rex74 - 2017-01-19 13:46:55

In a previous review, we covered an animation called Kara no Kyōkai, known as The Garden of Sinners. This review concerns the second of the sixty minute or so films in the series, but what’s interesting about Kara no Kyōkai’s second film is that it goes back in time to before the first, to the very start of two characters relationships with each other; the two being our main characters, Ryougi Shiki and Mikiya Kokutou. And it’s here that I should both simplify our review and elaborate on something; I prefer the first film to this one. But as a story to get into the world of Kara no Kyōkai, this film functions as a very good starting point for those who want a story devoid of Type-Moon’s over-elaborate ideas that require intricate knowledge to delve into and also if you prefer an interesting story to outright action and mystical ideas.

A Study In Murder is a mystery story, taking place from 1995 to 1998. It revolves around a young woman called Ryougi Shiki and her classmate, Mikiya. The perspective differs between the two and while parts take place from Shiki’s viewpoint, Mikiya is used as our focusing lens for the setting and story ahead. The focus of the story switches between the relationship between Shiki and Mikiya and a series of gruesome murders occurring across the city they live in. As the two threads start to intersect, it turns into a story about conviction, love and personality. The story even revolves at one point around the nature of Shiki themselves; Shiki seems possessed of two personalities and the difference between the two is quite vast in comparison. With this in mind, A Study In Murder I should straight up recommend as a starting point for you, the viewer. But as it’s a review in the context of what I’ve already seen, I can’t not take the time to compare it to the previous film, Overlooking View.

Overlooking View has the characters already established, so much so that the characters are almost impenetrable. We only get brief insights into who they are and the world they dwell in, mysterious and magical and grim. A Study In Murder offers a sort of origin, a journey back to these characters at an earlier point that allows us to see different sides to them, youthful and still possessed of a degree of playfulness that comes through in their school setting, but it’s only tentatively there and mostly expressed through Mikiya and half the personality shared by Shiki. As such, Overlooking View is perhaps more interesting as we’ve left far more to interpret the characters from hints we’re given, whereas this goes further to setting backgrounds and start points for the characters involved, thereby making it a little more overt and not as hard a background to penetrate. This is again, preference but I feel preference directs me to like Overlooking View a little more.

The music is still a wonderfully vibrant mixture of curiously low key tracks and elegant pieces that convey the peace of small moments well. However, it lacks its own truly stunning pieces such as the opening of Overlooking View or the theme that plays during View’s climactic battle. But this film has a far more sinister tone to it, with a more bloody mystery and a dwelling on personality and what it implies instead. As such, the music feels more subtle in that regard and on that merit, A Study In Murder’s music is on par with the previous film.

As an origin story goes, this film has been the most I’ve seen a film able to stand on its own devoid of other parts of its series, a film that could be watched and enjoyed as a separate entity devoid of anything else. You can watch A Study In Murder and enjoy it simply as a good mystery film that leaves answers unexplained and what might actually have happened open to interpretation and that could be it. You can enjoy it for what it is and not have to know scrolls of information to access it. Even the personality aspect of Shiki is explained in a simple dualistic manner with slight complexity but no over complication that is typical of the writers of Type-Moon’s universe, such as Fate/Stay Night. This film, other then the fact it has [Part 1] as its name, could be treated as a singular entity and be enjoyable for it and that is the highest praise I can offer it. Is it the best mystery film of its kind? No, but it’s certainly an interesting one and does well with what it has story wise to entertain the viewer.

I would recommend this film to you and especially if you’d like a rather beautiful animated film to indulge in. Long camera shots and exaggerated body motions mean that it can be awkward to some, but if you enjoy tension being built through lingering moments and escalation, you’ll probably be speculating on this film’s murders as much as the protagonists are.

veronica.jones - 2016-06-25 05:55:10

Plot
    Taking place 10 years-ish before the 1st movie, we are introduced to how Shiki and Kokutou meet, and it was love at first sight for Kokutou. Shiki one the other hand tried to distance herself from him as much as possible. At the same time, brutal murders are happening around the city and are investigated by none than other than Kokutou`s uncle. He has no lead of the murders but all hints and scenes point to Shiki. Now Kokutou tries to get close to Shiki and is thrown into a precarious situation, he knows of the murders and knows of Shiki`s unique personality, or should I say personalities. 
    Turns out Shiki has a double or split personality, some what. The best way to explain this is that she has two opposing personalities. The Cheerful Shiki that has affection for Kokutou. It`s shown as the two hangout at a mall and enjoying the time. She wants to have fun, go out, enjoy herself. Then there`s Batman Shiki, yes Batman Shiki, the Shiki we saw in the previous movie that has that serious demeanor that reminded me of Batman. She is reclusive, she does not want to open up to anyone so when Kokutou shows up, she tries to shake him off and tells him that it is only a matter of time of when, not if, she will kill him. 
    This answers some questions I had from the first movie but also had me asking 30 others. As soon as I finished this movie I wanted to start the next one, I wanted to to say screw it, I`m binge watching all of them. This hooks you in and makes you want to see where this goes and how it connects to the first one.
Characters
Shiki

Having two personalities, it is explained that they are 2 extremes of her instead of being two completely different people. They prioritize things in different ways, Cheerful Shiki wants to enjoy the time and Batman Shiki wants to murder, you know, like a normal person. However, both do what they do for the same reason. I loved seeing how at the core, there were two different personalities clashing with different view points on the the same issues, but they are the same person. We also see what kind of family she has, albeit it was a only a little hint. This adds a whole new set of questions because we see her training with her father in sword fighting with no protection whatsoever. What could that family be a part of?
    Now for a bit of Bullshit Theory Crafting Time. When Shiki and Kokutou are at the mall, the go by a place for a couple of seconds that had a prosthetic hand, similar to the one Shiki had in the first movie. So was that store Touko`s? Also, because the Shiki we saw in the last one was Batman Shiki, does that mean that if indeed that is Touko`s store, how was it that they were able transfer Batman Shiki to a mannequin body. It was hinted by Touka, that is possible to have a projection outside of a human body because she did say a human body is a container. It does show what happens to Cheerful Shiki and Kokutou shows he has feelings for her, at the same has feelings for Batman Shiki, they are the same person after all. So what happened? An accident? Did they find away to split the two with huge consequences? At this point, I wouldn`t be surprised that Nomura had a hand in this because this is starting to feel a bit like Kingdom Hearts. Just saying.

Kokutou

Knowing of Shiki`s personalities, he still tries to be involved with as much as possible, Annoying Batman Shiki but making Cheerful Shiki happy. He also knows about the murders and sees Shiki killing some one, and she was enjoying it. Yet, when questioned by the police, he doesn`t say that Shiki was there, now that is dedication. Even when threatened and about to get murdered, he doesn`t want to die, yet does not change his opinion about Shiki, Cheerful Shiki that is. I want to see more from his character and how he plays a role later on in the group. He already has ties to the police, so does knowing about Shiki`s situation, does he dig even deeper about her and her family, does he find other people like Shiki? Also, could it be possible that he is the one that founds the group because of his connections. What about Touka?

Music/Animation
    The animation, just like the first one is amazing. The backgrounds and the long panoramic shots are stunningly beautiful and the music that accompanies these shots is amazing. The music in this movie is the opposite of the last one. Its more joyful, hopeful, has more emotions than dread.

Overall
    As I`m writing this, I really want to see the next movie to see where this goes. If I wasn`t intrigued before, I am now. The character and the plot is intriguing enough, couple that with great music and fantastic animation. I want to see where this goes and how the first movie connects with the first one.

hbarrows - 2014-11-18 02:51:52

Every single movie in the Kara No Kyoukai series 1-7 is masterpiece tier is you can handle the lengthy amount of dialogue.