Ansatsu kyôshitsu: sotsugyô hen / Assassination Classroom: The Graduation (2016) - A dramatic, serious and sinister turn - 8/10 (03/07/20)

Assassination Classroom: The Graduation is the second and final part of the science-fiction live action duology that had started with Assassination Classroom one year earlier. The transition between the two movies is very fluid and it's mandatory to watch both films in order to understand the entire story even though this second part starts with a short summary of the first film. If compared to the first film that included numerous spectacular action scenes and quite a lot of eccentric humour, this second installment has a more serious tone and could be described as a drama. The story still revolves around the mysterious creature that had apparently menaced to destroy the Earth after having caused an explosion on the Moon. The monster that is called Koro-Sensei still teaches a group of juvenile delinquents and undesirables from an elite junior high school who are tasked to execute their teacher. However, the monster slowly changes the difficult students for the better and they start seeing their strange teacher as a mentor rather than a menace. When they learn more about the creature's fateful past, they plan on fabricating a medication that could heal the monster and prevent the destruction of the Earth. However, the students don't realize that the government is tricking them and planning on intervening to kill the creature by any means necessary.

On the positive side, the story takes a few unexpected turns in this sequel that will keep the audience on the edge of its seats until the very end. The movie doesn't simply follow the strong predecessor but develops its very own charm with a more dramatic, mature and serious tone. The characters develop some depth with the help of flashbacks and especially the intriguing past of the monstrous teacher is finally revealed. The movie's conclusion is quite emotional and leaves a lasting impression. The epilogue convinces with a fitting idea and leaves no questions unanswered and has no need for a potential reboot or successor.

On the negative side, some of the flashbacks overstay their welcome and slow the movie's pace down a little bit. The flashbacks should have been shortened or cut into different sections interwoven at different moments in both movies. The action scenes in this film are less impressive than in the first part and especially the final battle is less spectacular than anticipated. Since this second movie is rather a drama than an action film like the first installment, potential viewers should have an open mind and expect something different to fully enjoy this flick.

In the end, both movies convince for different reasons and complement each other splendidly. The first film is quirky, humorous and dynamic while the second movie is sinister, mature and dramatic. These charming live action movies might even convince me to discover the source material which only few films of this kind ever managed to do. Both movies are highly recommended to fans of Japanese culture in general and to teenage and young adult audiences who like creative science-fiction cinema in particular.