Summer Wars
  • Studio: Gkids
  • Release Date: Dec 29, 2010
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Metascore
63 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.8 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 17 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Summary: When teenage math prodigy Kenji solves a 2,056 digit math riddle sent to his cell phone, he unwittingly breaches the security barricade protecting Oz, a globe-spanning virtual world where millions of people and governments interact through their avatars, handling everything from online shopping and traffic control, to nuclear launch codes. Now a malicious AI program called Love Machine is hijacking Oz accounts, growing exponentially more powerful and sowing chaos and destruction in its wake. SUMMER WARS is a visual tour-de-force, with the amazing world of Oz as the highlight. Like the Internet as conceived by pop artist Haruki Murakami, Oz is a hallucinatory pixel parade of cool avatar designs, kung fu jackrabbits, toothy bears, and a bursting rainbow of colors. (GKIDS)… Collapse

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Frank Scheck
    Jan 4, 2011
    80
    Running almost two hours, its increasingly convoluted narrative may be too difficult to follow for younger viewers. But its thematic ambition and dazzling visual style ultimately make it one of the more rewarding anime efforts to reach these shores.
  2. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kevin Thomas
    Jan 6, 2011
    80
    Hosoda, who directed the cult film "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time," has made a sophisticated yet poignant family entertainment with an appeal beyond Japanese animation buffs.
  3. Time Out New York
    Reviewed by: Nick Schager
    Dec 30, 2010
    80
    Summer Wars surprisingly celebrates togetherness and bravery as much as binary-mathematics expertise, all helped along by a kick-ass synthesis of traditional hand-drawn scenes and fluid, rainbow-explosive CG artistry.
  4. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Stephanie Merry
    Jan 13, 2011
    50
    Considering it's anime, Summer Wars starts out more like a bad romantic comedy.

See all 12 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Death-The-Kid
    10
    This is 1 of the best movies ever.Seeing Japan nearly 99.9% technology it has an aura to PC gamers.u fight in a computer based reality for the sake of humanity in japan.… Expand
  2. Aodecim
    10
    Inspiring and definitely one that should be viewed with family. This movie is one that I remember for years to come. An unbeatable blend of action, comedy, and romance with an innovative plot with possibly the greatest grandmother movies has ever had. I meant it.… Expand
  3. Rumblebeelove
    9
    This film wasn't what I expected at all, but it was more of a pleasant suprize than anything else. The animation, while being goregous, isn't too overdone, and the cg elements implement wonderfully. If you have not seen its predecessor, "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" definately check it out too. This story actually has a great message about family and respect, and is definatey worth the look.… Expand
  4. grandpajoe6191
    7
    "Summer Wars" is way too light and active with a brighter tone compared to its fellow Japanese animations, which easily loses focus on its point. However what I could tell you is that you're gonna have one hell of fun.… Expand

See all 5 User Reviews

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