Skip to main content

Your Name (2016)

Your Name (2016) is written and directed by Makoto Shinkai, about two teenagers who switch bodies every day. They get to leave eachother messages as to what they did that day, but they don't live in the same city so they haven't met.

Makoto Shinkai really came out of no where. The anime and manga he's written in the past isn't noteworthy and to have the highest-grossing anime film of all time. The ideas he use aren't new but they're fresh and used in a great way. I will follow this director from now on and make sure to watch whatever he comes out with next.

Ryunosuke Kamiki voices the main male character Taki. You're recognize his voice from Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away, The Secret World of Arrietty, and Howl's Moving Castle (my wife's favorite). He's also going to be in a film that's coming out soon that I'm eager to watch called mary and the Witch's Flower. There's not really much to say about him other than he's a top notch voice actor.

Mone Kamishiraishi voices the female main character, Mitsuha. She's new to the voice acting game. I had never heard of her and she did a pretty good job with the character but the real work is in the drawing, art and direction. If there's any fault in the film it's her voice acting. It's still a great performance.

Your Name tuggs on the heart strings really hard at the end and if it can make me feel something then it'll probably make you feel something.

Result: A- (One of the best anime films of all time, up there with Akira and Perfect Blue)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Psycho Killer (2026)

Psycho Killer (2026) is a religious-tinged detective thriller that leans far more into procedural tension than outright horror. Directed by Gavin Polone , who is better known as a producer than a filmmaker, the movie benefits heavily from its screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker , the writer behind Se7en . His fingerprints are all over this. The writing is sharp, layered with foreshadowing that only fully clicks at the end, and structured in a way that constantly feels like it is building toward something inevitable. The gorgeous  Georgina Campbell plays the detective tracking down the titular killer, and she carries the film with confidence. You'll remember her from Barbarian and recently Cold Storage.  The script gives her plenty of emotional range to explore, from controlled professionalism to visible cracks under pressure. She handles the lore-heavy exposition well and grounds what could have been overwhelming backstory. It is another strong showing for her and proof she c...

Cold Storage (2026)

Cold Storage (2026) is a sci fi horror thriller that surprised me in a good way. The writing is solid enough that it actually calmed some of my worries about Disclosure Day coming later this year since the same writer is involved. The story holds together and stays engaging, even when the visuals do not. The CG is laughably bad at times, but the acting/chemistry keeps the movie watchable. Jonny Campbell directs, with the screenplay by David Koepp , known for Jurassic Park and Spider-Man . His writing here is tighter than expected, which is why it gives me more confidence about Disclosure Day. The direction is straightforward and lets the script do most of the work, even if the effects budget clearly limits what can be shown on screen. He needs a redemption after  Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. Joe Keery , known for Stranger Things and Free Guy , is the main reason I showed up. He proves he can handle a leading role after Stranger Things and carries the film with a relax...

Crime 101 (2026)

Crime 101 (2026) is a crime thriller that checks the basic boxes of what should work, but the writing never tightens enough to make it compelling. It hits familiar beats, runs longer than it should, and never quite earns its tension. It feels like a good movie outline stretched into a full runtime. Bart Layton , known for American Animals and The Imposter , directs, and his uneven filmography shows here. The structure is serviceable, but the pacing drags and the scenes lack urgency. The direction is competent without being memorable, and the film never finds a sharp identity. Chris Hemsworth , known for Thor and Extraction , plays the reclusive criminal at the center of the story. He tries to lean into a quieter, more internal performance, but he does not fully sell the damaged foster child mentality the script is aiming for. The performance feels like an attempt rather than a transformation. Mark Ruffalo , recognized for Spotlight and The Avengers , feels like he is on autopilo...