Gzerble

Kara no Kyoukai Movie 2: Satsujin Kousatsu (Part 1) is a good hour of anime. It is not the best, but it is definitely good. At times, it is even great. There are a few problems with it, but it is ultimately an enjoyable and intriguing experience. The premise is a fascinating combination of slice of life, psychological thriller, romance, and serial murder going on. If only for that, this is a worthwhile view.

Everything about this is above average. The story is interesting and open ended, the characterization of the protagonists and their relationship is rather strong. The animation is gorgeous even if it tends towards the static a bit too much (not a single light in a single house turns on or off during all of the views of the city). The soundtrack is a good fit and while not particularly imaginative it holds everything together nicely. All in all, things work together nicely.

Now for the inevitable criticism: while everything is solid and well above average, nothing is truly great in Kara no Kyoukai Movie 2: Satsujin Kousatsu (Part 1). A movie needs to be self-contained, but in the end we are left with the terrible question of "is that it?", and the answer is "well, this is a movie, so yes". While I am a fan of leaving things at least a bit open to interpretation, this movie feels more like an introduction. I suppose "Part 2" is supposed to fill the gap. But you can't rate a movie on intended sequels.

Writing (Story and Characters):

The dialogue, while not being particularly sharp or witty, failing a bit on the "show, don't tell" front, is definitely well thought out and captivating. The story in itself is distinctly character driven, and the characters do hold up to scrutiny. While there is the cliche of angsty young people and alienation from the world, it is not as over the top as is too common in other works.

Everyone likes gruesome murder. Even the people who hate it secretly love it, if only for the sense of moral superiority they gain. What is beautiful about this is the way a character can revel in brutality, but still remain relatable. That is perhaps Kara no Kyoukai Movie 2: Satsujin Kousatsu (Part 1) best feature. It is not strictly about the story or the character, but rather in the combination between them that this fact can shine.

Of course, the fact that this movie ends with just adding more questions instead of actually resolving anything is a huge hindrance. This is obviously not a self-contained piece. This is where it fails, and while the story and characters are still strong, ultimately, this causes an unsatisfying feeling for the viewer. Still, everything about the writing except that is well above average, but the fact of the matter is that people are left with the taste of the ending removes any possibility that this could be treated as exceptional on its own.

Art (Animation and Sound):

The backgrounds are detailed, gorgeous and well thought out. The character designs are clever. The soundtrack fits nicely, and at times does a wonderful job of filling in the emotional blanks for the viewer. Overall, there is very little I can complain about. Of course, that doesn't mean that the complaints aren't real nor significant.

Part of the artwork is adding motion to the backgrounds. This is wonderful in depictions of (for instance) rain, but when there is a lot of rain and not a single branch on a single tree moves, then the focus is drawn towards the details but is missing the big picture. This is a consistent fault of the animation throughout Kara no Kyoukai Movie 2: Satsujin Kousatsu (Part 1). This is what sets it apart from the works of true brilliance - while the slight of hand of making us focus on the details works, it is still not the real thing.

The soundtrack is an important part of the movie. It is well chosen and fits well, but unfortunately is not truly imaginative nor does it do something particularly unique. As easy to appreciate the use of the piano and orchestral themes in films is (as it adds a classy feel to them whether we like it or not), this is one case where the use of something a bit more off-kilter could have added another dimension to the viewing experience. As great a fit as the sound is to both the writing and the visual aspects, it is just that little bit short of being truly fantastic.

Overall:

Kara no Kyoukai Movie 2: Satsujin Kousatsu (Part 1) is a good watch. It is well above average in every aspect, has moments of brilliance and very little in the way of weaknesses. Sure, the ending is not quite satisfactory and that is what stops this film from being a classic, but it is well worth your time if you like a character driven piece with some gory violence in the background.