I'm probably going to regret this...
...reviewing this after watching it through just one time, that is. I didn't catch most of the story.
But this does allow me to write down my first, honest, impressions, which I guess counts for something.
The first thing I want to say is that the voice-acting is ATROCIOUS. It is the most horrible voice acting that I've heard for quite some time. It is like listening to nails on chalkboard. The insincere attempts at dramatic emotion, the over-emphasizing of lines, the "trying to act in character" (rather than BEING the character), the bad sound quality of the recording itself... severely hampered my ability to enjoy the other elements of the film. It was really awful, and made a mockery of the story being told. Also, the music was unfortunately quite uninspired, particularly what plays during a long section near the end of the film (the girl running back to her house). There was a certain commonplace aloofness to it that did nothing to keep my interest. The direction and editing of the film felt that way too - as if someone was carefully adhering to rules learned somewhere, and in the process forgetting about making sure that it FELT right. Parts of the story often flashed by too quickly for me to take in what I had just heard (I missed the technical explanation of what was happening in the beginning completely), while at other times it unfolded with glacial slowness.
The one thing that was excellent in past episodes and remains great here is the art direction. But all the same, I'm not sure that it's the proper one near the end when you're trying to show something sad. Its bold lines and simplified, angular shapes work against the portrayal of any softness, such as the end. I think changing the art style where the film's direction demanded it might have worked better, maybe... although on the other hand, maybe it would have been fine if the film's other elements were better.
I really loved the three "Tsunami Prequel" films, but every episode released since then I've liked a bit less than the one before...