Steamboy (***)
review by Jon
Waterman
Note: There are two versions of the film circulating in theaters.
One is the English dubbed version and one is the Japanese original
language track version. The subtitled version runs a half-hour
longer than the dubbed. This review is for the longer, subtitled
version.
The Steam family is working on something big for the World
Expo. They hope to unveil something that is sure to be a turning
point in 19th century civilization. It’s an invention
that everybody’s looking for. He who controls the ball
holds all the power. It’s up to the youngest Steam boy,
Ray, to keep the device away from the clutches of evil. The
only problem is knowing who can be trusted, even within his
own family. Ray soon realizes that something must be done quickly,
because the problem is escalating with every second.
Speaking of metal balls, it must have taken some to pitch
this movie. “I want to make a period piece about steam
engines and their potential in the late nineteenth century.
I’m going to set it in the United Kingdom, but released
theatrically in Japan. Oh, and it’ll cost more than any
other animated film we’ve done so far.” If I were
an executive, I would have hid my massive bag of money (complete
with yen sign printed on the side) as if it were a coveted
steam ball. It’s hard to imagine audiences of any type
really buying into this concept or becoming invested in the
film. I can only imagine that the names Katsuhiro Ôtomo
(Director of “Akira” and writer of “Metropolis”)
and Sadayuki Murai (writer for the “Cowboy Bebop” series
and the film “Perfect Blue”) got this project off
the ground. Anyone that knows anime just got a semi.
Unfortunately, the movie takes an extraordinary long time
to really get rolling. There’s a lot of drab exposition,
that’s relatively essential (but still dull), during
the first half hour or so. After the engine warms up, and all
the cylinders start pumping, it’ll pull you back in.
The momentum builds, so if you can hold out for a little bit,
it’ll be worth it. For such a story, there’s a
great amount of futuristic devices and portents of doom to
go around. The climactic battle is one of the most fascinating
and engaging to be projected in years.
The acting is predictably and typically bad, as Japanese voice
acting is prone to over the top, cartoony performances. The
animation looks pretty good and gives a great example of how
standard cels and computer generated images can work together,
instead of competing for attention. The scenery isn’t
anything too spectacular (England’s not known for its
beautiful landscapes), but the inventions and technology presented
look really cool (especially in action). What the movie lacks
in subtlety (if you can’t tell the anti-corporation,
big business and government logic I don’t know what to
tell you. But more importantly, their last name is Steam for
cryin’ out loud! A smidge of tact would be nice) it makes
up for with a fun, exciting adventure…eventually.
respond to jon@filmbrats.com
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