Review of Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale

[I will be referencing a few other anime; they might be not on the same level as SAO and that depends on your own perspective of SAO and the other animes. I’m not saying that they are as same as SAO nor SAO OS copying them, it’s just in my opinion that OS reminds me of them. Forgive me as I like to reference. Speaking of which, Wagnaria Café from WWW.Working! cameos in the movie.] [I will not be talking about the characters as it will causes me to spoil everything from the movie] Ordinal Scale starts off explaining brieflyabout the Sword Art Online (SAO) anime-verse, it helps a little bit for the people who never had watched SAO. It shows some parts from the first season; Aincrad Arc, Fairy Dance Arc and second season; Phantom Bullet Arc, Calibre Arc and Mother’s Rosario Arc. After that, it went to the main focus of the movie; Augmented Reality (AR) with the help of the Augma device, the headphone-like device that is worn on the left ear that bridges the user to the virtual projected world. By that, users are still in the Real World yet connected to the digital grid that is AR. It is further explained in the movie.

OS is not plot heavy; instead it focuses more to action. And believe me; watching the fight scenes almost makes me feel on the edge of my seat. The movie starts off slow but it gets even faster and even more until it reaches its peak and then slows down until the end. Don’t worry; there is breathing room in between the action. The story is not all over the place and frankly, better than any Arcs in the anime in my opinion. I’ll admit that there are plot holes and a few things that seem very lacklustre on the story. But I’m not watching this movie because only of the story, I watch it for my enjoyment.

Let’s talk about the quality of the animation shall we? I’ve seen [Your Name (Kimi no Nawa)] before and it was a beautiful movie in its own right. But Ordinal Scale, an action packed Anime made by A-1 Pictures? It looks very stunning and lively! Fight scenes looks very aggressive. The colours are vivid and it also captures the emotion of the movie. Visually, it feels like you’re there with them without the need for 3D glasses or AR (insert topical joke)!

Next up, I will be talking about the soundtrack for OS. Yuki Kajiura, the person who made the soundtrack for the SAO anime, and also [Puella Magi Madoka Magica (Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica)] (Yes, that anime about magical girls bounded by a contract for the exchange of their desires) and countless others that I don’t know of her involvement. I swear she could have been listening to the OST of Madoka Magica and then tried to combine them with the OST of SAO while making the soundtracks for OS; I could definitely feel the tone and atmosphere of those pieces. Listening to Delete, made the strands of hair on my body erect and chilling my spine because it reminds me of memories from Madoka Magica. While listening to Longing reminds me of Fate/Zero and Fate/Stay Night Unlimited Blade Works. Basically, it’s great.

Watching this, it will make you think,” Is VR or AR really needed in this world of ours? Does it not separate us between the Reality and the Virtual but yet combines both into a blurry mess?” I admit it does have its own good, to an extent. But it also brings repercussions. Technology is a dangerous thing if it’s not used for the benefit of everyone.

I strongly believe this is the anime and movie for all SAO fans. The enjoyment value of the movie is over the roof.

*Note to everyone who have not watched OS or will be watching it soon; please, stay until the end credits. Sit down and wait and you’ll understand why I ask you to do so.