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Whistle Stopper - Vexille - Movie
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List Price: $29.98
Our Price: $13.50
Your Save: $ 16.48 ( 55% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Funimation
Starring: Toshiyuki Morikawa, Romi Park, Shosuke Tanihara, Akio Ãtsuka, Meisa Kuroki
Directed By: Fumihiko Sori
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
Brand: VEXILLE MOVIE (DVD)
EAN: 0704400095900
Format: Color
Label: Funimation
Manufacturer: Funimation
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Funimation
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2008-05-20
Running Time: 109
Studio: Funimation
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: EVERYTHING JUST WORKS
Comment: The plot of Vexille is complex and sophisticated and so is its animation/CGI/motion-capture, along with the depth of the ethical problems its plot revolves around. Good dramatic writing, coherent action and well-defined characters complete the package.
In the end it's the rebels versus big business/government/evil guys with a mad dash to smash everything before civilization falls, etc. Even though that's a trite premise, it's still so well done that one doesn't mind. That action isn't meaningless and baffling is one clear reason why Vexille stands above so many other animes. Maybe the word is maturity. It's a see and re-see movie. If the drama doesn't get you, the painterly art
will; see it and you'll see.
Customer Rating:
Summary: cool anime sci-fi
Comment: ***1/2
It's 2067 and Japan has become a nation completely cut off from the rest of the world because it refuses to adhere to a U.N. mandate banning the development and manufacturing of human-like androids. The nation has also set up a sophisticated magnetic force field that effectively bars all outsiders from entering its borders. S.W.O.R.D. is a secret U.S. special forces team sent in to find out what diabolical activities are occurring on the inside. The main character, Vexille, is a feisty female member of this special ops force.
"Vexille" is a stylish and energetic dystopian fantasy, marked by imaginative storytelling, exciting action sequences, and animation that is a canny mixture of art deco, Soviet-era agitprop - with its heavy emphasis on facial shadowing - and technology-based futurism. Nicely done.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Vexing "Vexille"
Comment: It doesn't come as a huge surprise that "Vexille" is from the people who brought the world "Appleseed" and its even better sequel "Appleseed Ex Machina."
And in "Vexille," the cyberpunk flavor, the big mecha, and the futuristic world full of political and technological conflict are all firmly in place, along with some pretty slam-bang action sequences and a darker, grittier feeling. While it lacks some character development and feels rather bleak at times, it's still a pretty entertaining story -- now if only it had fleshed out the main cast a little more.
About seventy years in the future, the world is worried about the advancement of robotics technology. So the UN orders them restricted, and Japan decides to cut itself off from the rest of the world.
But ten years later, a biomechanical leg shows the UN just what has been going on in Japan. So the American tech police known as SWORD are sent into Japan to find out if the isolated country has been doing illegal robotics research, which no other country allows. They aren't, and the movie ends there. Seriously, the Daiwa Corporation has decided to guide mankind's evolution through machinery, and the the SWORD agents are met with a very warm, nasty welcome.
After being rescued by the rebel Maria, Vexille finds that the biorobotics Daiwa Corporation has reduced the once-proud Japan to a vast, barren slum devoid of truly human life. Even worse, a nanotech "vaccine" transforms the Japanese into mindless machines. Vexille's only hope of saving herself -- and her lover Leon -- is to join forces with a small band of rebels before Japan is completely destroyed by Daiwa.
"Vexille" is a very different animal from the "Appleseed" movies. While it has the nimble shiny mecha and exploding buildings, the focus is on political machinations and evil corporations whose morality makes your hair stand on end. There's no utopia here for our tough heroine -- it's more like one of the outer circles of Dante's Hell.
The scenes in Vexille's home are colourful and streamlined, set in a futuristic city. But things get darker soon, taking us to the sickly yellow light and shabby shanty town of Japan, and things don't lighten up. And that devastated Japan is a pretty brilliant creation, both in its decayed misery and in the bleak future that its few remaining "fragments of humanity" have. The big flaw: the characters spend loooooong stretches of the movie just grimly talking to each other, with too little action.
Fortunately when there IS action, the fight scenes are top-notch in quality -- it has exploding buildings, missiles, battling mecha and chases through a marketplace. The fight scenes grow in intensity as Vexille and Maria reach the climactic confrontation with the Big Bad Guy. And the semi-apocalyptic finale is both shocking and inevitable -- as well as a helluva way to end a movie.
And then there's the jags, which are also quite cool -- giant wormlike masses of technology and metal that devour anything they come across. Not only are they wonderfully freaky, but they come across as a sort of cyber-sandworm from "Dune." Lovely.
And the animation is pretty astounding, though it has an oddly rotoscoped look in some action scenes. It's detailed and gloriously vivid, despite its grimy, shadowy look. And that includes exquisite details like snowflakes being individually swept from a windshield, or a reflection in a transparent helmet -- or even a smooth-skinned, nimble mecha exploding into a building with almost stunning speed. This glorious look almost makes up for the stretches of relatively action-free plot.
Perhaps its biggest weakness is in the characterization. It feels like they put a lot of effort into creating lifelike-looking characters. But despite the spunky Vexille and some touching moments from the Japanese cyborgs, the characters never quite come alive. Call it the "Final Fantasy: Spirits Within" effect. The best-rounded character is probably Maria, the tragic rebel leader who also provides a little romantic tension for our elf-faced heroine.
"Vexille" is a flawed little semiprecious gem -- brilliant animation, a tough heroine and mildly horrific Japan. Flawed, but has plenty of chills and explosions.
Customer Rating:
Summary: the creators of the "Appleseed" film are back with a storyline that I have to say is quite thought provoking
Comment: Having watched "Appleseed", it was pretty much a no brainer that I would be giving "VEXILLE" a try.
The latest theatrical effort from SORI combining 3D and animation together that have made films such as the two "Appleseed" films has been quite exciting to watch and see develop overtime and just pretty much to see where animators are able to take things to a new level is always exciting.
As a viewer, I'm open to new technologies and to see technology and well-told storylines come together.
Of course, what makes things even more interesting is that SORI (Sori Fumuhiko) has evolved from his directorial debut with the live action theatrical hit "Ping Pong" back in 2001, produced the 2004 "Appleseed" film and here he is now as the director and screenwriter for the animated film "VEXILLE".
With "VEXILLE", the creators of the "Appleseed" film are back with a storyline that I have to say is quite thought provoking and animation that is quite mesmerizing to watch but this is a storyline that I wish was fleshed out in several movies than just one.
I have to admit that I really enjoyed the film.
I really enjoyed the awesome animation, I really enjoyed the storyline but I would love to find out from SORI if there were scenes cut or if he would loved to have made this film a two-parter or maybe a trilogy.
You get hooked on these characters such as Vexille, Leon, Maria and you just want more character development. Heck, even the main enemy scientist of Daiwa or even the corporation itself, you want to ask why did they do what they did. You are left with questions but of course, there is only so much you can cover in a film that is already at 105 minutes long.
So, for me, I wish the storyline would lead to another film but pretty much the way everything was written, everything is contained to one story, one movie and focusing on the overall situation in Japan ala 2077 than the characters.
With this exciting movie, you are just left wanting more and its a shame that the DVD doesn't have any special features. It's one thing for Hollywood companies to hold back and release so many multiple versions of a DVD but if there is one nitpicky thing I have about this DVD is that the Asian release gets the goodies, while those of us in the US will probably have to wait for a better release on Blu-ray.
But all in all, the DVD is definitely solid. I really love how animation and technology have come to play with the "Appleseed" films and even "SOS: TOKYO METRO EXPLORERS: THE NEXT" to "FINAL FANTASY: ADVENT CHILDREN".
It's good to see Japan taking chances on these type of films that utilize 3D and animation together and I know that it may not be the greatest thing for anime purists but for those who are able to accept technology and for creators to release something that is not just eye candy but having an engaging storyline is important.
"VEXILLE" by no means is a perfect film but it's a very good film that features mind-blowing animation utilizing new technology.
As for the DVD, it's barebones but for now, it's what is currently out and definitely recommend people giving it a try!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Superb animation and plot - very impressive movie
Comment: There is a lot of goodness to say about this movie and very little drawback. Let's start with the one thing that I didn't fully like then move on to the good stuff.
Vexille Soundtrack
The soundtrack, done by Paul Oakenfold was really good - but a little to hardcore in some of the action/fight scenes. We had to keep turning the volume down during those parts then turn it back up for dialogue. This is just a personal preference - many of you will likely love the heavy feel to it.
Ok that's it for what I didn't completely like!
Animation - superb. There was however, a very interesting aspect to the animation. The details on the characters (the people) were scaled back when compared to the details on the environment/effects/buildings/etc. You could see rich wood grain on the walls of buildings, but the character's hair barely moved in a harsh wind. Skin features were missing, yet mechanical aspects to body armor were complete with detail. It was an interesting perspective that the environment was more detailed than the actual people. Even things such as lighting effects from a vehicle were amazing to watch.
Plot - also superb, and very impressive offering from Japan. Vexille is the main character of the movie - but you don't find out that it's actually the character's name until half-way into the movie. It starts out with a bang - Japan has cut off all uncontrolled contact with the outside world and has erected a very impressive barrier/shield around the entire island to prevent signals coming in or out - basically a total blackout of the island. A team of elite soldiers operating outside the auspices of the US and United Nations is tasked to infiltrate the island - the first "visitors" in 10 years - to determine if they are building a prohibited bio-mechanical technology. What's been going on in Japan for the last 10 years since the blackout? You'll have to watch the movie and see.
This is a full length feature with exciting action sequences, violence, a bit of romance, and an effective storyline that has made me want to watch more animated movies like this. Sci-fi is thick in the plot, so expect a lot of "tech".
We watched it with the English audio track and no subtitles, but you can watch it in native language with English subtitles if desired. There are a few special previews on the DVD, but they are mostly advertisements of other Japanese animations that are now available for purchase. Highly recommended for fans of action/adventure, sci-fi, and animation - even for those who don't necessarily choose animated movies, you'll forget that you're watching animation!
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Editorial Reviews:
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In the near future Japan's scientists have perfected the merging of biotechnology and robotics its benefits extending the lifespans of all humans. However the United Nations deem the advanced technology a dangerous threat and begins strict surveillance on Japan.Refusing to abide by the UN's demands to halt research the rogue nation isolates itself from the world. Enter Vexille a young female operative of S.W.O.R.D. a specialized military unit charged with policing the potential misuse of robotic technology sent to infiltrate the neo-isolationist Japan to prevent a potential biotechnological nightmare!Format: DVD Genre: INDEPENDENT/INTERNATIONAL UPC: 704400095900 Manufacturer No: 0
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