Anime A Hunter x Hunter Movie

[ssjup81]

IMO, this movie felt like a throwback to the live plays which accompanied the 1999 series, where the characters are placed into tense situations out of the blue here & there. (Minus the musical aspect, ROFL. Also, FILLER VILLAIN-CONFLICTS!)

The execution, especially by HxH standards, was very meh. But, all in all - this movie seems to be meant for having simple fun while watching.
So, I can say it was a lot of fun, but mainly for the first & last 25 minutes. (That's still most of the movie! )


{Edit}: Oh my! Know what else I just noticed? The very first play for the 1999 anime (Dec 2000) introduced OST for the Yorknew City arc at the time.

As for Phantom Rouge - it also served to deliver more OST to the 2011 anime (climax of Greed Island).

The 1999 play had bits of Hisoka fanservice/action scenes of him taking on fodder throughout it as well! O_O

Incidentally, both these spin-offs to each anime seemed quite low-budget. Makes me glad to know that the directors care more for the respective anime.

I loved those musicals. When I met Takeuchi Junko a few years ago I mentioned the musicals and she was like, "YOU KNOW ABOUT THOSE?!" lol. I went on about how much energy she seemed to have since she was playing Gon.

 

[SHINOBI-03]

Just saw the movie, here are my thoughts:

First: to all those who try to fit it within the canon timeline. From my experience from anime movies, that's a pointless thing to do because these movies are not meant to be part of the series canon and therefore no need to analyze every bit of detail to find out where it fits.




Second: The plot which is the important thing. Sadly, this was the weakest thing for me. Prior to the release, we were told the story will be focused on Kurapika and Omokage. But Killua's subplot felt shoehorned in and I didn't like how Killua turned "yandere" for Gon and being intolerant to the idea of Gon having other friends besides him. Didn't they make other friends over the course of the series? Did Killua have any problem with any of them? No. So why make him so jealous when he first met Ritz? It felt out of character to me. Sadly this subplot took over the main plot of the movie and therefore we didn't see much of Kurapika and his problem! Even the Spiders who were supposed to have a bigger role where reduced to mere extras and saw nothing of them beyond Nobunaga and Machi against the dolls. And because they were strongly ignored it made their "surprise" raid at the end really forced! Not even Omokage and the Ritz who were the main characters of the movie were focused on. So in short, Killua's subplot is what made the plot weak and derailed the movie from it.



Third: The fighting scene were good, but if you're accustomed to Togashi's writing then you can tell if the fights were written by him or somebody else. Like the characters announcing their attacks. Obviously that's not what Togashi's been doing. There's also the mistake of making Uvo's Big Bang Impact an emitted attack instead of a destructive punch. Though it's not the first time someone made such a mistake.



Fourth: Production. It's no surprise the animation is a tad different from the TV series, but there were a lot of moment that you can see how off-model it looks. Particularly on Gon! The second image is unforgivable! This is a big screen production and the long distance is not an excuse to draw something this weak drawing! And I don't know about you guys, but am I the only one who thought Ritz's eyes looked like they were drawn by Ume Aoki? And the animation was sub par and wasn't the animation of a movie and was more like the typical animation of a TV episode!





So to conclude, the movie isn't outright terrible, but these issues affected it strongly and the movie may have gotten better if it wasn't for them.

7/10

 

[leiatte]

I enjoyed the movie, I thought it was a good one, I liked the characterization although killua was a bit of jerk in the beginning, but its a movie and not the tv show, I can do with a few liberties being taken. Im glad they made it, and yeah the animation could have been more impressive, but overall It was still good.

 

[Nii]

I didn't expect the plot to be all that good so I wasn't disappointed there but DAMN, Killua behaving like a dick just because there's a potential new friend to Gon was so out of character. Probably the most annoying thing of the whole movie. It felt like they were trying to flesh out Killua's subtle inner conflict but instead they made him look like a total wuss, geez. I know Killua is loved by the fans and his friendship with Gon is one of the main themes of the manga but I never want to to see such a bullshit angsty Killua again

/rant end

 

[kindredxiuxiu]

So I finally watched it. I... didn't care for it actually.

I read the posts here and a couple of reviews before going into it. If I hadn't done that, I would've been very disappointed. I was just mildly disappointed. In either case, there were quite a few things I had issues with. Surprisingly, the overall plot isn't one of them (it was mediocre, but I wouldn't say downright terrible).

The animation. For a movie I hold higher standards for animation than TV shows. When Madhouse's long-running anime show has better animation than a movie, that's where I have issues. Images were posted above, but a lot of it just seemed off. On top of that, I couldn't get over how weird Gon, and especially Killua's, faces looked.

Killua's characterization. naruto-niichan mentioned a lot of the things I would with regards to how Killua was portrayed. It's like they took his personality quirks and multiplied them by a thousand. Oh, he has issues with Illumi? Let's add lots of this in here. Oh, he doesn't like people getting between him and Gon? Let's add more of that in here. Tsundere? Check. Angsty pre-teen issues? He hasn't really had those in a while, but let's put those in there for good measure! He was even going to let himself get hit by a train. Now that is bad. Even at his worst he never got to that point. Even bawling his eyes out and being hard on himself during the election arc, he never got that unbearably angsty. I can handle him being a jerk--because he is one--but angsty BS? No way. This is probably my biggest issue with the movie... coupled with the next part.

Content. This is a movie about Kurapika and his missing eyes, right? Here, let's put 2/3 Killua problems in here and save the last third for Kurapika's showdown with Omokage and eye-snatching. And we'll add this cute flashback about Pairo and Kurapika (I did like that part). This may as well have been a movie about Killua and his problems because that's what really stole the show until, about, the last 10-15 minutes of the movie. Hell, even the opening sequence features Killua and Illumi. Who'd ever think I would rant about a movie that features one of my favorite anime/manga characters ever?

But despite my disappointments with it, I didn't outright hate the movie. I probably won't purchase it or go out of my way to download (I watched it streamed with subtitles), but it wasn't terrible. So without further ado...

Things I DID like about it

-I thought I'd hate Retsu, but I didn't. It was really interesting to see how the boys interact with a girl around the same age as them. It's a different dynamic than how Killua and Gon treat each other, and some scenes made me chuckle (like when Killua accidentally copped a feel--and was completely unfazed. And then both him and Gon totally had the "Whoa" look when she was in her nighty).

-Leorio and his knife skills are awesome. AWESOME I tell you! Go Leorio!

-Hiso-hiso <3 Dat lip licking never gets old.

-Killua is totally tsundere for Gon (and maybe Retsu)

-I liked the BGM.

Overall score:

6.5/10

 

[Salce]

In my opinion, it's a great deal. Make a low budget movie, earn a lot of money, and use it to keep the superb animation in the TV series.

But that's because I don't really care about the movie...

 

[Nii]

Anyone noticed that they showed scenes in the trailer that didn't appear in the actual movie?

Spoiler

Damn cheaters, DID THEY ACTUALLY REMOVE LEORIO EPICNESS? And more Pairo got removed too, wtf... wasn't this supposed to be about him and Kurapika?

 

[kindredxiuxiu]

wasn't this supposed to be about him and Kurapika?

Didn't you get the memo? This was supposed to be about Killua, Gon, and Illumi.

 

[Riruru]

The animation. For a movie I hold higher standards for animation than TV shows. When Madhouse's long-running anime show has better animation than a movie, that's where I have issues. Images were posted above, but a lot of it just seemed off. On top of that, I couldn't get over how weird Gon, and especially Killua's, faces looked.

To be fair, I thought the animation for the first few minutes were a bit higher in quality than the average episode of HxH. Not just the first flashback with Killua jumping off the building but Gon and Killua were pulling out the good old "let's be really twitchy while talking" gag again. It went downhill from there. And to make things clear, HxH's long-running anime show does have movie quality animation. I don't think it's fair to say the issue arises because the movie was worse. The guys who decide how the series is animated are just too good.

In the end, I think animation's true goal is to instill certain emotions in the audience. My real problem with the animation was the bad timing and angles associated with it that completely counteract against making any of the scenes emotional enough. It wasn't the framerate or designs. Anime characters always look off in movies.

Killua's characterization. naruto-niichan mentioned a lot of the things I would with regards to how Killua was portrayed. It's like they took his personality quirks and multiplied them by a thousand. Oh, he has issues with Illumi? Let's add lots of this in here. Oh, he doesn't like people getting between him and Gon? Let's add more of that in here. Tsundere? Check. Angsty pre-teen issues? He hasn't really had those in a while, but let's put those in there for good measure! He was even going to let himself get hit by a train. Now that is bad. Even at his worst he never got to that point. Even bawling his eyes out and being hard on himself during the election arc, he never got that unbearably angsty. I can handle him being a jerk--because he is one--but angsty BS? No way. This is probably my biggest issue with the movie... coupled with the next part.

It's like watching the 1999 anime again, no? *joking*

Content. This is a movie about Kurapika and his missing eyes, right? Here, let's put 2/3 Killua problems in here and save the last third for Kurapika's showdown with Omokage and eye-snatching. And we'll add this cute flashback about Pairo and Kurapika (I did like that part). This may as well have been a movie about Killua and his problems because that's what really stole the show until, about, the last 10-15 minutes of the movie. Hell, even the opening sequence features Killua and Illumi. Who'd ever think I would rant about a movie that features one of my favorite anime/manga characters ever?

I'm actually more upset about this because it almost completely ruins the chance of there being a 100% focused Killua/Gon-centric movie in the future.

-Leorio and his knife skills are awesome. AWESOME I tell you! Go Leorio!

And that part where he caught Pairo's attack and there was smoke (aura?) coming out of his hands. He had that moment of showing how physically strong he was which was cut from York New. THAT was indeed awesome!

 

[Spectrum]

I just watched the movie today. Both the plot and the animation have so many issues that i can't remember all of them.

Something that really pissed me off was about Killua's personality and his problems with Illumi. When i think about a time line, this movie has to be between York New and Greed Island arcs, when neither Killua or Gon had improved their abilities and created their techniques.

We know Killua has strong feellings about Gon and his friendship, and Illumi told a bunch of things to him about that, but i can't see Killua being hit by a train or pushing a kid because Gon liked her.

About the animation, sometimes i liked the art and the colors but almost the entire time the movement, the sequence and so many others issues appeared.

About the plot, it's had a promising begining, after that we had 30~40 minutes of nothing and in the last 20 minutes we had fight, tears, smiles and a farewell.

5.5/10

 

[Nii]

Didn't you get the memo? This was supposed to be about Killua, Gon, and Illumi.

Best scene of the whole movie

 

[kindredxiuxiu]

They look like puppets there, and not the Omokage kind.

 

[KingOfNight]

That had me laughing for 12 minutes straight!

 

[Uriel]

Also, Omokage ability is hax and unreasonable.
I mean...you're able to replicate someone just because ANOTHER ONE fears it? Shit I say.

 

[Spectrum]

Also, Omokage ability is hax and unreasonable.
I mean...you're able to replicate someone just because ANOTHER ONE fears it? Shit I say.

Actually he can make a copy from someone's memory. Nobunaga said that when he saw Paku, Omokage created her from Uvo's memory, and created Uvo from his eyes that he took from his corpse, another mistake when i think about it. He made all the Genei Ryodan dolls from his own memories (i guess), but he needed Uvo's eyes to make the doll and this is where lays one more mistake because Kurapika buried Uvo in a random place where no one of Ryodan was able to find him.

We can consider this plot a whole nonsense lol

 

[Riruru]

This is kind of an old post but I just read someone's translation summary of the Phantom Rouge novel. It seems they changed and cut a lot of good things in the film.

Pairo asked if he can have Kurapika's eyes, and before Kurapika realizes what's happening, Pairo used some kind of nen ability to steal them. Leorio was watching the entire time, but didn't quite understand what happened because he can't use Gyo.

Leorio tried to interfere, but Pairo started fighting him and Kurapika, using two wooden swords. (Which is the Kuruta clan's traditional martial art, apparently) Pairo said he doesn't want to do this, but still tries to kill Kurapika. Kurapika is too baffled trying to understand why Pairo is doing this, and just stays still in the rain, crying. Then Leorio scoops him up and carries him in his arms, running away.

I imagine that's where you see that shot in the trailer with Leorio running down the cliff with Pairo following. I would've loved to see more Leorio fighting scenes so I'm very disappointed they took this part out.

(The thing with him accidentally touching Retsu's chest didn't happen in the novel though...) Killua gets even more annoyed when Gon takes Retsu with them to the hotel they're staying at. While Retsu goes take a shower, Killua's trying to convince Gon that Retsu is suspicious, accusing him of being a pickpocket and such. Gon says that's fine because they don't have anything worth stealing anyways, except for his license which Killua has, and Killua would never let it be stolen. Then Gon wants to go take a shower as well, so he enters the bathroom where Retsu is... And he sees that Retsu is a girl! Hearing Gon's voice of surprise, Killua comes in as well, like "What's wrong, Gon!?"... Awkward...!

They even cut out the fan service! Joking aside, this scene would've been a lot better if the amount of people saying that Killua pushing Retz made him an out of character jerk is any indication.

source: http://willeke4439.livejournal.com/300050.html

I was totally expecting the railroad scene to come up here. But here, the novel is COMPLETELY different from what I've heard about the movie! O_____O Not sure what to think of that, I was kinda looking forward to reading that scene (in a morbid kinda way)... u.u

So Instead of that scene, we get Killua walking into a dark alley in the town, with no particular destination. It's raining, and he's crying as well. In the alley he (literally) runs into a drunk guy, who starts insulting him for not apologizing for bumping into him. He even smashes his alcohol bottle on Killua's head when Killua doesn't respond. But Killua doesn't feel any pain, just numbness, and figures that Illumi was right, killing is the only thing he can do. So he goes in to kill the drunk guy, but then Gon appears and stops him (Not just by grabbing Killua's hand, but also HUGGING him

I think a lot of people here would've preferred Killua deciding to resort back to killing over committing suicide, seeing how many complaints of that there are. It's also a throwback to what happened back in the Hunter Exam. Me, I like both versions of it though I would've liked to see the hugging.

source: http://willeke4439.livejournal.com/302575.html

To give Kurapika an opening to do that, someone else needs to distract Omokage or keep him occupied. Gon and Killua do that, they go and stand in front of Omokage using ren, taking the bullets head on, deflecting them with their auras. Omokage thinks it's interesting and increases the power of his bullets, causing Gon and Killua to run out of aura. Killua tries to protect Gon by standing in front of him, but that means he gets attacked twice as much as before, causing him to drop his guard, get hit and fly a dozen of meters away. Gon sees him fall to the ground unmoving, bleeding badly from several bullet holes all over his body. (OMG, Was THAT in the movie!? O__O; The discription in the novel was rather gory...Do not wanna see...

I would've loved to see that.

Omokage attacks him, but then Gon yells out and threatens to cut up his own eyes. Omokage wants his eyes, so it'd be a shame if they'd get damaged, right...? And Gon is actually serious about it, he says doesn't mind giving up an eye or two for the sake of his friends. Omokage freezes and stops his attack, but meanwhile Retsu also grabs a knife and destroys her own eyes, that were inside of a puppet. Omokage totally freaks out and breaks down at seeing this (Did he still have hope to put Retsu's eyes back someday...? ) , which allows Kurapika to use his chain jail after all, sealing Omokage's nen.

What's with all of these awesome gory scenes being removed?

source: http://willeke4439.livejournal.com/303916.html

Overall, I think it'd another case of this movie having to be cut too short. A lot of the great parts of it, especially the ending battle were horribly butchered.

 

[duerlin]

That's how it would be a HxH movie made by Naruto or DBZ staff.

 

[Beans]

That was a bad movie for me

 

[magickirua]

Hi everyone! I've found this in the movie : (spoiler chapter 338 - volume 32)

Spoiler

 

[zzigg]

Hi everyone! I've found this in the movie : (spoiler chapter 338 - volume 32)

Spoiler

actually there is a little text under the picture in the movie..it's in hunter world's language

so who can translate it.???