Who else watched the 81st Academy Awards a couple days ago? I thought I had done a pretty good job of keeping up with movies this year, but by my count, I’ve only seen 4 of the films nominated (The Dark Knight, Frost/Nixon, Slumdog Millionaire, and Waltz with Bashir). However, one movie I definitely want to check out sometime soon is Kato Kunio’s La Maison en Petits Cubes, if for no other reason than that his acceptance speech was great (”domo arigato, Mr. Roboto!” — whether that’s a nod to his production company, Robot Communications, Inc., or simply a catchy Japanese phrase that he knew Americans would get, it was well played.).
Also, I just want to say that I can’t believe some of the things I’ve been reading on the Wizard message boards about the Oscars. EDIT: I was in the middle of writing a scathing, ranting rebuttal to all the people bickering over there, but then I came to my senses and realized it was futile. So never mind. I just want to say, did any of you see Slumdog Millionaire? I have to say, it was the best movie I’ve seen in a LONG time. In fact, it was the first movie I’ve gone to the theater to see more than once since Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill duo came out when I was a frosh in college. Seriously, guys, give some of these small, outside-Hollywood flicks a fair shot. You won’t be sorry.
So apparently there’s already a script for a second Dragon Ball live-action movie that could get put into production if the first one is successful. I’d be more terrified if I thought the first one was going to do well at all. Does anyone expect this thing to make bank? I’ll be really surprised if it does, but I guess I shouldn’t overestimate America’s taste. I mean, Mall Cop was #1 for two weeks or so. What’s that say?
But my confession is this: I don’t think ANY live-action DB movie would have been goofy and I think those who do are kidding themselves. Seriously, guys, Dragon Ball is really goofy. I understand that the cheesiness and the jokes about the ultra-long fights are part of the charm, and that’s fine. Sailor Moon is probably just as cheesy, and that was my gateway anime. But still—very goofy, and I don’t think any live-action movie could make that goofiness work without looking dumb. The movie that did get made just happens to look extra dumb.
I feel for the fans, though. Just looking at the trailer has gotta hurt. If you have to see what it’s really like, I recommend paying to see a better movie and poking your head into a DB theater on the way out.
Even though I can’t read a decent amount of it, I adore the Neko Rahmen manga . And while it’s not likely to get an English translation, you can see the subtitled anime version for free on Vuze. (And I have. Several times.)
You can imagine my happiness when the Neko Rahmen movie live-action movie trailer was released this weekend. Puppet cats? Real people? A cameo by Tama the Stationmaster Cat?
People, I would almost make a Thanksgiving trip to Japan just to watch this movie. Check it out below.
