Just an FYI for those unaware since this is a rare, potentially once in a lifetime showing. Its the first time the movies are airing in American theaters.
You can find ticket and theater locations here:
https://www.fathomevents.com/events/gurren-lagann-the-movie-the-light-in-the-sky-are-stars/
Aniplex's subtitles are soulless but its still Gurren Lagann. The second movie is also the actual good one. It covers the second half of the series.
Gurren Lagann is one of those rare and special series with a lot of heart, soul and meaning packed into it, still my favorite anime after almost 9 years when I first watched it as a college freshman. I consider it the greatest anime of all time.
I checked out the first movie on this Tuesday, it was okay, more tolerable in theaters than when I watched it on my PC like 1-2 years ago since the theaters audio and environment help obscure the flaws and issues with it. Its no substitute for the series though.
If you haven't watched Gurren Lagann before, you can just watch episodes 1-15, then watch the second movie if you want to catch the theatrical release. The series is still largely better but the second movie is good enough that I can still recommend it as an acceptable way to experience the second half of TTGL (just make sure you watch the series conclusion afterwards too).
This is one of my all time favorite anime, partially because it's unapologetically indulgent, but also because it has healthy lessons on brotherhood and grief, as well as optimism in the face of stacked odds.
I do recommend the show over the movie, as the movie glosses over some important plot points in favor of extending the epic battles, but they're both good.
The more I've looked into Gurren Lagann, the more impressed I became. Each time I rewatch the series, I learn and notice something new. I view the series as lightning in a bottle. It still blows my mind how they made this work.
I pretty much agree with everything here. I will say there are a few things I liked that the second movie added in (the flowers, and Nia's letters to Kamina) since those don't get talked about as much when the movies are brought but are still something beautiful imo.
I'm among those that saw the first movie last Wednesday. Unfortunately, it did kinda disappoint me, but I was really only watching it out of obligation, waiting patiently for the second one. Best part about it was the prologue piece, which wasn't something in the series.
Agreed, the prologue was definitely the best part of the first movie... which is a real shame.
But I already knew the first movie was going to be shit going into it, I was planning on using it as a test for the 4D to see if it was worth seeing the second movie in 4D, but unfortunately the roads were snowed out so I just stuck to watching it in standard.
I was so angry when I first watched the first movie on my own (this was before any theater release), it felt like they butchered the series in my eyes.
However the second movie is a lot better, despite some flaws of course, its still something great.
There's a reason I didn't make any post to suggest people watch the first movie, as its a subpar way to experience the series.
Wtf is 4D supposed to be? How does that even make sense? Unless they've figured out a good way to make a 360 degree viewing experiences in cinemas, then we haven't even properly mastered 3D viewings yet.
Its basically trying to be an amusement park ride, adding in stuff like smoke, rain/water effects, seats shaking and moving, smellovision, etc.
If Cuties had been a movie, Hollywood would have given it a dozen Oscars.
Unfortunately very true.
Episode 11 was awesome. The movie didn't do it justice.
Agreed.
Been over a decade since I watched the series and movies. Probably due for a rewatch sometime soon. I feel bad I won't be able to catch it in theaters. I feel like all sorts of movie showings like this just slip right by me because you kind of have to keep your ear to the ground to find out about a lot of them.
Ah well, that's a shame. Too busy?
And yeah, I had to pay attention to find out about this (even more so if I wanted to find a 4D theater to catch em in), its not something that's exactly heavily advertised or spread around easily, and the fact that its only a 1-day showing for each movie (well technically 2 but that's split between dub and sub) just makes it rough. The fact that its on weekdays only makes it even worse.
Unfortunately out of the state for work at the moment so it would be tough to swing. I'm not against going to things like that alone, and even actually like it every now and then for a change of pace, but I generally am not free until mid to late evening and by then I just want to go rest. Nearest showing is likely 45 minutes away by car anyway.
I really hope it does well. I love when movies like this have releases over in the States even if they're very small. My favorite is when they give away little things like a mini poster or a shikishi or something at the showings.
Ah, that's a shame but understandable.
I agree on the merch point. The Japanese theaters got some beautiful stuff for the Gurren movie re-releases and I'm very jealous of them. Sadly my local theater didn't have anything, and people have been saying similar things about their theaters so probably only a few, if any, got anything for this one.
I will say, if the theater in question is a Regal theater, those have a great refund policy. If you're considering going to it, you can buy and hold the ticket until literally an hour before the showing, and refund it if you don't feel you can go.
I ended up using that refund policy on Tuesday because I was initially going to a (very) far theater for checking out the 4D, but the weather made it far too dangerous so I cancelled my ticket an hour and a half before it started (I bought it over a month ago) and went to a local one instead lol.
So are the movies retelling later episodes with higher budgets?
I suppose that's one way to put it, yes lol.
There are some small (but important) changes in the second movie. It's almost like a "what-if" ending. It's also basically fanservice for Gurren Lagann fans in that it's even more over the top than the series in some respects, though you lose some of the depth and meaning of the original series since it cuts some things out.
The first movie is a lot worse, in that it changes too much and not for the better and leaves out some very important stuff in the process, but the second movie is a lot more careful and well-handled.