OT: Cowboy Bebop

[A7]

I've just read online that FOX is working on a live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop. For those not familiar with the title, Cowboy Bebop is a 26-episode anime series that mixes elements of Reservoir Dogs, A Better Tomorrow and Enter the Dragon with old-school jazz music provided by The Seatbelts (featuring guitarist Steve Conte of the New York Dolls). It was the first anime aired on Cartoon Network's late night Adult Swim block.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6zDfxZ4NcE]Cowboy Bebop - "Tank" by The Seatbelts[/ame]

The immense popularity and critical acclaim of the series led to the release of a theatrical follow-up, which takes place before the last three episodes of the show. Outside the U.S., the film is titled Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au1AO1xaEts]Cowboy Bebop: The Movie[/ame]

Now, I'm really cautious about anime being adapted into live-action, especially after Speed Racer's disastrous run at the box office. We're already gonna have Dragon Ball in theaters later this year, and it's a guaranteed turkey. In the case of Cowboy Bebop, I don't know why there's a need for it to go live-action. I mean, the anime is perfect as it is. Even most people who don't watch anime love it.

So for those who have seen the anime or are hardcore fans of it such as myself, what are your thoughts?

 

[Melisan]

I have no faith in a proper or even tolerable adaptation of this or 'Ghost in the Shell,' even if Spielberg is doing GitS. 'The Eye' showed rather clearly that Hollywood has no idea how to adapt Asian film, and CB is a legend in anime along side of Evangelion and Lupin III.

Just the fact they are comparing it to 'Reservoir Dogs' shows their cluelessness. These were complex characters with difficult pasts they were wrestling with (well, not so much Ed). Spike was a 3-dimensional character, not Mr. Pink.

And I seriously doubt Hollyweird could ever match the absolutely beautiful emotion at the end of episode 24, when Ed left the Bebop. The goodbye message, Spike and Jet eating in silence, Faye gone now that she had her memories back, Steve Conte's amazing singing. God, that song is hell to listen to and that scene reduces me to a wreck.

Hollywood sucks. It has no creativity left. Just a bunch of leftist jerks who piss on everyone between LA and New York and then wonder why their movies all bomb. The number one movie in the country stars a Welshman (Christian Bale), an Aussie (Heath Ledger) and was written and directed by a Brit (Nolan). If Hollywood was forced to stop importing talent, all we'd have left is Michael Bay, 'The Hills' hos, and all those little girlyman pansies Disney keeps trying to pass off as leading men.
Don't ask me how I really feel.

 

[A7]

Steve Conte's amazing singing. God, that song is hell to listen to and that scene reduces me to a wreck.

Yeah, I love that song. I just can't believe how underrated he is, as only anime fans here in the U.S. know of his vocal skills.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aILwUUL3EVw]Cowboy Bebop - "Call Me Call Me" by Steve Conte[/ame]

Another favorite song from the series is the ending theme of the final episode. Such an appropriate tune to close a great series.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvuCccpT9gs]Cowboy Bebop - "Blue" by The Seatbelts with Mai Yamane[/ame]

Let's face it - any adaptation of Cowboy Bebop will not work without the music composed by Yoko Kanno and performed by The Seatbelts. It's like taking the sun away from the day.

 

[A7]

All right, that's it. This movie is not gonna be any good.

Keanu Reeves Leads Cast of Cowboy Bebop

 

[Melisan]

As a friend likes to say, it's gonna suck hard enough to bend light.