Gen 5 Movie · 11:01pm Sep 24th, 2021
So, just watched the new movie and I have to say it wasn't bad. Give it about an 8/10 due to it lacking information on key plot points as well as a couple of unanswered questions. Spoilers after the break.
For the good, first, the crew of 5 are pretty likable with all right personalities to them, though could use some more time fleshing them out with a few episodes. Liking the start of the new Fluttershy of the group being hinted at. They really needed to go more into why the three tribes were separated though as there was nothing mentioning what happened, and hopefully it gets answered in the future episodes. Of course, it also brings up the question as to why the Earth Ponies did not lose their magic from the unknown event while the other two tribes did.
On the topic of magic, why did they still have cutie marks if they had lost their magic? It seems to be a future after G4 so it shows that their marks are brought out by magic. Unless them having it only on one flank is a symptom of that instead of an artistic choice. Granted they were rather subdued and were barely visible most of the time with their blank side most often facing the camera.
I am curious though if that ending scene will be continued in the series though as well as if the bit with the three younger ponies after the first set of credits is a hint to something else that is missing, that being possibly the crystal heart.
Overall it was decently enjoyable, if short, with many questions needing to be answered.
Edit: Also a downside, background ponies are rather subdued and often blurred out when the main cast is the main focus.
Earth pony magic is never really brought up. The end scene, I believe, is meant to hint at the awakening of Earth Pony magic which noone had been aware even existed.
People forget that Earth Pony magic was a nebulous concept at best in G4 with the term never being used (same with Pegasus magic but they were pretty clear magic let them fly) so I imagine they plan to actually flesh out that idea in G5.