This was a fairly touching story and finally, one that felt like it deserved its own movie as opposed to being covered over a few episodes of Bleach (or Naruto, for that matter).
Typically, with either anime's movies, my criteria are a good story and solid action. You would think the writers would have it easy since they don't need to do much character development but no, typically one or the other or both are quite lacking. With Fade to Black, it's the action. Apart from the start and end of the movie, most of the fighting involves Ichigo vs. the captains. Again. They really need a new battery of villains, or even heroes, since the latter seem to be always fighting each other anyway.
Typically, with either anime's movies, my criteria are a good story and solid action. You would think the writers would have it easy since they don't need to do much character development but no, typically one or the other or both are quite lacking. With Fade to Black, it's the action. Apart from the start and end of the movie, most of the fighting involves Ichigo vs. the captains. Again. They really need a new battery of villains, or even heroes, since the latter seem to be always fighting each other anyway.