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Audiences find pipe dreams in 'Steamboy' Date: 3/28/2005 |
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By David J. Cross Nearly two decades ago, Katsuhiro Otomo's animated cult classic "Akira" cemented its place in anime history as the first major Japanese animated film released in America. Now with anime becoming more widely accepted, the question of whether Otomo's latest offering, "Steamboy," will live up to his own legacy has yet to be determined. ? Set in England during 1880s, "Steamboy" chronicles the story of Ray Steam, a prodigal inventor whose father and grandfather discover a potent energy source and create a device capable of harnessing the energy dubbed a "steam ball." Ray quickly becomes entangled in a philosophical and physical war between his father and grandfather about how the "steam ball" should be used. Mixed in with the Steam family's fighting is the O'Hara Foundation - known for selling arms to the both armies during the American Civil War - and the English government whom both want to use the "steam ball" to create a new generation of steam-powered weaponry. Fans of "Akira" who expect "Steamboy" to delve into the adult themes and violence of Otomo's earlier work will find few similarities beyond animation style. Instead Otomo delivers a long-winded family-oriented film more attuned to daydreaming middle schoolers than an older crowd. With close to 20 minutes of the original directors cut edited from the American release, it is surprising how "Steamboy" still manages to drag through the first half of the movies' plot setup and again through the second half's resolution. Whether the editing was too much or not enough, it is a double edge sword for viewers. Either character development takes a back seat ride in favor of reaching the action sequences or the action sequences lose their thrill because there is no connection with the main characters. This ladder editing choice combined with a nearly perpetual action sequence during the second half of the film will irritate audience members interested in substance. However, while watching either Ray fight steam-powered Wright Brotheresque planes or listening to Ray's father and grandfather argue over the purpose of science, the animation is fluid and imaginative as anime aficionados have come to expect from Otomo's work. The downfall to "Steamboy" however, is the lack of relationships between the three Steam men which does little to express what one would think Otomo's goal in creating this film would be. Though the film shows a brief glimpse into what could be Otomo's stance on science and which side of the battle Otomo's agrees with, what should be the final scene is quickly brushed aside in yet another race-against-the-clock sequence that robs the film of a climactic ending in favor of a setup for the inevitable "Steamboy 2." One can only hope the sequel will not follow in its brother's footsteps. |
| Source: The Lantern |
