Kaubôi bibappu: Tengoku no tobira (2001)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Shinichirô Watanabe

Writers:

Keiko Nobumoto (writer)
Hajime Yatate (story)

Release Date:

1 September 2001 (Japan)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Comedy | Crime | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Thanks to him... this summer is going to be a hot one.

Plot:

A terrorist explosion releases a deadly virus on the masses, and it's up the bounty-hunting Bebop crew to catch the cold-blooded culprit.

Plot Keywords:

Terrorist | Virus | Explosion | Madman | Halloween

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Steve Blum	...	Spike Spiegel (English version) (voice: English version) (as Steven Blum)
Martin Halm	...	Spike Spiegel (voice: German version)
Bruno Mullenaerts	...	Spike Spiegel (voice: French version)
Kôichi Yamadera	...	Spike Spiegel (voice: Japanese version)
Beau Billingslea	...	Jet Black (voice: English version)
Unshô Ishizuka	...	Jet Black (voice: Japanese version)
Megumi Hayashibara	...	Faye Valentine (voice: Japanese version)
Wendee Lee	...	Faye Valentine (voice: English version)
Yolanda Quesada	...	Faye Valentine (voice: Spanish version)
Marion Sawatzki	...	Faye Valentine (voice: German version)
Sabine Bohlmann	...	Edward (Ed) (voice: German version)
Melissa Fahn	...	Edward (Ed) (voice: English version)
Stéphane Flamand	...	Edward (Ed) (voice: French version)
Aoi Tada	...	Edward (Ed) (voice: Japanese version)
Jennifer Hale	...	Electra (voice: English version)

Also Known As:

Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (International: English title) (USA)
Cowboy Bebop the Movie: Knockin' on Heaven's Door (USA)
Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heavens Door (USA) (video title)

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

Japan | USA

Language:

French | German | Italian | Portuguese | Spanish | Japanese | English | Arabic

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-15 | Chile:14 | Brazil:16 (DVD release) | Malaysia:18SG | Iran:(Banned) | Iraq:(Banned) | Hong Kong:IIB | Japan:R | Mexico:B15 | South Africa:10V | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Canada:14+ (Quebec) | Denmark:15 | France:U | Germany:16 | Ireland:15 | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Taiwan:R-12 | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Canada:14A (Nova Scotia)

Company:

Bandai Visual Company

Trivia:

Although having been involved in numerous dubs for Japanese games, Cowboy Bebop: Tengoku no tobira marks the first time voice actor Jennifer Hale has been involved in an anime dub. In a recent interview, she has stated that voicing Electra in the movie is one of her most favorite experiences.

Goofs:

Continuity: While Spike is going through the Moroccan street with the "pot that was intended for him", his shirt briefly changes to the color of his jacket.

Quotes:

Spike: [fighting Electra, who seems a formidable opponent] Are all the employees here like you? You got some pretty classy moves for a corporate girl.

Movie Connections:

References Blade Runner (1982)

Soundtrack:

Gotta knock a little harder

compromise between appeal to both "cowboy" faithful and neophyte

"Cowboy Bebop: Knocking on Heaven's Door" is an animated feature based on a tv anime series (released on DVD) that has gained quite a following on both sides of the Pacific. It is interesting to note how Mr. Watanabe manages to pull off a balancing act required to satisfy both the loyal following of the tv series, to whom the introduction of principal characters and setting would be redundant, and to those who are relatively new to the "Cowboy Bebop" universe, of which I am the latter.

To those not well versed in the "Cowboy Bebop" lore, it takes some time to get familiar with various featured characters. The film begins in the same fashion as any of its self-contained tv episode would, in that not a lot of exposition is provided for grasping the setting. The characters are more or less introduced as 'bounty hunters' and that is as much of a background the film lets on before establishing the main plot.

It is not too much of a setback not to be given any opportunity to become attached to any of the characters. They are there to simply convey various scenes of the main plot and arrange them into place before they culminate into an oft-tread climax. The plot is briskly disclosed (rather literally spelled out by dialogue, no implication) and turns out to be a fairly mundane yarn that does not break any new ground in narrative nor provide any catalyst for any interesting character development or revelation.

The symbolism and nuance that are laid thick in colorful locales and poignant sceneries may merit repeat viewings to appreciate them; a careful analysis of the film brings another level of enjoyment to overall experience. Also relationships between the characters and circumstantial developments of the plot seem to rely too impulsively on coincidence, not mindful of what the viewer is meant to discern. This could be attributed to attempting to weave a credible plot involving diverse elements and subplots in a limited frame of time, or it could have been something else relevant in the context of the "Cowboy Bebop" tv series. Some have suggested that this film is nothing but a figurative dream, in which the main character confronts the guilt of his past to help him proceed to his ultimate fate in the last remaining episodes of the tv series.

If that was the case, then the film ends up being not as complete or entertaining to the "Cowboy Bebop" novices as it would have been for those well acquainted with the tv series. To that effect, it is rather disappointing.

"Cowboy Bebop" features lush animation that features some of the most impressive displays of action sequences put to cel, particularly the confrontation at the medical lab between Spike and Electra, not to mention the prolonged martial no-holds-barred showdown between Vincent and Spike. The character designs are fairly distinct and varied, although in some instances they linger a bit too long on stereotypical depiction of some races. The details given to many of the locales are unsurpassed in their variety and ambience; it is a testament to how artists went as far as to include references to mainstream culture, dotting the background with "WcDonald's" and "Kodac" (although I am lead to believe such play on words is the Japanese equivalent of product placement).

The music is another highlight of the film, which is not unexpected of Yoko Kano, who is a renowned composer of anime soundtrack who have previously lent her resourceful talents to other popular anime such as "Macross Plus" (another collaboration with the director Watanabe). The compact blend of blues and jazz heightens the urgent mood and graces slower parts with an equally effective repertoire. I don't know about others, but I did not mind the dubbing of the film too much. Maybe because the voices are supported by a script that is partially altered to bring out genuine emotion to the dialogue and to resolve colloquial barriers between the languages.

"Cowboy Bebop: Knocking on Heaven's Door" is a good standard action romp that is further enhanced by superb animation, equally enjoyable music, and more or less succeeds both as a tribute to the series' fans and a good introduction of the series to those who might be interested in one of the better anime licenses to have come ashore. Recommended.