In a year when big movie projects are either delayed or stopped indefinitely the third film from Japanese anime franchise FATE/STAY NIGHT sneakily got into movie theatres. I only understood what a big deal this release was when I couldn't buy a ticket, every session sold out for ten days straight.

The anime film revolves around teenagers playing the deadly "battle royal" game, where the last one standing will win the Holy Grail and have their wish fulfilled. Think HUNGER GAMES with dark magic, with some high school romance and Dragon Ballz battles, and you will get what the FATE franchise is about. The film reviewed here is the third in the trilogy called HEAVEN'S FEEL, and you would have to see at least the original tv show and both previous theatrical movies to understand what's going on.

HEAVEN'S FEEL III is loud, colourful and even thought provoking entertainment, however I found its rather simplistic story very heavy on unnecessary details that you won't get if you don't remember them from the other movies and TV shows.

This one is for the fans! For non aficionados it's impossible to follow up on every thread of information given, and I was often at a loss, even though I had seen the minimum requirement to understand it.

Hearing the fans talking after the film, it was clear they got what they wanted. With its huge budget, HEAVEN'S FEEL has an indie production air about it, as common sense is often sacrificed for artistry. The animation here is mind blowing and if anything it's the reason to see the film. The soundtrack from veteran anime composer Yuki Kajiura is a masterpiece (the album unfortunately is unavailable on Spotify). All in all HEAVEN'S FEEL III can be quite an experience but to those exposed to the franchise for the first time it will look like an incomprehensible mess.

Rating: 7.9

VN Route Rating: 8.8

The Visual Novel Heavens Feel is the strongest Fate route by far. So many revelations and plot points that were left ambiguous in other routes got explained here. It was fast-paced, unpredictable, horrific, and ended with little to no copouts. Although there were some plot armour moments: ex shirou still being able to fight berserker after being clobbered by berserker and Kotomine showing up at the end despite getting his heart crushed by Sakura. Unlike in UBW Shirou's character, dev here was massive. It was a great conclusion to the routes.

Unlike UBW the anime didn't make any bad changes, the only flaw is that they removed a lot of explanations and monologues like the fact that kotomoine has an artificial heart, that shirou at the end is a doll that houses Shirou's soul. They also didn't clearly explain that shirou's mind was being destroyed, and they didn't directly explain that Shirou projected the gem sword, etc. I didn't like the chorus that played in the fights it felt generic, but the fights and animation were incredible. Another passable adaptation.

I had been waiting for this third movie for quite a long time especially through the delay, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. Fate/Zero brought us an incredibly intriguing story full of despair, tragedy, and happiness above all, but it left plenty of loose ends to build up the story for Fate/stay night. Unlimited Blade Works did well solving plenty of those loose ends, but that's why the series had several different storylines. Essentially, what UBW did right, Heaven's Feel did even MORE right.

Now, with this movie, just about every question anyone had is answered and answered thoroughly. And we finally get a bit of happiness compared to all the tragedy we had been previously accustomed to.

This is a movie that will keep you at the edge of your seat, waiting to know what happens next, and crying tears of sorrow in some parts, and tears of joy in most, especially the ending.

All the story bits aside, this is an exceptionally well done anime movie. It's no studio Ghibli, but what can be? It's animation is breathtaking, as expected of ufotable, as is the sound design and everything else.

But of course, what really makes this movie work for me is the exceptional story. If you haven't watched this trilogy or series, do yourself a favor and enjoy what is easily one of the most satisfying finales to a storyline that has been going on for over 10 years.