Steamboy review

[Krug]

http://www.screendaily.com/story.asp?storyid=18121&r=true

In 1988, with his debut feature Akira, Katsuhiro Otomo introduced the world to the post-apocalyptic future, Japanese-style - and spurred a global boom for Japanese animation that has yet to subside. Sixteen years later, he is back with Steamboy, an animated epic set in the London of 1866, when the Machine Age was well under way, Jules Verne was at the height of his powers - and the future looked like a grand adventure.

Steamboy is less a tribute to Victorian optimism that a further meditation on the dystopian themes Otomo introduced in Akira. Compared to the earlier film, however, it is more of a mainstream, all-ages entertainment. Understandably so, since it took ten years and Y2.4 billion to make and recouping that budget - the largest ever for a Japanese animated feature - will require more than attracting more than anime geeks.

Not that geeks will be disappointed. Known for his attention to detail, Otomo has created steam-driven mechinery, including tanks, planes and all-terrain vehicles that not only clank, soar and sail with an eye-goggling realism, but look as if they could work. This, for geeks, is pure manna.

And the rest of us? The film's non-stop action, imaginative sweep and period authenticity - the sense of watching photos of 19th century cityscapes spring to animated life - will hit young males, especially, right where Verne’s novels once hit them, square in the vicarious-adventure pleasure centres.

 

[Greatwyrm]

Anyone have an idea of when I could hope to see this in the US? Japan is quite a haul for me, especially for a movie.

 

[Uzumaki]

Man, I saw that 2.4 billion and thought that was in US dollars. My heart beat sped up all crazily. Maybe it's been too long since I've seen some really awesome anime. I'm looking forward to this one. Thanks for the review.

 

[Liminal Syzygy]

I'm not even sure if it's out in Japan yet. Not showing up in my local theatre's listing at least.

 

[Chain Lightning]

An interesting tid bit I heard through the industry grapevine about "Steamboy" is that it was originally going to be done through Dreamworks SKG, but Katzenberg ( I guess he's in charge of their animation dept.) has an adamant dislike for things that (in his opinion) are too sci-fi. So Otomo had to go elsewhere to get "Steamboy" done.

Something that artists around the Dreamworks studios are warned (during design pitches I guess) is to not design something that is too sci-fi looking. Because then it won't get approved.

.....wow.....

.....imagine limiting your options just because you have this odd prejudice against what (is to me) a rather large genre. :\

I look forward to seeing "Steamboy". The trailer looks hot. However, a friend of mine who's already seen it says its kinda boring. Which doesn't surprise me considering that a lot feature length endeavors from Japan Anime crowd makes the pace of their stories a bit on the slow side. But I suppose its a matter of taste. How do you like steak? Medium? Well-done?

 

[Uzumaki]

How do you like steak? Medium? Well-done?

We likes it rrrraw! and wrrrriggling!!!

 

[Krug]

US trailer: http://movie-list.com/s/steamboy.html