D50's Anime hideout | home
Escaflowne the Movie
Episodes Reviewed: N/A, DVD (but only watched the subbed version)
Overall Grade: B
*dodges approximately 4.5 million projectiles* I'll agree that it's good, dramatic, entertaining, and yes, often enjoyable. However, ya have to agree that it wraps up too quickly and offers little in the character development area. But, considering the fact that a TV series had to be condensed into a movie, the end effect is as good as it gets. Except maybe the severely lacking dramatic final battle.
Storyline: 10
On a large flying ship, the dragon armor is being transported. A mysterious (at the beginning of the movie) boy sneaks in and kills everyone on board, claiming the armor for himself. Meanwhile, on Earth, a teen-aged Japanese girl, Hitomi, is depressed with her life. Why, I don't think we find out, but that's apparantly unimportant. She wishes that everything just stopped existing... or that at least she would. This wish coincides with the wish of someone on another world, and thus, Hitomi finds herself on Gaia. When she appears, she appears inside the dragon armor, Escaflowne, which is opened by the warrior, whose name is Van. Van appears excited when he sees her, and calls Hitomi the "Wing Goddess." But when the armor disappears, he's quick to change his opinion of the girl. To wrap things up abruptly here, is Hitomi really the legendary Wing Goddess? What is the dragon armor? Why is Hitomi on Gaia? Oh, and I forgot to mention that Gaia is a war-torn land, and that evil generals and the like are after Van and the dragon armor...
Type: Action
Ch. Development: 8
Surprisingly a lot in this movie... soooo unlike other movies that have practically nothing.
Sexuality: 4
Maybe there were some skimpy 'fits, but the fanservice is almost nonexistent here.
Romance: 7
Basic rule of anime: when a guy and a girl in a fantasy anime travel a region together, are of the appropriate ages, are not related, and meet in at least some time in the first episode, they will fall in love, or at least be exposed to numerous unnecessary and meaningless hints that they love each other. This rule is negated if either character is constantly making lecherous advances. This rule is un-negated in the event that the anime is hentai.
Drama: 6
I'm trying to think of some really memorable scenes. As usual, they're all at the end. The fighting wasn't as kickass as it could have been, the romance could have had some sort of base, and there could have been some more foreshadowing. I love foreshadowing. And symbolism.
Action: 6
Be prepared for numerous pints of blood! Also be prepared for slow and clunky mech-on-mech action! Also be prepared for war, sorcery, and... yes, swordfighting!
Comedy: 1
The "1" is me giving it the benefit of the doubt, since my memory sucks.
Dub not seen
I've heard nothing but good things of Escaflowne, and even more so of the movie. Escaflowne was one of the few anime commercials I've seen (other than the CN commercials). It has been over-hyped and over-advertised. Was it worth it all? Did it live up to its name? Well, considering everything (and I'm putting into consideration everything) I've heard, no. I consider this movie to be above average, excellent at best. While that may make it seem worthy of an A, please note that "A" movies usually tend to make me want a second viewing; I viewed it once. Just like I reviewed Akira once. I will of course agree that this movie is as good as or better than Akira, but remember that I didn't think much of Akira.
As I said before, the ending wraps things up a bit quickly, and the movie, despite being billed as a more male-oriented version, lacks a dramatic final battle. Escaflowne shows its traces of mediocrity when the armor itself is used in a single battle with the main villain's general (right... not the main villain himself!), and also when, just like many mediocre movies before it, many of the supporting characters are denied importance.
Looking for the best? Move on. Sample Escaflowne if you've got the time/money, but it isn't the best version of the story if you're looking for the story, and it is somewhat lacking in the factors pretty much anyone prefers in their anime. Once again, many critics have great things to say simply because they haven't seen enough anime. But for those anime reviewers like me who praise it as the best... well, that's still a mystery to me.
That's my Story and I'm Sticking to it!
