One thing is certain when you talk about Captain Harlock; the dude's manly. Traveling in the sea of stars while boarding the Arcadia on an endless journey for freedom, Harlock is a symbol of masculinity that generations have aspired to follow.
Which makes this movie, while a mildly functional standalone, an abysmal interpretation of the character that in some ways is OPPOSITE of what made the character appealing in the first place. It isn't helped by the uneven pacing(this movie can get BORING), and that all this is done with the worst possible tone:edgy and angsty.
I won't pretend the Harlock franchise is trying to be realistic with it's quite melodramatic tone and characterization, but that is part of what makes it appealing. It's romantic in the traditional sense: emotional packed, full of tragic ordeals but also filled with fighting to keep the highest ideals. Harlock is not what we are but what we should aspire to be. To pursue our dreams, always being brave as much as honorable and believe in humanity no matter how ugly it gets.
2013 Harlock? He's a broody, nihilistic jerkass that has no qualms in killing innocents(when the original one hated pointless killing) also willing to destroy the universe because he has no hope in our race. That pretty much KILLS the character. That's not Harlock, and the badass feats don't bring him back. The other veterans are as bad too. Other than Miime, who is arguably in frequency with his original calm nature, we have a jerkass edgy Yataran(compared to the appropriately contrasting childlike Yataran) and a Yuki that is implied to sleep with Harlock (and FUCK THAT)
The movie isn't all horrible, though. The CGI is nice, the animation is fluid, the spaceship designs are detailed and the newcomers are well written enough to be likable. Although I still question why you would think an art-style that tries to be realistic works for a Leiji Matsumoto work. Characters like Tochiro and Yataran just get the short end of the stick(and GOD they do).
Overall this rendition of the classic anime hero is an acceptable stand alone movie, but a questionable addition to the franchise, and the worst possible entry point to the series. It has cool moments, some intense action scenes, and a great cast when it comes to newcomers, yet fails miserably to live up to the name it carries.
Anime Decent standalone, abysmal interpretation
One thing is certain when you talk about Captain Harlock; the dude's manly. Traveling in the sea of stars while boarding the Arcadia on an endless journey for freedom, Harlock is a symbol of masculinity that generations have aspired to follow.
Which makes this movie, while a mildly functional standalone, an abysmal interpretation of the character that in some ways is OPPOSITE of what made the character appealing in the first place. It isn't helped by the uneven pacing(this movie can get BORING), and that all this is done with the worst possible tone:edgy and angsty.
I won't pretend the Harlock franchise is trying to be realistic with it's quite melodramatic tone and characterization, but that is part of what makes it appealing. It's romantic in the traditional sense: emotional packed, full of tragic ordeals but also filled with fighting to keep the highest ideals. Harlock is not what we are but what we should aspire to be. To pursue our dreams, always being brave as much as honorable and believe in humanity no matter how ugly it gets.
2013 Harlock? He's a broody, nihilistic jerkass that has no qualms in killing innocents(when the original one hated pointless killing) also willing to destroy the universe because he has no hope in our race. That pretty much KILLS the character. That's not Harlock, and the badass feats don't bring him back. The other veterans are as bad too. Other than Miime, who is arguably in frequency with his original calm nature, we have a jerkass edgy Yataran(compared to the appropriately contrasting childlike Yataran) and a Yuki that is implied to sleep with Harlock (and FUCK THAT)
The movie isn't all horrible, though. The CGI is nice, the animation is fluid, the spaceship designs are detailed and the newcomers are well written enough to be likable. Although I still question why you would think an art-style that tries to be realistic works for a Leiji Matsumoto work. Characters like Tochiro and Yataran just get the short end of the stick(and GOD they do).
Overall this rendition of the classic anime hero is an acceptable stand alone movie, but a questionable addition to the franchise, and the worst possible entry point to the series. It has cool moments, some intense action scenes, and a great cast when it comes to newcomers, yet fails miserably to live up to the name it carries.