Review of Ride Your Wave

Youko in the beginning of the film: "Being in love is for stupid people" Youko at the end of the film: "Not being in love is for stupid people" Ride Your Wave, a subtle true-to-life romance film with the the title relating to the initial connection of the tragic yet life-chaning event between Minato and Hinako. [SPOILERS] Story: 8/10 After saving Surfer/florist Hinako Mukaimizu in an apartment fire by Firefighter Minato Hinageshi, bothenjoy their company while initially surfing yet deepen their relationship. One day, at the beach Minato is surfing
and sees people who are in need on the shores; he goes out in order to save them but to no avail fails and loses
his life. Hinako deals with the mental trauma of losing the closest person to her yet can't help but see
realistic projections in the water when she sings their song "Brand New Story - GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE".
Minato's incident influences Hinako to pursue a life-saving career of being a life-guard in order to prevent
future tragedies. (that's the gist of it)

Now that I think of it, Ride your wave was more of your realistic tragic romance film despite having fantasy elements
especially after the death of Minato. However, it gave the film a more positive mood rather than Hinako remaining in a
state of depression for the duration of the film. I noticed that there were at least 3 montages which could have been fully
utilised to enhance the death of Minato if the film was adapted into a series of 12/13 episode with the fireworks incident
at the end finalizing the series - It would just make the overall emotion of the series more dramatic but I guess budgets exist.

Art & Sound: 7/10
This film didn't excel to the expectations of Mamoru Hosoda or Makoto Shinkai yet it did leave somewhat of a
satisfying viewing experience. the VA for both main characters singing was well orchestrated and had an emotional
attachment every time Hinako sang the song.

Character: 6/10
The entire beginning of the film up until both main characters met were basically character development segments
in order to establish the characters so the viewer would understand their standing with the main characters.
It definitely felt a bit forced, especially the fire incident where both Wasabi and Minato rushed to Hinako's
aid above the top of the apartment building but I noticed more rivalry that way which was interesting.
A small detail I noticed the most was when Youko, Minato's little sister told Hinako and Minato when they were dating
that being in love is for stupid people which made me feel some sort of jealousy but at the end of the second fireworks
incident, when Wasabi and Youko 'hook-up', Youko tells Hinako "Not being in love is for stupid people". (probably
to show her support for Hinako and Minato. ~ Also montages to develop character is a bit anti-climactic when someone
is killed off for a plot-twist so it wasn't as emotional.
~overall some good pieces of character development but would have liked a proper series of events and consideration
for the romantic connection between both main character's love.