Who thought it was a good idea to cram 47 episodes worth of content into a 94 minute movie. It cuts out most of the characters and destroys the original story. Nagisa's death in the movie was meaningless and the doctors didn't do anything. What made her death sad in the series was that there was no possible way for the doctors to help her because the roads were closed and they couldn't get to the apartment. In the movie Nagisa goes to a FREAKING HOSPITAL and the doctors didn't do anything about it. From what I remember (it's been a while),Ushio was only in like two minutes of it, even thought she is one of the most important characters. But as it's own movie, it is decent. But I still wouldn't recommend it to anyone because it ruins the original story so badly. If you haven't watched the series, just go and do that and don't bother with this movie.

Despite what most people say, I found the clannad movie really good.

The first half was rather boring (if you have seen the series) maybe if you haven't you might enjoy it. This first part is an alternative retelling of how nagisa and Tomoya meet and how they re-open the theater club. They show what I found as a darker side of Tomoya, or at least a less caring one. Also, most of the series characters play a very minor part and most of the don't even appear. This is what I found as the major flaw of the movie.. and I think its a really big flaw!!

The second part however ... well I cant really tell you much without a bit of spoilers...

-SPOILER- This second part is basically an after story of what happens when they graduate. basically Nagisa and Tomoya rent an apartment and move together. They all get jobs, nagisa gets pregnant and........ well I don't want to spoil it any more than I already did. - END OF SPOILER-

I actually found this second part really really good!! If you have seen the series you will probably enjoy it a lot... however... don't expect it to be so light hearted...Just be prepared... Well, most people say its bad. I personally enjoyed it, and recommend it to everyone who have seen clannad... even if you might find the first part less boring if you haven't.. I guarantee you will find the second part much much better If you have seen the series and are somehow attached to the characters.

I must start out by saying people put strikes against this movie because they thought they had changed things that were so good in the show, mainly the song "Dango Daikazoku". These people are mistaken, nothing was changed. The movie came BEFORE the show, so those strikes should not exist.

I guess the main reason people didn't like this movie was because of the quality of the show. I watched the movie first, and with an open mind, and found it amazing. Sure, some parts got very goofy, but most of the scenes did really well in giving the characters personality. Sure, you didn't get back stories for anyone, but that would make the movie too long. This was still a very deep, emotional movie. It really makes you think.

The ending was something the movie really had over the show. Don't get me wrong, I still adore the ending to the show, but the movie ending had a much better metaphor and was more believable. No matter how much I love the show, I still look at the movie as the bit of nostalgia that really hooked me on Clannad.