Liz to Aoi Tori + Nanoha Reflection Rewatched:

I understand both of these movies better the second time around and I like them both more than before.  They both made me cry this time as well.  Liz to Aoi Tori's moment was due to the piercing beauty of Misore's oboe solo that just seems to sweep the whole world away on its wings, while Nanoha Reflection's was the same moment as before, when Kyrie is forced to shoot even tiny little Reinforce out of the deepness of her convictions.

Kyrie shoots the ground at Nanoha's feet while crying because she doesn't want to hurt anyone more but has to show that she's willing to do so, that she'll go to any lengths, so stop testing her -- but no doubt the person hurting most during that entire fight was Kyrie herself.  That's what makes the moment so ethereal.  The winner of the fight shouldn't be looking at the loser of the fight with tears in her eyes. . .it's a legendary scene that nothing else in storytelling history has ever managed to capture.  Only Nanoha Reflection.

I love both movies but I have to give the edge to Nanoha Reflection.  Now if only Detonation would come out so I could see the other side of the cliffhanger ending.

I agree that the bluebird belonged in the sky rather than Liz's home.  Even the bluebird couldn't hide how much she wanted to take flight all movie long.  I also agree that Misore and Nozomi should pursue their own separate talents in their own separate schools.  There's no point setting yourself up for failure by going somewhere you don't belong.  I just hope the two stay friends despite that -- there's no rule saying you can only be friends with your college classmates.  Well, I guess that part is left up to the viewer's imagination -- certainly nothing in the movie rules it out.

Three tearjerking movies in a row have really been wringing me dry.  But this is no different from watching three episodes of Clannad or Little Busters! in a row.  Art, done right, always ends in tears.  It makes a mockery of the latest episode of Game of Thrones which basically just wasted our time saying and doing nothing of importance.  American television still has a long way to go to catch up with any of the top 50 anime.

Just two movies left to rewatch to complete my promise as far as it can reasonably be completed -- Broly and Non Non Biyori Vacation, both of which only recently were released for the first time.  But I'd rather go ahead and finish this quest while I can rather than letting the chance slip away and a ton of series start piling up again.