting the original dialog and plot without any Americanizing . This is important to me because I respect the difference in culture and want a dub to stay as true as possible to the original.I didn't watch this and come away thinking Hunh ? because the edits didn't make sense .
What I will say is this . I loved this film . More than enough of these reviews will rehash the plot , so I won't do that . The setting in Oz really isn't the centerpiece of the story . It's important , but you get the feeling that you could take these characters and put them in any sort of crisis and it wouldn't matter . This film is more about the strength of family and love . I felt like the writers took a Kenji and put him into their lives to allow us to see just a small part of what can make family so great . Here you're watching from Kenji's point of view , and watching him come into his own . By just being around a family he grows out of his shyness somewhat , develops confidence in himself and learns the importance of love and how it can literally move mountains . All of this because he found a place in a family who accepted him with open arms .
This film has some genuine heart and by the end of it , my palms were sweaty and I was grinning ear to ear . I won't lie - - I teared up at a few parts because it did a good job of reminding me what it can be like to lose someone important to your family , and how in times like those , we are the angels of each other's lives . Family can save you , and it also can tear you apart if you let it , and that almost happened . The characters were all wonderful and funny and quirky in the ways that make me think of my own family and I wouldn't hesitate to show this film to anyone else . There's no fan service in this film but there are a few jibes about sex - - but nothing you wouldn't hear in your own home unless you're some kind of UBER prude or something .
My daughter and I really enjoyed this together and I hope we can see other films as good as this one .
152 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
i have a lot of amimation dvds but this may be the best one ive seens in a long time
i loved the action . and the family feel that it has so entertaining atter seeing it i started reading the casts see if it was by hayao miyazaki i put this one up with spirited way or howls moving castle this movie really touch me it was great
and fun if you love anime this is a must have dvd it got it all and it never lets down
153 i have a lot of amimation dvds but this may be the best one ive seens in a long time
i loved the action . and the family feel that it has so entertaining atter seeing it i started reading the casts see if it was by hayao miyazaki i put this one up with spirited way or howls moving castle this movie really touch me it was great
and fun if you love anime this is a must have dvd it got it all and it never lets down
156 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
summer wars is basically a movie about people being connected to a virtual universe via avatars and a virus corrupts their virtual world and a great grandmas 90th bday ( in short ) . the movie overall is ok , honestly . the 5 star reviews gave me the impression tht i would be seeing a incredible movie however which is not the case . one of the biggest dissapointments of this movie is that more than half of the movie wasn't in the magical virtual universe . ok i get the director wants to show the characters and the family interacting but i found it so vain to the point where i got bored at points . i am trying to figure out why you would create such a spellbinding universe and then not showcase it ( it was like buying a Ferrari and driving it once a month but instead use your hoopdie minivan most of the time ) . aside that , the fighting scenes that did appear were very well thought out and polished however it left wanting more . all i am saying is that this movie should have found a main plot and stick to it . the movie gave the impression saving / being in this digital world would be the main point of the movie ( via the dvd case ) but for more than have of the movie they showcase a family with problems instead . and for all of the reviewers who said this is a hayao miyazaki movie i would have to say you are wrong . hayao miyazaki would have taken advantage of this new world and would have emphazied its importance by giving it more screen time , and would have created a more enticing storyline regarding the family it circles . in conclusion , if you buy this movie dont expect to see endless fighting scenes or see oz being shown functionally by the main characters . is the movie worth seeing ? ? ? ? yes . is it worth buying that is deffinately up to the viewer . it isnt one of those must haves . ( oh btw it does kinda look like the digimon movie )
157 summer wars is basically a movie about people being connected to a virtual universe via avatars and a virus corrupts their virtual world and a great grandmas 90th bday ( in short ) . the movie overall is ok , honestly . the 5 star reviews gave me the impression tht i would be seeing a incredible movie however which is not the case . one of the biggest dissapointments of this movie is that more than half of the movie wasn't in the magical virtual universe . ok i get the director wants to show the characters and the family interacting but i found it so vain to the point where i got bored at points . i am trying to figure out why you would create such a spellbinding universe and then not showcase it ( it was like buying a Ferrari and driving it once a month but instead use your hoopdie minivan most of the time ) . aside that , the fighting scenes that did appear were very well thought out and polished however it left wanting more . all i am saying is that this movie should have found a main plot and stick to it . the movie gave the impression saving / being in this digital world would be the main point of the movie ( via the dvd case ) but for more than have of the movie they showcase a family with problems instead . and for all of the reviewers who said this is a hayao miyazaki movie i would have to say you are wrong . hayao miyazaki would have taken advantage of this new world and would have emphazied its importance by giving it more screen time , and would have created a more enticing storyline regarding the family it circles . in conclusion , if you buy this movie dont expect to see endless fighting scenes or see oz being shown functionally by the main characters . is the movie worth seeing ? ? ? ? yes . is it worth buying that is deffinately up to the viewer . it isnt one of those must haves . ( oh btw it does kinda look like the digimon movie )
160 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
My only gripe with this feature film , was it's not available in 3D .
Still it's very entertaining . Family friendly .
Slice of action , sprinkle some awe and thrilling parts , and add it to a good original modern story .
And that's not all the ingredients .
Very high quality animation / CGI .
Any animation fans should watch this .
Very much worth buying .
161 My only gripe with this feature film , was it's not available in 3D .
Still it's very entertaining . Family friendly .
Slice of action , sprinkle some awe and thrilling parts , and add it to a good original modern story .
And that's not all the ingredients .
Very high quality animation / CGI .
Any animation fans should watch this .
Very much worth buying .
162 Summer Wars is not an Anime movie . Is not a matter of sit in your favorite couch and enjoy something that may make you laugh or cry . It is real and deep poetry that will invade your soul and make you think , feel and question your own life , your own existence and how you relate with your others and in general with the world .
I am not reviewing in fact this release as this is yet a preorder . But I've already watched the movie about four times and every time I watch it , I love it more and more . Also , I don't want to give you spoilers as that are annoying and the magic of this movie resides basically on its own essence , the surprise factor .
The only I can say is that this movie resembles what Miyazaki San and other great creators always wanted to transmit in their movies / series . That the magic , the love , the fantasy lives in each of us and that greatness can flow out once in a while to give dreams in a cruel and simple world as ours .
Cheers ,
163 I'm fortunate to live near an arthouse theater that has been having special screenings of Summer Wars ( just got back from seeing it an hour ago , actually ) . It was shown in Japanese with subtitles , which was great . And I ended up being more than pleasantly surprised by the film , despite the fact that the film quality was dreadful ( that had more to do with the theater than the movie ) . I'm therefore eagerly anticipating this blu-ray release , and highly recommend it ( or the DVD version ) to all anime connoisseurs . In fact , just two weeks prior I watched Evangelion 2.0 in the same theater , and while I'm a TREMENDOUS Eva otaku , I think SW beats it hands down . The sheer emotion of the characters really comes through in the film , and the interspersed cyber-battles are great fun .
I do have to reiterate something that at least one other reviewer mentioned . The base plot of the movie is suspiciously similar to that of Digimon : The Movie ( Digimon : Our War Game in Japan ) . Not a bad thing , and there's enough that's different about it that you won't think of it while you're watching . But it is eerie . . .
164 Let's see : two kids on computers , cascading error messages , things falling from the sky , animation style , a countdown timer on the computer , big monster . . shall I go on ?
Haven't seen the movie , just the trailer , but this looks a lot like the Digimon movie . . just sayin .
168 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
first off , amazon sluffed up on my order by not including the nice embossed dustjacket that goes on the case , which is shown in the catalog , so don't be surprised if you're missing yours if u get one from amazon . it'll kinda suk if i'm the only one that get's screwed on that end of the deal . the movie is excellent . it's about family and all that mushy crap we all love . dialogue is good , plot is good , charcters are interesting , pacing and action are great . I've read the reviews on the transfer , and everyone thinks it's great , but i found it to be a soft picture . the colors didn't pop as much as they could ( except in the cyber-scenes ) , and the black line art seemed a bit blurred and not as distinctive as other blu ray anime . Granted , some line art in anime is thinner or thicker , depending on the movie , but it should still be very distinct and bold , not weak and slightly blurred . It almost felt like an upscale transfer , like FLCL , just slightly better . My TV is a new Sony and properly calibrated , new blu ray player with best cables btw . I hope they re-encode this movie in the future , because it's durn good . Not the worst transfer by any means , but coulda been way better .
169 first off , amazon sluffed up on my order by not including the nice embossed dustjacket that goes on the case , which is shown in the catalog , so don't be surprised if you're missing yours if u get one from amazon . it'll kinda suk if i'm the only one that get's screwed on that end of the deal . the movie is excellent . it's about family and all that mushy crap we all love . dialogue is good , plot is good , charcters are interesting , pacing and action are great . I've read the reviews on the transfer , and everyone thinks it's great , but i found it to be a soft picture . the colors didn't pop as much as they could ( except in the cyber-scenes ) , and the black line art seemed a bit blurred and not as distinctive as other blu ray anime . Granted , some line art in anime is thinner or thicker , depending on the movie , but it should still be very distinct and bold , not weak and slightly blurred . It almost felt like an upscale transfer , like FLCL , just slightly better . My TV is a new Sony and properly calibrated , new blu ray player with best cables btw . I hope they re-encode this movie in the future , because it's durn good . Not the worst transfer by any means , but coulda been way better .
170 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
Anime should always look this good . The funniest part is how the Japanese can't find another villain outside their borders except for the United States of America . . just can't . The family part within is the heart of the movie and it should be applauded for it and the moments without stand above all . Mamorou Oshii rebellion against his country bleeded into absolute Hatred for America and you see it in almost everything he's done , and so too does it effect the ones who follow him . This is why ragheads continue their rage against whatever they've been raggin ' against now . That's a shame this movie had to do this and not something new and unique .
_
Overall , it's a great looking Anime . If you like that kinda of stuff , this is a Must Buy !
_
' 88 veteran
171 Anime should always look this good . The funniest part is how the Japanese can't find another villain outside their borders except for the United States of America . . just can't . The family part within is the heart of the movie and it should be applauded for it and the moments without stand above all . Mamorou Oshii rebellion against his country bleeded into absolute Hatred for America and you see it in almost everything he's done , and so too does it effect the ones who follow him . This is why ragheads continue their rage against whatever they've been raggin ' against now . That's a shame this movie had to do this and not something new and unique .
_
Overall , it's a great looking Anime . If you like that kinda of stuff , this is a Must Buy !
_
' 88 veteran
172 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
The great artwork and wholesome family angle make this remake of THE DIGIMON MOVIE a joy . And , to answer the other person's question , it has both a Japanese version and an English dub .
174 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
My kids ages 10 and 12 love movies by hayao Miyazaki , howl's moving castle etc . So I thought this might be a good fit for them . However , I am appalled by the use of curse words throughout the movie . Guess I was wrong in choosing this . So I just thought I should let others know incase they make the same mistake !
Who needs Tron when you have animation like this ? The animated scenes depicting the action in the digital world of OZ are really something , if not a bit confusing at times .
3 . ) The story's concern with the vulnerability inherent in putting so much information online makes for an intriguing commentary on our own society . Anything that CAN go wrong with the internet DOES go wrong in ' Summer Wars , ' from identity theft to digital warfare to the evolution of a SKYNET - like Artificial Intelligence bent on disrupting society in general . Could it happen in reality ? You'll be left to wonder .
The Bad / Not-so-good :
1 . ) The plot jumps around quite a bit . This isn't such a bad thing considering the size of the cast and the sheer likability of the MANY characters , but the story simply loses focus . With all the time spent on the various family members and everything we learn about them , more time should have been spent with the main character prior to his exposure to this family unit . Even a brief glimpse at the boy's own home life would have benefited the plot immensely .
2 . ) Sorta rips off the ' Digimon ' movie . Check it out if you don't believe me .
3 . ) Who would release an evil Artificial Intelligence creation on the world , starting in Japan ? How about China , with its well-known animosity towards and rivalry with the Japanese , both as an economy and a nation in general ? Or a group of multinational cyber-terrorists , or even digitally-based anarchists ? Nope , nope , and nope .
* SPOILER ALERT *
The culprit is none other than America . This was a total cop-out .
I mean , let me get this straight : The US Military buys the program for an Artificial Intelligence with the full knowledge that it is designed to destabilize digital programs over the web , AGGRESSIVELY and EFFICIENTLY . So , where do they run their first test ? A controlled environment , where the AI can do no serious harm ? Nope ! They test it on OZ , an entity that is of the utmost importance in everything from social networking to portable heart monitors . What would the US , or ANY nation for that matter , have to gain from creating the potential for such chaos ? ?
You can call it a metaphor , or a commentary on US foreign policy , or whatever you want .
I call it shoddy storytelling , and it really hurt the overall experience .
BOTTOM LINE :
This was a pretty good story , but not a great story . Great stories grab your attention without offending your intelligence .
If you want to see a great story , check out ' Spirited Away ' , or any Pixar film .
And do give ' Summer Wars ' a chance . For what it's worth , it's still pretty entertaining .
001 If Hayao Miyazaki made a cyberthriller , the result might be something like Summer Wars . This colorful little anime movie spends most of its run straddling the line between a family reunion comedy and a world war entirely on the web . And the results manage to stir your heart and make you laugh at the same time .
Math nerd Kenji is shocked when popular upperclassman Natsuki asks him to come to her family's country house for the weekend . Unfortunately , he's there under false pretenses - - not only is Natsuki claiming that he's her boyfriend , but that he's a wealthy college student at Tokyo U . Yeah , that is inevitably going to backfire .
But something far worse happens when OZ ( a crazy hybrid of amazon.com , Facebook , fighting video games and . . . well , just about everything you can find on the WWW ) is hacked - - and Kenji is the main suspect .
The truth is actually much more sinister - - a horrendous program called Love Machine is devouring OZ user avatars , and is using the computer connections to cause chaos all across the world . When tragedy strikes the family , Kenji inspires them to fight back against Love Machine . But can the family's plan stop the program before it has a chance to take revenge on them ?
Summer Wars isn't really like any other movie I've ever seen - - it's part cyberthriller , part bittersweet family story , part crazy comedy , and part colorful anime . It starts off as a simple family dramedy , with Kenji getting thrown into Natsuki's eccentric family and dealing with all the baggage they bring with them . Plus , you know he's going to get busted .
But when Love Machine appears , the stakes are suddenly the technological safety of the ENTIRE WORLD . So we get a wild , crazy guerilla cyberwarefare ( involving a boat , a giant computer , an army truck and lots of ice ! ) as the family ( plus Kenji ) unites to battle Love Machine . At the same time , the writer maintains the focus on the eccentric family , their grudges , and their unique personalities .
Plus , the animation for this movie is SPELLBINDING . The real world stuff is rendered in traditional hand-drawn anime , but the scenes set in OZ are brilliant , surreal , colorful and dreamlike . Whole civilizations on shelves , crowned whales , floating islands , stacked sports stadia , and endless chambers filled with strange little creatures .
And all the characters are very well-fleshed-out . Kenji is a nice , rather socially inept guy with epic math skills , and Natsuki is a strong young girl who finds herself with the weight of the ENTIRE PLANET on her shoulders . The entire cast is well-developed - - from the stately grandmother to the idiot cousin who doesn't know what's going on - - but one of the best is Kazuma , a 13 - year-old kung-fu expert / computer nerd .
Summer Wars may start small , but it quickly grows to the epic size of the World Wide Web itself . Even better : it's funny , heartwarming and all-around engrossing .
008 What happens when you inject an ingenious artificial intelligent ( AI ) system into a globally omniscient social and economic network ? In the case of SUMMER WARS , you get a poignant and quite possibly prescient cautionary tale .
Mamoru Hosada's animated tale is framed by the extended Jinnouchi clan - - an aristocratic Japanese family - - preparing to celebrate their matriarch's 90th birthday . We enter as great-granddaughter Natsuki invites classmate Kenji Koiso ( high school math whiz , antihero protagonist ) under the pretense that he's her finance . Given hints of the family's deep civic and professional roots in Japan's military industrial complex and their everyday social networking , a few profound chance events converge into an apocalyptic showdown - - pitting ancient family values against nascent social networks .
It impressively interweaves the kind of endearing humane drama one expects of Studio Ghibli with the fantastically rendered conflicts that emerge from the best Japanese science fiction animation . Unlike most Disney / Pixar films , the results are wonderfully ambivalent .
- - - - -
What makes the film especially poignant are a handful of recent events . This week nascent , omnipresent social media ( Facebook ( tm ) , Twitter ® ) are being credited with helping to foster grassroots uprisings - - in Egypt , Bahrain , Tunisia , Libya , Jordan , Yemen and Morocco - - potentially undermining generations of region-wide autocratic rule . Simultaneously Watson , IBM's artificial intelligent system , effortlessly defeated his human opponents on Jeopardy . Expanding Deep Blue's earlier footsteps .
Are these conjoined systems nefarious precursors to Kubricks's HAL2000 , the Matrix's Agent Smith and the Terminator franchise's Skynet or benign one's like Pixar's WALL-E , STAR TREK TNG's Commander Data and Spielberg's David ( in A.I . ) ? Either way , we are on the cusp of a new age .
012 This review is from :
Summer Wars [ Blu-ray ] ( Blu-ray )
MINOR DETAILS BUT NO SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW
First off let me say this was a pretty good movie . It wasn't boring and it kept my interest throughout .
However , I think people are way too liberal on giving out 5 star reviews , which is the primary reason why I am making this review .
PROS :
- Interesting
- Good , fast pace ( story wise )
- Dub seemed good . Not over the top and having the actors try to emulate the Japanese VA's which almost always comes off as strange sounding .
- Very message about family ties . However , it was not as heartwarming as I would have liked it to be since it did feel forced and not much development between characters .
- Beautiful animation . Very nice combat scenes . Lively colors , etc .
CONS :
- ABSOLUTELY NO CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT . It's hard to dislike the characters in this movie , but you just don't feel invested or connected to them and everyone is the same at the beginning of the movie and the end . I blame the fact that there are TOO many characters .
- I like the characters , but I felt that I was forced to like them .
- Corny . Alot of the dialogue is very . . . . . awkward . NO one in real life would ever be able to pull of some of these lines . The scene where the grandma wields that spear was probably meant to be emotional . But it was just a What the hell was that ? ! moment for me . I know this is an anime and I don't expect complete realism but . . . . . . this seems to be a slice if life anime but the things the characters do and the way they act don't seem realistic at all .
- Unexplained and rushed things . I did not buy into Natsuki falling in love with the main character ( not a spoiler . This is typical of this type of story ) . It just did not flow well and as a viewer I did not feel really invested in their relationship . They didn't seem to be either , they barely even talked to each other . Another example of the movie forcing things on us .
CONCLUSION :
It's definitely worth a purchase , it's not a bad movie by any means even with all the things I disliked about it . . . . but don't buy into the hype all these 5 star reviews generate or you will be disappointed . Do not expect to be moved by this movie . It's fairly entertaining but it won't spark much-if any - emotion . Definitely check it out though , even if you just rent or borrow it .
013 MINOR DETAILS BUT NO SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW
First off let me say this was a pretty good movie . It wasn't boring and it kept my interest throughout .
However , I think people are way too liberal on giving out 5 star reviews , which is the primary reason why I am making this review .
PROS :
- Interesting
- Good , fast pace ( story wise )
- Dub seemed good . Not over the top and having the actors try to emulate the Japanese VA's which almost always comes off as strange sounding .
- Very message about family ties . However , it was not as heartwarming as I would have liked it to be since it did feel forced and not much development between characters .
- Beautiful animation . Very nice combat scenes . Lively colors , etc .
CONS :
- ABSOLUTELY NO CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT . It's hard to dislike the characters in this movie , but you just don't feel invested or connected to them and everyone is the same at the beginning of the movie and the end . I blame the fact that there are TOO many characters .
- I like the characters , but I felt that I was forced to like them .
- Corny . Alot of the dialogue is very . . . . . awkward . NO one in real life would ever be able to pull of some of these lines . The scene where the grandma wields that spear was probably meant to be emotional . But it was just a What the hell was that ? ! moment for me . I know this is an anime and I don't expect complete realism but . . . . . . this seems to be a slice if life anime but the things the characters do and the way they act don't seem realistic at all .
- Unexplained and rushed things . I did not buy into Natsuki falling in love with the main character ( not a spoiler . This is typical of this type of story ) . It just did not flow well and as a viewer I did not feel really invested in their relationship . They didn't seem to be either , they barely even talked to each other . Another example of the movie forcing things on us .
CONCLUSION :
It's definitely worth a purchase , it's not a bad movie by any means even with all the things I disliked about it . . . . but don't buy into the hype all these 5 star reviews generate or you will be disappointed . Do not expect to be moved by this movie . It's fairly entertaining but it won't spark much-if any - emotion . Definitely check it out though , even if you just rent or borrow it .
071 This review is from :
Summer Wars ( DVD )
Mamoru Hosoda's previous film , THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME , was a masterpiece . However , his SUMMER WARS is even better due to it's complexity , depth , fascinating characters , and its mind-blowing visuals . In my opinion , Mr . Hosoda has done something I didn't think possible - he's almost ( a few more movies of this quality will lock it in ) reached the same exalted level as Hayao Miyazaki .
I strongly recommend that you view all the films by Miyazaki and Hosoda in the original Japanese ( with subtitles ) if you're not watching with a small child . If you can't read , this is a good time to learn . I view all dubbing , no matter how well done , to be an insult to the actors and the director , and it always diminishes the film's overall effect .
072 Mamoru Hosoda's previous film , THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME , was a masterpiece . However , his SUMMER WARS is even better due to it's complexity , depth , fascinating characters , and its mind-blowing visuals . In my opinion , Mr . Hosoda has done something I didn't think possible - he's almost ( a few more movies of this quality will lock it in ) reached the same exalted level as Hayao Miyazaki .
I strongly recommend that you view all the films by Miyazaki and Hosoda in the original Japanese ( with subtitles ) if you're not watching with a small child . If you can't read , this is a good time to learn . I view all dubbing , no matter how well done , to be an insult to the actors and the director , and it always diminishes the film's overall effect .
155 If it weren't Hosoda's movie , I might have rated the movie a bit higher .
Also , I gave the rating 3 stars , despite my significant dislike of the movie . I tried to be fair considering the quality of picture and the gimmicks like those in Evangelion .
I personally prefer Hosoda's previous movie
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time [ Blu-ray
] much much much more to this piece .
Hosoda has said in a number of occasions that he has learned through his career that entertaining the audience and making what he wants to make are two distinct matters . I think he went too far in the spectrum of the former in this particular piece - - Summer Wars . I can SMELL his CONSCIOUS strategy of entertainment too much , which just turns me off seriously . Of course , as a professional , an author does have to set up a stage consciously to design a fiction . Nevertheless , I feel that a highest quality movie or novel should contain the author's genuine passion . I simply cannot feel that in this piece .
It is like a handsome man picking up a girl without much love just for one night stand , and indeed I do have to agree that Hosoda is handsome in his talent . However , I prefer falling in love with an anime , and there are many pieces to which the director and all the staff members devote whole their love .
As a concrete example , the main characters are almost all way too talented , IN A SINGLE FAMILY . My heart was much more moved by the heroin of The Girl . . . movie , Makoto , who was just a pleasant ordinary girl .
I should note that this movie made a gigantic business success in Japan - - you can smell a sophisticated ( ? ) strategy in this direction as well . They have released the limited edition of Blu-ray roughly over $120 with some special attachments like a bit of cell movie film ( Japanese love special features ! ) .
I simply wish that such business success applied more to other animes , which are in general too far from firm income base , unlike Hollywood .
167 The Good
1 . ) The film's central message is decidedly pro-FAMILY . In short , as the world goes into crisis mode , it's not the state that will be coming to save you ( if you're lucky ) , but rather your family . And who lies at the heart of the family ? The mothers and grandmothers , of course !
2 . ) VISUALS : Who needs Tron when you have animation like this ? The animated scenes depicting the action in the digital world of OZ are really something , if not a bit confusing at times .
3 . ) The story's concern with the vulnerability inherent in putting so much information online makes for an intriguing commentary on our own society . Anything that CAN go wrong with the internet DOES go wrong in ' Summer Wars , ' from identity theft to digital warfare to the evolution of a SKYNET - like Artificial Intelligence bent on disrupting society in general . Could it happen in reality ? You'll be left to wonder .
The Bad / Not-so-good :
1 . ) The plot jumps around quite a bit . This isn't such a bad thing considering the size of the cast and the sheer likability of the MANY characters , but the story simply loses focus . With all the time spent on the various family members and everything we learn about them , more time should have been spent with the main character prior to his exposure to this family unit . Even a brief glimpse at the boy's own home life would have benefited the plot immensely .
2 . ) Sorta rips off the ' Digimon ' movie . Check it out if you don't believe me .
3 . ) Who would release an evil Artificial Intelligence creation on the world , starting in Japan ? How about China , with its well-known animosity towards and rivalry with the Japanese , both as an economy and a nation in general ? Or a group of multinational cyber-terrorists , or even digitally-based anarchists ? Nope , nope , and nope .
* SPOILER ALERT *
The culprit is none other than America . This was a total cop-out .
I mean , let me get this straight : The US Military buys the program for an Artificial Intelligence with the full knowledge that it is designed to destabilize digital programs over the web , AGGRESSIVELY and EFFICIENTLY . So , where do they run their first test ? A controlled environment , where the AI can do no serious harm ? Nope ! They test it on OZ , an entity that is of the utmost importance in everything from social networking to portable heart monitors . What would the US , or ANY nation for that matter , have to gain from creating the potential for such chaos ? ?
You can call it a metaphor , or a commentary on US foreign policy , or whatever you want .
I call it shoddy storytelling , and it really hurt the overall experience .
BOTTOM LINE :
This was a pretty good story , but not a great story . Great stories grab your attention without offending your intelligence .
If you want to see a great story , check out ' Spirited Away ' , or any Pixar film .
And do give ' Summer Wars ' a chance . For what it's worth , it's still pretty entertaining .
