20th Century Boys

Fysh

20th Century Boys IMDB info

I just saw this last night at the ICA, and I thought it was great! Didn't realise when booking tickets that it was the first part of a trilogy, but even so it was a fantastically enjoyable film. Reminiscent of Stephen King's IT to a certain extent, it's the story of a group of childhood friends who regroup as adults when they realise that a shadowy cult has connections to them, starting with the use of a symbol created by a member of their childhood gang. As they investigate further into the cult's goals, they find that it is tightly interwoven with their childhood group and a story written by one of them titled "The Book of Prophecies".

Apparently the second chapter was released in Japan earlier this year, but there doesn't seem to be much information about it available anywhere. I'll definitely be watching it when it comes out, and have already pre-ordered the 2-disc DVD released of the first part.

Anybody else seen this, or have any more info about the second chapter's release date?

Fysh

Sorry for bumping an old post/thread but I figured it makes as much sense as re-posting the same thing with a bit more information.

I was lucky enough to see 20th Century Boys part 2 last year at a London Sci-fi show, but I haven't heard anything about a cinema release for it, and nothing whatsoever about a cinematic release for part 3 which I understand was out in Japan last August. I've not noticed it be available on DVD yet either (the official UK distributor website still has "Coming soon" under the Chapter 2 DVD release info).

However, those interested in such matters might like to know that there's a 4 disc release of the full trilogy due out at the end of May this year, which can be pre-ordered for cheap at all the usual sites. I've already got my pre-order in and can't wait to watch all three back to back, though I would love the chance to do so at a cinema screening.

Anybody else looking forward to this?

(On a separate note, Viz Media are releasing the English translations of the original 24-volume manga series, with 7 volumes out so far and a new one out every 2 months. If you liked the films the manga is well worth checking out.)

Part 2 was due for release on DVD last September but got pushed back to January and has now gone to a coming soon status. I've been getting status updates from sendit.com for the past 7 months apologising for it not being sent out and at this stage it's bloody annoying.

They have been released on Blu Ray across the waters and I'm considering picking them up, just for that final to part 1.

johnny_ultimate

I've been meaning to get around to watching this. They were making a huge deal about some DVD release of it when I was in Japan, and I think I saw a trailer for it in a shop or cinema somewhere (and didn't have a clue what was going on, bar some guy wearing a mask with a hand on it). I then promptly forgot about, but this thread has reminded me to dig it up However, going by both of your comments about the DVD releases, it may be a while - might just wait for the trilogy boxset if it ever actually comes out.

johnny_ultimate

*bump*

Picked up the trilogy boxset in town the other day, and just finished watching Part 2. Really enjoying it so far, a pleasant change of pace. So far, I'd rank the first a little over the second - seemed a little more coherent overall - but they're both very fun and clever films. Obviously, they director has been somewhat limited by budget (he gets by this by being creative editing wise, but there are times near the end of part one especially where the CGI struggles somewhat), but he does wonders with what he is, focusing more on characters and narrative progression over setpieces (although there's no shortage of those either). Thought the time-jumping may have been confusing, and there are a lot of characters that appear in the middle act of chapter 2 that made me a little lost, but overall it works well.

The last half an hour or so of Chapter 2 was fantastic

(some fantastic imagery such as Shogun coming through the pane glass window, or Friend's burial ceremony)

, so I'm looking forward to Chapter 3 over the next few days.

Definitely recommended to see a non-Hollywood studio tackle such a huge endeavor. Shame this doesn't seem to have gotten much hype over here, because it's a series that deserves more attention than it seems to be getting!

johnny_ultimate

And another bump :pac:

Watched part 3 last night, and was a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Probably the more 'action-packed' of the films -

Shogun + rocket launchers + UFOs!

. Takes a while to kick off - the cast has grown pretty large at this point so the director needs to give all of them time, and a few suffer as a result. However, the themes of the series - such as nostalgia, religious indoctrination, and of course the 20th century - come into much clearer focus. This is pretty much a series about reflecting the important cultural concerns of Japan in the latter half of the 20th century - so you have rock stars, cults, viruses / terrorism, and naturally

nuclear bombs.

The focus adds a lot to the story, and is helped along by generally strong characters, and an iconic central villain whose motivations are happily the focus of the last chapter.

Perhaps the films do sometimes stretch the running time a little too far, but for the most part these are refreshingly intelligent and thoughtful films. A strange mix of genres, with a huge ensemble cast by the end, but a refreshing alternative to the typical sci-fi epic.

Probably the best example I've ever seen of 'stay until after the credits' though. Frickin' thing goes on for another surprisingly effective fifteen minutes :pac:

Fysh

Heh, I'd forgotten to post in this thread earlier in the year - I was delighted to find out that it was screened as part of an Asian Film festival.

I particularly liked the "in case you've not seen the first two parts of this trilogy" introduction, but the festival organiser also made a point of telling everyone to stay after the credits for the "proper ending" - which was much more satisfying IMO (though a few numpties still left as soon as the credits started rolling).

Overall I think there was a slight tonal shift in the third part, a deliberate attempt to lighten the mood a bit after the fairly grim and heavy chapters that preceded it. It reminded me to a certain extent of the likes of Host and Happiness Of The Katakuris...

That said, I still think this is one of the best trilogies I've ever seen in terms of internal consistency and overall cohesion. The second part does feel like a bit of a bridge film, though.

johnny_ultimate

Fysh wrote: »

Overall I think there was a slight tonal shift in the third part, a deliberate attempt to lighten the mood a bit after the fairly grim and heavy chapters that preceded it. It reminded me to a certain extent of the likes of Host and Happiness Of The Katakuris...

That said, I still think this is one of the best trilogies I've ever seen in terms of internal consistency and overall cohesion. The second part does feel like a bit of a bridge film, though.

It definitely goes out of its way to provide a slightly happier ending.

I liked the reunion scene at the concert with Kanna and Kenji, but I agree that the 'real' ending provides more interesting and refreshing closure than the big blow out rock concert

. There's an alternate ending on the DVD I flicked through which gives some of the other characters some more closure too

(such as a Kanna and her mother reunion scene).

I personally felt the three films felt quite different from each other, mainly due to the focus on different characters in the first and the second especially. The third one sort of reminded me of Return of the Jedi, in terms of action anyway

(bigger robot and all!)

, and obviously changing the tone to something slightly more optimistic.

Really my only major problem with it was that some of the characters - Kanna particularly - didn't have their chance to shine as much as they could have in the third one. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed the series, and would definitely recommend them.