anime movies

Anime movies reviewed in this blog.

Review: Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版：破)

Posted by ranpha on 8th June 2010
Posted in: anime movies, anime review. Tagged: , . 2 comments


This early scene in the movie is just the beginning of more deviation from the TV series by this movie.

As mentioned in my previous review, today’s post will contain my review of the second installment of the Evangelion movie titled Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance. This movie is the second of four movies (if the ANN is to be believed) and my review of the first movie can be read here. This is a 2009 anime, but Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei will keep its throne for the time being.


The story in this anime has been heavily altered, and so are his role.

Story:-
An excerpt from my review of the first movie:-

A teenage kid was forced to become a child soldier pilot for a robot by his own father to fight some monsters called ‘Angels’. Things become difficult when it becomes clear that the boy has some ‘problems’ and his colleague-pilots don’t seem to be sane either. Can a trio of problematic robot pilots save the world from devastation?

While there are only 2 pilots in the first movie, there is another 2 added in the second, instead of one like what the TV version of this series portrayed. This early change in pilot numbers is just the beginning of many other changes, additions and omissions that this movie undergo through compared to what you can see in the TV version.

As I also predicted in the review of the first movie, the sequel indeed has deviated further away from the TV version, even more than I first thought. Unlike the two-gear pacing speed that the first movie has (early part of the movie has very fast pacing, the latter part is far slower), this movie’s pacing is more stable, but it is still fast. Let’s just say that the general pacing of this movie is in-between the first movie pacing in its first half and the pacing of the first movie’s second half. In general, if you want to make comparisons, the pacing of this movie is by far is the fastest compared to all the movie titles I reviewed before this movie, listed here.

Another obvious fact that you can observe in this anime is that the movie omits plenty of contents/stories/plots that is available in the TV series in their comparable time-frame, even more so than the first movie. This may not affect you if you haven’t watched the TV series, but if you do, some of the omissions may have a negative effect. For me, the complete omission of the arc where Shinji and Asuka fought the two-core Angel with synchronized movements is a bad decision made by whoever wrote the adaptation into this movie. That actual battle itself is not so important, but the training before the battle provides great value for character developments of both Shinji and Asuka (and their relationship too I suppose). The writers probably tried to compensate for this by modifying the original infected Eva Unit 3 arc plot by putting Asuka in it (Eva Unit 3) instead of Toji (as it is in the TV series), but it failed. IMO, if the aforementioned missing arc was included in the movie unaltered, before the altered infected Eva Unit 3 arc happened, the latter arc would have generated more impact that it currently does in the movie.

The fast pacing and many omissions (I think there are at least another two Angel arcs in the TV series removed from the movie, amongst other things), allows this movie to rapidly reached at least episode 22 or 23 of the TV series time-line. For comparison, the first movie spanned only the first 6 episodes of the TV series, but the second movie spanned the next 15 episodes or so. The next two movies is definitely going to be original stories not seen in the TV series. And I would also want to add that none of the reconstructed arcs in this second movie has surpassed their originals in the TV series, unlike the reconstructed 3rd Angel battle in the first movie that I think is better than the one in TV version.

Just like the first movie, there are some changes too happening in the movie, like the Asuka’s name change (why this happened, I don’t know), her lack of infatuation for Kaji, her obvious attention toward Shinji, her changed roles like the one in the aforementioned infected Eva Unit 03 arc and many more. Additions that was made in the second movie includes the extra additional pilot (also from Europe just like Asuka is), some original plots like the visit to the artificial aquarium and Shinji’s father visit to the moon and more. These changes and additions doesn’t have as much negative impact compared to the omissions mentioned a couple of paragraph above.

The good ending finished on a cliffhanger, kinda like Code Geass’ first season. Therefore, wait for the review of the third movie somewhere in 2013 or something.


Unfortunately for the main protagonist, so are his sexual preferences…

Character Design:-
My comment from the review of the first movie still applies.

Voice Acting:-
My comment from the review of the first movie still applies.

Music:-
The OST has regressed in quality, and the ending theme is just another variation of the ending theme of the first movie (that I didn’t like).

Animation/Direction:-
The animation quality matches the excellent quality seen in the first movie. Choreography is one of the few things that the second movie has improved from the first, with better fighting scenes in the reconstructed Angel arc and good battles in original ones. The director has stabilized the pacing compared to the first movie, but I don’t think he made a good choice of what TV arc he has omitted compared to what he includes (and made).

Conclusion:-
7 out of 10. Slightly inferior to the first movie. With this movie, the whole TV series has been rebooted, and the next two movies should have original contents. I think Gainax should have made 5 movies, with 3 for the retelling of the TV series, and 2 for whatever original contents they want to have. Too many TV series contents has been omitted for my liking, even more than the first movie.


This area has just been devastated by a nuclear bomb, but our bad-ass main protagonist simply strolled out there as if nothing has happened. Those radiations must be nothing for him.

Shortlink: http://wp.me/prgSo-dj

Review: The Sky Crawlers (スカイ・クロラ)

Posted by ranpha on 28th October 2009
Posted in: anime movies, anime review. Tagged: . 3 comments


The main male protagonist.

It has been quite some time since I last watched an anime movie, so voila, here is a review of one, titled The Sky Crawlers. Directed by the director of Ghost in the Shell series and catered towards an audience who enjoyed the Dogfights series in the History Channel, can this 2008 movie challenge Wolf and Spice for the ‘Anime of the Year 2008’ title?


The main male protagonist in daylight.

Story:-
In an alternate version of our world, apparently the field of genetic engineering has advanced so much; there are young boys and girls will never age (and can be revived too in the form of another clone if they died). The immortals then was put into a never-ending war which was broadcasted worldwide, kind of like Starship Operators.

The story in this movie is good but not great, but what this anime excels at is the storytelling. The story flows in robot-like precision with good pacing as the viewers gets to know the movie’s world setting, the characters themselves, who are the immortals really are etc. in between the sporadic air battles actions. The vague relationship between the main protagonist and his superior is also another interesting story arc, which will keep you in suspense whether he will get into her pants or not. Hmm… looking back at this movie, that arc is probably the central theme of this anime after all. Or else you should explain the lack of dogfight actions in this movie that should have more of them.

Character developments in this movie is good, at least for the two main protagonists. Focusing only on the two protagonists is a good strategy because of the limited airtime, but there are no character(s) here that I think are outstanding in this movie. The ending is good, although somewhat predictable in its outcome.


The main male protagonist's pet dog.

Character Design:-
The character design in this movie reminds me of the designs in Naruto after the time-jump. In fact, when the main male protagonist first appeared, the first thought that comes to my mind is how similar the main male protagonist is with Sasuke. Another glaring similarity that this movie shares with Naruto is the incapability of the character designer of creating beautiful female characters, but maybe the directors wants things to be that way anyway. Black hairs are uncommon here in this fictional setting of Europe’s 19th century. The designs of the airplanes in this movie are decent too.


And here is the dog, taking a dump on a pristine green lawn.

Voice Acting:-
The voice acting in this movie is great, with the main male protagonist being the best amongst the small cast. Spoken English in this anime is much better than the crap you can hear in Koukaku no Regios. Definitely a positive point for this anime.


Here is the dog's reaction when he was chewed out for that filthy act.

Music:-
This movie has good OST, but not so for the ending theme.


As the punishment for that filthy act, the dog and his master has to stand on the runway so that they can repent and atone for their sins.

Animation/Direction:-
The animation quality in this movie is excellent, even in fast-paced scenes. Just like Princess Lover!, this movie also used plenty of high-quality pretty backgrounds. And just like that anime, the backgrounds are not animated. Mamoru Oshii should take a leaf out of Makoto Shinkai’s playbook in his future movies. There are plenty of CGIs in this movie, and they integrates seamlessly with the main 2D animation. Choreography is excellent, but as a casual watcher of History Channel's Dogfights, I knew many of the maneuvers executed in this movie are beyond the boundary of law of physics. The director has done a fine job in this anime, except for the static background issue.


The dog is not impressed with his master's littering ways though.

Conclusion:-
8 out of 10. A good score, but honestly speaking, an anime movie has to be extremely good for it to capture an ‘Anime of the Year’ title. At least, it has to achieve legendary status to do so, which is probably only achievable by directors like Michael Bey Hayao Miyazaki. Therefore I declare that Wolf and Spice is still the best 2008 for the foreseeable future.


Regardless of the shenanigans of the master and his dog, the fact that this movie is a very gorgeous title should not be forgotten.

Review: Urusei Yatsura: Only You (うる星やつら オンリー・ユー), Urusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer (うる星やつら２ ビューティフル・ドリーマー), Urusei Yatsura: Remember My Love (うる星やつら３ リメンバー・マイ・ラブ), Urusei Yatsura: Lum The Forever (うる星やつら４ ラム・ザ・フォーエバー), Urusei Yatsura: The Final Chapter (うる星やつら 完結編) & Urusei Yatsura: Always My Darling (うる星やつら いつだって・マイ・ダーリン).

Posted by ranpha on 18th November 2008
Posted in: anime movies, anime review. Tagged: , , , , , , . 1 comment


English did not fare well in this series, even simple ones.

Originally I have mentioned that I will only watch all six of the Urusei Yatsura movies after maybe one or two other reviews, but after reading the whole manga, I went ahead and watched them anyway (Gigantic Formula and Macross has to wait a bit). So here is my take of all 6 movies, consolidated into one single blog entry. It is highly unlikely that I will watch the OVA, so this should be the last Urusei Yatsura-related review in this blog.

Story:-
Movie 1 – Urusei Yatsura: Only You (うる星やつら オンリー・ユー)


Mendou did not feature prominently in any of the movies, so I give him face and put one of the best characters in the TV anime here.

Takes place in the first 40 episodes of the TV anime, where Shinobu still have shreds of feelings for our lecherous Moroboshi 'Darling' Ataru, this movie is basically a flip of the ending of the manga (and storyline of the fifth movie). Instead of Lum, it is Darling instead who was kidnapped by a random alien who wants to marry him. With this, Lum and her friends plus her father personal army has to invade the kidnapper's planet to save her Darling.

Basically, almost all the things I have mentioned in the TV anime review (character development etc.) applies here (in all six movies), but in this movie, Darling did not show the full extent of his character strengths as shown in the TV anime yet. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it is still early in the series, but Darling is not decisive and cold-hearted enough unlike the version in the manga and TV anime series. The story is pretty decent but I think it is more suited as a TV anime episode than a movie.

Movie 2 – Urusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer (うる星やつら２ ビューティフル・ドリーマー)


The members of the notorious 2nd year 4th class, stuck in the same grade for 3 years except in the third movie.

Takes place roughly between episode 70 and 100 and followed the usual plot device the TV anime uses; this movie is an elaborate modern adaptation of Urashima Taro mythology, amongst others. Instead of a person, it was the whole Tomobiki city that was whisked on the back of the 'turtle' to the 'dragon palace'. Read the Wikipedia entry above to see what this mythology is all about.

Darling returned to his very best in this movie, which by itself is better than the first movie above. The discourse between Darling, Mendou and Sakura in the last half-hour of the movie is the highlight of the movie.

Movie 3 – Urusei Yatsura: Remember My Love (うる星やつら３ リメンバー・マイ・ラブ)


His ability of thoroughfully mocking other people is what makes Darling one of the best characters in anime history.

Takes place roughly between episode 100 and 150, this is the best movie from all six Urusei Yatsura movies. Darling and Lum visits a newly-opened amusement park, and Darling was turned into a pink hippo at a magic show. Lum went ahead chasing the culprit while Darling moped around crying at his fate.

The story in movie is excellent despite my pathetic summary above, better than the movies that comes before and after this one. This is also the only movie (or anime episode or manga chapter) that sees the 2nd class 4th class moved up a year.

Movie 4 – Urusei Yatsura: Lum The Forever (うる星やつら４ ラム・ザ・フォーエバー)


This movie stinks, just like the sewers these rats lives in.

If the last movie is the best from all six, this movie is the worst of them all. Takes place in the last 45 episodes of the TV anime, this movie does a Movie 2 and takes another plot device used multiple times in the anime (in this case, making an amateur film). The film contained elements of an old story passed down within Mendou's family, and it (the story) comes true when an old sakura tree in Mendou's estate was cut down during the filming of the movie.

IMHO, this movie tried to pull an Evangelion but failed very miserably. The plot is incoherent, some events are not properly explained, some characters (like Darling near the end of the movie) behave irrationally and the ending is well… ambiguous. There are many loose ends after the end credits stopped rolling.

Movie 5 – Urusei Yatsura: The Final Chapter (うる星やつら 完結編)


What will you get if you try to sexually harass a girl that can emit electricity.

Takes place after the TV anime ends (which spans about 13 out of 15 volumes of the manga), this movie is simply the ending of the manga (and consequently, the series) being brought to 2D animation. There are no major omission and alterations as far as I can see. Basically the opposite of Movie 1, Lum is kidnapped by an alien who wants to marry her. With this, Darling and friends plus his father-in-law personal army has to invade the kidnapper's planet to save his fiancée.

Unlike Movie 1, Darling's character strength is as good as it can be, which helps a lot. The story itself is decent and unlike Movie 1, deserved to become a movie.

Movie 6 – Urusei Yatsura: Always My Darling (うる星やつら いつだって・マイ・ダーリン)


Surprisingly, this awesome scene is lacking in the TV anime or manga. I would kill to see a Mendou vs. Jariten deathmatch.

Takes place after movie 5, definitely; our lecherous Darling is kidnapped by yet another alien princess and yet again Lum has to do what she has done in Movie 1 in this last Urusei Yatsura movie. Personally, I think this one is better than Movie 1 though, mainly because the weakness of Darling character strength is not apparent here. Overuse of this alien kidnapping can be tiresome though.

Ranking of the movies from the best to the worst: Movie 3, Movie 2, Movie 6, Movie 5, Movie 1, Movie 4.

Character development does not really matter here because it seems that the movies should have been watched in the chronology sequence I have written above. This mean, unless noted, all of my comments in the TV anime review applies here.


Rei has this cool spaceship and yet he never shows it in the TV anime. Instead we have to see his goofy backpack instead.

Character Design:-
Same as TV anime comment.

Voice Acting:-
Same as TV anime comment.


Lum with her awful and unhelpful description of a spaceship that kidnapped her beloved Darling.

Music:-
The OST in all movies are decent. For OP/ED themes, Movie 1 uses OP/ED themes from TV anime that is not exactly good. Movie 2 has good English ED theme, but the English OP theme is forgettable. Movie 3 has great OP and ED themes. Movie 4 has good ED theme. Unfortunately, Movie 5 and 6 regressed to Movie 1 level.

Animation/Direction:-
Same as TV anime conmment, except for Movie 3 which has better timeline management.


One-liners like this is also what makes this series so awesome.

Conclusion:-
Movie 1 – 7 out of 10.
Movie 2 – 8 out of 10.
Movie 3 – 9 out of 10.
Movie 4 – 5 out of 10.
Movie 5 – 8 out of 10.
Movie 6 – 7 out of 10.

Nevertheless, for its time, Urusei Yatsura as a whole (TV anime + movies + manga) is truly a great work done by Takahashi Rumiko. Many of its elements have been copied by other titles, especially Darling's character that has been copied in characters like Raou in Inukami. IMO, this is better than Takahashi Rumiko latter works Ranma 1/2 which I watched and read before this blog is started. The arts is archaic (this anime was aired when I am still a snot-nosed brat) but a recommended watch.


Our hero, deprived of women.

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