Okay, what you are about to read may shock you, but please read it anyway and listen to what's being said.
THEY SHOULD NOT MAKE A LIVE-ACTION SAILOR MOON MOVIE!
Now, I know you're thinking, 'why does this guy not want a live-action SM film?' 'Is he nuts?' Well, yes I am nuts but that isn't the reason. Truth be told, I would love to see one, but I don't think the idea that's being proposed is a good one. Here's a brief set of reasons why I feel a live-action Sailor Moon movie should NOT be made.
1) Actors.
You cannot take real-life human beings and make them look like animated characters. I saw a short film a couple of years back, about how some group of teenagers entered a lookalike/talent show contest dressed like The Archies. It was silly how that had to get the big plastic eyes, spray paint their hair (the guy who played Archie wasn't even a red-head) and ad-lib to some songs. I don't think there will be a smooth enough transition from anime to live-action.
2) Story.
To re-cap any given season (it would have to be the first because Beryl is in it), is silly. We already know what happens. Sailor Moon eventually finds all of her Senshi pals, learns that she is Princess Serena, locates the Imperium Silver Crystal, and destroys Beryl and her generals. This is fact. To re-tell the story using live-action is useless. On the other hand, to use an original story is even worse. In the anime and manga, there is no indication that Beryl ever came back or was heard from again. We would have to ask ourselves 'when does this take place?' It couldn't happen after the Sailor Stars series because, by then, you've got every Senshi in the known universe around. There would be too many sub-plots and characters to make it a truly enjoyable movie (and I'm not even getting into the Neptune/Uranus situation). Besides that, every "new" senshi (from Uranus, to the Sailor Starlights) never had anything to do with Beryl. She can't just come back after all this time to swear vengeance on 13* senshi; most of whom she hasn't met yet. The story wouldn't make any sense.
3. Special FX
This may be the only thing that could help the movie. They would have to be really well done to effectively aid the storyline. The only thing I see that couldn't be done, would be the background sequences for when the senshi transform. They could do the portal bits for the villains (except for when they vanish into nothingness [like Zoicite usually does]). There are a few little things that could and couldn't be done i.e. the transformations themselves.
4) Loyalty (or to which version does thine ideas be true?)
One of the things that makes all anime popular in North America is the Japanese elements that are incorporated into each episode. So which version will they stick to? It will be primarily American version watchers that will see this movie so will they stick with that? Or, will they brave new ground and try to "copy" the Japanese version right from episode #1? Both have their merits and faults that are easily seen, so I won't mention it here.
5) Small inconsistencies
Last names. DiC did a remarkable thing by not giving Serena, Mina, Lita, Darien*, Chad, Andrew and most other human characters any last names. The only exceptions were Amy and Raye (Anderson[which isn't even the real last name] and Hino[which is the real last name] respectively). It's probable that the characters will keep their NA names but I hope if last names become necessary, they use the common Japanese last names. I even have an explanation should they use this idea and have Amy tell the girls, that her mother's maiden name was Anderson, that way, she could be properly called Amy Mizuno. Relationships between characters. We all know the "problem" that arises with Zoicite and Malachite. That is but a small example of several self-evident problems. Luna and Artemis. Yes, they use a talking cat on "Sabrina: The Teenage Witch" well, but I don't think it'd work in a film.
(In the English translated Manga collection entitled MixxZine, Darien is given the most hideous and really cheesy last name of "Shields")
6) TWO GOOD THINGS
There probably won't be any Reeny, and definitely no SAILOR MOON SAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To be fair, I hope the film does get made. Anything that deals with Sailor Moon can't be all bad. I'll even post a "preferred cast list" at the end. I just wanted to point out a few things. IF the movie can get around all the little problems, then I would think it would be a great idea. For once, I hope to be proved wrong as the movie moves from planning stage to shooting.
Here's the cast list: (and why I picked them plus possible substitutes) Some of these people are selected for no reason. Some, I can see them plying those parts.
Serena: Alicia Silverstone (Clueless) Her Clueless performance was very Serena-ish. I think she'd be perfect for the part. (substitute: Melissa Joan Hart [Sabrina: The Teenage Witch])
Darien: Johnny Depp (Don Juan Demarco) To me, he actually looks like Darian. (substitute: Chris O'Donnell [BatMan Forever])
Amy: Minnie Driver (sp.?) (Grosse Pointe Blank) she has the screwed-up American accent like the voice of Sailor Mercury but probably too old (substitute: Alyssa Milano [Who's The Boss] again, probably too old)
Raye: Danica McKellar (Wonder Years) Yeah, she's probably too old for the part, but remember the temper Winnie Cooper (her character) used to have? (substitute: Angela Watson [Step By Step], sub-substitute: That girl who plays "Libby" on Sabrina: The Teenage Witch)
Lita: Hmmmm. Maybe Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina: The Teenage Witch) She's relatively tall and her hair could be dyed. (substitute: Mayim Bialik [Blossom])
Mina: Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina: The Teenage Witch) If not Jupiter, She'd make a perfect Sailor Venus. (substitute: Alicia Silverstone [Clueless])
Jadeite: Cary Elwes (Robin Hood: Men In Tights, Hot Shots!) (substitute: A blond Charlie Sheen [Hot Shots!])
Neflyte: I see George Clooney (E.R) doing it. I don't know why. (substitute: David Schwimmer [Friends])
Zoicite: as a girl, Staci Keenan (Step By Step) (substitute: Sean Young (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective) as a guy, I see Ted Danson, but he's too tall. (substitute: Matt LeBlanc [Friends])
Malachite: Brad Pitt (substitute: Emilio Estevez [National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon] )
Beryl: Shelley Fabaraes (sp.?) (Coach) (substitute: Beth Brodrick [Sabrina: The Teenage Witch]) Sorry, Geena Davis, but I can't see you playing that part.
Grandpa: Mel Brooks (SpaceBalls) He's played short guys before (substitute: Johnny Carson)
I almost forgot: Molly: Hmmm. For her I see Jenna Von Oy (Blossom) or Brittney [sp.?] Murphy (Clueless)
Any "Monster of the Day": Drew Carey, Rosie O'Donnel, Quentin Tarantino (Serenity, is he ugly)