Found this blog where this guy gives his impressions after seeing an opening screening of 20cb:
http://jasongray.blogspot.com/2008/08/20th-century-boys-trex-of-j-cinema.html
It's not very in depth, but at least it sounds pretty positive. I'm glad that it sounds like the movie is staying close to the manga and not screwing with it. Does anyone know about any longer english reviews or impressions out there?
I've seen it, and I wrote a small impression in my journal here:
http://hinoai.livejournal.com/684980.html
I didn't go in-depth at all though, as I was trying to avoid spoilers. But as a fan of the manga, I was very impressed with the movie. I'm eagerly looking forward to the second one!
i've heard so much about it, I m going to watch it WITHOUT SUBTITLES! I did the same with Battle Royale, before (much easier to follow, since everyone killed each other). My wife will translate some parts of it, as I watch it. Gotta learn Japanese.
shareI haven't read the manga, but after seeing this, I will.
The film has a slow build-up, some problematic parts and maybe little plot holes, but I feel my patience was rewarded by its finale. As a whole, it's not brilliant, but it's not terrible, either, yet I liked it a lot for different reasons.
To be honest, I was especially thrilled to see Taiyou no Tou (the tower of the sun) because I saw it in person years ago. I didn't expect to see it in the film at all, so it was a thrilling sight. But thinking about it now, it finally makes sense why it was in the film. It made its debut in the Osaka Expo 1970, hasn't it? I mean, the Expo was referenced a few times in the story as well, right?
Although I'm not sure I like the actress who plays the grown-up Kanna, I look forward to Part 2.
You watched the Osaka Expo 1970? You must be an old guy then :D. The Expo 1970 has a major role on the story (at least in the manga, not sure if it'll have the same importance in the movie, since they'd cut/omitted several parts to fit them in the film)
shareI watched this a few days ago, on DVD.
I really had no idea what to expect, and I did not know the source material at all.
At first I really was not sure - it seemed very slow and disjointed, and I found it hard to get a handle on what was going on.
I went back to watch the second half a day later, and I found myself getting into it, and it became much clearer as to what was going on.
And by then I was completely hooked.
Really interested to see the next two chapters now.