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wildvision) wrote2017-07-08 12:36 am
wildvision) wrote2017-07-08 12:36 am
Anime Review: Yuugiou: Dark Side of Dimensions
Well, I finally found a fansub with English subtitles, so I got to watch this movie!
First off, this movie is very pretty. The art is nice. The characters look a tiny bit different, but they're pretty on-model. Just with prettier art, I guess. I like it. And! The CG they used for the Duel Monsters was actually pretty well done! I usually hate mixing GC with regular 2D animation; it always stands out like a sore thumb, and looks really awkward. But they did a pretty good job with it here; it looked more natural, and didn't stand out in a bad way. So, yay for that.
Also speaking of the cards...what's with all the new Blue Eyes variants? I mean, don't get me wrong. Like any good Kaiba fan, I love me some Blue Eyes. But really. There were at least three new Blue Eyes forms in this movie alone. I was just surprised to see so many new ones, all at once!
On a purely minor character design change, I'm not sure what I think of Mokuba's new look. That haircut! And the suit! I dunno. He doesn't look bad, but it's so different! He looks like he's trying to be all grown up, but this movie's only set 6 months/a year after the end of the manga, I think. So, he's still a kid, darn it. I can't help but think that he's trying to be like his big brother, which is sweet, of course. Although, Kaiba doesn't run around in suits all the time. Hell, I think Kaiba only actually wore a suit once, and that was in an anime-only filler arc. XD
The plot was actually pretty decent, which I didn't expect. I figured it'd just be an excuse for random duels. (Think Pyramid of Light) But, this honestly felt like a story arc from the show/manga. (It had a little bit of a Battle City feel.) A much shorter one, mind you, but still. Although, speaking of length, I was surprised at how long this movie was! Usually, anime movies aren't much more than an hour long. Usually 60-90 minutes, or thereabouts. This one was over two hours! =D
Getting to see Bakura receive the Millenium Ring was pretty neat, although I have the niggling feeling that we were shown or told about that in the anime/manga already. But I can't remember exactly. (I need to reread/rewatch the series!)
I've got slightly mixed feelings about Kaiba in this movie. He spent pretty much the entire series denying all the mystical elements, magic, ancient spirits, etc. So for him to be openly admitting that Atem was the soul of an ancient pharaoh who resided in Yugi, and that he wanted to resurrect him...felt a little odd. I honestly can't remember if Kaiba finally accepted things toward the end, or not. I feel like I remember that maybe he did, but only a little and very grudgingly. Again, I need to rewatch/reread!
But, if he did accept it, then I can see this. Kaiba is nothing if not obsessive. And he gets points for sacrificing himself to save Yugi, saying that they needed the Pharaoh to save them, and only Yugi could bring him out. And when he praised Yugi as a duelist at the end! After he was ragging on him earlier, that felt good. Honestly, though. Everyone kept underestimating Yugi in this one! Not surprising, when Atem did all the fighting before, but still. The whole point of the Ceremonial Battle was that Yugi had to defeat Atem in order to lay his soul to rest. And he did! It also served to show everyone that Yugi had grown enough, and that he inherited Atem's title and his legacy. Yugi is the King of Games, now. It's like, Diva's spouting the villain cliche, "Oh, you can't beat me!", and I'm just sitting here like, "Dude, Yugi beat the Pharaoh, and I guarantee that Atem is better than you! So, yeah, he can beat you!" Of course, that kinda fell through, since they did need Atem to come save their asses, but still. I honestly think that was just because fans love him, and they wanted a reason to bring him back, even if only for a moment.
And about that...what exactly happened, anyway? It looked like Atem just showed up, summoned Mahaado (somehow?) and attacked the bad guy. So...was that supposed to still be part of the duel, with cards and all? Or did Atem just use some afterlife mojo to whip his ass? He didn't call out his plays, like he would if he were using cards. (He didn't speak at all! Which is a little odd, since I'm pretty sure he and Yugi have the same seiyuu, so it's not like it'd cost them more money to bring someone else back.) I dunno. When I first saw it, I thought he'd brought back Mahaado (who was a legit sorcerer) to use magic to attack the guy. But later, I saw a review or something and people were talking about it like he'd used a card. I don't play the game, so I don't know.
Speaking of bringing Atem back, I honestly liked the scene when Yugi stops the duel and completes the Puzzle, showing Kaiba that Atem wasn't in there anymore. I spent the whole first part of this movie kinda fussing about that. Again, the point of the Ceremonial Duel was to lay Atem to rest. His spirit went to the afterlife, not back in the Puzzle! So, seeing everyone running around, talking about how they'd resurrect him if the Puzzle was reassembled...I knew that was wrong, but they kept at it enough that I wondered if they were going to ignore the series ending and make that work somehow. I'm glad they didn't.
And I do kind of like the idea that Atem is at peace, but that he's still got the power to reach out, if he ever had to. They skirted the whole 'bringing him back' thing pretty decently. Part of me would just like to see him come back, period. But then, I kinda wanted that back when the series ended. I can see why him moving on is the right ending, but I still kinda wanted him to stay. So, it's the same here. I'd kinda like him to really come back, but I'm not surprised they didn't do that. And what they did go with is pretty good. I just wish we'd gotten more of a scene between Yugi and Atem afterward! I wanted a reunion, damnit! And Yugi said that they talked, but if so, we didn't see it. So, boo to that.
And another reason I need to reread/rewatch the series...what was the deal with the Millennium Ring, toward the end? I thought that Yami no Bakura was cast out, destroyed, whatever after the Dark RPG. That they finally defeated him for good. But here, they're kinda acting like there's still an evil spirit in the Ring. So, is there? Is he still trapped in the Ring? I didn't think so, but now I wonder.
And the bit at the very end, with Kaiba. I want to know what the hell that means! It looks like he somehow made it into the afterlife, as it shows him walking into Atem's court. But...does that mean he's dead? O_o I really, really hope not! Mokuba was pretty worried, and in the prequel manga, he almost died when he used that device, before. So...yeah. Kinda worried, here! I mean, part of me thinks that surely they wouldn't kill Kaiba...he's such a major character in the series. But then...the series is over. This is kind of an anniversary thing, this movie. I think that's why they made it. So...I don't know. He'd better not be dead!
Oh, and that ending! Even putting aside the question of Kaiba's fate...him walking in, seeing Atem again...and then fade to black. It's like...if you're going to indicate that they got to duel again, you have to let us see it! You can't just stop there! Although...maybe that's a hook for another movie? =D I hope, I hope, I hope~!
Two more random thoughts. I'm glad that we got to see Bakura and Otogi in this one. Bakura sadly didn't get to do a lot with Yugi-tachi, before. He was mostly around to play host to Yami no Bakura. And Otogi's just a minor character. I thought we might see Bakura, but I never thought Otogi'd be in this. No Mai, though. But, we can't have everything. Still, minor character love!
And finally, what was up with Black Magician in this movie? He looked totally different! I thought maybe it was meant to be a different monster, but you can clearly hear Yugi say 'Black Magician'. So, I dunno. I liked the purple better!
So, final verdict! This was actually really good. Like, really. It was better than I expected it would be. I mean, it's Yuugiou, so I kinda figured I'd like it at least a little bit, no matter what. But I didn't expect a lot. (I remember Pyramid of Light) But it was honestly really fun, and I liked it a lot. So, if you're a YGO fan at all, go watch it. If you're not, then watch/read the series first. This'll be a little confusing if you don't.
First off, this movie is very pretty. The art is nice. The characters look a tiny bit different, but they're pretty on-model. Just with prettier art, I guess. I like it. And! The CG they used for the Duel Monsters was actually pretty well done! I usually hate mixing GC with regular 2D animation; it always stands out like a sore thumb, and looks really awkward. But they did a pretty good job with it here; it looked more natural, and didn't stand out in a bad way. So, yay for that.
Also speaking of the cards...what's with all the new Blue Eyes variants? I mean, don't get me wrong. Like any good Kaiba fan, I love me some Blue Eyes. But really. There were at least three new Blue Eyes forms in this movie alone. I was just surprised to see so many new ones, all at once!
On a purely minor character design change, I'm not sure what I think of Mokuba's new look. That haircut! And the suit! I dunno. He doesn't look bad, but it's so different! He looks like he's trying to be all grown up, but this movie's only set 6 months/a year after the end of the manga, I think. So, he's still a kid, darn it. I can't help but think that he's trying to be like his big brother, which is sweet, of course. Although, Kaiba doesn't run around in suits all the time. Hell, I think Kaiba only actually wore a suit once, and that was in an anime-only filler arc. XD
The plot was actually pretty decent, which I didn't expect. I figured it'd just be an excuse for random duels. (Think Pyramid of Light) But, this honestly felt like a story arc from the show/manga. (It had a little bit of a Battle City feel.) A much shorter one, mind you, but still. Although, speaking of length, I was surprised at how long this movie was! Usually, anime movies aren't much more than an hour long. Usually 60-90 minutes, or thereabouts. This one was over two hours! =D
Getting to see Bakura receive the Millenium Ring was pretty neat, although I have the niggling feeling that we were shown or told about that in the anime/manga already. But I can't remember exactly. (I need to reread/rewatch the series!)
I've got slightly mixed feelings about Kaiba in this movie. He spent pretty much the entire series denying all the mystical elements, magic, ancient spirits, etc. So for him to be openly admitting that Atem was the soul of an ancient pharaoh who resided in Yugi, and that he wanted to resurrect him...felt a little odd. I honestly can't remember if Kaiba finally accepted things toward the end, or not. I feel like I remember that maybe he did, but only a little and very grudgingly. Again, I need to rewatch/reread!
But, if he did accept it, then I can see this. Kaiba is nothing if not obsessive. And he gets points for sacrificing himself to save Yugi, saying that they needed the Pharaoh to save them, and only Yugi could bring him out. And when he praised Yugi as a duelist at the end! After he was ragging on him earlier, that felt good. Honestly, though. Everyone kept underestimating Yugi in this one! Not surprising, when Atem did all the fighting before, but still. The whole point of the Ceremonial Battle was that Yugi had to defeat Atem in order to lay his soul to rest. And he did! It also served to show everyone that Yugi had grown enough, and that he inherited Atem's title and his legacy. Yugi is the King of Games, now. It's like, Diva's spouting the villain cliche, "Oh, you can't beat me!", and I'm just sitting here like, "Dude, Yugi beat the Pharaoh, and I guarantee that Atem is better than you! So, yeah, he can beat you!" Of course, that kinda fell through, since they did need Atem to come save their asses, but still. I honestly think that was just because fans love him, and they wanted a reason to bring him back, even if only for a moment.
And about that...what exactly happened, anyway? It looked like Atem just showed up, summoned Mahaado (somehow?) and attacked the bad guy. So...was that supposed to still be part of the duel, with cards and all? Or did Atem just use some afterlife mojo to whip his ass? He didn't call out his plays, like he would if he were using cards. (He didn't speak at all! Which is a little odd, since I'm pretty sure he and Yugi have the same seiyuu, so it's not like it'd cost them more money to bring someone else back.) I dunno. When I first saw it, I thought he'd brought back Mahaado (who was a legit sorcerer) to use magic to attack the guy. But later, I saw a review or something and people were talking about it like he'd used a card. I don't play the game, so I don't know.
Speaking of bringing Atem back, I honestly liked the scene when Yugi stops the duel and completes the Puzzle, showing Kaiba that Atem wasn't in there anymore. I spent the whole first part of this movie kinda fussing about that. Again, the point of the Ceremonial Duel was to lay Atem to rest. His spirit went to the afterlife, not back in the Puzzle! So, seeing everyone running around, talking about how they'd resurrect him if the Puzzle was reassembled...I knew that was wrong, but they kept at it enough that I wondered if they were going to ignore the series ending and make that work somehow. I'm glad they didn't.
And I do kind of like the idea that Atem is at peace, but that he's still got the power to reach out, if he ever had to. They skirted the whole 'bringing him back' thing pretty decently. Part of me would just like to see him come back, period. But then, I kinda wanted that back when the series ended. I can see why him moving on is the right ending, but I still kinda wanted him to stay. So, it's the same here. I'd kinda like him to really come back, but I'm not surprised they didn't do that. And what they did go with is pretty good. I just wish we'd gotten more of a scene between Yugi and Atem afterward! I wanted a reunion, damnit! And Yugi said that they talked, but if so, we didn't see it. So, boo to that.
And another reason I need to reread/rewatch the series...what was the deal with the Millennium Ring, toward the end? I thought that Yami no Bakura was cast out, destroyed, whatever after the Dark RPG. That they finally defeated him for good. But here, they're kinda acting like there's still an evil spirit in the Ring. So, is there? Is he still trapped in the Ring? I didn't think so, but now I wonder.
And the bit at the very end, with Kaiba. I want to know what the hell that means! It looks like he somehow made it into the afterlife, as it shows him walking into Atem's court. But...does that mean he's dead? O_o I really, really hope not! Mokuba was pretty worried, and in the prequel manga, he almost died when he used that device, before. So...yeah. Kinda worried, here! I mean, part of me thinks that surely they wouldn't kill Kaiba...he's such a major character in the series. But then...the series is over. This is kind of an anniversary thing, this movie. I think that's why they made it. So...I don't know. He'd better not be dead!
Oh, and that ending! Even putting aside the question of Kaiba's fate...him walking in, seeing Atem again...and then fade to black. It's like...if you're going to indicate that they got to duel again, you have to let us see it! You can't just stop there! Although...maybe that's a hook for another movie? =D I hope, I hope, I hope~!
Two more random thoughts. I'm glad that we got to see Bakura and Otogi in this one. Bakura sadly didn't get to do a lot with Yugi-tachi, before. He was mostly around to play host to Yami no Bakura. And Otogi's just a minor character. I thought we might see Bakura, but I never thought Otogi'd be in this. No Mai, though. But, we can't have everything. Still, minor character love!
And finally, what was up with Black Magician in this movie? He looked totally different! I thought maybe it was meant to be a different monster, but you can clearly hear Yugi say 'Black Magician'. So, I dunno. I liked the purple better!
So, final verdict! This was actually really good. Like, really. It was better than I expected it would be. I mean, it's Yuugiou, so I kinda figured I'd like it at least a little bit, no matter what. But I didn't expect a lot. (I remember Pyramid of Light) But it was honestly really fun, and I liked it a lot. So, if you're a YGO fan at all, go watch it. If you're not, then watch/read the series first. This'll be a little confusing if you don't.