Cowboy Bebop - Knockin' on Heaven's Door

5 reviews - 24.0 total score (Explanation of the rating system)
avg. score: (4.8)

Creator - Hajime Yadate
Director - Shinichiro Watanabe
Music - Yoko Kanno

5. Chris

Really, this movie is little more than an extended episode of the show. If you're a fan of Cowboy Bebop and want more, this is it. I personally loved it. Watch it between episodes 22 and 23, as that is it's proper placing in the storyline. The animation is a step above the standard episodes (obviously, as it is a full length film), but the story is just as episodic as the rest of the episodes in Cowboy Bebop. Overall, I found this to be a good extension of the rest of the show. Other than being slightly anti-climatic, this is definitely a must have for Bebop fans.

4. Jin

Knockin on Heaven's Door is just like another session. The animation quality is about as good as you'll find. While there is no particular story here, considering this was made after the conclusion of the Bebop series, the story in itself holds up well as a stand alone session. Of course the music by Kanno Yoko is excellent as always. It'll keep you held in it from beginning to end. It makes an excellent transition from the series. If you've seen the series this is a must see. If you haven't seen the series it's still a must see. So do yourself a favor and go see this.

3. Yogi

The movie is like a gigantic episode of Cowboy Bebop. If you liked Bebop, you’ll like the movie. Why did I give the movie a higher rating than the TV series? The TV series’ weakness was that the episodes don’t relate to each other. The movie doesn’t have the same problem.

2. Polaris

I had the great privilege of watching this movie in a theater and on a movie screen. It made me enjoy the movie all that much more. Basically said, the movie is a cinematic masterpiece. The animation is flawless and Yoko Kanno pulls off another incredible soundtrack that never ceases to amaze me. The movie plot is basically about the characters of the Bebop trying to collect a 300,000,000 woolong reward on a terrorist that sets off a bomb in the city. The action scenes in Knockin' on Heavens Door are absolutely breathtaking. The animation during the fight scenes are so smoothly executed that I could not help but stare in awe. This movie was so good that I even enjoyed the opening credits. Everything about this movie lived up the Cowboy Bebop TV series displaying the same suave and quality we all remember. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone regardless of whether or not they watch anime. Without a doubt one of the best and most memorable anime movies.

1. Cross Scars

The Bebop movie takes place between episodes 22 and 23 of the TV series and it follows the crews attempt to capture a terrorist bomber who just happens to have the small price of 300,000,000 woolongs on his head. This may sound similar to the average Bebop episode's plot and that's not far off, but the beauty of this movie is that is indeed so similar to the TV series.

From the very beginning all the Bebop crew are as they were and from the almost comic opening scene to the end credits the movie oozes the same style and slickness of the TV series and this perfectly demonstrated in how Yoko Kanno rolls off yet another excellent soundtrack that slots in brilliantly with her previous work for Bebop. Knockin' on Heaven's Door doesn't disappoint on the action content either so that through out the whole 1 hour 50 minutes that the film lasts for there's never a dull moment. Yet as you'd expect from a movie the action scenes are well above even the TV series high standards and some of the kung fu fights just flow so effortlessly that it's a joy to watch.

While some fans might have preferred something to add to the Red Dragon situation before the end of the Bebop series, the main villain in the movie, Vincent, is worthy of his place here. He may look like a typical bad guy but he's given enough time through out the movie to develop into a complete character so that by the end he is more sympathetic than he initially seems. In fact the Bebop movie as a whole lacks nothing and is surely one of the best anime movies out there.