I personally liked the first movie, it was rushed, but all in all it was a good starter. So I was hoping that the second movie would take advantage of this and show more material. Well they succeeded, just not in the way I was hoping.
First off the 100 man fight ranks very high in my favorite scenes list and I was disappointed with how it was handled. First off the build up with Guts and Casca was poorly orchestrated. The dream sequence was an eye sore, it looked bad and was very overindulgent in the noble wailing a way at Casca. But most importantly, Casca doesn't tell this to Guts. It was a big deal in the manga and anime that Casca was willing to share her past with someone who up until that point she disliked. Not only that, but it further strengthens the bond that they'll come to form later down the road. In addition we get zero back story with Griffith, which again pays dividends down the road. The fight itself had its moments when I was very bought in, but it quickly followed up by disappointing me with bad animation. I didn't feel that tension and awe that I felt with the manga or the anime. We're supposed to be impressed with Guts being able to slay 100 men by himself with an arrow in his hand. Also they didn't do enough to emphasize that Guts was doing his best to protect Casca from harm, another nugget that pays off down the road. Having Adon captured and Griffith present I did think was a good idea to move the story along though.
Here I would move on to the Doldrey battle, but something is missing...I can't quite remember what... o yeah THE BONFIRE OF DREAMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is what absolutely killed the movie IMO. The Bonfire scene wraps so many threads together, Casca's changing relationship with Guts, more development of Judeau's character, Guts opening up to Casca in response to her doing the same etc. But most importantly it shows Guts considering if he'll leave the Hawks. This scene, above all others, should not have been cut. The story line takes a serious hit by not including this scene.
The Doldrey battle was too damn long. Bascone was not set up well at all and Gennon felt like an add on. On a side note, Griffith mentioned in the podcast how having Gennon's hair changed from black to white took away from his creepyness and overall power as a villain. The scene that was supposed to insinuate that he was a pedophile didn't hack it. I thought they made Gennon look like they pulled Santa Claus out of the nursing home. The duel with Bascone was devoid of any of the tension that made the manga or anime great. I really felt like Guts was done for before Zodd intervened. Instead we get Guts chucking a flag at Bascone and that's our substitute? Really? Gut's sword doesn't even break!!!!!
Of course Zodd being cut pissed me off, but I could've dealt with it easier had they included more character development and a better ending for the duel.
The ball scene I actually liked, Guts and Casca dancing gave me a big ol' smile. But the ball scene is useless without the Queens plot in the background and the assassination of the conspirators that followed. In the end it was just eye candy and fan service.
Guts leaving without being stopped by Casca or going to the tavern with Judeau and Corkus, was another huge blow to the movie. It was almost on par with the B.O.D being cut. By the time I got to the duel I almost turned it off. Unfortunately here is where the film really does its homework and make s a worth while attempt at adapting Berserk. The duel, Griffith having sex with Charlotte, the Hawks being betrayed and the torture room scenes all flow perfectly into one another. But it comes to late to save this movie.
I tried my best to give this movie an unbiased viewing, as it contains many of my favorite scenes not just from the Golden Age but for the whole series. But at the end of the day I was left unsatisfied and just generally uneven about the film. I felt like they spent to much time on the battle's and not nearly enough time on character development. I still have hopes that the third movie will right the ship and end the Golden Age on a good note. (Much in the way Episode 3 did for the Star Wars prequels) But my expectations have been tempered. Until then I'll being waiting for the next episode to arrive.
First off the 100 man fight ranks very high in my favorite scenes list and I was disappointed with how it was handled. First off the build up with Guts and Casca was poorly orchestrated. The dream sequence was an eye sore, it looked bad and was very overindulgent in the noble wailing a way at Casca. But most importantly, Casca doesn't tell this to Guts. It was a big deal in the manga and anime that Casca was willing to share her past with someone who up until that point she disliked. Not only that, but it further strengthens the bond that they'll come to form later down the road. In addition we get zero back story with Griffith, which again pays dividends down the road. The fight itself had its moments when I was very bought in, but it quickly followed up by disappointing me with bad animation. I didn't feel that tension and awe that I felt with the manga or the anime. We're supposed to be impressed with Guts being able to slay 100 men by himself with an arrow in his hand. Also they didn't do enough to emphasize that Guts was doing his best to protect Casca from harm, another nugget that pays off down the road. Having Adon captured and Griffith present I did think was a good idea to move the story along though.
Here I would move on to the Doldrey battle, but something is missing...I can't quite remember what... o yeah THE BONFIRE OF DREAMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is what absolutely killed the movie IMO. The Bonfire scene wraps so many threads together, Casca's changing relationship with Guts, more development of Judeau's character, Guts opening up to Casca in response to her doing the same etc. But most importantly it shows Guts considering if he'll leave the Hawks. This scene, above all others, should not have been cut. The story line takes a serious hit by not including this scene.
The Doldrey battle was too damn long. Bascone was not set up well at all and Gennon felt like an add on. On a side note, Griffith mentioned in the podcast how having Gennon's hair changed from black to white took away from his creepyness and overall power as a villain. The scene that was supposed to insinuate that he was a pedophile didn't hack it. I thought they made Gennon look like they pulled Santa Claus out of the nursing home. The duel with Bascone was devoid of any of the tension that made the manga or anime great. I really felt like Guts was done for before Zodd intervened. Instead we get Guts chucking a flag at Bascone and that's our substitute? Really? Gut's sword doesn't even break!!!!!
Of course Zodd being cut pissed me off, but I could've dealt with it easier had they included more character development and a better ending for the duel.
The ball scene I actually liked, Guts and Casca dancing gave me a big ol' smile. But the ball scene is useless without the Queens plot in the background and the assassination of the conspirators that followed. In the end it was just eye candy and fan service.
Guts leaving without being stopped by Casca or going to the tavern with Judeau and Corkus, was another huge blow to the movie. It was almost on par with the B.O.D being cut. By the time I got to the duel I almost turned it off. Unfortunately here is where the film really does its homework and make s a worth while attempt at adapting Berserk. The duel, Griffith having sex with Charlotte, the Hawks being betrayed and the torture room scenes all flow perfectly into one another. But it comes to late to save this movie.
I tried my best to give this movie an unbiased viewing, as it contains many of my favorite scenes not just from the Golden Age but for the whole series. But at the end of the day I was left unsatisfied and just generally uneven about the film. I felt like they spent to much time on the battle's and not nearly enough time on character development. I still have hopes that the third movie will right the ship and end the Golden Age on a good note. (Much in the way Episode 3 did for the Star Wars prequels) But my expectations have been tempered. Until then I'll being waiting for the next episode to arrive.