Shiki-Jitsu "Ritual" (2000): Movie FULL LENGTH Reaction! PATREON COMMISSION!
Added 2025-12-19 18:00:10 +0000 UTC*RITUALISTIC HEADPHONE WARNINGS*
As a major fan of NGE, I knew any work by Anno was going to be good -- but this subversion of the "Manic Pixie Dream Girl" trope that brings together two souls tied with a red string of trauma and isolation was not only a visual FEAST for symbolism, but probably is one of my favorite movies of the year I've watched! There's a lot to take in, here! So let's talk about it!
Thank you, Sean, for the amazing commission!!
LINK TO PIP REACTION: https://share.vidyard.com/watch/5rzy1rcVykNt8THWD8gRYt
Thank you for watching with me and for all the support!
Comments
Thank you so much for the comment! I really enjoyed this movie SO much!! I’m glad you finally got to see it and YES, SUCH a clear aesthetic! I can be on board with “She” being a version reliant on the MPDG trope – but yeah, the pressure is there, I agree. I like that even though he’s in a position of power, by the end, his own power is questioned…though, he does end up having more power in the last part with the “mediation,” so I feel you. And I agree, Sean commissioning these back to back is so interesting! The different takes on “pursuit of another” - love that tie in! And yeah, the entitlement of the relatives was really well handled this - love your notes in the comments about that and Anno LOVES his themes of resistance, doesn’t he?! I love the idea of the “Groundhog Day” quality of the calendar and how the MC chooses to make time “her own” to help ground her in the midst of her instability. And whether a “fix” is truly possible – Sean really did well on these commissions! Thank you for the comment!!
Romaniablack
2025-12-31 03:36:06 +0000 UTCThank you so much for the information and the comments! This film was soooo good!
Romaniablack
2025-12-25 17:19:20 +0000 UTCLoved the reaction and discussion! This was really fun to check out and visually just a delight. Another film, which has been on my long-list to watch, ticked off with the help of your reactions! And I love any film which has such a clear understanding of its aesthetic. 🥰 To get this out of the way, to me this did read as a subversion but something still reliant on a ‘manic pixie dream-girl’-type trope, even down to something as small as the female protagonist being credited as “She” vs the male protagonist’s “Director.” I appreciated that the female MC stayed consistent with her sort of ace-coded presentation, but, to me, the narrative pressure in the film was still there, an implication that the male MC’s “exceptionalism” will eventually get him where he wants to go. Though this could also have less to do with the film itself as intended, and the way the characters are presented, than the film as it ended up and the compromises made for the benefit of its perceived audience. Though this to me is not a valid enough excuse in the end. I have to say that this and Millennium Actress were such an interesting pairing for one after the other for Sean’s commissions! Watching them this way – I really appreciated their different takes on the idea of a “pursuit of another.” Also, I really appreciate the representation of a very particular type of entitlement ‘relatives’ often feel towards the offspring of their families, often/most especially mothers. I think this was a really insightful representation of the impacts of emotional neglect, especially where emotional need (originating from the parent/guardian) can entirely coexist with an emotional emptiness towards the actual child. Now, themes of resistance?! It is Anno! 😆 Who certainly loves to resist time and space itself. I did really appreciate the focus on “time” and the idea of existing outside of linear time as both circumstance and rebellion, the female MC living by her own kind of calendar. Also, resisting despair via attachment – I loved that the film showed an example of characters who wonder whether they should or can “fix” one another. And that the film presents no "answer" to that idea. Thank you to Sean for another amazing commission! 🥰 Looking forward to the next entry! 💙
Sunspots
2025-12-22 18:00:14 +0000 UTCi just started so sorry if u searched it after, but the main character is acted by shunji iwai another famous director, one of his most known movie is "all about lily chouchou"
Roromia Da silva
2025-12-19 23:24:05 +0000 UTC
