Hiroshi Kawashima

With dreams of diving abroad, Tsuneo gets a job assisting Josee, an artist whose imagination takes her far beyond her wheelchair. But when the tide turns against them, they push each other to places they never thought possible, and inspire a love fit for a storybook.

Moshimo, Japan. The annual fireworks festival is about to take place and a group of schoolboys, arguing over whether they are round or flat when viewed from different angles, set out to find it out.

In the World before, novice mage Shirou Emiya summoned and bonded with beautiful heroic spirit Saber as they became enmeshed in the battle for supremacy known as the fifth Holy Grail War. Fate, however, is a fickle mistress, and there was more than one way for that story to transpire. Now, in an alternate timeline, the pairing’s destiny becomes more tightly intertwined with that of high school student/secret Mage Rin Tohsaka and her Servant Archer. Even if you think you know what will happen next, prepare to be surprised as new twists await at every turn.

In the spring, male student Makoto Yuki transfers to Gekkoukan High School. However, as he heads to his new dormitory, listening to the music on his headphones, he is stopped. More precisely, time has stopped, and the people who were around him turn into coffins. Makoto learns that this period of time hidden between the minute of midnight is called the Dark Hour, a time when monsters called Shadows appear. Suddenly made the leader of his fellow classmates Yukari and Junpei by his upperclassmen Mitsuru and Akihiko, Makoto must learn empathy, his connection to his comrades, and the meaning of death. With the power of his Evoker aimed at his head he awakens a Persona and fights against the Shadows threatening to attack his world from the mysterious tower of Tartarus.

The Chaldea Security Organization was founded to focus on preserving the continuation of human history. They observe a world which magecraft couldn’t observe, and science couldn’t measure, all to prevent the certain extinction of humanity. But one day, the future that Chaldea continued to observe disappears and humanity’s extinction in 2017 becomes clear. Based on the assumption that Fuyuki, a provincial town in Japan, is the reason for humanity’s extinction, Chaldea issues an order to explore, investigate, and possibly destroy this singularity – a quest for the Holy Grail, the Grand Order.

The year is 2148. Two years have passed since the world was defended from the mysterious Festum, leaving the world in peace. Soushi promised Kazuki that he would one day return to Tatsumiya Island but instead he still keeps himself hidden, living his life in the peace that he created. But one day a mysterious ship arrives at Tatsumiya Island... a ship with nobody but a single sleeping girl on board. The peace isn't going to last as long as everyone might hope...

The Lostroom. A place where you can see what was lost, or maybe what will be lost to you in time. Existing in the innermost part of Chaldea, it is the boundary line between dream and reality where the light of the Moon shines through. Produced by the Chaldea Summoning System, the room holds a small number of worthwhile benefits to enjoy.

The movie is more or less a retelling of the first few episodes of the series that is not much more than a slightly padded director's cut. You do learn some interesting details such as where Yugi's dad is, a look at the flame haze who was in the city before Shana, and even a couple of new powers for the Reiji Maigo. The story is certainly fleshed out quite a bit more and the final 15 minutes of the film comprise a surprisingly powerful conclusion (worth the price of admission on its own), but I would have liked a more original story rather then a highly polished version of one that I've already enjoyed. In the end, spectacular visuals, great new music, and well thought out additions to the core story leave you feeling glad to have seen the film. On the other hand, the fact that anything new that was added obviously doesn't change the events that come later in the series means that established fans will likely leave the experience less than satisfied.