Slayers: The Motion Picture (Special Fifth Year Anniversary Review)

While traveling the countryside, dreaded sorceress Lina Inverse and her on/off again nemesis Naga the Serpent win a trip to the fog shrouded island of Mipross.  Between bewitched hotsprings and non stop powerful warriors with prices on their heads, it looks like a genuine vacation for these two magnets of trouble.  However, Lina’s been having dreams of a life not her own, the tragic love story of an elf and a young man, whose lives and home were torn apart by a powerful demon.  Now the great sage Rowdy has reached out to Lina to put an end to the demon who has ruined Mipross, Joyrock, and restore the island to its former glory.  The price of victory: access to a hotspring that could solve Linas endowment issues.  If there’s demons to slay, wizards to bust up and food to be had, The Slayers are on the case.

Watch enough Anime series and youre bound to stumble across a movie version of it eventually.  Even shows that run really short lengths are bound to have a theatrical release out there, especially if theyre popular.  Well you better believe Slayers was popular enough to merit a slew of movies.  And today for the 5^th Anniversary of the Gundam Anime Corner (plus since we’re spending so much time with them this year in general), I’m tackling the first of these theatrical features (the only one I own and have seen).  So, how is Lina Inverse’s first foray into movie stardom?  Does it match the heights of the first two seasons we’ve covered so far?

 

Like the other films and OVAs that follow, the events of Slayers: The Motion Picture act as a prequel to the TV Series.  As such, the only regular character starring here from the show is Lina herself (makes sense, it is her show after all).  So anyone expecting to see Gourry, Zelgadis, Amelia and Xellos popping up might be a little let down.  However, The Motion Picture makes up for this greatly by doing the reverse, introducing a character who doesn’t appear in the TV Series.  Naga the Serpent is a perfect foil for Lina.  She’s busty, taller, more theatrical in her mannerisms and she’s got plenty of sex appeal to get anyones attention.  The two characters play off each other quite well, both as temporary adversaries and as friends (textbook frenemies really).  Naga can go over the top, especially with her trademark laugh, but she never feels like she doesn’t belong here, even stealing the show in certain scenes.  Which makes it strange that Naga is all but absent from the big climax of the movie.

 

Slayers: The Motion Picture bears the look of a theatrical film with all the right elements in place.  The animation looks touched up from the TV Series, surpassing the improved quality of Slayers Next.  There is a good amount of equal parts action and humor present, it feels like a Slayers story, albeit it takes a serious turn in the second half.  Though in terms of structure, the film is very uneven.  The first half sees Lina and Naga basically cleaning house with various powerhouses on the island, warriors and wizards, before Lina has a continuing dream about a young romance that isn’t her own.  This repeats itself at least three times before the halfway mark hits and we get to the “true” story…at which point there’s only half an hour left in the film.  While the action does look good, and the spell work looks sooo much better than the TV series, especially any of Naga’s more elegant spells and Lina’s always awesome Dragon Slave, the second act moves super fast, as if trying to quickly wrap things up just as theyre getting started.  In the process it leaves a few questions unanswered while not allowing adequate time to explore other possibilities.  We get time travel, a character who has a tenuous possible connection to a series favorite, and a tragic history all fighting for equal amounts screentime before the movie is over.  I feel like this movie could have been an extra 15 minutes long to fix all of this.  Also, in the end, while the final battle feels epic enough, especially with the time travel factor included, the movie never rises above a standard Slayers TV episode, it even has the makings of a small island arc if you were to have Lina and Naga take on their many opponents one at a time per episode.  Some moments feel big thanks to the animation and genuine sense of excitement, I just know some episodes of the first two seasons did the same thing and with more room to breathe with their storytelling.

When “Midnight Blue”, the end theme song of the movie starts playing, I should have felt like an hour of my life had been wasted because Slayers: The Motion Picture does feel a bit rushed and incomplete.  If anything, the theme song is one of the best parts of the film because it sounds awesome and yet it leaves me wanting more.  If anything, I can actually give the movie points for that.  Were this my entry to Slayers, it would make me want to seek out the series, the other movies or the OVA to watch more Lina Inverse action (though id likely be disappointed Naga isn’t around in the show…yet anyway).  Slayers: The Motion Picture feels like a solid arc of the Slayers TV Series rushed into a one hour feature.  There’s good ideas, fun action and the fantastic comradery shared between Lina and Naga.  In the end, I don’t hate the movie, in fact it could almost be a guilty pleasure.  As a movie, it stops its run just as it gets good and rushes to an ending.  As a time killer, it isn’t bad and will at least get your interest piqued, a great gateway to one of the now underrated Anime Classics of all time.  It could have been better and ive seen better by this point.  Maybe I will seek out the rest of the films one day.  And I should probably wrap this review up with a score.

 

Slayers: The Motion Picture gets…a 6/10-Good Animation and a fun pairing of zany characters can only do so much when the movie takes its time in the beginning then rushes the end, though there is some fun to be had along the way.

Lina Inverse and her normal crew of misfits will return to the Gundam Anime Corner at the end of April with Slayers Try.  And keep an eye out for my back to back coverage of the 4^th and 5^th Seasons, Slayers Revolution and Slayers Evolution-R, coming later this year.  And thank you dear reader for checking out my blog and celebrating my fifth year of typing all of these reviews.  I’m hoping Year 6 is the best one yet…and many more to come.

The Gundam Anime Corner 5th Anniversary

On March 31, 2014, I sat down to write my first review for what I would begin as simply the “Anime Corner”.  However, when I finally decided to make a proper blog for my collection of reviews, I renamed it “The Gundam Anime Corner,” and ive stuck with that name ever since.  Since I go by when I wrote my first review (Eden of the East) and not the actual 2015 date when I started posting here, that’s generally how ive judged the birthday of this little project.  Though I guess I shouldn’t call it “little” anymore lol.  5 years is a long time to be covering all kind of Anime, live action features, conventions, cosplay, yeesh ive written a ton now that I think about it.  That said, i have so much love for this blog.  It’s been my go to place to share my thoughts on Anime both classic and new and a place I can come to in order to vent or get away from some very bad days.  Whether or not you’ve followed me from the beginning, are only now just discovering my little corner of the universe, or just stopping in for a quick peek, I just want to say Thank You to everyone, one and all.  I hope that some random review, Top 5, First Impression or even a photo of a cosplay or convention moment has made you smile in some way.  Rest assured this blog isn’t going to halt anytime soon.  There’s a ton of Anime out there I could review…and kind of have to look out there cause ive just about covered all the titles I have on my shelf lol. 

Speaking of, how about a sneak peak of things to come in the first few months of Year 6 at the Gundam Anime Corner.

April

Right after my blog celebrates it’s 5th birthday, Year 6 kicks off with another celebration, the birthday of this blogs namesake.  And to commemorate a monumental 40 years in the world of Anime, im going back to the very beginning of the Gundam franchise.  Yep, starting April 1st im heading right into MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM!!!  That’s right, ill be covering all 42 episodes of the original series, plus the three compilation films: The Movie, Soldiers of Sorrow and Encounters in Space.  That’s not all though.  I guess we could call April Gundam Month Mark III cause I’m going all out again on Gundam features.  Top 5 Wednesday will feature all exclusive Gundam topics.  And as a special bonus feature, im dedicating Fridays to my own recounting of the last 40 years of Gundam with “The History of Gundam”, a 4 part special.  Oh and since Gundam 0079 is kind of on the long side, expect series reviews to pop up twice a week: one on the normal day, Monday, and the second on Friday. 

May

As soon as Mobile Suit Gundam wraps up, the Year of the Slayers continues.  Lina Inverse, Goury Gabbriev and their allies are back for a third round of fun with the epic third season of Slayers, Slayers Try.  The world has literally opened up for everyones merry demon slaying, treasure hunting band of misfits.  Will Try match the overwhelming success of Slayers Next?  We’ll find out in the month of May.  Oh and keep an eye out for a review involving a certain “KING OF THE MONSTERS” towards the end of the month too.

June

Shoutout to the Baltimore Anime Denizens, because their amazing panel at Katsucon is what inspired me to select June’s title.  Anime doesn’t always have to be about epic fantasy or fast paced scifi (shocking I know).  Sometimes I can just be about five girls chilling out in a club room at school who just so happen to practice rock music.  Yep, im dusting off my Season 1 DVD and covering the debut episodes of the moe J-Rock hit, K-On.  Cant make any immediate promises on when/if ill get to the shows second season since I don’t have it.  But I remember the first season very fondly and cant wait to reunite with Yui, Ritsu, Mio, Mugi and Azuya.

July

Normally I try to do a special 4th of July review for the holiday.  I’m still doing that (I’ll keep it a surprise) but it’ll be coming closer to the end of June instead.  As per the norm, in the countdown to Otakon I usually review a series that is far longer than my normal 13-26 titles, and space them out in a way that the last review goes on the blog the day before Otakon.  This year, that begins right at the start of July with another Gundam celebrating a milestone.  Mobile Suit Gundam is celebrating 40 as a whole, but it’s 20th Anniversary title is turning 20 this year.  So with that in mind, this year Summer Extended Series is Turn A Gundam.  All 50 episodes plus the two compilation films, Earth Light and Moonlight Butterfly, will be covered (those last two are just kind of there cause I ended up having one free day after I did my initial review outlines).  After that it’s off to Otakon before I return for the start of whatever I decide to review in August.

And there you have it, the start of Year 6 with a few interesting titles to explore, many ive wanted to do for a long time.  I hope youre all excited to follow along with me.  I’m so happy to have made it this far with the blog and am looking forward to watching it grow more as 2019 continues.

Thanks again everyone, I’ll see you guys around over at…the Gundam Anime Corner.

Halo: The Fall of Reach

In the far future, Humanity has encountered a foe that seeks its utter destruction: The Covenant.  Conventional weapons are useless against the might of this Alien conglomerate and it seems Humanities end is inevitable.  One lone scientist, Doctor Catherine Halsey, has been preparing for this possible threat.  Gathering a group of children, Halsey begins readying these youth for all combat imaginable.  Changing them, molding them, Halsey creates the perfect soldier: the Spartans.  One of these Spartans will find his name placed firmly in the pages of history.  This is the story of the beginning of the Spartan known as John 117…better known as “The Master Chief”.

Halo: The Fall of Reach by Eric Nylund is one of my favorite Halo novels of all time.  Every page is epic and it felt like a great origin story for the Chief.  By the time I finished the book, I wanted to play the actual Battle of Reach in a video game one day (a wish mostly granted in 2010 with Halo Reach).  Still, a Fall of Reach movie isn’t a possibility I would rule out, it wouldn’t be a bad way to show off all of the novels awesome imagery and epic majesty.  The actual film we got…is pretty far from that.

It’s hard to pick where to start with this one but I guess it all blends together in the end.  First off, the title is misleading.  This isn’t “The Fall of Reach” rather it’s the “Origin of the Master Chief”, which is basically the first half of the novel.  The film covers the conscription of the Spartan II’s and ends just after their first mission against the Covenant in their new Mjolnir Spartan Armor.  I remember looking at the films timeline and briefly praised it for cramming in so much in such a short amount of time…only to realize that we weren’t going to get the whole package before the movie was over.  Why bother titling the movie after the novel that inspired it when you aren’t going to commit to telling the whole story?  There isn’t even a “Part 1” added to the title, so I guess this is all the filmmakers were ever going to tell and that’s all.  That’s pretty upsetting if you ask me, especially if you’ve waited forever to see the Chief and his old team square off with the Covenant as their home burns around them.

The theres the animation.  Yeeesh this is just cringe worthy.  When the Spartans are in their armor and moving around, it isn’t too bad.  But every human model looks like a soulless mannequin with very few facial expressions that match the rather decent vocal performances being matched to them.  I wonder if this artstyle could have worked if this was a motion comic instead of a movie.  For the actual film, it’s a definite turn off.  That’s a shame because the voice acting in The Fall of Reach is actually pretty good.  The main cast really sells the bonds of family built between John and the original Spartan Blue Team and you feel for them when they lose friends along the way.  We also get some nice universal connective tissue bringing in Jen Taylor to reprise the role of Catherine Halsey from the video games, as well as a small cameo by the present day Master Chief, voiced by his OG actor Steve Downes.  So I guess it’s good the production got one half of the character work right.  It’s just a shame the actors had to do all of the hard work getting you to feel for these character designs when the animators did such a poor job giving these models a soul.

Halo: The Fall of Reach is a film I think only die hard fans of the series might have to see.  The sad thing is, if this had a different title and much, much better animation, it could stand alongside other Halo features like Halo Legends and Halo 4: Forward Until Dawn (in the end, the voice acting and the music are the movies only saving graces).  As it is though, The Fall of Reach only does partial justice to the story that inspired it and I think the staff should have committed to telling the full origin in its entirety rather than throwing in the towel midway through and leaving one of Halo’s greatest stories left unfinished. 

3/10

FIF#84-Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu

1863 AD.  While warring Pro and Anti Shogunate factions clash for the future of Japan, a secret war is raging right underneath it.  Demons belonging to the otherworldly Time Retrograde Army have begun to secretly invade the time period, looking for ways to alter Japans history and, in effect, that of the entire world.  Standing in their way are two Sword Warriors, brought to life by the powerful Saniwa: long time veteran Kanesada and new recruit Kunihiro.  Both serve the same master, both have very different mindsets about their mission.  But if history is to be preserved, they and their other Saniwa blessed allies will have to put their blades to the ultimate test and fight for the future.  The ultimate battle has begun.

What drew me to the title “Touken Ranbu” was the fact that several good friends of mine enjoy cosplaying its cast of characters.  That and the fact that the series latest Anime incarnation (I think this is the third in a franchise I never knew about) is being done by Studio Ufotable.  You know what that means: movie level animation for a TV series and action scenes that are a fever dream of fun.  Based on the first episode, I think im going to get plenty of that while also being given a bizarre but really intriguing set up.

You know you’ve started things off right when you start your series with a rain filled horse and cart chase while some Shinsengumi dressed Samurai decapitates skeletal demons in beautifully flashy fashion.  That’s the first five minutes of Katsugeki.  After that, you’re thrown a curve ball with a talking teeny dog/fox spirit who can connect to the internet in Feudal Japan and all of a sudden you learn that the two warriors were following are part of a time traveling band of heroes battling demons sent to mess with history…it makes you want to go “wait what?” while also embracing the zaniness of such a premise.  It pretty much taps into the absurdity of one of my favorite superhero shows “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” except with more samurai demon slaying and less time traveling across multiple eras.  Still it presents the right questions to keep you hooked: what is the “Time Retrograde Army” that Kanesada and Kunihiro are trying to stop?  Are these two part of a far larger organization that polices time?  Why is the TRA focused on important moments in Japanese history specifically?  Why are the TRA mostly scary demons?  Just how long has this conflict been going on for? (the answer to that last question is probably a while given a chat that the more seasoned Kanesada has with Kunihiro about the dos and don’ts of trying to save everyone when history can be altered by the ever slightest change).  And then there’s Ufotables nigh unbeatable animation and fight choreography.  This series and The Garden of Sinners are proof that the Fate/Stay Night franchise is not their one trick pony.  Kanesada is a brilliant swordsman and it looks like his fellow teammates, who we see at the end of the first episode, aren’t slouches either.  And the art speaks for itself.  The action is chaotically awesome but the quieter moments are so serene, so calming to look at.  I think Ufotable could rival Kyoto Animation for making everyday life look like the most beautiful thing ever in Anime.

Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu is so bonkers and so exciting that it would feel wrong not to see it through to the end.  Im anxious to see what the other warriors bring to the table and just what the heck is going on in general in this battle across time and Japan.  And again, Ufotable.  If you loved how gorgeous Unlimited Blade Works looks, this could be a good follow up to check out.  Being a samurai warrior hasn’t looked this cool in a very long time…special thanks to Vivian, Xin and Christine for pointing me in the direction of this one.  At the very least, Ill finish this for you guys.

And that closes out First Impression Fridays winter/early spring season.  With the Blogs Fifth Birthday right around the corner and a boat load of new reviews and other features ahead, FIF will be taking a breather for the next couple of months.  My plan is to bring it back maybe after Otakon (it definitely wont be happening while im reviewing Turn A Gundam prior to that) and have it run for the rest of the year but that depends on how many first episodes of other shows I can check out.  Until then, thanks for checking out the start of the latest season of First Impression Friday and ill see ya back on this little feature soon.

T5W#189-Top 5 Anime That Need Sequels

In a couple of weeks, we’ll finally see the return of everyones favorite devil may care but so carefree superhero Saitama with One Punch Man Season 2.  The only thing I can think of (besides having not watched the trailer yet but hearing not so great things) is…it’s about freaking time.  Seriously, some Anime are so good you beg for a sequel, even when what you’ve gotten is good enough.  Im sure many of us felt that way watching Toonami back in the day and seeing the ends of Ronin Warriors or Tenchi Muyo.  Every now and then, our favorite shows conclude and leaving wanting so much more.  With that in mind, todays Top 5 Wednesday centers around my choices for TV Series and Movies that need continuations, some that are lonnnng overdue.  These are my Top 5 Anime That Need Sequels.

#5-Outlaw Star

This one you think would have been prime sequel bait.  After all, what happens after you find one treasure and save the universe? You go looking for the next big treasure and maybe save the universe again.  Hell, One Piece has been at it for 20 years, how come Outlaw Star couldn’t ever do the same?  Ive thought of Gene Starwind and his crew as the sort of Guardians of the Galaxy of Anime and think theyd do good to get a second lease on life.  Just imagine Gene, Jim, Melfina, Suzkua and Aisha heading off to another part of the galaxy, encountering new and more powerful enemies and making some serious upgrades to the Outlaw Star itself with more weapons and options.  This sequel should have happened years ago and im sure im not the only one who hopes the chances of a continuation haven’t full faded into the ages.

#4-Galaxy Express 999: Eternal Fantasy

In my review of this movie, I thought that Eternal Fantasy was a step up from the overall disappointment that was Adieu Galaxy Express 999.  There was one nagging problem though: the movie ends at what would be considered the halfway mark and a huge plot development happens off screen, ending the movie on a massive cliffhanger.  So…why hasn’t this been resolved yet?  I know the Leiji Matsumoto universe isn’t as popular as it once was but that’s no excuse to leave the saga of Tetsuro and Maetel unfinished.  I’ve heard some of this films events are alluded to in other Matsumoto works like The Galaxy Railways.  Personally, I just want the second half of what was shaping up to be a pretty decent sequel to one of my all time favorite Anime titles. 

#3-Full Metal Panic: Invisible Victory

Until I get an official wording that this is happening, it is staying right here on this list.  Full Metal Panic: Invisible Victory was one of my favorite Anime of 2018, bringing back Full Metal Panic bigger, darker and better than ever.  After almost two decades of waiting, plot lines were coming full circle, the overall story took big risks that paid off (including that damn cliffhanger) and Full Metal Panic was allowed to shed the comedy that didn’t work so well in favor of an all out action packed thrill ride.  So when are we getting an announcement about Season 5?  Could we please not have to wait 13 years until we finally see Sousuke and Mithril kick Leonard Testarossa’s ass and save Kaname?

#2-Martian Successor Nadesico

It hurts to remember that when Nadesico concluded it’s final episode, one of the final lines was Ruri hypothesizing that any unanswered questions would be followed up on in an “inevitable sequel”.  Well…we got a sequel in The Prince of Darkness and it’s a sequel many of us want to forget.  We don’t want Akito to lose everything that made him so loveable.  We don’t want Ruri saddled with a forgettable new crew.  No, we want Yurika Misamaru helming a new Nadesico with all the familiar maniacs at their stations and ready to save the world…or mess it up in the process, it’s bound to happen.  Hell, Nadesico 2 could just forget that The Prince of Darkness ever happened, lots of Hollywood sequels like Superman Returns try to do just that in the wake of terrible predecessors.  We need more Nadesico, we were kind of promised more Nadesico…so yeah give us more Nadesico pleeeease?

#1-Spriggan

I am so glad a new adaptation has been announced for this one.  I first learned of Spriggan when I saw the Anime film, partly worked on by Katsuhiro Otomo, was back in the early 2000’s.  The plot had potential that was totally squandered but the action felt about as close to an all out Metal Gear Solid Anime was we’ve ever gotten.  The idea of specially armed secret agents defending artifacts and sacred sites across the globe is ripe with storytelling potential.  And if what we saw in the movie is any indication, then we need more Yu Ominae’s running up snow hills carrying a 50 caliber machine fun like dragging a tree branch.  Fun fact: I wrote a very short story outline for what I thought a Spriggan sequel could be…which turned out to be a poor Hollywood retread of the first one…so maybe best leave it to the professionals (who knows they might try the same thing but I digress).