Sword Art Online - The Movie: Progressive - Aria of a starless Night

(Sorry for using translator)

This is the best I've seen of SAO, I'm not a fan of the series but this movie left me impressed. This is like fixing a story, it doesn't necessarily have to have new things, but fix what you already have and make good characters and a better story.

The soundtrack, animation and characters are well done, here you can see that the main concept is executed throughout the movie, it's just amazing. The other one from Progressive wasn't so bad but it felt like it lacked more, but I can watch this one over and over again without disliking it. Seriously, I was very impressed.

I think, I find it much more easier to write this review from 2 different points of view: As a standalone movie, and as part of the Sword Art Online franchise.

Well, as a standalone movie it was a pretty good one. Comparing to other contemporary movies, any movie that keeps me invested in the story and don't want to fast forward is a good movie for me. It is nice to see the same familiar story from a different perspective and how the same events are intercepted differently by each participant. Although the movie is pretty short, we could still experience a character development (although I'm not sure we want too) and story development.

As part of the SAO project... After reading the synopsis, I didn't have much expectations. How many of you would want to see a movie that they have already see? With the same characters? But they did it! Somehow the SAO team crafted an interesting experience, based on a well known story. Having said that there were too many things that didn't heads up if you try to connect the events from the movies to the events from the series (And I'm not talking just of the actions that took place in the movie, but the character's reactions that just don't heads up, sometime it felt there were 2 different set of characters).

I must say, without any doubt, the producers of this movie decided to take the road less traveled. I think I can count on one hand the number of movies that try to achieve this: creating a "prologue" that interacts with an existing plotlines in so many places. I really appreciate the fact they try to use this technique to deliver a unique and interesting experience to the screen, However I think this movie could have been better entwined with the original story.

Moreover, I'm not sure why they have picked this period of time and that question for a movie. There are far more interesting (and easy) question to base a movie on. For example What happen in those 2 years gap in the series? How the Knights of the Blood Oath came to be? How Asuna joined there? Where and why Kayaba did? And some more question that I find much more answer worthy than the question they try to answer in this movie.

To sum things up. I think this is a real good movie and can be watched even if you have no knowledge of SAO at all. If you saw the first season, you won't be disappointed just a little bit confused (I know I am) and hoping that the next movie would shed more light on far more interesting questions.

TLDR: yes watch it.

I made an account just to review this. I've seen all of SAO and I really think the actual aincrad (I think it's called?) stuff is the best. SPOILER - when the threat of death isn't present in the series I lose all investment. The original idea of being STUCK in a game and having to life or death the game makes the series so much more intense, immersive, and impactful. Stakes are high, tension is high.

So I was literally about to change my mind last minute and not go see this movie. I mean cmon. SAO right? Insert SAO meme here. I'm very happy I didn't listen to myself.

I went to see the movie in theaters and was immediately disappointed it was a DUB. HOWEVER!!! Whoever the voice actors were on this absolutely bodied it. Especially asunas voice. Emotions were conveyed perfectly. Hopelessness, anger, sorrow, relief, excitement. Many times DUBs lose the emotion in voice lines through translation. This was not one of those times

It was very immersive. The movie transitions flawlessly scene to scene and never made me feel like I was just waiting to get to the next part. Tons of very nicely animated action. Zero wasted time in this movie.

The music wasn't to memorable. Great for making you feel like it's a video game. They dive really deep trying to "get you in" that video game. You can see it with how they explore it in the script as well as the camera angles they use.

Originally I went to see this because I'm restless waiting for that new Jujutsu Kaiden movie to come out. But honestly this movie held its own and will be one I remember and recommend.

I been watching anime for like 20 years. This is a perfect medium to explore SAOs first floor again. Very fleshed out and to be honest, if they adapted the rest of the aincrad (again?) stuff like this...I would definitely go watch it.

Nothing else to say except: best movie in utter existence. Good animation, action, Not canon yet still amazing. Have been waiting excitingly for this to finally release in my country, and i can't wait for that day (17th of february) to come. Sword Art Online has been my favorite for a long long time and movies like these only make it better.

I think this movie is a solid 8 and what I expected when I first started watching the series. 1st half of the 1st season was really rushed and made you think that the plot was kinda wasted due to the rush. But for me the pace of the movie is just fine. Can't wait for the next movie.