Cowboy Bebop: The Movie - Reviews

The Movie manages to replicate the mood and tone of its predecessor which is totally great! I really enjoyed the music in this music as well. Watch this after you seen the series it is great and enjoyable to watch over and over again. 

Cowboy Bepop: The Movie

 

The film probably takes place between episodes 22-23 in the anime "if" he's Canon at all. Otherwise, you can watch it before the anime finale or after the anime, as it doesn't make any difference. The film does not contain any spoilers for the series.

The first half of the film was definitely more compelling. The events and the structure around the mysterious characters made me curious.

But what actually happened in the film in the end? The answer is simple - "Not a lot". The film hardly stands out from the known film average in any view.

It's just the usual process. Some criminal shows up, causes chaos and the protagonists stop him. Yes, the opponent had a bit of depth of character and you also understood his motives a little. To be honest, I found it a lot more interesting than "Vicious" which was the main antagonist in the anime.

The biggest problem with the film is that the actual story fell short, which meant that you had to make up for the length of the film. And that's no joke, you just let the characters walk around, sit around or have irrelevant conversations for around 30 minutes. Just before the finale, the fact that the parade was shown for around 3 minutes, even though the film only lasted 15 minutes. I felt a bit like I was doing an NPC companion quest.

What I found positive about the film were the animations, the detail and the presentation. I liked the serious yet realistic atmosphere that the title had.

To be honest, since the anime had enormous individuality in its implementation and setting, the film was enormously disappointing.

I cannot find any excuse for this half-finished plot and this poor implementation of the story.

AP FRIEND REVIEW 1 (MagneticLotus)

 After replying to a review of Gungrave that literally made me LOL, by a user named MagneticLotus, He left some comments on my profile, and kindly followed me. After returning the favor and checking out his Anime List I decided to watch one that he really liked, but I hadn't seen before. After watching it, I sat down to write a review for it, and came up with the idea, to watch and review a high rated Anime from any new friends I may meet on this site, and give it a fancy name. I kinda failed on the fancy name part, but here's my review for one of his highest ranked anime's that i didn't know existed but was stoked to find out it did, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, which he rated 5/5 Stars.

 STORY: Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (or Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on heavens door) seems to take place sometime in the middle, to just before the end of the original series, as the entire group is still together. The writers do an excellent job of picking up where they left off in the series. Unlike the series the writers actually tell the story at a very efficient pace and are able to wrap it up properly. 

 As per usual, the crew on board the Bebop is down on their luck, chasing minor bounties in an effort to barely get by (more or less, Jet's own words). Eventually they decide to go for the big one, or at least, a big one, 300 million woolong. The Bounty is for the purpotrator of a terrorist attack (which makes me wonder if this is meant to harken back to the original series' cancellation) who seemingly crashed a transport truck loaded with an airborn virus. Initially, it is thought that the Beboppers are the only one with a lead, because Faye (who happened to be trailing the truck for an unrelated reason) was the only witness who saw the person responcible. Eventually however we discover that the culprit is indeed being tracked down by someone else, connected to his own past involving his time spent in the Martian Millitary. 

  ANIMATION: Having been released 3 years later then the series, the animation is obviously improved, which is somewhat dissapointing to me, as I do prefer the look of the old school animation in the original series, but not enough to make a big deal about it. The movie is loaded with all the awesome fight scenes, interesting shading/lighting effects, and camera angles that you remember from the series.

  SOUND: I was a little dissapointed at first when I didn't hear the opening from the original series, but by the time the intro was finished, it subsided. Not once did CB: The movie fail to live up to the musical standards set in their original series, so much so that I had to look up a couple of the songs so I could add them to my collection.

  CHARACTERS: The whole main crew is back and just as bad ass (and nutty in the case of Ed) as you remember from the series. Also returning (and actually sharing in a bit of the spotlight) are the grumpy old men who i was always a fan of. There is of course some new characters, one of which being a new bad ass good "guy". I think the best part of this story is the new antagonist though. He draws a wide range of emotion from you, all the while, being just evil enough to never forget that you don't like him.

Story - 8.5/10

Knocking on Heaven's Door is cast perfectly in the vein of the Cowboy Bebop series, mixing equal parts intrigue, adventure, and slick, fast-paced action with a few moments spared for slapstick comedy and character development. As usual we find the crew in pursuit of a bounty, but complications arise. What results is a struggle on a scale none of them bargained for.

The plotting is mostly very effective, though there's a few moments I caught foreknowledge apparently beamed to a character's mind by some higher power because there was no way for them to acquire it otherwise (in particular one chase scene around midway through the running time seemed rather prescience-laden).

I will also mention that the tone of the story is actually quite a bit darker than even the closing episodes of the series, and the body count among innocents is noticeably more than we'd have had in a six episode stretch of the show. It's intended to make a memorable impact in a smaller, more cohesive format and I would say that it works.

Animation - 9.5/10

All the awesome character designs from the series are present, though I don't think any of them got updated at all. Which is fine for fans of the show, really, but I think perhaps an opportunity was missed. The linework could have stood to be cleaner, but I'm not complaining when the frames are so fluid and the storyboarding and choreography are just about perfect. The action probably tops the most memorable moments from the series. It really is that good.

Sound - 9.5/10

All of the main cast VA's are back and they're as good as ever. The only downside is that since the film follows the episodic format and can't contribute directly to the plot of the main series, we don't get to experience much in the way of emotional highlights or lowlights from them. Sound effects are punchy and perfect.

The music is as good as anything Kanno has ever done, which is to say very good indeed. Standout track for me was 'Pushing the Sky', partly because it's just such a hectic rocker and partly because it's fitted so perfectly with the choreography of the fight it's set to.

Characters - 9/10

As previously mentioned, we unfortunately don't get to see much in the way of development for the main cast because of the restrictions of the format. We do see them being themselves, however; Ed in particular carries her role very effectively. Jet barely makes an appearance at all, on the other hand, mostly just facepalming his way through the script. Spike is Spike, dark and quirky as ever, but I feel like the role doesn't serve as much purpose when it's not the main focus of the story. That spotlight has been mostly transferred to the two characters whose story we're following, and they both carry it splendidly.

Overall - 9/10

For anyone who's looking for an extra helping of what made Cowboy Bebop such a success, look no further. I was struck with a fair bit of notalgia throughout my viewing and had a doofy grin on my face by the end of it. If you're not as familiar with the series, I'd recommend perhaps watching an episode or two first to get to know the characters at the least. The story stands well enough on its own, but I feel like it doesn't make a lot of sense as an entry point into the universe.

"Cowboy Bebop: The Movie," also known as "Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door," extends the beloved universe of the "Cowboy Bebop" series into a feature-length film. Set between episodes 22 and 23 of the anime, the movie plunges Spike Spiegel and the crew of the Bebop into a high-stakes adventure on Mars, where they face off against a mysterious terrorist planning a mass-scale biological attack. Retaining the series' signature blend of sci-fi, noir, and western elements, along with its jazz-infused soundtrack, the movie amplifies the essence of "Cowboy Bebop" into a cinematic experience.

Stellar Expansions

• Scaled-Up Storytelling: The movie takes advantage of its format to delve into a more expansive and self-contained story that complements the episodic nature of the series. It offers a deeper exploration of the "Cowboy Bebop" universe, providing richer backgrounds and more detailed world-building.
• Character Depth and Dynamics: While maintaining the integrity of the beloved crew, the film allows for further character development, particularly for Spike, whose past and philosophical outlook are woven into the narrative. The dynamics between crew members are as engaging as ever, showcasing their growth and the nuances of their relationships.

Cinematic Flourishes

• Visual and Auditory Feast: The animation in "Cowboy Bebop: The Movie" is a standout, with fluid action sequences, detailed scenic designs, and expressive character animations that leverage the cinematic medium to enhance the visual storytelling. Yoko Kanno's soundtrack, once again, elevates the experience, seamlessly blending with the narrative to enrich the atmospheric depth of the film.
• Engaging Antagonist: The movie introduces a compelling antagonist in Vincent Volaju, whose complex motives and tragic backstory provide a worthy foil to Spike and the crew. The interplay between Vincent and the protagonists adds a layer of depth to the film's exploration of themes like memory, existence, and redemption.

Orbital Anomalies

• Pacing and Focus: While the movie captures the essence of the "Cowboy Bebop" universe, some viewers might find the pacing uneven at times, with the expanded runtime allowing for greater exploration but also moments of slower progression. Additionally, the focus on a singular, larger-scale plot might contrast with the series' approach to episodic storytelling, which some fans may miss.

Cosmic Revelations

• Thematic Resonance: "Cowboy Bebop: The Movie" continues the series' tradition of delving into philosophical and existential questions, presenting its characters with challenges that test their morals and resolve. The film's ability to blend high-octane action with deeper themes showcases the franchise's unique strength in addressing the human condition through the lens of science fiction.

Conclusion "Cowboy Bebop: The Movie" stands as a thrilling and worthy extension of the "Cowboy Bebop" series, capturing the spirit and depth that made the original anime a landmark in storytelling. With its engaging plot, deeper character exploration, and stunning visual and musical craftsmanship, the movie offers both newcomers and longtime fans a memorable journey back into the Bebop universe. It reinforces the timeless appeal of the series, proving that the journey of Spike and his crew continues to resonate, knockin' on heaven's door of cinematic excellence.