Based on the original manga by Leiji Matsumoto, the
original film started as a bit of a happy go lucky experience for young Tetsuro
Hoshino, who like other humans was coexisting with the machine people (humans
who had given up their organic bodies for robotic ones in order to live forever)
and playfully trying to steal a pass to board the Galaxy Express. All pretense
of playfulness is nonexistent in this sequel film as it begins with one of my
favorite all-time anime battle sequences. Tetsuro has to deal with this, as well
as a summons from Maetel to board the 999 and head on an unknown journey, with
the Mechanized Empire looking to kill him at every turn.
Director
Rintaro is enormously adept at creating breathtaking battle sequences using
slick, flowing movements and throwing multiple imagery at the viewers. The script
is not as good though, in my view. The 1st half set up is really nice, but the
rest falls into cliché and deus ex machina taken from the first film with
some American-styled elements added. (You'll know them when you see them.) They're
not insurmountable by any means, but it's a bit of a let down considering the
movie, as a whole, could've been so much better.
(3.5)
