Cowboy Bebop: Knockin on Heaven's Door

Title:Cowboy Bebop: Knockin on Heaven's Door
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
カウボーイビバップ天国の扉 (Japanese)
Overall:Buy
Keywords: , , , , , , ,
Notables: Animation - BONES
HAYASHIBARA Megumi
Music - KANNO Yoko
R1 License - Sony Pictures Home Ent
WATANABE Shinichiro
Mars is under siege! Just before Halloween 2071, a terrorist bomb destroys a tanker truck on Highway One, close to a densely-populated crater city. There are casualties up to half a mile from the blast - 500 killed or injured by what appears to be a biochemical weapon. The reward for the bomber’s capture is a massive 300,000,000 woolongs... and there are four humans and a dog who really need the money. Down on their luck as usual, the crew of the Bebop get on the case.

The mis-matched crew of the Bebop are back, and this time they`re on the silver screen.

This movie takes place between (in the time period of) episodes 22 and 23 of the Cowboy Bebop TV series.

(Summary from ANIDB.)

114min Movie
OverallArtAnimationCharacter Design MusicSeries StoryEpisode StoryReviewer
Rent 10 10 8 8 7 Ggultra2764 [series:469#1552]
Knockin on Heaven's Door makes for a decent addition to the Cowboy Bebop series though it felt an hour too long for me. The plot revolves around the Bebop crew looking into a biochemical bomber case that leads them into a government conspiracy concerning the use of said weapons. Such a plot would feel like a typical Bebop episode as it has the feel of it. You have Faye, Jett, and Spike busting some store burglars at the start of the movie. There's also some humor and intrigue to get off of tie-in's from the series as well like the Indian shaman, the three old men, and even Julius the drag queen. The animation's even more polished and detailed compared to the TV series.

However, the plot to this movie felt like it dragged on making me wonder if this would have been more ideal for a 1-hour OAV. It was hard to figure out whether I should love or hate Vincent. Sure, the guy was the victim of government testing. But, wiping out an entire planet with the virus just left me baffled over the guy. Plus, he lacked any emotion throughout the movie compared to the villians in the series. While as composed and collected as Vicious, Spike's arch-foe shown an outburst on a few occasions to show that even he had some anger to let loose compared to deadpan Vincent. Also with Electra's appearance in the movie, trying to create a similarity with her relationship to Vincent with Spike and Julia didn't work out too well for me since there was so little time in the movie to devote depth into both characters.

If you were a big fan of Cowboy Bebop, then you should enjoy this movie a great deal. While not bad though, the movie, for me, was a two-hour episode of the TV series that was just an hour too long.

Last updated Monday, September 08 2008. Created Monday, September 08 2008.
Buy 10 10 10 10 Violet D [series:469#1393]
After I watched the last episode of Cowboy Bebop. I thought this is the end and my favorite chacter dies. Well I had to buy the movie to appease myself. This is a good one in Japanese, French and English. There is also two or three music videos to listen to. The movie Cowboy Bebop has everything you want to see. You start watching at the beginning and get lost in it till the end.

Last updated Thursday, June 23 2005. Created Thursday, June 23 2005.
Buy 10 10 10 10 10 10 The Coyote [series:469#64]
The perfect addition to the perfect series done the only way you possibly could add to this series. I could watch Faye and the gang all day long. everything about this fits the Bebop series and the high standereds that represents. This is a must Bye for the Anime fan that loves Anime for what is dose best. Takes animation and turns it into world class entertainment that can compeat with any live action production out there. Story line and Charater desine are better than most live action productions as well. inventive origional and intruigueing. Ok I ran out of flowery things to say just go buy this ok.

Last updated Sunday, May 30 2004. Created Sunday, May 30 2004.
Rent 10 10 8 8 6 6 DillonSOB [series:469#1352]
For such an excellent series like Bebop, Knockin on Heaven's Door doesn't do it justice on the big screen. Vincent is a pretty weak antagonist, and the 'traumatized/abused soldier turned vindictive murderer but still has a good heart' motif has been done many times in Hollywood (First Blood, The Rock, The Hunted). Furthermore, the bioweapons plotline is too cliche for a series as fresh and creative as Bebop. Maybe I'm being too harsh because I am a hard core Bebop fan (if you couldn't tell), and I expect nothing short of brilliance from Watanabe's crew.
The best scene is Spike and Elektra talking about their pasts in the prison cells, and then he takes out the guard and they escape. Their fight beforehand (as well as Spike/Vincent combat) is quite entertaining. Of course the art is nicely beefed up and the music is quite good, but something with the Bebop name deserves better (plus it was like a total flop in the US box office).

Last updated Monday, May 24 2004. Created Monday, May 24 2004.
Buy 10 10 10 10 10 10 Black Panther [series:469#142]
Knocking on Heavens Door is a perfect addition to the series. The art and animation was superb as well as the story line. It was like watching an extended episode! I really loved it and if youre as much of a Cowboy Bebop fan as I then you will to!
I love Spike

Last updated Thursday, October 02 2003. Created Thursday, October 02 2003.
Rent Stretch [series:469#628]
Having seen each episode of the TV series 6-8 times, I was delighted to finally get my hands on some new Cowboy Bebop. The animation of the TV series was outstanding, of course, but I soon noticed that this was even better--true movie quality. I noticed scenes that seemed to have been designed for a wide-angle movie screen, with all four major charachters displayed and still room to spare. Unfortunately, the audio of my rented DVD had a problem--music, and sound effects like gunshots and explosions had been recorded at a much higher volume than dialogue (yeah, I know explosions are supposed to be loud, but the TV show was never like this, and I was having to continually adjust the volume). Anyway, I liked the steady supply of tie-ins to the original series--the three old men, the Indian fortune-teller, a reference to Julia, and the "Big Shots" TV show (with a new opening sequence). I also liked the fact that Ein got to help out in solving this case. Another really cool scene was Spike fighting with a broom as a weapon. I think genuine martial arts, without anybody leaping 60 feet in the air or hurling fireballs from their bare hands, are all the more impressive because they really are possible! Of course Spike can get the living s--- beaten out of him, then recover overnight if he's wrapped up like a mummy--as we've seen before. The plot kind of reminded me of the "Gateway Shuffle" episode, what with the entire population of a planet liable to be annihilated by a mysterious "virus". The movie seemed to go a little too long for me, in spite of all the enthusiasm I had started with. I almost expected the credits to start rolling after the fight on the elevated railroad, but the movie in fact still had around an hour to go. Perhaps this was because compared to some of the charismatic villains from the TV show, Vincent Valejo was a pretty modest antagonist. It never really became clear to me why he wanted to wipe out everyone on Mars, and just because he obviously did somehow didn't make him completely despicable. It was kind of frustrating, trying to make sense of his motives--I almost felt as if the makers of this film were telling me 'This guy looks creepy! And he kills people! So what are you waiting for? Hate him!". The ending could have been better, too. Being based on a series as good as Cowboy Bebop, there's no guarantee that watching a movie for two hours will leave you any more satisfied than the typical half hour episode! In the end, I could think of a number of episodes from the original series that were more pleasing, but this was by no means a bad movie, and you can't lose with more Cowboy Bebop!

P.S.: If you've got the DVD, don't miss the chance to watch at least the opening scene with the charachters speaking in French. It's hilarious!

My favorite line: "I need a career change--something where I can make piles of money without any work" --Faye

9/03 #71

Last updated Saturday, February 09 2008. Created Thursday, September 25 2003.
Buy 10 10 10 10 10 10 Chris Janus [series:469#913]
Now Bebop still being my favorite series, you would think that the Bebop movie would be my favorite movie, well your right because it is, and for good reason. Anything that was good about the series is amped up for the movie. First the story. The story is of the bebop crew and it ties up the loose ends between episode 22 and 23. It takes place on mars and involves a terrorist who unleashes a very deadly virus. Now its up to the crew to find him (for the 300,000,000 bounty) and stop the spread of the virus. the art and animation are unbelievable, they are a step up from the series as well as anything else. Character designs are just as amazing. Now the one real amazing thing about this movie except for the story is the music. Yoko Kanno spared no expense. The music for this movie could quite possibly be the most amazing compilation of music for ANYTHING!!! and i mean it, the music sets the mood for everything and it fits it perfectly. Overall this is a masterpiece. This movie will be remembered forever and has offficially etched itself in the anime history books. a must see marvel. If you havent seen it yet, stop reading this and go see it now, because you dont know what your missing. See you space cowboy!

Last updated Monday, September 15 2003. Created Monday, September 15 2003.
Buy dhrachth [series:469#962]
Lovely edition to the Cowboy Bebop series. Gives a nod to all the Cowboy Bebop conventions to satisfy the long time fans and at the same time can stand on its own.
High quality piece of work all around.

Last updated Wednesday, September 10 2003. Created Wednesday, September 10 2003.
Buy 10 10 9 9 8 The saint [series:469#815]
A must see for the bebop fan in an otaku. A different villain, a new sexy character, retaining the original cast gaurantees a success.
Already out on DVD by Colombia films, go and buy out now space cowboy.

Last updated Monday, June 30 2003. Created Monday, June 30 2003.
Buy 10 9 9 7 8 AstroNerdBoy [series:469#436]
Wow!

First, let me say that you do NOT need to have seen the Cowboy Bebop series to enjoy this movie. While neither Spike, Jet, Faye, Ed, or Ein get a "proper" introduction, however, when we first are introduced to the characters, we are shown who and what they are. Jet and Spike track a bounty who's gang is robbing a convenience store. Faye is shown tracking another bounty who's a hacker. Ein is introduced helping Jet make a brilliant move in the game he is playing with Spike. Finally, Ed is introduced as her normal wacky self, but her hacking skills are soon called for.

The movie is set between episodes 22 and 23 of the series. The story is all about bio-terrorism. A terrorist is on the loose setting off explosions filled with nanites -- microscopic robots. With a 300,000,000 (W) bounty on the terrorist head, the gang decides "what the heck" and go for it.

I won't bore you in this review with plot. If you've seen Cowboy Bebop and loved it, you'll love this even more. Freed from the constraints of a 30-minute format (minus commercial time of course), the writers have done an excellent job in spinning an interesting and exciting tale. At nearly 2-hours, it is pretty long, but the drag factor isn't as bad as I feared. Artistically, this movie may be the best I've ever seen. I've only seen this on as a downloaded fansubbed file, and despite that, the amazing details of the art shine through! I can't wait to see this on the big screen! It will most certainly be breath-taking. Attention to details...well done!

There are some weaknesses that are fairly minor. I never cared for the music of the series and I don't really care about it here either (there are a couple of music interludes). However, even though it isn't my thing, it works for the movie. The movie does drag in a few spots, but again nothing major.

Finally, I didn't really like how the character of Electra Ovilo came into play. I suppose they were going for an air of mystery and such, but why she was working for Cherious Medical was never clear to me other than it was part of the military (and I had to look that up). The head of the company seemed obsessed with just destroying the nanites rather than protect the population from further attacks. That didn't make any sense to me either.

Bottom line: This shows how anime series can make the jump to the big screen! Great job!

Last updated Tuesday, September 16 2003. Created Tuesday, March 04 2003.
Buy 8 9 9 7 5 6 Ðå kïÐ [series:469#464]
I'll let the picture speak for it self......
Just kiddin one wicked ass anime known for character design and animation just buy it you wont regret i dont think i need to say anything more, this anime is famous for gathering heaps of fans. TO tell you the truth i hate the series but the movie is really good, will make a perfect addition to your collection.

Last updated Friday, December 27 2002. Created Friday, December 27 2002.

Other Sites
NameURL
Cowboy Bebop: The Real Folk Blues http://rfblues.aaanime.net/
A really nice fan site.
Anime Reactor Award http://forum.anime-reactor.net/viewtopic.php?t=21038
2001 award for Best Action / Martial Arts Anime

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