After watching Cowboy Bebop: The Movie you feel like you kind of reconnected with an old friend. It's got the same sense of humor, the same style and you recognize it from the very beginning, but at the same time, it's matured. Everything's back in Cowboy Bebop the movie. Because of the characters and plot as we know it, the movie probably occurs somewhere in the late twenties episodes of the series. If you've already watched the series (which I reviewed over here), then certain things don't surprise you since you already know what happens to the characters later. The story deals with a bio-terror threat and the gang gets caught up in it, while trying to catch bounties to make a little change while in an urban city. There is unfortunately no space travel or dogfights in space, but The Movie does take efforts to include a little of everything that the series has had, so expect to see Spike's martial arts, gunplay, dogfights (but not in space), Edward being silly and very funny and such.
Unfortunately, the story only lives up to the standard of a stand-alone episode of Cowboy Bebop. But despite it being longer than an episode, you actually get the feeling that you watch 2 episodes, and not a single episode, dragged the shit out of. The visual art, on the other hand, is still gorgeous and the movie benefits from an improved budget for the animation, as everything, from backgrounds to characters, are treated with a wonderful level of detail. There are a few scenes involving some butterflies that are absolutely beautiful to look at.
Overall, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie is a fun ride. Although, in the end, it's not as strong as the more compelling episodes of the series, the art, the sound, the music and just getting to spend a little more time again with characters you've come to know and love makes an enjoyable film. Recommended for Cowboy Bebop fans. As for the others. You MUST watch at least most of the series before watching this. After close to two hours of comedy, violence and mind-f**k plot developments, you will truly be thanking me for making you watch this movie. All in all, this is, in my humble opinion, one of the best anime productions, if not, movies overall that I have ever seen. With one of the most memorable fight scenes ever made in anime history as well as an excellent plot, Cowboy Bebop: Knocking on Heavens Door is highly recommended to everyone, and actually required viewing for all anime and Cowboy Bebop fans.
Graphics 9/10
Sound 9/10
Storyline 10/10
Characters 10/10
Overall 9.5/10
No comments:
Post a Comment