20th Century Boys 2: the Last Hope

20^th Century Boys 2: the Last Hope

(Viz Media, 140 Minutes)

www.20thboysfilms.com

By Chris Zimmerman

Compressing a story as large and complex as Naoki Urasawa’s manga series “20^th Century Boys” is no easy task. The task would be daunting for any filmmaker; thankfully, director Yukihiko Tsutsumi was more than up to the task, taking the Peter Jackson route and condensing the series into a trilogy that is meant to be viewed as one massive film.

It’s never easy being the middle component of a trilogy but “the Last Hope” fulfils its role very well, bridging the gap between the first and third movie while pushing the plot forward while still maintaining an identity of its own.

Jumping forward 15 years after the events of the previous film, now referred to as “bloody new years eve”, the enigmatic friend has consolidated his power and expanded his influence over all of Japan. Kenji Endo, the protagonist from the first movie is dubbed a terrorist and presumed dead. Most of his comrades who banded together to stop friend and prevent the “book of prophesy” from being fulfilled have either been captured or just altogether vanished. Instead, Kenji’s niece Kanna has taken up the fight against Friend in an effort to prove her uncle’s innocence.

Kanna’s determination lands her in a re-education center where she attempts to uncover Friend’s true identity. While her role is not fully explained, she is considered something of a savior as she can convert others to her cause and even displays ESP.

Sometime between the first movie and this one, a second book of prophesy has emerged. The book states that a savior will rise only to be slain before the masses. Most believe this to be Kanna though the film also hints at there being the possibility that it is in fact Friend.

As with the first film, the action jumps between various time periods, building on the mystery of Friend’s true identity. While some answers are given to questions raised in the first movie, even more questions arise as Kanna digs deeper into Friend’s history.

With the introductions of the main characters out of the way, this installment was allowed to breathe more and move at a brisker pace. Despite clocking in at around two and a half hours, the film is gripping and clever enough that it is never in risk of being boring. Most of the credit belongs to the cast who had an entire first movie to flesh out their characters so that the audience would be invested in them.

Since this is only the second of the planned trilogy, the film leaves it’s viewers dangling on a pretty major cliff hanger that sets up the third and final film nicely. There is less exposition and more action as the series gears up for its inevitable conclusion. The ultimate revelations to come should be enough to entice fans back, if for no other reason than to see their patience rewarded.

20^th Century Boys 2: the Last Hope – B+

Special Features:

Original and English Trailers

Blood the Last Vampire

It’s not often that an anime makes the jump to live action, but when it does happen, the results usually vary. Enter Blood the Last Vampire, the latest in attempt from Hollywood to cash in on a preexisting franchise.

Originally, Blood began its life as an animated feature, born straight out of Japan’s studio Production I.G. After debuting to much fanfare and critical acclaim, it was only a matter of time before animation transformed into live action.

This live action version, much like its animated predecessor centers around the adventures of the half-breed Saya as she tracks and kills vampires for the mysterious organization known as the Council. Her newest assignment brings her to a US military base in post World War 2 Japan where she hopes to draw out the vampire lord Onigen. Of course, Saya is less than welcome and it’s only a matter of time when she is blamed for the mysterious disappearances of students and military personal. In this case she is responsible, as the majority of the people inhabiting the base are indeed vampires whom she have been slaying.

After rescuing a girl named Alice, Saya goes on a killing spree, slaughtering every vampire in the vicinity. With Alice as a witness, the Council orders Saya to eliminate her. She refuses, what with Alice not being a vampire, and is branded a traitor. With enemies on both sides, she is forced to flee. Gravely wounded from the earlier battle, Saya slips into a comatose state where her origin is revealed as she reflects on the tragedies that shaped her life. Sensing that Saya is helpless, Onigen prepares to move in for the kill.

Having seen the original animated feature, it was impossible not to draw comparisons. While the filmmakers managed to capture the somber mood of the original, everything else was either off or off putting.

Everything in this film feels forced. The actors are stiff and their performances wooden. The action sequences are unremarkable and provide gratuitous violence for the sake of gratuitous violence. As far as the special effects are concerned, they range from laughable to average at best.

If there is a shining spot in the movie, it would be the lead actress Gianna Jun, who manages to pull off her own martial arts stunts while still portraying a convincing sympathetic lead.

As it stands, Blood the Last Vampire is a jumbled mess. The plot is disjointed and fails to capture the viewer’s interest. There were good ideas here but the execution left something to be desired. This was a movie for fans of the source material who most likely will reject it for straying too from its roots. Those interested, would do better to check out the animated film on which this is based; it's much more satisfying.

Blood the Last Vampire – C-

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

This is a series that should be required viewing for any fan of anime. Its gorgeous animation mixed with surprisingly inventive and up-beat characters make it a delight from the moment it pops on the screen.

The basic premise is that unsuspecting high school student, Kyon accidentally forms a relationship with the eccentric Haruhi Suzumiya and soon strange off the wall characters begin entering his life forever changing the way he viewed the world.

What makes this show tick is its characters and none is more central than Haruhi. Despite the fact that the series takes place from Kyon’s perspective, Haruhi is indeed the cause for everything that takes place. This can be attributed to the fact that according a few members of the main cast, Haruhi is a God living out a life she created for herself without even knowing what she is or what she is truly capable of. To Kyon and everyone around her, Haruhi appears to be just an ordinary (albeit a bit nutty)girl who is uninterested in the real world and continuously searches for strange, other worldly, paranormal activity.

Kyon plays the straight man to Haruhi’s insane antics, often questioning the meaning of their activities and reprimanding her when he feels she is out of line. Despite the fact that he is constantly told of her Godlike status and the repercussions that can come from making her unhappy, Kyon never shies away from sharing his true opinions on her ridiculous plans. In fact, Kyon most of the time shares his feeling of annoyance at her demands through inner monologue that is often times laugh inducing. One can argue that it is because of Kyon’s attitude toward her that makes Haruhi so fascinated with him. Slowly the two form a close relationship that never feels forced, but rather a natural progression of where their friendship was destined to lead.

Three other peculiar characters are introduced, each one gravitating toward Haruhi so as to study her and determine what exactly she means to the universe. The first is Yuki Nagato, a “human interface” created and sent by aliens to monitor Haruhi. She is a quiet girl with an infatuation with books and computer games and is quit adept at everything she does. This includes playing the guitar when it comes time for a concert or hitting several home runs when Haruhi challenges a rival baseball team.

Next is Mikuru Asahina, a time travel who is the subject of Kyon’s affection. She often bumbles her way through the day, whining with a childish high pitched voice whenever Haruhi sets her focus on her. Haruhi often forces Mikuru into dressing in revealing outfits in attempts to gain the attention of fellow students.

Last and certainly not least is Itsuki Koizumi, an esper with supernatural abilities that only manifest when certain conditions are met. Itsuki is often the one informing Kyon of the side effects that could happen should Haruhi become depressed or self aware. There is a sly almost sinister quality to him as he always appears with a smile and appears to know more than he lets on. Needless to say, Kyon trusts him the least.

These five characters make up the SOS brigade, a club Haruhi invented to appease her colossal imagination, never once realizing the true identities of the bizarre characters around her. Most of the time, the show doesn’t even focus on the character’s true abilities only showing brief hints to the audience. The characters personalities and their reactions toward the world around them is the true central theme of the series. In fact, after watching this show, one would be hard pressed to find a group of more likable characters.

As I stated before, the animation is top notch, almost movie quality, with each character given a unique look to distinguish them. Each one moves in a lively manner that is unfamiliar to today’s cartoons. The opening and ending themes are catchy and especially memorable in their depictions of the SOS brigade dancing enthusiastically to the song.

This is a series that mixes enjoyable characters with a unique plot to create a something that is new, fresh, and interesting. Wholly original and immensely entertaining, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is sure to please any fan of the genre.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya – A+

Superman Batman: Public Enemies

Perhaps a better title for this feature would have been “Superman Batman : Nonstop action.” The latest comic based animated adaption born from Warner Home Video combines arguably the two most popular icons of the comic book genre to face off against a veritable who’s who of Heroes and Villains on their quest to put a stop to Lex Luthor once and for all. Based off the first six issues of the bestselling Superman Batman graphic novel by Jeph Loeb, this film is as faithful to the source material as one could hope given its limited run time.

It opens with a quick succession of images displaying poverty and economic turmoil followed by Luthor’s ascension to the presidency. Soon, the stock market balances itself and wars cease, calling into question what type of man Lex Luthor is. Should all his past crimes be forgiven? Can he really be trusted to continue running the country? This creates conflicts within the caped community with Superman and Batman on one side, and everyone else on the other.

The movie does an admirable job of explaining both sides of the argument even if it was done in less than five minutes. The film’s run time has to be taken into account as it barely exceeds an hour. As a result, much of the plot feels rushed and some things are easily lost in the process; one of which is the examination of Superman’s and Batman’s duality through inner monologue which is absent here. In the graphic novel, the reader was allowed the pleasure of reading the two character’s thoughts giving them insight into what makes them such close friend despite having almost nothing in common. For those who have the extra cash, there is an extra feature on the special edition that attempts to add more focus to it.

This movie should be a fanboy’s dream as several characters face off in an all out brawl that spans the majority of the film. Seeing Superman square off with notable foes such as Metallo, Mongul, and Lex Luthor all in one movie, should be a delight for anyone who recognizes those names.

Considering the nature of the movie, none of it feels over the top but rather, it has a mature feel to it. It never talks down to the audience, considering it’s targets are those above the age of sixteen.

Though it’s animation quality is not the best to come out of DC, (that honor is held by the exceptionally well done Green Lantern movie) it is easily on par with their recent efforts. Character designs may seem bulky, but that is more to do with the source material than the animators. Character’s movements are decent, but not overly impressive; however something has to be said about the animation used for Superman’s cape. The way it blows in the wind is smooth and well done and whoever worked on it should be commended.

As has come to be expected from DC, the voice work is top notch. The trio of Clancy Brown, Tim Daly, and Kevin Conroy have been voicing these characters for years to the point that they are now associated with them. This is especially true of Kevin Conroy, whom many fans consider the definitive voice of Batman, having voiced him for seventeen years. These three easily give the film extra credibility among the fans thanks to their countless performances.

As previously mentioned, the film’s meager running time has to be considered a drawback which keeps it from achieving it’s true potential. Its just too short, jumping from one scene to the next without any lasting impact. If this were part of a larger series, it would be easy to over look but because each DC animated movie is self contained, it unfortunately is not.

Though it accomplishes everything it wished to with it’s allotted time, one cant help but wonder what could have been if given an extra thirty minutes. Fans of the characters and the genre however will find more than enough to whet their appetite until the next animated installment.

Superman Batman: Public Enemies – B-