Phoenix Wright: The Movie

[krazystitch]

POLLY?! YYYYEEEEEESSSSSSS!!

This movie definitely has my seal of approval now.

[Xenos]

WHAT?! THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE GUMSHOE?!

I mean, granted they got everything else right, but that guy looks way too small!

Maybe it's the camera...meh.

[PeanutButterDimond]

This film looks so awesome! I really love how close to the game it is in terms of aesthetics. I can't wait to see how they pull off the parrot.

[Kevin]

From those screen shots, this movie looks awesome so far! If it's looking as close to the game as it is, then I'm really looking forward to seeing it!

[PeanutButterDimond]

Positive review of the film by a fan of the games and a world wide release planned

http://forums.court-...hp?f=31&t=21615

FUUUUCK YEEEES! This is awesome! I so want to see this film! Let us joyously celebrate!

Edited February 1, 2012 by PeanutButterDimond

[Abominal SnowTaz]

Just seeing Polly gave me a boner. I really want my eyes to view this now. Also, Edgeworth looks kick ass.

[Velotix von Skruviktorrius]

You're welcome, by the way.

[Covskin]

This is certainly a must-see, whenever it does reach the U.K. Sub or Dub, I ain't picky.

[Jeffhog]

And now that I'm playing through the first game, which this movie is based on, I can only say

SUB, DUB, I DON'T CARE ;A;

FOR I'LL CLEAN THESE STAINS OFF MY UNDERWEAR

I'm hooked, I want in on this bandwagon, I WANT TO SEE THIS MOVIE ;A;

[Kevin]

Worldwide release planned? Aww yeah! It's good to know the film got a positive review too!

Edited February 2, 2012 by Kevin

[Gavvie]

Looking forward to this one myself, actually. Was thinking I'd have to import, so the news that it's getting a worldwide release is welcome. At least the film makers know that there's a market for AA around the world...(still hoping on a reversal and that Ace Attorney Investigations 2 gets a release in the West).

[Jeffhog]

It's just about 7 am in Japan right now.

7 am, Saturday, 11th of February.

Hope we'll get to hear a few impressions by the end of the week!

[Jeffhog]

Sonic Stadium, I present more evidence!

Kotaku's review of Gyakuten Saiban has arrived!

Ace Attorney Is the Best Video Game Movie Ever (Take That, Hollywood!)

Gyakuten Saiban—the movie based on Capcom's visual novel series, Ace Attorney—was released in Japan to sold-out theaters this past weekend.

Staying closer to the source material than any video game movie before it, does this film prove that games can successfully be adapted into movies or does it reiterate the idea that games and movies are fundamentally incompatible forms of art? (Hint: it's the former.)

Gyakuten Saiban, the movie, closely follows the plot of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney—specifically the overarching story of the first, second, and fourth cases in that game. Upon finding his mentor, Mia Fey, murdered, rookie defense attorney Phoenix Wright finds himself trapped in the middle of 15-year-old mystery. With the help of Mia's little sister, Maya, Phoenix sets out to match wits against prosecutors Miles Edgeworth and Manfred Von Karma to unravel the conspiracy that connects them all together.

A movie like this could find no better director than Miike Takashi (Ichi the Killer, Audition). Known in the West mostly as a horror director, he's actually done everything from children's fantasy films to classic anime adaptations in addition to his horror work. His ability to merge the real and the surreal does more than hold the often-comical/often-serious drama of Gyakuten Saiban together: it crafts a world where such things feel natural.

If you've ever complained that a video game movie strays too far from the source material, thenGyakuten Saiban is the movie for you. Everything from hair styles to the Blue Badger come straight from the game with little to no embellishment. Much of the game's music returns—now fully orchestrated—and even the set design perfectly mirrors the in-game locations.

That said, the movie and game are not identical as Miike doesn't hesitate to take the ideas present in the game and run with them to their logical conclusion. In a world where all trials last for a maximum of three days, Miike treats courtrooms as the world's most popular sport, where fans buy tickets and lawyers face off in pre-fight interviews.

Moreover, witnesses are developed into true characters with their own complete stories and motivations far beyond source material. This extra insight provides the key to some of the film's most emotional-and haunting-images.

But by far the best thing in the movie is Miike's insistence to show, not tell. Deconstructed to its core, the Ace Attorney series is about a group of people standing around talking in a courtroom. But in Miike's Gyakuten Saiban, being visual is key. When a witness is testifying, we see the events happen via flashback. When a spirit medium contacts spirits of the dead, we don't just see a woman writhing around; we see the ghostly figments of death and the hellish landscape beyond.

This is the very reason for one of the film's most obvious additions, the holographic evidence windows. Ostensibly made to emulate the game's court record, they do far more by creating a way to make even the most mundane piece of evidence exciting and engaging. They also serve to set the time period, with comically large CRT monitors being used in flashbacks.

If the movie has any weakness, it's the casting. While most of the cast, especially Phoenix, Edgeworth, and Von Karma, are spot on, the same cannot be said for the supporting characters. Maya, a 17-year-old who is far more child than adult in the games, comes off less like an innocent girl and more like an emotionally unstable woman in her 20's. Gumshoe, on the other hand, comes off looking like an intelligent, clean-cut rookie cop rather than a middle-aged screw-up.

But as a whole, Gyakuten Saiban is by far the best video game adaption I have ever seen—though given how low that bar is, I'll do you one better. Gyakuten Saiban is on its own a fun, engaging mystery/comedy and a legitimately good movie.

I'll end this review with a little story. I had the pleasure of seeing this film with a non-gamer who had never even heard of the Ace Attorney games. He came out of the theater raving about the swerving plot twists, great characters, and amazing direction. He then proceeded to download Gyakuten Saiban 123 HD—the new iOS HD versions of the first three games—onto his iPhone. I don't know if there's any bigger praise than that.

[Phantomime]

I've never played the AA games, even though I intend to, and this sounds good. However, I think me not knowing Japanese might be a problem.

[Sean]

Gumshoe, on the other hand, comes off looking like an intelligent, clean-cut rookie cop rather than a middle-aged screw-up.

I'm okay with this. Gumshoe wasn't that incompetent in the first game, anyway.

[Jeffhog]

I've never played the AA games, even though I intend to, and this sounds good. However, I think me not knowing Japanese might be a problem.

There are talks of an international release.

[PeanutButterDimond]

I've never played the AA games, even though I intend to, and this sounds good. However, I think me not knowing Japanese might be a problem.

Miike has said that there are plans for it to be released worldwide with subs and dubs using the character names repective to their regions.

http://www.sonicstadium.org/out.php?http://forums.court-records.net/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=21615

[Jeffhog]

Guess what's premiering in the States.

[Sean]

I honestly can't recall if this was ever brought up, but was there any word on it actually getting international DVD releases, and not simply just limited theatrical/festival runs?

[Jeffhog]

Well, I doubt it would just fade away after AM2. Something like Phoenix Wright isn't ignored so easily, especially if the movie itself is good.

Then again, it is a foreign film, so there might not be a lot of publicity concerning it other than those who are interested in the subject matter. I'm sure we'll see a domestic release in some fashion.

[Katzii]

Phoenix Wright isn't ignored... Just they didn't bother to localise the second Edgeworth game. Maybe if this gets enough of a clamour, Capcom will reconsider.

Then again, it IS Capcom.

Hoping on seeing it here in the UK soon!

[Carbo]

So yeah seeing how we're all slow as shit catching onto things, while the official US premiere of the movie is supposed to be at AM2 in June, the movie actually premiered this month in the Hawaii International Film Festival. These guys who wrote a review of it have the DVD screener copy from it. An English DVD release is almost certain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcgWmhx9yjA

Also, the soundtrack for the movie has been out for a while. While the score features a good deal of original pieces, it naturally has renditions of all the Ace Attorney music we know and love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bAPvOtfLKQ

[Jeffhog]

Let's not forget the classic Cornered theme!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds0jpbhtXVQ

Love it!

[The Tenth Doctor]

Gotta say the Turnabout Sisters Diva version gives me chills. Such a big Maya fan, I can't wait to see how this movie comes up like.

[Nix]

*Objection music*

I lost it when it started, because it sounds amazing. Then I lost it again when Objection 2007 was in there. Fucking beautiful.