Cowboy Bebop, the Movie - ''Knockin' at Heaven's Door'' (2001)
Review:
The anime feature film was sponsored by the well-known, world famous ‘Tristar’ entertainment in association with the ‘Sunrise’ pictures. This animated anime feature film is or was a production of the famous ‘Bones’ studio, the one and only studio to be responsible for the one and only “Wolf’s Rain”; and was aired in the year 2001. The executive producer of this particular movie is Takayuki Yoshii (from the Sunrise pictures) with Ryohei Tsunoda (from the Bandai visuals: responsible for Jin Roh~The Wolf Brigade, 1999)
Mechanical design: Kimitoshi Yamane
Set design: Shihi Takeuchi
On IMDB, the movie holds a rating of 7.9/10 with 4 stars out of 5. The BBC too, awarded it 4/5 stars, calling it ‘an example of anime at its very best’ and ‘good enough to deserve mention in the same breath as Akira, Ghost in the Shell and Spirited Away.’ It was also nominated for the Online Film Critics Society Awards in the best animated feature category (2004)
- Taken from both Wikipedia and My Personal Analysis as Well
Plot: 7/10 (for being too ordinary, it should be rated 6/10, but the suspense that revolves around Vincent and his link to a few particular characters, it get not more than 7/10 at least from my side.)
The plot rests on the bounty hunter named Spike Spiegel and his crewmates aboard the vessel named Bebop in their efforts to find a criminal who is planning to release an unknown pathogen on Mars. The title of the movie is taken from Bob Dylan’s song, which goes by the identical name. The main antagonist, i.e., the character Vincent is based on the musician (such an awesome creative mind, gotta say.)
The movie includes the characters who belong to the anime series of the name ‘Cowboy Bebop’, as the name suggests, but out of the entire batch of the anime team, only a few prominent members are portrayed here in the movie with the bounty hunter named Spike Speigel, being the main protagonist (as always); supported by Faye Valentine, Jet, Edward and their pet dog Ein.
The events or the plot rest in an era in the year 2071, a few days just before October 31st, i.e., the Halloween. An unknown pathogen is being released in the capital city of Mars, and the government has issued a bounty of around 300 million woolong (wish I could enjoy that provision xD)
Spike and his crew take upon the case with the hopes of earning a heavenly kind of bounty like that. But the mystery surrounding the antagonist, responsible for the breakout of the pathogen lies hidden until Spike meets a beautiful (and a seductive) maiden named Elektra, who is an agent serving for the very organization which was responsible for the creation of the virus pathogen. She was sent by her organization to hunt down Vincent Volaju, who was made a target of the Bebop crew a long time back, in order to earn the heavy bounty hanging over his head.
As the hunt for this man called Volaju, with no past and no possible future escalates, the fate of the entire human race rests in the hands of the Bebop crew, who themselves aren’t sure of their capability to handle and perform their responsibilities efficiently.
- Taken from both Wikipedia and My Personal Analysis as Well
Music: Yoko Kanno - 8/10 (no comments)
The original soundtrack was written and performed by the Seatbelts who released an album and a mini album of the film’s music entitled Future Blues and Ask DNA respectively.
- My Personal Analysis
Character design and animation director: Toshihiro Kawamoto- 9.5/10
As we all know the characters of this anime and their respective characteristics, abilities and attitudes, I don’t think I should mention anything else about them anymore. But as far as the additional characters are concerned, they deserve a bit of highlight. Rashid, an Arabian is portrayed in the movie as Spike’s nemesis, with a ridiculously funny yet mysterious personality. He seems to know everything about Spike’s intentions and objectives to hunt Vincent down. He appears out of nowhere, with an identity of an informant and guides Spike till the root of the matter, where even the government organization couldn’t make its approach. Then there is this antagonist: Vincent Volaju. I have no comments regarding this mysterious guy because there are no words to describe his personality and attitude. I can just give an idea regarding that, using the term ‘Perfect Anti-Heroic Character’ besides some other well-known characters within your knowledge. Elektra, yeah, she’s kind of a beautiful young lady, who has a direct link with Vincent, as they were once the partners in the same task-force, rather lovers. You’ll know when you watch the movie. So do it, at once.
- My Personal Analysis
Opening: 10/10
The stunts and the badassness along with the comedy deserve it. Before that, there was a short glimpse of Vincent, playing with the glass marble containing the virus, with the narrating these lines:
“He was always alone, always by himself. Never anyone to share the game. He lived in another world. He was that kind of guy.”
So, these lines are perfect assets, to describe the personality of Vincent I guess.
- My Personal Analysis
Ending: 10/10
The entry of various pilots in the perfect time, in order to spray the antidote to nullify the effect of the pathogen, just when the Halloween began. It was just awesome. Apart from this, the fight scene between Spike and Vincent deserves hats off. Plus, the emotion filled climax, when Elektra shoots down Vincent, in order to save Vincent’s life. Ah! No more comments. The ending lines were:
“Shall we go together?” (Elektra and Vincent, both pointing their pistols at each other) *bang*
Elektra opens her eyes in astonishment, as she herself couldn’t believe what happened back then. Vincent was found lying almost dead, just before Spike, with his chest pierced apart from the bullet which ran through Elektra’ pistol. Spike said, struggling, “Vincent! Why didn’t you shoot?”
“I remembered… she was the one I loved. I wanted to escape from here. I searched for the door out of this world. But now I understand. There is no door.”
“You should’ve known! You were frightened to open your eyes and see.” says Elektra.
“Elektra… the time I spent together with you… was my only reality. I’m so glad we could meet again at the end.” Saying these lines, Vincent closes his eyes… forever…
This particular scene from the movie is really emotional…
- My Personal Analysis
Overall Rating: 8.62/10
If the plot would be a bit more extra-ordinary or uncanny, like that of Wolf’s Rain; Trinity Blood; Berserk; Hellsing, etc. I would gladly give it a rating of 15/10 from my side. It’s just the script, stunts, artwork, animation, prologue and the epilogue, which made me, give it 8.62/10; or else I would drag it down to 2/10.
I haven’t included an additional paragraph for ‘Script’ as I mentioned enough in the last two sections of ‘Opening’ and ’Ending’. I guess it’ll be okay.
Watch it fellas, enjoy the review…
*my apologies, my reviews are wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy… wayyyyyyyyyyyy… way lengthy than those posted by Kits a.k.a. Kartikeya or anyone of you*
Some additional Statutory Warning(s):
As we all know Faye Valentine to be one of the most attractive and seductive characters from the anime series, I want to warn the n=minors towards a few scenes related to her. Her clothing and appearances, being number one, and the particular scene when she was about to become a victim of a rape case after being abducted by Vincent, who forcefully kissed her and unbuttoned her jacket, with his knife. Unfortunately she was spared by him, as he was more inclined to the spreading the pathogen than raping a helpless maiden xD. But still, only due to that particular scene, it requires a rating of U/A and PG. That’s all for today… Enjoy your day everybody…
This is the last review with such gigantic length I'm posting today. Next ones will be precise I assure you all. *sorry* [^_^]"
- A Review by James Wolf Howlett
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