I agree with SeagullChips....
(I read the manga tho, and killing Eren's parent would hinder the second arc so I guess they might not make a movie for that ? Well figures, it's too complicated to fit a 1h30 movie)
SnK key notion that got so many addicted is it's description of character, how they evolve and how their bonds actually have an impact in the events. The film felt empty on that side. You barely get to know the main characters -not to mention the others- so it's hard to relate or feel attached to them. So even without comparing with the anime/manga I was dissatisfied.
When it comes to changes as compared to the anime/manga ;
I really didn't like giggling Mikasa... I really liked how she never changed in the manga, was the strong one in the group... And seeing how they twisted the story so that Eren's motivation was her death, adding some romance to the main plot... Didn't quite sit well with me. I would have prefered if they at least kept the Eren's mom dying scene and her death as a motivation... Not to mention how she rejects him later on after changing...
Eren was weak willed too, when I really liked how bratty and stupidly obstinate he was
Let's not mention they replaced the hugely popular Levi by a pale copy that is Shikishima. Levi's cockiness is witty and bemusing. Shikishima just felt like a simple ass to me...
Hanji Zoe was the only character that was satisfying to me and Armin despite undergoing some changes was ok.
The other characters I like are either not appearing much... or disappeared
But I'm the fair kind, I liked Kuroshitsuji's movie better than SnK's movie because despite changing the setting and characters, they at least kept the most important elements. If they had done the same, I wouldn't have been so disapointed with SnK's movie. It's ok to change things, but changing too much or changing things that are crucial and shouldn't be touched are not. Really if they changed the names of the characters who kept their name and a few more elements they could have easily put a new title and make it a new story...
I was also surprised at the format... 1h30 felt really short for such a big scale movie with so many complicated stuff happening. Scenes seemed mashed together, I felt there was a lack of logic transitions btw them... I think they could have afforded an extra 30 min to make it smoother ?
And finally I was a bit disappointed by the visual effects. The colossal titan was ok (well it was CGI) and the rest was okeyish but for the final part where titan Eren is fighting really looked like a 2000 B series movie... I don't know I felt the camera work + Eren's puppet was meeh... You know like 1954's Godzilla ? How it was so obvious it was an actor within a silicone suit walking in a reduced size reconstruction of a city ? The titans were better since they were only actors wearing make up. the skin effect and tone looked natural... Titan Eren's suit/puppet was disappointing to me... the skin effect wasn't convincing, it looked like silicone to me from beginning to end...but even the close ups on Eren made me cringe because it was the puppet/suit they used and not CGI (usually for such movies, they have puppet or suits for long/medium shots -full body or half body- and use CGI for close up shots especially on detailed parts) Maybe I'm too picky but I really expected more regarding the effects used. I don't know, when you learn a story that is relying on out of the ordinary elements, you tend to think "aaah I wonder how they'll make ___" and I was really excited about how they'll make the titans and especially Titan Eren.
So yeah... I laughed and WTFed at 'You ok with a single mom ? Wanna be my daughter's dad ?" rolled my eyes at the Mikasa x Shikishima, and felt cheated at the end of the movie xD I watched it on my birthday thinking it would be a nice gift .... well nope xD I spent half of the movie saying "WTF ?"
But I'm gonna give this movie a few more chances (yeah I really like SnK so TT) and am gonna watch it a few more times before leaving a proper review. Also gonna drag someone who doesn't know the story to watch it with me to have a fresh and unbiased opinon !
Not to mention I'm dragging my friends who love SnK to watch it with me just to laugh at their WTF faces xD
I really hope the second movie is better but I'm sure not setting my hopes as high as i did for the first xD