DragonBall: The Live Action Movie 263
mystyc writes "scifi wire has a disturbing piece on how Twentieth Century Fox acguired the movie rights to the Dragon Ball franchise. What is disturbing is that they plan to do a live action dragon ball movie! You'd think hollywood would have learned their lessons from such notable live action anime failures as The Guyver, Fist of the North Star, and others who's names must not be spoken. Then again, hollywood doesn't work that way."
Cartoons can act better than Actors (Score:2, Insightful)
act much better than measly cartoons.
Anime in the USA (i.e. "Cartoons") (Score:4, Insightful)
In the following, by anime, I mean cell animated stories.
Making live action versions of classic anime in the USA is due to the common USA view of animation in general. As far as the average Joe is concerned, "cartoons are for kids" basically sums up the attitude towards anime.
One great example, which I recently bumped into is an old review [nausicaa.net] of a classic anime movie "Grave of the Fireflies", where the reviewer has the movie listed under the headline "For Children". Anyone who has seen this movie knows that while it can be watched by children, it has so much emotional content that only a mature viewer could truely appreciate it. While "Adult Film" or "Film for mature audiences" in the USA means porn, it should mean movies like "Grave of the Fireflies". Again, I am not saying that "Grave..." isn't a movie that kids should watch - I am saying that giving it a headline "For Kids" is very silly.
Anyway, my main point is that in the USA, anime doesn't have the prestige that live action movies have. Somehow, I guess, movie execs think that making a great anime movie into a live action movie, somehow makes it better. Whatever... Its too bad because the average Joe is missing out on some great entertainment such as (my recommendations for the "average joe" slashdotter that isn't into anime but wants an introduction):
- Ghost in the Shell (DVD): This is a roughly 1.5 hour movie, its Neuromancer mixed with Blade Runner. The English dub of this is good.
- Serial Experiments Lain (DVD): This is an animated series of around 13 episodes 30 minutes each. It is a great neo-cyberpunk story. I would say its Neuromancer meets the X-Files - though these analogies are very crude. Also, stay away from the English dub of this series. Its awkward to say the least. The DVDs let you choose dub or subtitles, so go subtitles with this anime.
- Cowboy Bebop (DVD): This is an animated series of (I can't remember how many) 30 minute episodes. Cowboy Bebop has a lot of everything for everyone. Comedy, action, violence, cyberpunk, mystery, drama, weirdness, etc... This is easy watching anime if that makes any sense. Its got style, thats for sure. The English dub is good, and I recommend it. Also, I recommend that you watch at least the first 4 episodes before drawing your opinion on this fine anime. Its not until then that you start to see the deep underlying plot of the entire series. Cowboy Bebop has lots of sugar and spice, bells and whistles, etc... but it also has a nice strong plotline.
The Blockbuster Video stores around my area rent anime. I don't rent, but buy, so I don't know if their selection is good or not. Its worth renting the above recommendations this weekend, if you haven't already seen them.Re:Hey! (Score:2, Insightful)
"...bring Z down to the level of a 10 year old...?" You do know that DBZ is a kid's show, right? That's why Fox is even interested in the idea in the first place.
Oh, and Japanese 10 year olds aren't sheltered from such things as fervently as same-aged American kids are, so you could say that it's always been at that level.
< tofuhead >
Shaolin Soccer (Score:2, Insightful)
-prator