I got the chance to see the movie for a second time over this past weekend, which will also probably be the last time for me until the movie comes out on DVD/Blu-Ray due to work schedule and the movie seeming to end it's theater run soon (just looked and the runs at the theater closest to my house end on this Thursday).

I will absolutely say that, for me, the move was emotional the first time I saw it. I teared up during the end of the movie (pretty much from the point that Hodaka is stopped in the abandoned building by Suga and on). Absolutely loved the animation and the soundtrack from that moment and found it to be a great introduction to the Shinkai films (no, I haven't seen Your Name, I really need to).

Seeing it the second time, I honestly didn't expect any different. I was able to see the scenes a bit more clearly and focus on some of the details, using some previous knowledge of the movie plot to see some aspects as foreshadowing, etc. I definitely wasn't expecting it to be nearly as emotional for me.

I was wrong.

Where before, the emotions didn't come up until late in the film, this time, the emotions were a lot stronger throughout it and points such as the montage of Hina clearing the skies and the fireworks festival were where the emotions began to well up. And these emotions really came to a head during the conversation between Hodaka and Hina in the hotel room. The tears started to come, knowing what was going to happen and seeing the reactions for a second time. Finally, the point that hit for me the first time seeing the movie was the tipping point this time around. The point where Suga stops Hodaka in the abandoned building. I felt like Suga when the detective came to his house, not realizing the tears were already streaming down my face until I felt them at my chin.

This was a really long way to say that I find the movie exceptionally beautiful and moving. I think that the characters are appropriate for the story, their motivations are clear even when they aren't (example would be Hodaka running away from home, his reasons are never explicitly stated but pretty well inferred), they are relatable and understandable. The story, while a bit rushed, is well developed and easily followed. The music is amazing and recognizable and shows how the same chords can be made to invoke so many different emotions just through changing various things like the tempo, melody, and instrument.