There's lots good here - the production value, the cast, the music. We meet a young man who seems at the top of his game, leading a life most teenagers would aspire to. Then there is an "incident" which changed everything. I like how we just jumped right into his life and frankly were happy to ride along with him on his journey. It made for comfortable, easy, entertaining watching - I have to say I was really enjoying it.
And then everything changes. I understand fully the director is trying to show how the "incident" changes everything, not just for the 2 people directly involved in the incident, but everyone around them too (hence "Waves"). My problem with it is that we effectively have 2 completely different films, each an hour long - different style, different genres, practically a different cast. It was just too much of a change for me - I came to watch an edgy, atmospheric high-school drama/adventure and I got that for the first hour. But then I had to watch an hour of a slow, depressing romantic drama which I found frankly boring. And I think the opposite would apply - if you came for the moody romantic drama, I think you'd have been disappointed by the first half. So for me, despite an excellent first half, it was overall a disappointing experience.
And then everything changes. I understand fully the director is trying to show how the "incident" changes everything, not just for the 2 people directly involved in the incident, but everyone around them too (hence "Waves"). My problem with it is that we effectively have 2 completely different films, each an hour long - different style, different genres, practically a different cast. It was just too much of a change for me - I came to watch an edgy, atmospheric high-school drama/adventure and I got that for the first hour. But then I had to watch an hour of a slow, depressing romantic drama which I found frankly boring. And I think the opposite would apply - if you came for the moody romantic drama, I think you'd have been disappointed by the first half. So for me, despite an excellent first half, it was overall a disappointing experience.