ToV Movie:
Generally decent enough to be watchable without being particularly good. Production values are high although there are a few moments where the animation/detail is sorely lacking (Yuri stabs someone right through, and slowly withdraws the sword which has... no blood on it at all...). Other than that, I liked the chemistry the knight group had. The movie is ultimately about developing Yuri and Flynn from idealist youths more like the earlier Tales mains into the more jaded/world-wise characters they are at the start of ToV proper. It works.
Production values were as I mentioned high (it is a movie after all), and it lends something to the experience certainly. Lots of minor things being animated and individual character designs even for throwaways. The action is generally pretty fun. Yuri and Flynn are killing machines, and the lack of Blastia means it all comes off down to pure swordskill with lots of very satisfying flourish from Yuri of course. The barfight was pretty cool, although not as great as DQ8's certainly. I was kind of hoping the Twins would get in on that.
Speaking of, the knights' chemistry is quite satisfactory in this. I found myself rooting for even the redshirts to make it out alive. Although I kinda figured the badass commander would have to go (and he really, really did. Yuri needed an impetus to leave the Knights after all). Yuri and Flynn have their same dynamic as in the game, although they are both younger and even more hot-headed (especially Yuri). The dogs were great fun to watch when they were around, with Lambert (Repede's pop) doing cute things like picking up Repede by the scruff of the neck and walking off when Yuri complains about having to watch him. Hisuka and Shastere are very close sisters and they tend to they interact pretty well with Yuri and Flynn in particular (who are practically Twins themselves in their relationship). And the commander works well enough to interact with Flynn and Yuri to develop them along their respective paths.
The entire point was developing Yuri and Flynn, which was pulled off quite well. Having to make decisions that shatter their youthful idealism and deal with a corrupt system that sets them up for who they are in ToV proper. Flynn resolves to become powerful enough to make a difference in the world while Yuri gets kind of fed up and leaves. I was a little disappointed that everyone just kind of accepted Yuri leaving the Knights, but the squad was generally shown to be pretty close so I guess it makes some sense. Ultimately though Yuri was the one who quit and did nothing while Flynn resolved to keep going. That is a pretty important point at the beginning of ToV and is one that is shown here.
Oh and the movie gets a point for incrementing the Yuri Count. i.e. the number of dicks he's skewered/cut open. This puts it at 5 with Alister, Raguo, Cumore, Alexie, and Zagi.
