Steamboy

Hylas · May 3rd, 2006, 01:41 PM

I'm really interested in this movie. I've heard the animation is spectacular, but the story is dull and boring. I'm not an Akira fan, it's ok, but nothing extraordinary, so I don't know if this movie is too much like Akira or not.

Do you suggest me to buy this movie or rent it?

kupoartist · May 3rd, 2006, 02:39 PM

I've heard mostly bad things about this movie. I'm not all that much of an Akira fan either, and Otomo's films often seem disjointed and nonsensical to me, and i wouldn't expect anything different from Steamboy. I haven't seen it yet mind you, because Sony did a crap job of releasing it in th UK (being forced to buy a special edition directors cut with a few hundred pages of extra material just to get the Japanese language track isn't worthwhile IMO, because I don't want all that unneccessary clutter for a film I probably won't even like all that much).

Tempted to order this version though: https://www3.cd-wow.com/detail_result...subcat=region2 it looks like a german version of the directors cut. You don't get English audio (because it's a german release), but you get english subtitles for the Japanese audio. And it's a cheaper edition than any we can get in the UK.

Pu the Owl · May 3rd, 2006, 07:38 PM

Steamboy is not that bad. The story is a bit repetitive and characters' relations are not very well analyzed, but it's worth watching for the animation only. You said it's "spectacular". It is. It's really amazing. No wonder it took 8 years to make it, because of financial problems. The movie was incredibly expensive, and it shows. If you want a good sci-fi, maybe this not the top, but still I think it deserves a try. Better watching it with original audio. Japanese with English sub is perfect. Rent it if you have doubts. It's not very much like Akira IMO, though some themes are the same. It's still Otomo, after all. I think it's more coherent and cohesive than some other Otomo's works. It's more like a "simplified Jules Verne meets Japanese animation".

merylsilverburg · May 3rd, 2006, 07:45 PM

I rented Steamboy when it was released in the States but I just couldn't bring myself to watch it. I guess it's because as different as the story and style may be from Akira, I just can't get over that it's from Otomo and I never was interested in watching Akira either. Oh well, hehe.

kupoartist · May 4th, 2006, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panuru

"simplified Jules Verne meets Japanese animation".

Nadia? O_o

Pu the Owl · May 4th, 2006, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kupoartist

Nadia? O_o

I wouldn't call Nadia "simplified". I actually think that is the opposite of it. Hideaki Anno likes things that are complicated to the max

But yes, Steamboy shares some similarities with Nadia, at least in setting, in technology's depiction, and in some character's portrayal (for example Ray is a bit like Jean and his father like Nemo, but in a very simple and superficial way).

Rei · May 4th, 2006, 05:48 PM

Steamboy is great. Go see it!

Pu the Owl · May 8th, 2006, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merylsilverburg

I rented Steamboy when it was released in the States but I just couldn't bring myself to watch it. I guess it's because as different as the story and style may be from Akira, I just can't get over that it's from Otomo and I never was interested in watching Akira either. Oh well, hehe.

Akira is awful IMO. Sorry, I know I'll be hated for saying this, but it's what I think. I found it boring, pretentious and intentionally obscure. Steamboy is at least clear from beginning to end, and more traditional, speaking of plot and development.

kupoartist · May 8th, 2006, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panuru

Akira is awful IMO. Sorry, I know I'll be hated for saying this, but it's what I think.

awful is too harsh... but it's certainly not all that good. Which apparently makes 3 Akira dislikers in this thread

merylsilverburg · May 9th, 2006, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panuru

Akira is awful IMO. Sorry, I know I'll be hated for saying this, but it's what I think. I found it boring, pretentious and intentionally obscure. Steamboy is at least clear from beginning to end, and more traditional, speaking of plot and development.

It was certainly revolutionary in its time apparently, though I don't know why. I may be able to determine all the hype if, like I said, I could just bring myself to watch it. I don't know what it is...it just seems too unappealing and my sister saw a little of it when she was young, but she didn't like it either.

I may give Steamboy a try again though.

May 3rd, 2006, 01:41 PM	#1
Hylas Now or Never Joined: Jan 2002 Location: Zürich Age: 44 Posts: 2,456	Steamboy I'm really interested in this movie. I've heard the animation is spectacular, but the story is dull and boring. I'm not an Akira fan, it's ok, but nothing extraordinary, so I don't know if this movie is too much like Akira or not. Do you suggest me to buy this movie or rent it?

May 3rd, 2006, 02:39 PM	#2
kupoartist .illustrated.thingy. Joined: Mar 2002 Location: pixel-land Age: 39 Posts: 2,576	I've heard mostly bad things about this movie. I'm not all that much of an Akira fan either, and Otomo's films often seem disjointed and nonsensical to me, and i wouldn't expect anything different from Steamboy. I haven't seen it yet mind you, because Sony did a crap job of releasing it in th UK (being forced to buy a special edition directors cut with a few hundred pages of extra material just to get the Japanese language track isn't worthwhile IMO, because I don't want all that unneccessary clutter for a film I probably won't even like all that much). Tempted to order this version though: https://www3.cd-wow.com/detail_result...subcat=region2 it looks like a german version of the directors cut. You don't get English audio (because it's a german release), but you get english subtitles for the Japanese audio. And it's a cheaper edition than any we can get in the UK. __________________ ~ the kupoartistry network ~ puppeteer ~ forever loyal ~ illustrated girl ~ arbitrary imposition ~ moonlight butterfly ~ うらぎりもの ~

May 3rd, 2006, 07:45 PM	#4
merylsilverburg Enemy or Ally? Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 4,023	I rented Steamboy when it was released in the States but I just couldn't bring myself to watch it. I guess it's because as different as the story and style may be from Akira, I just can't get over that it's from Otomo and I never was interested in watching Akira either. Oh well, hehe. __________________ "You're a louse Roger Smith" ~ R. Dorothy Wayneright "Have a little priest" ~ Mrs. Lovett "Grim Reaper, you could not get the women? What was the problem? Didn't you reap them with your grim reaping equipment?" "I tried that but the women, they all know hopscotch" ~ Eddie Izzard You Can Help

	PsFantasy.com Forums » General Forums » Comics And Anime Forum
Steamboy

May 3rd, 2006, 07:38 PM	#3
Pu the Owl Useless Oracle™ Joined: Jan 2002 Location: Everywhere Posts: 5,136	Steamboy is not that bad. The story is a bit repetitive and characters' relations are not very well analyzed, but it's worth watching for the animation only. You said it's "spectacular". It is. It's really amazing. No wonder it took 8 years to make it, because of financial problems. The movie was incredibly expensive, and it shows. If you want a good sci-fi, maybe this not the top, but still I think it deserves a try. Better watching it with original audio. Japanese with English sub is perfect. Rent it if you have doubts. It's not very much like Akira IMO, though some themes are the same. It's still Otomo, after all. I think it's more coherent and cohesive than some other Otomo's works. It's more like a "simplified Jules Verne meets Japanese animation".

May 4th, 2006, 05:48 PM	#7
Rei EVA 00 Pilot Joined: Jan 2002 Location: NERV Age: 43 Posts: 2,239	Steamboy is great. Go see it!


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