Yet it lacks that special something, that final spark. Stunning visuals, great story, identifiable characters, good romance, nice music. It's not going to be an instant classic that everyone will talk about in the coming years.
If there is something that I have to nitpick about, it's that the movie doesn't have that awe-inspiring quality.
So yes, I love this movie, and definitely recommend it to each and every one out there. Note: A two volume manga series has been published that closely parallels the movie it was based on in plot and artwork so if you love one, you will no doubt love the other: ASIN:1939130158 Summer Wars, Part 1 and ASIN:1939130166 Summer Wars, Part 2.
I know that aunt, who's bossing people around with a verbal whip and shrill voice. Looking for information on the anime Summer Wars Find out more with MyAnimeList, the worlds most active online anime and manga community and database. I know that teenage emo cousin, who's made of awkward. I know that one uncle, who's loud and boisterous and all about big, material things. I could easily place myself among these people and feel immediately at home.
It's a simple story - though yes, as a scifi story it has some bizarre elements - but it's told well, with special attention paid to the quiet moments and the little gestures we make when in the company of someone else. These two stories are so far away from one another, yet they manage to tell a coherent, heartwarming story about the bonds that define us and that allow us to function with one another. Something about its mad mix of colourful, vibrant portrayal of virtual world and down to earth family life in rural Japan really appeals to me.