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Martian Successor Nadesico - The Motion Picture: Prince of Darkness

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Directors: Tatsuo Sato, Nobuyoshi Habara
Actors: Jennifer K. Earhart, Sue Ulu, Jenny Strader, Kelly Manison, Tomokazu Seki
Studio: Adv Films
Category: DVD

List Price: ~~$29.98~~
Buy Used: $11.93
You Save: $18.05 (60%)

New (1) Used (17) Collectible (1) from $11.93

Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

17 reviews
Sales Rank: 20689

Format: Animated, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Subtitled), English (Original Language), Japanese (Original Language), English (Dubbed)
Rating: Unrated
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 90
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.6

UPC: 702727038723
EAN: 0702727038723
ASIN: B0000D9PNI

Theatrical Release Date: July 16, 2000
Release Date: November 11, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Item in very good condition, rental overstock, may or may not include insert and/or stickers, 100% guaranteed.

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
Although it was initially criticized for spoofing mecha sci-fi adventures and fan culture, Martian Successor Nadesico (1996) became an international hit. Unfortunately, the theatrical film offers little of the original's irreverent humor. Two years after the broadcast series, Yurika and Akito are missing and presumed dead; Ruri now commands the Nadesico B. Ruri was always the beleaguered voice of common sense, noting, "I guess we'll be fumbling about, making noise `til the end. However, when you think about it, that's rather appropriate for us." The new Ruri asks dumb questions: "Are you a good guy or a bad guy?" Fry cook turned mecha pilot Akito appears as a masked, Keanu Reeves-esque figure. ("That was then. This is now.") Fragmented and difficult to follow, Prince of Darkness is a dreary coda to a wonderfully funny series. Where's Gekiganger 3 when we need him? (Rated 15 and older: profanity, brief nudity) --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews: Read 12 more reviews...

2 out of 5 stars

I wish things had been different... August 4, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

There's just so much wrong with this movie that I don't know where to begin, except to say that if you watched and enjoyed the original series, you should seriously consider avoiding this movie completely, because I can more or less guarantee that you're going to be disappointed.

For one thing, "Prince of Darkness" was written as a direct sequel to a video game that never saw release outside of Japan, "Nadesico: The Blank of Three Years." As a result, anybody who never played the game--meaning bloody near everyone in the US, I'd wager--will end up watching "Prince of Darkness" having missed the entire middle of the story. Why on Earth did the studio release the movie in the US, knowing full well that the vast majority of US viewers wouldn't have a prayer of following it? I haven't the slightest idea, and since the original series stands up just fine on its own, I wish they hadn't.

I could forgive that, though, if it weren't for the fact that virtually everything that made the series great has been either truncated or removed completely in the movie. Gekigangar III, for instance, the "meta-anime" series, is almost completely ignored, aside from a brief shot of a Gekiganger III keychain and a line or two of dialogue. Almost all of the series' humor has been removed, except for one or two scenes (particularly the ones involving Mizumi and Hikaru--I have to admit, I did laugh pretty hard at those). Worst of all, though, is the characters themselves, all of whom seemed to have undergone a personality transplant. Tenkawa Akito, the original series' protagonist and comic relief, is granted a cameo appearance in the movie, appearing as a brooding, unlikeable emo kid with a weird penchant for Green Hornet eyewear; and Hoshino Ruri, child prodigy and fan favorite from the series, is instead hideously misused in her new role as captain of the Nadesico-B and subject of a particularly insulting--both to the character and to the viewer--fanservice shot. Misamaru Yurika's role is almost nonexistent; she spends most of the movie in a fossilized state, and if it weren't for the fact that she was such a vital part of the series, her role in the movie wouldn't be worth mentioning.

To be fair, the movie's not a complete loss; there are a few honest laughs to be had, and some genuine drama, and occasionally the movie seems just on the verge of recapturing the spirit that made "Martian Successor Nadesico" so great in the first place. These moments are so few and far between, though, that the movie can't help but leave a bad taste in your mouth, like a cup of your favorite coffee with a healthy dash of vinegar mixed in. I can't in all honestly recommend this movie unless you're the kind of completist who has to have EVERYTHING, and even then, I'd highly recommend you buy a used copy. Or just stick with the series.

4 out of 5 stars

best of intentions March 13, 2006
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

they intended well but it skips alot and tries to explain it as you go i was thourly confused. but still gets A 4 DONT SKIP IT!

3 out of 5 stars

Flat Story Line January 22, 2006
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

This is hardly the film to start an acquaintance with the Nadesico series. Unfortunately, with my knack for getting everything backwards, it's where I began. It took me a while to sort out my confusion about what was happening, and when I finally did I still didn't find the story all that interesting.

This film comes after the original series Akito and Yurika, the original main characters, are gone and presumed dead. In their stead, Hosino Ruri is now the captain, but for the most part the old cast is gone. A series of Hisago Plan space colonies have come under attack and the Class A boson jumpers keep vanishing. The solution - call in the Nadesico B. As you might expect, nothing quite works out as planned.

On top of the competition between space based and earth based forces there are third and fourth interests at work. Once the Nadesico returns to earth after witnessing an attack the decision is made to unleash the experiment Nadesico C. At this point the film falters while Ruri suddenly goes on a hunt for a crew that can be trusted. And finally on to the climactic battle.

While the film is nicely done, it never seems to catch fire, despite its large number of battles. The characters don't seem to gel or develop anything beyond rudimentary relationships. With its large number of new characters, the film even puts off those viewers who are familiar with the original story.

I've survived looking at endings before beginnings before, so my over all dissatisfaction is the this film offers very little story in it's strange combination of violence and cuteness. I never felt the sense of drama that should underlie a story that has Martian rebels destroying who colonies. This is a flat effort. Oh yes, avoid the dubbing at all costs.

3 out of 5 stars

What can i say.... September 22, 2005
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Well I brought this movie having watched the whole series at least twice, and really from the movie i expected a crazy reunion of characters for one final mission, but Ohh no. The writers had to try and be clever and deep. The fact that to two main characters arent in the movie is the first thing the struck me as odd. And secondly the fact that the movie is very dark and sad, which is the exact opposite of the series.

Although the if you are a huge nadesico fan, the first time you watch it it is a great feeling to see all the characters again etc etc. But once you've watched it more than once you start to realise how good they could have made it if they had kept it simple.

Oh well. This movie it good if you like some rough and tumble mecha fights but if your expecting a hour and a half version of the series then be prepared to be disapointed. :)

4 out of 5 stars

Oh woe is the Nadesico! February 10, 2005
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

I remember watching this whole series and loving nearly every minute of it. I was sad to see it end that way, like with any other series end. I (my brother actually) recently bought the Essential Collection volumes 1 to 3 (whole series, plus cheaper but as my friend says it's like the Greatest Hits of PS2 for ADV).

This movie was like they pulled out of the manga (I'm guessing) chronologically in the manga two years ahead. I was told the Japanese had the manga/novel prior to this movie, having them understand but the majority of us US mainstream fans left in the dark. I rented it, got progessively pissed off not knowing what the hell was going on. Prince of Darkness was and is like a complete stranger to me...kinda like the relationship between Yurika and Akito in begining of the series...as if we only have good memories of the series. I just felt more nostalgic and empty at the end. WHICH PROMPTED ME TO (eventually) BUY THE WHOLE SERIES instead TO GET A FIX like an otaku junkie.

Friends commented it was basically for those Ruri Hoshino fans out there. The only connection I saw between the series and this motion picture is the fact that since Ruri has grown physically (she can't get more mature intellectually than she was in the series) SHE'S ALSO NOW CHASING AKITO. (Maybe not in the sense as Yurika, Megumi, Ryoko, Inez, Erina, etc. but still)

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