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Steamboy - Director's Cut (Widescreen Edition) Actors: Anna Paquin, Patrick Stewart, Alfred Molina Director: Katsuhiro Ôtomo Number of Items: 1 Format: Animated, Color, Widescreen Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Studio: Columbia Tristar Hom Region Code: 99 Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2005-07-26 Buy from Amazon |
 "Otomo Returns!"Like many anime fans the first anime I ever saw was Akira, and it blew me away. Ever since then we have all been waiting to see what Otomo would do next. At last the long wait is over, and the film that seemed destined never to escape it's incredibly long development cycle has been released. The story of Steamboy isn't as complex as Akira. It tells of a split between two inventors, grandfather and father, and the little son who doesn't know who side with. How much should be sacrificed to further the progresss of science? The story lacks the originality Akira had, and the characters aren't quite as memorable, but it remains hugely enteraining throughout. Akira was an animation landmark back in 1988, and even to this day it's a struggle to find anime with better animation. It is fitting then that when a movie finally raises the animation bar it will be Otomo back at the helm. The animation in Steamboy is utterly jaw dropping, and a perfect marriage of 2D and 3D. Forget the poorly integrated 3D of other anime movies, here a scene can look like a beautiful painting, until it starts moving and reveals itself as a 3D model. The 2D work is of course also tremendous and sets a new standard for the format. In many ways Steamboy is similar to Akira. The character design, especially that of Ray Steam (who looks like a younger Tetsuo), and Eddie Steam (a near clone of the Colonel) is very reminiscent of Akira, and the film's finale a greatly extended version of the raising of Akira from beneath Tokyo Stadium. And it all fits, a perfect sister movie to Akira. Otomo has now perfected both Cyberpunk, and Steampunk. Where next? I just hope we don't have to wait another 16 years to find out! It is worth noting that the US dub of Steamboy has been hugely cut. I have not seen that version and have no desire to. Sadly it seems anime is still not safe from the meddling editing of western studios who should know better by now. We can only hope that the eventual DVD release is uncut and as Otomo intended.  "A Visual Feast! "Visual - ***** (excellent animation, superb detailed backgrounds) Audio - *** (surround speakers don't seem utilized) Story - *** (enjoyable, simple plot, no build up to climax) "Hurry up and come to dvd"Thank GOD that this anime movie from Dreamworks will have a english dialouge unlike (Ghost in the Shell 2). From the director of (Akira) brings you this out standing 2D animated movie that takes place in England I think in the 18 hundreads. |
