SUMMER WARS
A SCI-FI HIT!
With great movie studios like Disney and DreamWorks, it has been comparatively tough for Japan to meet the standards and create movies according to the Western audience’s likings. Miyawaki Hayao has remained one of the indisputable kings when it comes to making films that are loved globally. However, several other challengers have appeared along the way, the latest being Hosoda Mamuro.
If you’re an avid anime fan, you must have come across a work of art called “The Girl Who LeaptTthrough Time” and already witnessed Hosoda’s talent. As good as that movie is, his film “Summer Wars” takes the prize for being one of his most ambitious creations. A shockingly pleasant masterpiece that stands up to some of the greatest directors’ standards, Summer Wars has successfully earned one of the industry’s top spots.
Summer Wars is a Japanese 2009 blockbuster film directed by the talented Mamoru Hosoda, produced by Madhouse and distributed by Warner Bros Pictures. The fantastic and talented cast of voice actors includes Ryosuke Kamiki, Nanami Sakuraba, Mitsuki Tanimura and Ayumu Saito.
Plot and Progression
Although being an absolute joy, Summer Wars is also a perfect example of a film biting more than it can chew.
It’s your reasonably routine coming of age romantic comedy with sci-fi as an extra addition. The movie begins with an introductory session about Oz. This umbrella information network covers everything and every activity on your electronic device, from web searching to shopping and gaming, etc.
As the film progresses, we meet Kenji, a mathematic genius who works as a moderator for Oz and has the hots for a girl named Natsuki, who later practically begs him to accompany her to visit her grandparent’s summer home, kickstarting the actual plot of the movie.
The plot takes its sweet time to unveil as Natsuki’s family is enormous, and the creators introduce like 20 characters out of which only a few mattered by the end.
The element of sci-fi in the movie was much emphasized upon as we discover later on. The film’s turning point comes in an old-fashioned blockbuster manner, unfolding cyber-tech chaos, once Kenji is tricked into giving Oz access to a cyber virus, leading to chaotic events to occur in both the real and the digital world.
Kenji, Natsuki, and her family take on the hero role and save these two worlds from the imminent disaster.
Although the movie was entertaining and engaging, throwing cyber battles, family drama, and romance into one plate were a tad bit too much to digest.
The movie fails miserably when it comes to romance; it takes the same old stereotypical role of the nerdy boy and an outgoing girl lacking any believable chemistry between them, which is nothing to be surprised about.
This movie is hefty on sci-fi and cyber-crime themes. As generic and silly it may sound for some viewers, pondering the internet and networking’s inner workings can make one feel weirdly related and sympathetic towards things like forming family bonds that stretch way beyond just bloodlines. You can form important and cherished friendships worldwide and find them as essential to yourself as any other normal relationship. It happens to be one of the sweet messages conveyed in the movie.
Animation and Art Style
A large part of the movie’s stunning animation contributed to its good rating, which remains unparalleled in its art and production style. Even though hand-painted animation masterpieces like Akira always carry more weight, Summer Wars could pull off things that animators from back then only dreamt of.
The stunning “real life” animations were awe-inspiring. The virtual and online super-flat world was also very well animated. The bright colors and hundreds of unique characters used in the movie indeed play a role in keeping you hooked throughout the movie’s entire length.
Characters
The storyline is great and all, but it would’ve been a disappointment without its excellent cast of characters, beginning with the introverted Kenji to the outgoing, quirky, and empathetic Natsuki and her long list of family members. It’s almost like watching many different styles and personalities.
Though at one point it becomes hard to take in or even remember all the characters, to counter that, a few mixtures of comedy and banter-related scenes are thrown in, which makes a particular character’s presence significant and memorable. The main characters and the supporting characters play equally important roles in fighting the virus, and the whole plot is molded in such a manner that each’s strength shines through.
Although, personally, every character has an equally fantastic role, my favorite would be Sakae Jinnouchi, Natsuki’s grandmother. Despite having little to no knowledge of the virtual world, she is the one who inspires everyone to fight the infection and teaches them the importance of sticking together and bonding. Her courageous role played an essential role in driving the story forward.
Is It Worth Watching?
Summer Wars, along with showcasing its wealth of characters, also readily highlights the exponential growth of social networking and its impact on society. It holds some profound, relevant messages. Although the story itself is nothing new but the movie was a more renewed and updated version of this theme during its time. The film has a stable pace and is sure to keep you engaged with its unmatched variety of characters.
The beautifully written script and dialogue incorporating the critical message of family and brotherhood constantly spotlighted throughout the movie also serves as a bonus point. Summer Wars won’t be a waste of time if you’re really into that and like action-drama-packed films with good pacing.
Conclusion
Summer Wars is an excellent movie to watch if you’re looking for a film that drifts entirely away from the genre that it initially portrays as it progresses. It has a good amount of action. The romance, though not overdone, is also fairly decent for an anime fan who’s used to the stereotypical characters and their stereotypical love life.
