COWBOY BEBOP: KNOCKIN' ON HEAVEN'S DOOR
Apparently, 26 episodes was only a warm-up
Review by: Craig "Wishes his name was Vicious" Norris
Length: 2 hour movie
Genre: Action
Watched: Subbed
When I first heard of a feature length film being made out of my favorite anime of all time, I had to do a little dance. After all, as is the case with most series going to the silver screen, the budget is increased, and it often looks and sounds better. However, that never necessarily means that it is better. With the lofty standards that the series set, I wondered if any after-the-fact project could ever approach it in quality. I didn't have to wonder long, however, as I quickly found out that the movie is every bit as impressive as the series from almost every angle.
Plot synopsis: After a tanker truck explodes mysteriously in the middle of a crowded street, a strange illness begins to effect everyone who was near the incident. In an effort to catch the supposed mastermind, a 300 million woolong bounty is placed on his head. Eager to get their hands on that kind of cash, the crew of the Bebop begins the manhunt. After some investigation, the sinister plans of the mastermind are revealed, and it's up to the bounty hunters to prevent a disaster of epic proportions.
Artwork: A small step up from the series, if you can believe that. The colors look a smidgen more grey than usual, but once you get past that minor detail, you're free to enjoy some of the best animation any movie has ever offered.
Music: With all the music in the original series, the logical thought would be that that music would be recycled into the movie, right? No way they'd go all-out on a new soundtrack when they've got a perfectly good one already on disc, right? Wrong. All the music featured in the film is new, and it holds every bit of the majesty as its four-disc predecessor. Because of a consistent mood throughout the movie, the soundtrack does not have the same eclectic nature as that of the series. However, it is expertly composed and arranged, again by Yoko Kanno, and is another solid addition to the Cowboy Bebop song library.
Characters: All your favorites are back, still larger than life. Spike is still a badass, Faye is still a firecracker, Jet is still levelheaded, Ed is still... Ed, and Ein is still a hyper-intelligent dog. In addition to the usual suspects, a couple of new faces are thrown into the mix. The main villain, Vincent, is strikingly reminiscent of Vicious. He appears to be an even match for Spike, he has a lofty agenda he is determined to see through to the end, and he believes that Spike is the only person worthy enough to stop him. However, Vincent seems a bit more influenced by emotion than is Vicious, and isn't so one-dimensionally evil. One thing is certain, though: he kicks serious ass. As if Faye wasn't a hot enough chick by herself, we get treated to some more delicious eye candy in the personage of Electra, a woman who is connected to a military project that is responsible for Vincent's bloodthirsty plans. Electra has an iron will, and is not above going over the heads of her superiors to accomplish her goals. She can also kicks some serious ass, as a scene involving her and a broom-wielding Spike clearly illustrates. For the most part, though, the movie offers up the same successful characters as before. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Plot: In true Cowboy Bebop style, the plot isn't hard to figure out, and it doesn't make you think too much. It just offers up enough reasons for Spike and Faye to kick ass, and lets the action do the talking. It is interesting to watch the story unfold, as there is a back story behind everything, also a hallmark of Cowboy Bebop plots.
CHICKS!: There's Faye, of course. She's really all the hot chick you'll ever need. But don't ignore Electra (as if you could). She has a very muscular build and is generally not the most feminine of women, but as Spike is heard to remark, "I like a woman who can kick my ass." Her face has a very exotic appearance, and her tight black pants perfectly showcase an ass you could snap a pool cue over. Really, though, have you ever known of a girl named Electra who wasn't ridiculously hot? I mean, it just stands to reason.
Overall: Fans of Cowboy Bebop certainly will not be disappointed by this film. It takes all the style from the series and successfully compresses it into two hours of action-packed cinema. The only thing keeping it from a perfect rating is that it lacks some of the character dynamics of the series. Other than that, I consider it a more than successful addition to the Cowboy Bebop continuity. Watch and be amazed.
IN A NUTSHELL
+ Same old Bebop style
+ Artwork is even better!
+ Yoko Kanno does it again
- We want 26 more episodes, not 2 hours!
Rating: 9.5/10
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