The Movie Thread Reloaded

[Aglondir]

I don't watch movies anymore. I watch the Pitch Meeting on You Tube. Those two guys are hilarious.

[Thornhammer]

Ghostbusters: Afterlife was not what I was expecting, but it was really good and was what it needed to be - passing the baton to the next generation. The kids are really the focus, the OG team is in it just enough.

Harold Ramis' passing hit me pretty hard back when it happened, as silly as that sounds, and this movie was a perfect way to say goodbye to an old friend.

There is a mid-credit scene that is pretty good (when you see a big name and think "hold on, I didn't see this person" just wait about three seconds), and a post-credit scene with Winston that cannot be missed.

[Ratman_tf]

Cowboy Bebop Live action series on Netflix.

Just watch the original series.

I watched the first episode, and it's a shot for shot remake of the anime. Things that work in animation look really bad in live action. And since it's the same story, you're not missing anything.

[HappyDaze]

Cowboy Bebop Live action series on Netflix.

Just watch the original series.

I watched the first episode, and it's a shot for shot remake of the anime. Things that work in animation look really bad in live action. And since it's the same story, you're not missing anything.

If one isn't a fan of the anime medium and have never seen the original anime, is the live action worth watching for the story/characters? I don't really care if the effects are crap--afterall, I watch movies on Amazon Prime.

[Thornhammer]

If one isn't a fan of the anime medium and have never seen the original anime, is the live action worth watching for the story/characters? I don't really care if the effects are crap--afterall, I watch movies on Amazon Prime.

Uncertain. There is something nebulously "off" about it. Enough that I pick up on it, not enough that I can flat out say what it is.

The first episode is pretty much a straight up port of the first episode of the anime, with some changes here and there (most notably the introduction of Faye), so that will give you a pretty good idea of what to expect.

[Ratman_tf]

If one isn't a fan of the anime medium and have never seen the original anime, is the live action worth watching for the story/characters? I don't really care if the effects are crap--afterall, I watch movies on Amazon Prime.

Uncertain. There is something nebulously "off" about it. Enough that I pick up on it, not enough that I can flat out say what it is.

For me, it looked like one of the Disney live action remakes of their animated movies. It's funky to see them not just make a live action version, but to attempt to make a live action version that looks somewhat like the animation. Usually involving simple costumes with exaggerated colors and accessories.

[Ratman_tf]

Well, looks like the show goes off the rails later in the season.

https://www.cbr.com/cowboy-bebop-changes-overarching-antagonist/

[Thornhammer]

It's funky to see them not just make a live action version, but to attempt to make a live action version that looks somewhat like the animation. Usually involving simple costumes with exaggerated colors and accessories.

Yep, I think that nails down a fair chunk of what was bothering me.

[Lurkndog]

The Netflix Cowboy Bebop is a good example of how something can be reasonably faithful, and clearly expensive to make, and still fail hard.

They go to great lengths to replicate the costuming, mecha designs, and atmosphere of the original, and they keep the soundtrack, which is one of the all-time great anime soundtracks.

But the costumes look like cosplay, the lighting makes everything look cheap, the depth of field effects and color balance of the CGI makes it look like model shots and not match the live action bits, and the sound mix is off, so the soundtrack sounds muted and tinny instead of kicking things up to 11 like it does in the anime.

Also Spike is suddenly Asian, and Faye suddenly isn't. Also, Faye is basically Girl Spike now, when she was her own character in the anime.

Pro Tip: if you haven't watched the original anime, you need to. Even if you don't like anime, you will probably like this. It has a great English dub, arguably as good or better than the Japanese, so you won't have to read subtitles. Great music, great animation, and just a whole lot of fun.

[HappyDaze]

The Netflix Cowboy Bebop is a good example of how something can be reasonably faithful, and clearly expensive to make, and still fail hard.

They go to great lengths to replicate the costuming, mecha designs, and atmosphere of the original, and they keep the soundtrack, which is one of the all-time great anime soundtracks.

But the costumes look like cosplay, the lighting makes everything look cheap, the depth of field effects and color balance of the CGI makes it look like model shots and not match the live action bits, and the sound mix is off, so the soundtrack sounds muted and tinny instead of kicking things up to 11 like it does in the anime.

Also Spike is suddenly Asian, and Faye suddenly isn't. Also, Faye is basically Girl Spike now, when she was her own character in the anime.

Pro Tip: if you haven't watched the original anime, you need to. Even if you don't like anime, you will probably like this. It has a great English dub, arguably as good or better than the Japanese, so you won't have to read subtitles. Great music, great animation, and just a whole lot of fun.

How many of your criticisms would matter to someone that never watched the original anime? Costuming, lighting, and CGI still would, but "suddenly Asian/not-Asian" probably makes no difference whatsoever. Soundtrack probably matters to most, but I personally don't care (soundtracks are not something I care for/about).

[Ratman_tf]

Pro Tip: if you haven't watched the original anime, you need to. Even if you don't like anime, you will probably like this. It has a great English dub, arguably as good or better than the Japanese, so you won't have to read subtitles. Great music, great animation, and just a whole lot of fun.

It's a very "western" (pun not intended?) style of show, which I think makes it accessible to non-anime-fan viewers.

[Shrieking Banshee]

It's funky to see them not just make a live action version, but to attempt to make a live action version that looks somewhat like the animation.

As an animator, I hope every person that goes see these live action adaptations suffers a non-life threadining but extremly painful condition on the anniversary of the day they went to see these movies every year for the rest of their lives. If they watch that film at home, they suffer the issue that day as well.
I can not get upset at the general public for allot of stupidiy, but their general disrespect for animation makes my blood boil.
People going to see these fifth rate adaptations is the reason why their not making more Animated things.

If you went to see this, unless it was under the threat of some really bad thing, I hope you stub your toe.

[Pat]

The Netflix Cowboy Bebop is a good example of how something can be reasonably faithful, and clearly expensive to make, and still fail hard.

They go to great lengths to replicate the costuming, mecha designs, and atmosphere of the original, and they keep the soundtrack, which is one of the all-time great anime soundtracks.

But the costumes look like cosplay, the lighting makes everything look cheap, the depth of field effects and color balance of the CGI makes it look like model shots and not match the live action bits, and the sound mix is off, so the soundtrack sounds muted and tinny instead of kicking things up to 11 like it does in the anime.

Also Spike is suddenly Asian, and Faye suddenly isn't. Also, Faye is basically Girl Spike now, when she was her own character in the anime.

Pro Tip: if you haven't watched the original anime, you need to. Even if you don't like anime, you will probably like this. It has a great English dub, arguably as good or better than the Japanese, so you won't have to read subtitles. Great music, great animation, and just a whole lot of fun.

How many of your criticisms would matter to someone that never watched the original anime? Costuming, lighting, and CGI still would, but "suddenly Asian/not-Asian" probably makes no difference whatsoever. Soundtrack probably matters to most, but I personally don't care (soundtracks are not something I care for/about).

I haven't seen it, and haven't been paying any real attention. But the costumes in the pic above look really goofy, so goofy it would be hard to take the show seriously. It feels like something that might appeal to kids into the Power Rangers, but it's going to a major clash for a show like Cowboy Bepop that's heavily focused on existential ennui.

[Ratman_tf]

It's funky to see them not just make a live action version, but to attempt to make a live action version that looks somewhat like the animation.

As an animator, I hope every person that goes see these live action adaptations suffers a non-life threadining but extremly painful condition on the anniversary of the day they went to see these movies every year for the rest of their lives. If they watch that film at home, they suffer the issue that day as well.
I can not get upset at the general public for allot of stupidiy, but their general disrespect for animation makes my blood boil.
People going to see these fifth rate adaptations is the reason why their not making more Animated things.

If you went to see this, unless it was under the threat of some really bad thing, I hope you stub your toe.

The only Disney live action adaptation I've watched was Aladdin. All through it I was thinking they could tell a different type of story. One better suited to live action. The idea of the Genie living a mortal life was relly cool, and IMO the best part. The rest was a slavish recreation of a story I'd already seen.

[Shrieking Banshee]

The only Disney live action adaptation I've watched was Aladdin. All through it I was thinking they could tell a different type of story. One better suited to live action.

Then why was it an adaptation of the ANIMATED MUSICAL? Alladin is bloody public domain!
If you want to tell a different kind of story - TELL A DIFFERENT KIND OF STORY!
Because nobody would go see it thinking 'Oh yeah remember the animated version? Why see an inferious version?'

This is pure nostaglia marketting and I hate the public at large for not respecting animation.