Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part 1: Beginnings

I was dragged into seeing the premiere of this movie by one of my friends without having ever heard of the TV series and without having seen a whole lot of anime, and no anime with English subtitles. I went into the movie with a skeptical attitude, but what I saw over the course of the following five hours was one of the most fascinating and enthralling cinematic experiences I have ever witnessed. Since I don't really have much anime experience to which I can compare this movie, I can't really comment on the specific details. But as a movie buff, I can say that this movie is a spectacle, a monumental achievement in animation which should not be missed.