It's difficult to say whether this film does well standing alone or as an accompaniment to the manga or even the anime. As a fan of both, I had a richer understanding of some of the more random-seeming scenes (the neko-shoujo and Zashiki Warashi being examples). The manga and anime are quite surreal in visuals and story-telling, in true CLAMP fashion. They're metaphysical and heavy on Shintoism.
That being said, this film IS surreal and quite metaphysical. It's quite beautiful. The ending felt for me to be more of a statement on the nihilism felt by Japanese youth under pressure to develop an identity straddling the old traditional world versus the new and lonely postmodern existence. I can see how it seems slow, though. Watanuki has always been a character representing attachment (hence "-holic" for addictions or hang-ups). It would have broken up the pace of the film to have him be as high-strung and screechy as we know him, so instead we get a sullen and very touchy and moody Watanuki who has been traumatized by the death of his mother who sacrificed herself to save him. I didn't have a problem with this. I liked Jorougumo as the villain who wants to devour power; she is a good foil for Yuuko-san, and her henchman is freaky and slimey in a villainous way.
Overall, I liked the film a lot though I noticed some things were lost in translation and would definitely need referencing to the anime/manga. Doumeki and Himawari were like their originals and Yuuko is perfectly played and her costumes and makeup were beautiful.
That being said, this film IS surreal and quite metaphysical. It's quite beautiful. The ending felt for me to be more of a statement on the nihilism felt by Japanese youth under pressure to develop an identity straddling the old traditional world versus the new and lonely postmodern existence. I can see how it seems slow, though. Watanuki has always been a character representing attachment (hence "-holic" for addictions or hang-ups). It would have broken up the pace of the film to have him be as high-strung and screechy as we know him, so instead we get a sullen and very touchy and moody Watanuki who has been traumatized by the death of his mother who sacrificed herself to save him. I didn't have a problem with this. I liked Jorougumo as the villain who wants to devour power; she is a good foil for Yuuko-san, and her henchman is freaky and slimey in a villainous way.
Overall, I liked the film a lot though I noticed some things were lost in translation and would definitely need referencing to the anime/manga. Doumeki and Himawari were like their originals and Yuuko is perfectly played and her costumes and makeup were beautiful.