2hotFeature
one of my absolute favorites!
Senteur
As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.
Bob
This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
ginikamarian
Saw this movie after all the hype and had regrets. Not in any way a close match to the movie "Your Name" (10/10). I felt it was too flat and could have been done better. To think it has so many above average reviews is appalling.
CinemaClown
Tenderly crafted, sensibly narrated & carrying an emotional weight that bursts open in the final moments, Makoto Shinkai's fourth feature film is a small-scale, down-to-earth effort that just manages to quality as a feature-length narrative, and offers a fascinating take on loneliness.Set in Tokyo during the rainy season, The Garden of Words follows an aspiring 15-year old shoemaker who skips his morning classes to design shoes in a Japanese garden. The plot focuses on the relationship that blossoms between him & a mysterious but older woman whom he keeps meeting there every time it rains.Written & directed by Makoto Shinkai, the story is short, simple & emotionally rich, and is gorgeously animated from start to finish. Majority of its plot unfolds inside the Japanese garden, and the lush background, vivid use of colour palette & photorealistic rendering of the surrounding really makes that place stand out.Despite its 46 minutes runtime, the characters are given enough space to breathe and their bonding is allowed to bloom at a gradual pace. Loneliness is evident in their individual lives but romance in their companionship is illustrated in a more subtle fashion. The age difference between the two never becomes an issue, and is handled with care.On an overall scale, The Garden of Words is a sumptuously animated, exquisitely detailed & brilliantly voiced film that's visually appealing & emotionally touching for the most part, and is an interesting addition to Makoto Shinkai's filmography. Its melodramatic tone & overdose of sentimentality during the climactic moment may undo it for a few but for me, it's definitely one of Shinkai's better films.
kingzomp
When I saw this film, sorry, work of art, I was lost. I thought that I was the only one really falling in love for my 15 year old student back home. I really related to the main protagonist (shiro) and I loved it. if you want your tears flowing, watch this movie guys and gals of all ages. Oh by the way, is the director like really into feet? I mean there's like 60 shots of feet, and toes, and I was like D. I like feet but cm-on guy. Just one foot is enough floor me I say. Anyways, have a good night as always. catch you all on the flip my dudes
Westcoastal
One of the most visually stunning animated films I've ever seen. The story was lovely, but really, the main reason I've rated this film so highly is the gorgeous visuals.I liked the story well enough. There is something simple and human about it. It didn't hit the audience over the head - it just unfolded in a natural, quiet way, which I appreciated. I know some people found the story a bit cheesy. I didn't. There's something to be said for allowing an earnest narrative to happen. Not everything needs to be cynical, self-conscious and guarded.Overall, well worth watching.
