First impression: Game animation sequence without the game.
Before we go on, I would like to note that the bonus CDs that come with this special edition are listed separately under AIR-0004 and AIR-0005.
This is totally different production than the TV series. Obviously, the characters and the gist of the story are shared, but otherwise, it has no relationship with the TV series. That means, you can watch the movie or the TV series without needing to worry too much about mixing them up. You can even skip one or the other.
To get down to the point, I like the TV-series animation far more than this theatre animation. TV-series animation is sharper and better defined, has better colors as well as better color usage, and has much more natural lighting.
Having said that, I don't hate this either, for the most part. There are some interesting character developments in here that was not seen in the TV-series, and it forms a complete story of its own.
There's really no point in reading me babble, so let's get to the images.
Lighting kind of destroys the view, which is also somewhat unnaturally distorted. It reminds me of certain game animation trick.
Is that Michiru on the left? Doll movement is primitive compared to that of the TV-series version.
Really out of place. I can't believe this style was included in the movie. This should have ended up on the cutting room floor. I'm not saying that this style is bad. I'm just saying that it doesn't belong in the movie.
