Review of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is regarded by many as the prize one gets for staying through all of S1 and S2 (which I personally though was not that bad). And, while not perfect, I am here to tell you that this description is not far from the truth. This almost 3-hour-long movie finally introduces a cohesive plot, and strays away from the slice-of-life, self-contained story arcs it had before. This was quite a shock to me, as I had expected more of the frivolous rampaging of previous seasons, but definitely a refreshing change. While the plot is a little predictable and the foreshadowing heavy-handedat times, most later plot twists manage to keep you on the edge of your seat. Things flow logically, and I have no complaints, except for that part at the 2:10 mark (you'll know when you watch it), but after some Googling it was not too bad.

Art and sound are of course no issue, this is Kyoto Animation we are talking about here. Things are crisp and generally the same quality as previous seasons, and sound is appropriate for the situations.

As many reviewers have pointed out, character is where this movie shines. Kyon's position as a normal human among supernatural events is unique, and this movie expertly explores this theme. Nagato finally smiles, and even Haruhi manages to bring a smile to my face. Kyon's ever-present monologues are insightful, and if you just came for more of the fun of previous seasons, don't despair--character interactions are still present and manage to be lively despite the much heavier tone.

Despite the above, I found that The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya did not leave as much of an impact as I had hoped or expected. Perhaps because of my age, or I wasn't in the best mood for it; my emotional response to some of the more deep, thought-provoking, and touching scenes was much less than, say, the last episode of Code Geass R2. However, I will definitely revisit this at a later date, and will be willing to give this a 9 or even a 10 the next time around.

In conclusion, this movie provides a wonderful addition to the Haruhi Suzumiya franchise, and even reluctant viewers may find themselves adding their praises to the legions of diehard fans.