"Slayers: The Motion Picture" is set some time before Lina hooks up with Gourry and the other characters from the three seasons of the "Slayers" television series. She is a little younger--but still feared as a short-tempered and powerful spellcaster-- and she is the reluctant partner of Naga, a lanky sorceress whose bust size is in direct inverse proportion to her IQ. The pair travel to a distant island where they become embroiled in a mystery surrounding the butchering of an elf village before recorded history.
This was a so-so effort that is something that is great for the kids and presented all the basics of the "Slayers" series in a fairly concise package. Still, I don't think the package was concise enough. One of the things I've liked about as much of the 'Slayers' series I've seen so far is that the episodes are all swiftly paced and tightly plotted. Gag follows upon gag upon fight scene... there's hardly ever a quiet moment. There were almost too many quiet moments in "The Motion Picture."
The movie also failed to capitilize on some of the cooler elements that were introduced; wouldn't a bit more time spent in the past have been more interesting than beating up local thugs on the pier? I for one would have liked to learned more about the elves and the kid who appeared to be an ancestor of Gourry.
Despite my complaints, I think this is a worthwhile animated film. Fans of fantasy, fans of quality animation (as one might expect from a theatrical release, the animation in "Slayers: The Motion Picture" is gorgeous), and fans of Japanese cartoons in general will find much to enjoy here. It might also serve as a fine way to introduce your friends to "The Slayers" franchise, even if I think the TV series is vastly superior to this film.
Currently Showing at Cinema Steve
-
-
Times change. The world stays the same. - (Thid drawing originally appeared in December of 1896, in the pages of German arts magazine "Jugend".5 months ago
-
Richard Sala's Panique: An Unauthorized Second Editon! - [image: 'Panique' cover art by Richard Sala] SECOND EDITION *Design*: Richard Sala & Steve Miller *Editing*: Steve Miller *INTRODUCTION* In 1994, artist/wr...1 year ago
-
Mystery Monday: Hush - [image: Kavya Trehan In "Hush" (2018)] The impact of some films is ruined if a reviewer blathers on about it. This is one of those. Watch this one minute o...1 year ago
-
No doubt that 'Shadow of a Doubt' is great - *Shadow of a Doubt (1943)* Starring: Teresa Wright, Joseph Cotton, Macdonald Carey, Henry Travers, and Patricia Collinge Director: Alfred Hitchcock Stars: T...2 years ago
-
Neat film with an all-star cast AND a werewolf! - *The Beast Must Die (aka "Black Werewolf") (1974)* Starring: Calvin Lockhart, Anton Diffring, Peter Cushing, Marlene Clark, Michael Gambon, Tom Chadbon, Ci...3 years ago
-
'Evil Bong 666' breathes new life into the series - *Evil Bong 666 (2017)* Starring: Mindy Robinson, Robin Sydney, Sonny Carl Davis, Michelle Mais, Jessica Morris, and The Don Director: Charles Band Rating: F...5 years ago
-
A Franco foul-up that's kinda saved by unintentional comedy - *Neurosis: The Fall of the House of Usher (aka "Revenge in the House of Usher" and "Zombie 5") (1982)* Starring: Howard Vernon, Robert Foster, Lina Romay, J...11 years ago
-
Happy Birthday to Boris Karloff - On this day in 1887, the great Boris Karloff was born. To mark his birthday, here's a review of one of his many films that deserve more attention than it g...13 years ago
-
The Addams Family was never as creepy as this father/daugher duo - Mark of the Vampire (aka "Vampires of Prague") (1935) Starring: Lionel Barrymore, Lionel Atwill, Elizabeth Allen, Jean Hersholt, Henry Wadsworth, Donald Mee...14 years ago
Thursday, July 22, 2004
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment