Cowboy Bebop: The Movie

"Cowboy Bebop" is a popular anime (Japanese animation, for those out of the loop) television series in Japan that, due to late night syndication, is quickly gaining an American following. Now that it has gained a substantial fan-base on both sides of the Atlantic, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie is receiving a limited release here in the States. The result is an often great, always gorgeous (if not always narratively cohesive) film that will delight fans of the series and please all others.

I am a fairly large fan of "Cowboy Bebop" the series. It's innovative blend of sci-fi, westerns, and Tarantino pop culture sensibilities - plus a compelling story-line and sympathetic characters - make it one of the few pleasant experiences on television these days. So I liked Knockin' on Heaven's Door. It's not up to the high standards set by the series, but the limited running length make that acceptable. However, while those not acquainted with the series will still find plenty to like, the effect will be lessened. At least a passable knowledge of the characters is required for full enjoyment.

Knocking on Heaven's Door takes place between episodes 22 and 23 of the series. After a tanker truck explodes, people begin to get sick with a mysterious illness. Soon, it has been declared an act of bio-terrorism, and a large bounty is put on the unidentified perpetrator's head. The heroes of the series, the Cowboys (the series's name for bounty hunters) Spike Spiegel (voice of Steven Blum), Jet Black (voice of Beau Billingslea), Faye Valentine (voice of Wendee Lee), and Ed (voice of Melissa Fahn) set out to catch the villain and collect the bounty. Soon, they find the man responsible, Vincent (voice of Daran Norris), a man who is immune to the disease and seemingly invincible.

Unlike the series, which focuses evenly on all of the Cowboys and their individual plot lines, Knockin' on Heaven's Door centers mainly on the character of Spike. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as Spike is probably the most interesting character in the film (if not the series), but it is notable for fans of the show.

Also unlike the series, the plot of Knockin' on Heaven's Door doesn't always make complete sense. Not everything is fully explained, and there are some logical holes, albeit not immediately obvious ones. Occasionally the editing becomes a little jerky, and we will be taken to a new scene with no real idea of what exactly is happening, or why it is happening. Usually, it is explained later, but it still can be jarring. Overall, however, the plot is compelling enough, and it contains a few twists to keep us interested. Even if the details are somewhat shady, the story as a whole is not too abstruce.

But the real reason to see Knockin' on Heaven's Door if you aren't a fan of the series is for the visceral impact. There are some breathtaking sets and spectacularly designed shots that put even the most inventive live-action directors to shame. Also, the fights and gun-play comes fast and furious, and these scenes are wonderfully designed and executed. If nothing else, Knockin' on Heaven's Door is a great action movie.

In another carry-over from the series, Knockin on Heaven's Door's music is fantastic. It doesn't contain any of the awful watered-down synthesized techno-pop crap that haunts all too many modern animes. In fact, the soundtrack is rather odd considering its futuristic setting - it is made up of all kinds of different jazz tracks. All of the music is used to great effect, especially during the action sequences. Amazingly, Knockin' on Heaven's Door is just as pleasing to listen to as it is to look at.

Despite being animated, Knockin' on Heaven's Door is not for children (as is often the case with anime). Its "R" rating is perhaps not justified, but taking young children to see the film is still not advised. Don't be turned off, however, by the fact that it is animated, or that it is based on a series you may not have ever heard of. The most ardent fans of the movie will certainly be those in the series's fan-base, but even those who have never seen the show can enjoy the movie. And that is definitely an accomplishment.

© 2003 Matt Noller