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The Sky Crawlers

Play trailer Poster for The Sky Crawlers PG-13 2008 2h 1m Adventure Anime Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Adolescents called the Kildren fight a war for fun.
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The Sky Crawlers

Critics Reviews

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Robbie Collin News of the World 04/29/2010
4/5
If you're unfamiliar with the delights of anime, I wouldn't start with this one. But fans will adore it. Go to Full Review
Phelim O'Neill Guardian 04/23/2010
4/5
If you're prepared to meet the film halfway, you'll find it an engaging, spectacular and thought- provoking experience. Go to Full Review
Keith Uhlich UGO 09/24/2008
The gun never goes off, but the possibility (the precipice) remains. Go to Full Review
Ard Vijn ScreenAnarchy 01/17/2020
With it's serious tone and lack of speed "The Sky Crawlers" may not be for everyone, but it sure got ME! Go to Full Review
Mike Barnard Future Movies UK 05/13/2010
7/10
The aerial action has been carefully crafted for excitement and offer impressive scenes of skylines full of fighter planes: the mix of CGI and 2D animation give depth and a gloss that would make Michael Bay proud. Go to Full Review
Total Film 04/29/2010
3/5
If at times too opaque for its own good, The Sky Crawlers is nonetheless a dark, engagingly surreal thought-provoker animated with Oshii's customary grace and flair. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Logan D 01/08/2024 In an alternate reality the countries of earth are at peace. However, some form of war is seen as needed to captivate the population. Kildren, genetically created persons that are stuck in adolescence, are used by two corporations to fly war planes against each other. The arrival of a new pilot, Kannami, reveals secrets held by his commanding officer. I had no idea this was from the same director as Ghost in the Shell, which I had never seen but viewed a few weeks later. Unlike Shell, this film isn't as action packed and requires more patience. I was captivated by the hypnotic composition of the scenes and the teasing out of mystery. The aerial scenes are impressive and have a photo-realism to them. It's a thought-provoking film which I'll likely view again sometime. There is a post credits scene See more @ExcessMale 01/12/2023 A terrific opening sequence ushers in the strange, complex and compelling storyline that gets fairly distracted a few times between major plot points. The visuals combined with the score are almost as riveting as what the story conjures up in zest See more peter m 08/20/2018 Beautiful and sad is the best description i can provided. Coupled with that is trying to understand the mystery, of which there is no clear answer to. Watch and come to your own conclusion - make sure you have a hanky as you may cry. See more 01/14/2018 Futuristic and retro. Modern and vintage. Intriguing movie, excellent for war movie fans! See more 08/14/2017 The movie is extremely well done, with very well done combination of CGI and classic anime animation. I need to point out that Sony gave the false impression that this was an action packed film filled with dogfights and explosions. However this is not that type of movie; this movie's overall tone is sombre, slow and philosophical. Whilst the flying scenes are mesmerizing, be prepared to sit through many slow paced scenes throughout the majority of the movie, which is done on purpose and is integral to the story and message. See more 06/06/2017 I have not been so bored since I tried to watch one of those Kirk Cameron bible-drama movies. I am the kind of guy that can fun at the DMV. I am the kind of guy that can get fascinated by paint drying. I am the kind of guy that can write poetry about the grass that I am watching growing while conversing with a tortoise. THIS IS DULL! DULL DULL DULL!!!! See more Read all reviews
The Sky Crawlers

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Movie Info

Synopsis Adolescents called the Kildren fight a war for fun.
Director
Mamoru Oshii
Producer
Tomohiko Ishii, Toru Kawaguchi
Screenwriter
Hiroshi Mori, Chihiro Itou
Production Co
Production I.G.
Rating
PG-13 (Violence|Some Sexual Content|Smoking)
Genre
Adventure, Anime
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Runtime
2h 1m
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