Dead Leaves (2004) (V)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Hiroyuki Imaishi

Writers:

Toonz Imai (creator)
Takeichi Honda (screenplay)

Release Date:

28 September 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Breaking out of prison was never this much...fun?

Plot:

Cast

Kerry Anderson	...	Galactica (voice: English version)
Keith Burgess	...	Chinko Doll (voice: English version)
Chad Fifer	...	666 (voice: English version)
Takako Honda	...	Pandy
Steven Krulser	...	931, Engineer, Ponytail Guy, Sergeant (voice: English version) (as Stephen Kruiser)
Jason Lee	...	Retro (voice: English version)
Hal Lublin	...	Blue Elephant, Mini Bluto, Mr. Coffee, Offspring, Pedestrian, Ship Computer, Testicle Head (voice: English version)
Jason Miller	...	777, Bearded Old Man (voice: English version)
Stephen Millunzi	...	Curly Haired Freak, Cyclops, Dispatcher, Grey Robot, Guards, Gunner, Old Puffy, Purple Turnip (voice: English version) (as Steve Millunzi)
Michael Ross	...	Hippopotabull, Judge, Looneytuner, Shirley, Straberry Robot, Tank Commander (voice: English version) (as Michael Paul Ross)
Douglas Rye	...	Bobafett Guy, Caterpillar, Dr. Yabu, Easter Island Guy, White Haired Guy (voice: English version)
Nobuo Tobita	...	Drill
Amanda Winn Lee	...	Pandy (voice: English version) (as Amanda Winn)
Kappei Yamaguchi	...	Retro

Runtime:

USA:55 min (original version)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor) | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Japan:PG-12 | USA:Approved (video rating) | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Japan

Company:

Production I.G.

Quotes:

Dr. Yabu: Looks to me like someone's a little bit PREGNANT!

Movie Connections:

References Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Open your mind and get ready to take a ride...

What can you write about a movie best described as indescribable? To picture what you will see, imagine a Ralph Bakshi film (of the animated Lord of the Rings, Wizards, and Fritz the Cat fame)on speed. A big fan of animated film with over 20 years of animation experience, I rank movies like The Iron Giant, Akira, and The Plague Dogs as examples of stellar movie making. The animation style WILL be unlike anything you have experienced before, anime or otherwise, guaranteed. Character designs jump from the imagination of people that appear to be in the midst of a good shroom trip. But make no mistake, it is as fluid, colorful, stylized and adrenaline inducing as any animated movie out there. Remember that the studio behind this flick is the same as those responsible for the anime scene in Kill Bill Vol. 1, Ghost in the Shell and Jin-Roh (another stellar example of quality cinema, animated or not)... Production I.G.

The animation is only the first layer of this 100% original film. When both the producer and director claim at the movie's premier that it was their full intention to create a film for the audience to rave along with as they watched it, you know you are in for something unique. They went so far as to remove seating for the viewing audience. The music is a stunning combination of hard, fast, slick techno rhythms and pounding rock riffs. I have been searching for a soundtrack release, as this one ranks up there with the greatest Kanno compositions. There is a short scene that acts as a prelude to a level of violence rarely seen in film. The prisoners are being blocked by armed prison guards. As a prisoner walks up to the guards demanding passage, the music, which to this point has been blistering, quiets down to a single snare drum and cymbal rhythm, the proverbial calm before the storm. The combination of music, camera angle, and style creates one of the greatest action builds seen in a long time. I replayed this 30 second scene repeatedly, and it only became cooler.

Be warned. This is an incredibly violent movie. There are more people killed, guns fired, things blown up, and sex than any movie that I can think of in... well pretty much ever. This is not a film for the kids or the squeamish. The story line is simple and not really required. At a number of points, the two main characters try to figure out who they are. These scenes show that the director was not wholly concerned with aspects of character development, choosing instead to make up a completely nonsensical background explained in a 15 second monologue. It becomes laugh out loud funny as you realize the director has held your attention trying to figure who these characters are with meandering rambles that ultimately don't lead to anything. Brilliant. This is a 45 minute tech demo for what can be created with animation and an insanely stylized vision, not the next Lawrence of Arabia.

I don't know what else to say. This review is not written from an adolescent's point of view (not that there is anything wrong with their views). This is simply a most unique vision committed to celluloid. If you are a fan of anime, this flick is a no brainer, TRUST ME!! If you are simply a fan of all things quality and innovative, you owe yourself this one. Like it, love it, or hate it, you will walk away with a brand new experience.

Note: If you have access to a home theater set-up and big screen TV, do your best to experience this film in that environment. It is a visual, and sonic tour-de-force. As well, the voices in the dubbed version create an entirely different tone for the film, and MOST DEFINITELY NOT in a good way. Stick to the original Japanese audio (and really, if you are a purist of anime, foreign film, or art for that matter, then you should already know that dubs are abominations, end of debate).

Peace Everyone