Escaflowne - The Movie

Rating:
Summary: Lovely, smashing, super!
Review: Hi there from merry ol' England! My beloved country suffers from a serious lack of quality anime (unless you like tripe like Urotsukidoji et al), so thank Merle for the internet! Import is so marvellous! Anyways, to my review of the movie. Personally, I adore the tv series, though I never really adjusted to the overly-cartoony character designs myself. I also think this movie is absolutely fabulous - not a sequel or 'clip show a la 'Death & Rebirth', but a total re-interpretation of the esca-verse using many of the characters and plot elements, but little else. This cleverly avoids any real comparisons with the series, and helps to overcome the problem of attempting to compress 9 hours or so into a 96 minute movie - a common enough practice in anime, but one which is rarely successful in producing anything more than a refresher for those who have already watched the full series (Again, this brings to my mind 'Death & Rebirth', which made very little sense to the non-anime fans I have tried to show it to!) With this in mind, full marks to the creators for the courage they have shown in 're-imagining' an already successful franchise.

The film is simply gorgeous, even watched on my mediocre 4:3 television managing to look incredible to all who I have inflicted it upon! In fact, this movie gains the impressive accolade of converting more non-otaku to the joys of anime than any other show I have attempted to gain believers with (including such gems as 'End of Evangelion', 'X - the movie', 'Perfect Blue', 'Macross Plus' and 'Ghost in the Shell'). All have found it an exhilarating experience indeed, and some even (shock, horror) requested to view it again! My only dislike personally is the anamorphic presentation, which made it impossible to 'get the full picture' until I watched it on the PC which allowed me full control over the aspect ratio. Give me black bars over cropping any day!

The sound is fantastic, Kanno Yokos' music equally so, my special edition version having the added bonus of the soundtrack on cd - the only way to obtain it officially other than importing it from Japan at horrendous cost! The extras disc, though interesting enough, does not really bear up to repeated viewings, though I don't care as I am too busy rewatching the main feature. My sister watched the film, despite hating my 'cartoons', on the strength of the theme tune, Sakamoto Maayas' 'Yubiwa (The Ring)' alone!

Whether or not you are a fan of the original, I beg you to suspend your inhibitions and preconceptions and view this film on its own merits - if you can catch it at the theatre, all the better. Just forget 'Vision of Escaflowne' altogether for 96 minutes or so, that cannot be so hard, can it? One phrase to sum up the Esca movie experience? 'QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY'.

P.S. The English dub could be better, but I have heard far worse. At least the release is Bandai, so is mercifully free from the 'dulcit' tones of Tiffany Grant...

Rating:
Summary: The next episode?
Review: Truthfully, I was dissapointed. This doesn't work well as a stand alone film. It seems like it's more of a 1st 3 episodes of an entirely new series feature. They attempt to tell the Escaflowne story over again, instead of directly connecting it with the TV series, and this hurts it considerably.

In the begining your introduced to Van in a wildy entertaining fashion. He sky dives, with no parachute onto an enemy ship, and slices up the entire crew in what has to be called one of the best action sequences in a anime ever, you'll want to watch it again at least 2 times. The animation is beautiful throughout the film, but it espcially shines during the action.

Then the movie slows to a crawl, your introduced to the puesdo-suicidal Hitomi Kanzaki and her best friend. Hitomi's problems seem to be unfounded. In that there are no roots for her depression. She just is. This part of the film totally destroys the monumental momentum the opening sequence creates.

Finally she is transported to the world of Escaflowne. She meets Van and his crew. And her connection with the Escaflowne is established. Take a good look at the cool looking giant mecha-like knight armor because you won't see it for at least another hour. The film goes into Hitomi's interaction with the crew, and a few less important discoveries, more pacing, and less core story telling.

Finally an action sequence breaks out when the Black Dragon Clan attacks. This is a lenghty event that you will enjoy. Van faces off with Dilandau, in a cool display of supernatural powers. After that Van is injured and then the momentum created is shut down. Hitomi takes him to a village, and then they finally meet up with Van's crew. This takes up about a half hour of the movie, and it seems to be more of a filler episode for a series than scenes in a film.

The film finally crawls to the climax. Van and his Escaflowne face off with Dilandau and the Black Dragon's Escaflowne. The fight is well animated, and the action is intense. My problem with this is they seem to be paying homage to or, just maybe ripping off the way the Evangelion look and fight in Neon Genesis Evangelion, even the animation looks similar. This is a far cry from what the Escaflowne are in the TV series. They are much smaller, and are controlled mechanically, with strings and levers. In the movie they are controlled in an almost organic manner, in which the pilot is connected to the mech in a more physical and painful way. Something else that seems to be an Evangelion concept. Van's Escaflowne even goes into some dark true form causing him to go beserker. Just like Shinji and Eva-01.

The ending is the most dissapointing part of the anime. Lord Folkon and Van do not have the world-ending fight you would expect. He meets with a rather weak end. That begs the question, how was Folkon the head honcho if he was that easily defeated. Loose ends and holes in the story are not tied up. And the pacing of the film forces them into this anti-climatic sequence. All in all, maybe you will enjoy it if you haven't seen any of the TV series. If you have seen the TV series, you'll most likely be dissapointed. If this was the 1st 3 episodes of the Escaflowne series it would be more acceptable, but as a film this fails. If you are a fan of Escaflowne, this is just for the collection. If you're not that into the series, rent it.

Rating:
Summary: compact escaflowne
Review: As you are reading this review you've probably seen Escaflowne the series. If so, you may be wondering if Escaflowne the Movie will be a continuation of the tv series. It is not. Escaflowne the Movie is like compact version of the series. At an hour and thirty minutes it is far too short for my liking but it does get the job done. Several changes have been made to the plot, Hitomi is now a highschool senior suffering from depression. Van is older as well, he is a hardened warrior of the White Dragon Clan. The other characters that were in the tv series make appearances as well, but usually extremely brief ones. By now you may be asking what were the Escaflowne people doing making this movie? Well, they were making a reinterpretation of the series.

To be honest with you the movie really is a good one. The artwork is so detailed, I don't think ANY anime could do better. The world of Gaia has a decidedly tribal flavor and action is abundant. The movie is quite a bit rushed, and you don't see as much of the other characters as you might like. At first it may seem that the story of Escaflowne has been mangled, but again I say that it is only reinterpreted.

Watching this film, I was led to another Gaia and introduced to old characters with a new flair. The themes that the movie tackles are very different from the ones in the series, and in the end, watching Escaflowne the Movie makes you wonder about this alternate world of Gaia and makes you delve into the characters creating them as you would see them. If you are an Escaflowne fan, you may not like this movie. But I do urge you to give it a chance. Go into it with an open mind and you may just find that it is thoroughly enjoyable, providing luscious artwork and a beautiful score as the series did, as well as its new take on Escaflowne.

Rating:
Summary: Escaflowne? Godsend. The Movie? Heaven on Earth.
Review: Alright, so it isn't a straight interpritation on the series, it doesn't even take up where the series left off. This is sort of a what-if. I won't go into what the what-if is. Escaflowne-The Movei(E-tM) is much like the X-Men movie in that it's a great interpritation of the origional concept, but not so much with the origonal plot details. This version is more stremlined(Celena isn't in it), and much darker(the first seane has Van slicing and dicing a whole betallion), but is also better. But in a different way. See it. Love it. Or I'll sic Van on yer ...

Rating:
Summary: An Anime Masterpiece!
Review: This movie, aside from being wonderfulling animimated and superbly dubbed, it has a rich and fantastic story that makes one think about the world in a different light. This movie is sad and dark, beautiful and tragic. I would recomned this movie to any one who wanted to view a beuatiful, touching and sincere movie.

Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece!
Review: This show used to air on Fox Television or whatever back a while ago, before it was taken off within like it's first season! I never watched it because I had heard it was very lame! Well, in the end I found out it was because of it being edited for young audiences! But the movie, uncut is really awesome! The story isn't bad too, but it's an action-packed, with bl00d, lots! It makes a good addition to any movie collection you have going!

Rating:
Summary: Ugh - another genre movie far removed from its inspiration
Review: Not as good as the TV show. Diluted. Pass.

Rating:
Summary: Visually Gripping and Emotionally Enthralling
Review: Fans of Escaflowne will enjoy this movie.
If you have never seen one episode of Escaflowne,
you will enjoy it as well.
The complaints of other reviewers about the movie
not pertaining to the series are true,
but they don't matter.

This film, just like the series,
explores the possibility of remaking our fates to end suffering and,
more importantly, war, as its main theme.

There isn't a "good" or "evil"
only people trying to put an end to their pain,
or, in Folken's case, all pain and all suffering.

As in the series, the soundtrack is fantastic and
the action is furiously intense and stunning.
The characters are the same and yet newly remade.

The plot is about 180 degrees from the series,
but that's why it works;
the plot is meant to be new and different,
evoking new thought and new emotion,
unrelenting in its devastating effect.
The artwork is fantastic, and this DVD is easily on par with Princess Mononoke.

Whether you all ready enjoy Anime, or are new to it, buy this.
The hopelessness of some characters,
the pain of others, and the love that saves them all
will etch a permanent place in your mind.

Rating:
Summary: Great movie, but it makes the series worthless.
Review: After seeing what I have of the original Escaflowne series, this movie seems to take an entire 20+ episode creation and destroy it completely. I am sure that several other original Escaflowne fans will see the same thing because right from the start the entire story, portrayed in the series, is rewritten. Hitomi did not act as she did in the movie and was not on the verge of committing suicide in the original series, as well as Van and Alen working together from the beginning. The two were still at odds with one another, but they didn't know each other from the start. I found this fact very disturbing: the creators of this movie were willing to rewrite a larger story.

Standing these facts off to the side, I would also like to point out that the characters appear more human looking than Kawamori's original character designs which I found quite impressive. The movie itself was beautifully animated and done with a much darker storyline in mind. Yes, there was increased violence, but they rewrote the story, so why not make it more gruesome to follow the ever darkening storyline. The story was good and enthralling, but the fact that the entire series was rewritten makes me cringe at the new story that this movie puts out. For those who haven't seen the Escaflowne series, this movie is not an opening or an ending, it is a movie and I recommend watching it because of the animation and story both.

Rating:
Summary: Wasurenaide... Don't Forget
Review: Hitomi, a young high school student has lost her interest in life. She fears things will never change, is so depressed that she hopes that somehow she will just fade away. What she doesn't expect is that her desire to escape would catapult her into the mythic world of Gaea. From a young highschool student, she finds herself thrust into the role of the Wing Goddess, who can call up Escaflowne, a terrible suit of giant armor destined to destroy the world. Hitomi's first encounter on Gaea is with Van, a king whose people were destroyed by his jealous brother. First, she is badly frightened, then deeply attracted to this lonely, tormented boy.

Unfortunately, there is hardly time for romance. Van and his brother both attempt to gain control of Hitomi and, through her, Escaflowne. A war is building and Van must fight repeatedly for his life. Director Kazuki Akano is kind to his viewers, and the fight scenes alternate with visions of the loveliness Gaea contains, as reflected in both the scenery and the wondrous creatures that people it. We do not need to be told for what Van and Hitomi are fighting, we see it repeatedly before our eyes.

The documentation and extras that come with this set repeatedly make the point that this film is not a recap of the series, but an alternate tale set in the same world with the same characters. Hitomi and Van are older and more mature, and the film spends far less time on the theme of destiny that drove the series, focusing instead on the feelings and emotional contexts of the characters. For me this adds great impact to the film, which is already notable for artistic imagery and a superb score.

I'm not a big fan of the interviews which make up many disks of extras, but I found those that came with this set quite interesting. All of the participants seem to conscious of having made a truly special film, and are justifiably proud. I even found myself repeatedly listening to the CD of music from the lush score by Yoko Kanno.

One of the reasons I have come to like anime as an art form, is that it always manages to surprise. Born from the world of comics and manga, the Japanese have taken a relatively straightforward medium and turned it into something where magic works, giant robot suits are used to fight for the futures of planets, and comedy, romance and horror can cheerfully coexist in settings both rare and commonplace. This is the world of 'Escaflowne.' A story made richer for the retelling.