Maboroshi (2023) User Reviews

Aimless

[slaemail · 6/10 · 3 February 2024]

It's a cool movie, but it just happens to be another one of those japanese movies that has a pretty good start, with a good aim on what it's about, but somewhere near the end, the metaphors and meanings stars hiting everythinf they can; it's almost like they want to make the movie to be about everything, and honestly it doenst work, not when you start doing this at the very end. It got confusing and extra explanatory; it didnt even seem real anymore.

I really liked where it was going, but this urge they felt for talking about a bunch of emotions at the end with almost no development to most of them just kinda of messed everything up. I'm just saying that, it is better to keep it simple and targetted than start adding a lot of unecessary dialogue about emotions that you'll have to explain because they weren't developed to be simply undestood by context.

Interesting but an up-in-the-air ending

[Snootz · 5/10 · 17 January 2024]

This movie has nice animation, interesting characters (if somewhat two-dimensional) and an interesting story all the way through until the very end, where we find yet another film that leaves the audience trying to guess what actually happened and what point the director was trying to get across.

There are several good aspects to this film. The story is decent most of the way through. The animation is fine. But the plot and story line are flawed, presenting bits and pieces but never succeeding in telling the entire story. The steel factory is central to the story but never explained. Why the town decided to follow a guy who was without doubt a loon is beyond understanding. And justifying locking a little girl inside a factory for years is simply insane. So much of the film makes no sense.

Some may feel they understand what happened, but in reality they'd be adding their own 'truth' to an incomplete plot. And while two or three different "theories" are presented throughout, it's difficult to understand the reasoning behind much of what goes on.

All in all it was an interesting but unsatisfying film. The writers and directors leave it to the audience to figure out what story they're trying to get across; that's a stunt that very seldom works. The overall low rating here (as of this posting) would indicate the majority of the viewers feel similarly.

ADDENDUM: When I first posted this review I found many other reviewers agreeing with these observations (in their own reviews). Shortly after this review suddenly-- within a very few days-- we see several negative ratings on any critical post. So one might suspect significant crew and family response rather than legitimate viewers. If a film requires such manipulation-- it really doesn't stand on its own merit.

One more movie about growing up

[archangestelle · 6/10 · 16 January 2024]

I don't like symbolism, metaphores and allegories. The movie was confusing but it is very simple in a way. Growing up, changing, love, sexuality. Japan loves making such movies. Anyway it is not what I wanted to watch, I am not a teen, I thought this was some fantasy.

Synonyms: Alice and Therese's Illusion Factory, The Illusion Factory of Alice and Therese

Alice like Alice's Adventures in Wonderland I should have paid more attention to the title, no wonder the movie doesn't make sense!

I watched Suzume no Tojimari a few days ago. I liked it. I heard Suzume was nominated for the Annie Awards (Animation Awards)

A nice film

[LetsReviewThat26 · 6/10 · 25 January 2024]

Masume is a third year students. He plays cards with his friends one day when suddenly their world changes. The local steel factory explodes and traps their town in an unending freeze. They cannot leave and are forced to live a new reality. There are sky wolves that seal the now broken sky and it keeps them safe. Masume falls for a girl in his class though she is bitter towards him and another young girl that lives in the abandoned factory becomes clear why she looks familiar. As he and friends try to make truth out of the situation they must overcome burdens and differences. In order to save those they love. This was a nice film. Lovely animation and voice cast and it's a story about growing up but has good heart.

Love

[Ptipana · 8/10 · 26 January 2024]

In my own interpretation, the movie aims to show that life is not essentially a search for happiness or control; life is a search for meaning. When we give ourselves a cause to serve or another person to love, we become more human, and we love ourselves more. The movie represents love as a power that offers the experience of dreaming and helps you escape loneliness. The world needs love. The power of love is what can help you survive. Love is about wisdom. Love is what makes our hearts live and beat. The movie succeeded in addressing the theme of love and showing its importance and how it gives meaning to our lives. While it is true that love has a bright side, on the other hand, it also has a dark side that can break your heart and destroy your own life.

I love this so much

[newbygeorge · 10/10 · 15 January 2024]

Mappa animated this film beautifully. With visuals on par with masterpieces like Your Name. The characters feel so real and their emotions really engulfed me on this immersive rollercoaster of a film. I didn't know what to feel! I was so confused for the first like 30 minutes but when it all got pieced together It was so satisfying. The concept for this film is amazing too. It's so interesting! I would love to see it and the characters explored more in a sequel, although I'm not sure how they would do that. I just think that this film is amazing. You may not agree with me but I just wanted to share my opinion. But before you make any decisions about this film please, please watch it. I couldn't recommend it any more.

Was good but not the best Mari okada film

[robuxearner · 8/10 · 17 January 2024]

Pretty good movie as expected from mari okada. The visual were great and the drama and writing was really good too. The character design were clean and very well animated as aspected from Mappa and the music was very heartfelting . Overall 8.25/10. Would've gave this show higher if they explained things better. It felt like there too many things left unsaid. I also felt like they should've made the movie longer, because for me personally it felt kinda rushed. They had so many cool idea but explain only 75% of it.

The end, I hope you enjoy this review, this first time writing a movie review.

Add ons.... I also might try rewatch this movie again to try to understand it better.

Additionally, If like this movie then check out Maquia: When the Promised Flower Bloom(Mari okada best work in opinion)if you haven't already watch it.

Actually enjoyed the confusion of the back story

[RocketsIdealist · 9/10 · 17 January 2024]

Watched the movie without expectations and reading synopsis. Entering it to experience the full movie as it is on Netflix was indeed good for me. It was an urge to research more when i was slightly confused in the beginning and had a lot of whys. Nearer the end, feel that the confusing parts may not fully matter but it's the relationships and impacts they bring to the individuals and why they feel so n had to do so. Warm fuzzy simple family and romantic feelings you will encounter. Not gonna put in specific spoilers as I'd implore you to watch with an open mind. The only slight discount is that i wish the show can elaborate more about the main characters' lives. Good job mappa but that 1* discount is also to remind them to be humane to give staff rest time to create better works✌🏻💪🏻

Perfect!

[saulalexandrebatista · 10/10 · 3 February 2024]

The movie "Alice To Therese's no Maboroshi Koujou," released in 2023 by Netflix, is an anime masterpiece that captivated my attention from start to finish. The plot, centered around the idea of parallel realities and illusions, offers a unique and intriguing approach, keeping the audience engaged in every scene.

The protagonist, Masamune, is skillfully developed, showcasing remarkable emotional depth. His positive aspects include a captivating journey of self-discovery and the ability to face challenges with determination. However, some moments lack a deeper exploration of his psychology, leaving certain nuances of his personality underdeveloped.

The cinematography and soundtrack are impressive, accentuating the emotional nuances of the plot. The animation is fluid and visually stunning, contributing to the immersion in the narrative. Nevertheless, at certain points, the plot could have been more daring, delving further into the complexities of character relationships.

The 10/10 rating reflects the film's unique ability to provide an engaging and memorable experience. Despite the mentioned points, the compelling plot, careful development of the protagonist, and brilliant technical execution surpass any perceived shortcomings. "Alice to Therese's no Maboroshi Koujou" is a masterpiece deserving of the highest recognition for its ability to evoke emotions and entertain.

I Loved it

[vkptsrt · 10/10 · 13 February 2024]

I watched this movie without any information beforehand and therefore had no idea what it was about. But I believe it was A beautiful heart string tugging movie, with the right amount of wtf moments and excitement to keep it super interesting and not just a lovely dovey film. I found no confusion to the story line and really enjoyed it. There were twists that I was not expecting and the ending was great, but not in a traditional sense of "a happy ending" yet still makes you fulfilled and satisfied.

I thoroughly enjoyed it, found it an easy watch and walked away with a fresher look at the love I feel for the people around me.

The storyline was mysterious, intriguing, heart wrenching and uplifting and it felt very balanced.

Interesting World & Youthful Romance setting

[whitewolfAL · 9/10 · 1 February 2024]

The company Mappa, known for producing "Attack on Titan: The Final Season," has created its own animated movie called "Maboroshi." This sci-fi youth romance film resembles "Your Name." Despite a seemingly familiar time-space plot involving a steel factory explosion creating a fictional space, it introduces a new twist. The story unfolds in a perpetual world where everything stays the same, people don't age, and life continues. Occasionally glimpses of the real world appear, but if emotions disrupt the balance, spirits take individuals away until the space vanishes. It delves into philosophy, exploring understanding one's existence and deciding their future. The main plot follows the romantic journey of three young boys and girls within this eternal setting, offering a mix of sweetness and heartache in their love story.

Held back by a rushed buildup, but interesting

[Nintendaro · 8/10 · 17 March 2024]

To my surprise this was better than its current 6.3 average would suggest. The animation is well done and the first half is quite interesting, but the ending felt a bit rushed and underdeveloped. I like that they didn't go out of their way to spell out everything leaving a few mysteries unsolved, but the final buildup just wasn't paced that well causing the narrative to miss a few important opportunities to develop the plot further and charge the twists with the necessary weight.

If you like stuff like Steins;Gate, Your Name, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, I want to Eat Your Pancreas, 5cm Per Second, etc. Chances are that you'll enjoy this one too to some extent. There are a few unnecessary anime tropes, the characters are a bit flat and the story is more cliché than it should/could have been, but all in all this is a good one.