Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
Legolaspt
The movie starts with a black screen and a narrator performing a 2 minutes long exposition. This is by far the worst start to a movie I've ever seen. I cannot fathom how no one put a stop to this before it came to air. It made me want to instantly drop the movie, as I knew it'd be trash from that point onward.
And besides the beautiful art style, the next few scenes weren't much better either: the dialogue was terrible, the pacing was immensely boring, and then we headed straight into a flashback.
Overall, despite its appealing art style, the movie quickly fell apart with poor writing, weak pacing, and a frustrating structure that made it impossible to enjoy.
Read at the sourcenightwolf1923
To keep it simple, good for kids/family but for teens and adults it's not worth the time.
Story
Really promising in the beginning, because we get what we came for, the boy trained by the beast, but later we will get other "emotional" plots that don't have enough time to feel relevant and can become boring and predictable
Characters
Simple but likeable, they have some personal struggles to make them feel more alive but make illogical decisions sometimes
Antagonist
No motivation, no logic, no buildup Visuals and music
Very beautiful, probably why the movie is even relevant
Is it bad? no, but for a 2h movie is just not worth it
Read at the sourcewenchips
(Contains Spoilers; please read after you watch it. Or not.)
I usually love Mamoru Hosoda's films (The Girl who Leapt Through Time, Wolf Children, Summer Wars), so I decided to give this movie a go as well. It looked interesting. It started off okay, but then I felt incredibly disappointed.
The part where they went on this so-called ‘journey’ to discover the true meaning of strength felt watered down/underwhelming. I was hoping that part would have had more screen time and that they’d at least learn something from it or bond somewhat, but it’s the usual bickering between Ren and Kumatetsu throughout the whole thing.
I don’t really understand how Ren could suddenly beat Jiroumaru (the kid who bullied him at first) just like that. He said he knew how to predict Kumatetsu’s footsteps becau…
Read at the sourceAcidicfriend
Wasted potential. This film attempts to be both a fantastical set-piece and a grounded view on fatherhood and family and in trying to do both in the way that it did - manages to fall short at both. For every fun, exciting moment the film has in the fantasy world, it has another scene that either bores or dulls the prior experience. It's not Impossible to make a fantasy movie with a down-to-earth story. This just happens to fail at making either side very engaging.
I blame the director for choosing to go about this the way that he did. the first quarter of the film is actually pretty great - energy and emotion is rather high - some mystery is set up and an early fight scene sets the pace for the movie, the visuals are also always consistently amazing - - sadly, the second quarter drastical…
Read at the sourceSuzhoukid65
I wanted to like this anime so much. I saw everyone's reviews and recommendations and I had high hopes.
What I did like was the relationship between the boy and the beast. I thought this was very cute and it warmed my heart. I also liked the relationship between the boy and his love interest. I also thought that was nice because it didn't feel forced or artificial.
What I didn't like was that the last third of the movie didn't feel like it fit the first two thirds of the movie. If this was a long anime series, and it transitioned this way I would probably be able to accept it. But I felt like it moved too quickly for it to be effective.
As for the tear jerking ending, I didn't respond that way at all. I thought this was necessary and everyone got what they wanted. Actually, I was sat…
Read at the sourceDoujinShinji
"Overall, the plot to this movie was absolutely insulting, and I feel it didn't use it's time well at all (which is impressive when it's goddamn 2 hours long), and the world it tries to set up is an absolute joke. Like the sweet, soothing melodies of Cannibal Corpse... ...the Boy and the Beast is:
Too edgy. In your face. And desperate to evoke a reaction out of you."
Honestly, this is one of the most disappointing and infuriating things I've ever watched. And so many people praise this movie.
If you are interested in a long-form comedy/analytical review of this movie, then here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxKdW_cwBLM
It's in the style of YourMovieSucks and Mr. Plinkett, if that can convince you further.
Read at the sourcektulu007
Bakemono no Ko is a 2015 film written and directed by Hosoda Mamoru. We talked about him yesterday with Ookami Kodomo. I guess people just want to see me look at his films this year. So, how does this compare to his other two films I've reviewed? Will it be the first bad one? The best one yet? Exactly in between the other two? Let's find out, shall we?
Story:
We open with some exposition about the world of beasts and how two certain ones, Iouzan Kumatetsu, are the top candidates to become the successor of the retiring Grand Master. We cut to a young boy, Ren, evading the authorities and living off of the street. He's resting when he encounters a strange, cloaked beast. He's invited to become the man's disciple and proceeds to follow him right into the realm of beasts.
As usual, let's st…
Read at the sourceIsaiah_53
Now I can't speak for everyone else because people will view and receive movies differently based on their experience. That being said, for me this Movie was a Masterpiece and would beg people to watch this movie who are into anime. It is my favorite one out his other works. Didn't really care for Wolf children, just not my cup of tea, not that is was bad or anything just kinda boring for what I like to get out of movies. Summer wars was pretty good but this takes the cake. Apart from that I feel the anime speaks for itself, it had great character build up, where you actually care what happens to the characters.
Read at the sourcenokitron
At first I expected, "Oh, all right, this will gonna be one of those Hollywood movie where the master teaches this outsider kid, huh?". I expected a fucking Karate Kid.
Than when the movie proceeded further, it changed my mind: "I guess it wouldn't be that bad. Okay, this is getting interesting. The boy suddenly has to accommodate with the beasts' lifestyle. Cool. "
The main encounter with this alien world is just like what happened in and feel like Spirited Away, but it's totally different in a way. Juutengai, what this world full of beasts is called, offers a more grounded view on society, which is not what we saw from Spirited Away. In Miyazaki's most acclaimed anime, the world's atmosphere was built to engage the main character's personality, when the end of the day let us see the c…
Read at the sourceAmbaradan
Three years after Wolf Children, Hosoda comes back with a new epic featuring more drama based around the animal side of man: unfortunately, it's not as good as any of his past work, not because of the stagnant themes but for the sheer mediocrity of it.
MADHOUSE has had their own problems in the last years because of budget and staff cuts, however none of them compare to what has been going on in the writing and directing department.
The pacing problems found within Summer Wars make an unexpected comeback, between the uninteresting, CGI-ridden visuals, rotoscopied backgrounds and lame characters that are trying way too hard to copy that Miyazaki feel.
Boredom aside, the soundtrack and mastering are great.
I'm now glad I forgot to see it at the cinema when it was showing.
Read at the sourceBunBytes
Story: 8/10 What surprised me about the story was how fast it was and how many elements they were able to squeeze in. It almost felt as though it was written as a miniseries with different episodes focusing on different aspects, which they then turned into a film. Similarly, they also got in an abundance of morals and messages. Don't roll your eyes yet, because they're portrayed as realistically as possible for the scenarios, and only a couple are shoved in your face. However, as a side-effect of the pace and jumping focus, it felt rather disjointed at times, which is why I'm docking points.
Art: 9/10 Hosoda's team has an easily recognizable style, but it wasn't until The Boy and the Beast that it really shone through. Firstly, something I didn't really like: characters are super obviousl…
Read at the sourcechaiskye
I know that teacher-disciple themes are old school but "The Boy And The Beast" is unique.
You probably remember a lot of movies like this in your childhood. I do and they were exciting to watch back then. Now, I see such films as cliché and predictable—the teacher teaches his disciple his techniques by doing something unrelated but it turns out those daily routines hone his fighting ability and discipline. You can't find that in “The Boy And The Beast” as the story is much more amazing—it teaches about not merely training and strength, it also shows that a strong bond can be created between completely different beings from two completely different worlds. It touches about our weakness as humans—in mind and heart—and how to overcome this struggle of life. Unlike other films of the same gen…
Read at the sourceKashirou
Review
Bakemono no ko
"We all have a sword in our hearts."- Kumatetsu
The fact that with over ¥5.8 billion in total, Bakemono no Ko was Japan's second highest-grossing domestic film of 2015 speaks for itself. Bnk is like a (more) supernatura-lised version of "The Jungle Book".(Of course in a good way). It talks about a lot of emotions one go through losing their parents, how their relatives treats them, the loneliness that comes with it and then the part of attachments that make you stand once again ,the growth, the relation that crosses the boundary of being different species(more humanly terms- different cultures)and then it drives towards one's true identity, the eternal question about where they belong and what are they born for .Talking about the darkness that dwells in our hearts,…
Read at the sourcesuprhiro
My first review on MAL and it being on a movie from Mamoru Hosoda, One of the Greats in the making was a treat. I'll be breaking down the movie from what I liked the most to least then an Overall Impression.
The Characters & Soundtrack were the highs of this film. Kyuuta(Ren), Kumatetsu and Co. were all very Likable and you can't help but cheer them on, Tatara and Hyakushuubou's scene in the 2nd half was especially great for two supporting characters no less. The highlighting of father-figures was a great contrast to Hosoda's last film which focused more on motherhood and I think it should be delve into more often. Takagi Masakatsu's music score was overall impressive having a lively and joyful feel and really gives the movie its definition; When you hear the songs you instantly think of…
Read at the sourceGaryL
Hosoda is here again with another modern tale, expanding the themes from his last movie about coexisting with another species. At first glance, the movie feels like his 2006 feature The Girl Who Leapt Through Time in terms of atmosphere. They both start with a chill slice of life feeling that gains weight as it progresses. The difference is that TGWLTT is more likeable, whereas The Boy And The Beast takes a good 20 minute for you to get invested with the world and characters here presented.
The beast world is portrayed as a rustic place that still resembles bustling modern day cities, with people walking around conducting the businesses giving you the impression that former is not unsophisticated, but simply culturally different than the boy’s hometown Shibuya. That’d be perfect, but thi…
Read at the sourceFlawfinder
Mamoru Hosada is basically to Japanese animation what Disney is to Western animation: one of the better players in the field, but far from the best the medium has to offer. Just like Disney has never been able to produce a movie that my pre-college self would have loved but my post-college self just finds alright, I'm not too keen on rewatching any of Hosada's films these days whether or not I think they're good. Whilst the character animation being distractingly un-detailed compared to the rest of the animation is a bit of a sticking point in his films, my main problem with him are how he spreads the subject matter of his stories too thin to leave more than a middling impact. Still, his stuff is better than...well let's face it...any anime airing right now, so I could not go to see his fi…
Read at the sourceSpikeykoaLa
Hosoda continues to make films that are incredibly enjoyable to watch. Bakemono no Ko (The Boy and the Beast), his first film produced under the banner of Studio Chizu, is another great addition to his directorial repertoire. I was lucky to catch this film in theaters and my impression is better for it.
Story: 7
The story in Bakemono no Ko is relatively standard, but with some creative decisions that boost its impact. There is a world of anthropomorphic beasts living parallel to the human world. The laws of the beast world vary from that of the human world to create a beautiful fantasy setting. However, the climax of the film would have benefited greatly from deeper exploration of the dark, psychological aspect of the human characters and a more developed explanation of the laws in the be…
Read at the sourcelinatheyar
I just returned from seeing The Boy and the Beast as part of the Glasgow Film Festival. I'd originally planned to stick around in the city afterwards but, feeling compelled to sit down and think about the movie, I just took the early train back to Edinburgh where I'm currently writing this review. That's right, I took an hour long train ride to see two hours of anime.
Now, having seen most of Mamoru Hosoda's previous works (with Summer Wars and Wolf Children being repeat favorites--the latter being among my top 5 all time favorite films) I instinctively bought a ticket, confident that seeing another Mamoru Hosoda film, especially in theaters, was in my best interest. While I'm glad to say my gut was right, I think it'll take a while for this movie to totally settle with me.
So I approac…
Read at the sourceJax
Saw this at the BFI film festival yesterday. Was quite disappointed actually, for reasons I've already read above. The plot felt rushed, the characters one dimensional and the overall world lacked depth. The main antagonist appeared out of nowhere towards the end for no other reason than the plot needed him to.
It's a shame, as I thought the film was really strong when it was about a boy looking for strength and being trained by the beast while the two of them developed a father / son relationship. Then the film became really messy and unfocused with a sudden shift in direction during the second half of the film.
The film is beautiful though, which single handily took it from a 6 to a 7 in my ratings. It's definitely the directors weakest work though.
Read at the sourcenineup
So, I have never cried from anime or any movie. I did however, cry when watching Bakemono no Ko (about 4 times). (Update: Idk why I teared up so much tbh, could just be a sign of my maturity)
Story: 8
I really didn't think the story was that great, but it was good enough to be a successful movie. The growth of the characters was probably the best I have seen in an animated movie; you feel happy when the characters are happy. One main thing I didn't like, however, was the fact that when Kyuuta goes to the human realm, the bakemono realm is totally neglected. In addition, the final conflict/climax was really predictable, making it a bit dull. Nevertheless, I was touched by the actions of the characters towards the end. Overall, it wasn't an outstanding story but definitely a good one.
Art:…
Read at the source