From: sunniechan@comcast.net   
      
   Phoenix wrote:   
   > Act 1 - I am Sailor Moon!   
   >   
   > Three years ago in October of 2003, new life was breathed into Sailor   
   > Moon with the premiere of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, a live-action   
   > version of Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon.   
   >   
   > The anticipation was so high that we were happy to get any scrap of   
   > news on this series. Episode summaries and raw torrents were eagerly   
   > snapped up in order to experience this new version of Sailor Moon.   
      
   I wish I had had access to AFSM during that period of time.  I'd heard a   
   few mentions of it, but I'd really fallen away from online communities   
   at that time for awhile, and missed out on all the initial excitement.   
      
   I remember watching this first episode just a little over one year ago.   
     I was hooked just by the opening theme itself.  There was something   
   about the cute little sprite-selves that show up with the Senshi that   
   absolutely captivated me.  That, and Sailor Mercury's hair.  I *want*   
   that wig--and not for cosplay!   
      
   >   
   > I loved that first tumultuous meeting between Usagi and Mamoru. Usagi   
   > assuring Mamoru that she was not a model, Mamoru assuring Usagi that   
   > no one would ever mistake her for a model and then Usagi's disdainful   
   > shoulder check and hair flip in response. ^_^   
      
   I had issues with Usagi and Mamoru's relationship in the anime, in part   
   due to a dislike of Mamoru over time.  However, Mamoru in the live   
   action version is a really great character to me.  I don't know what it   
   is, but he pulls off the jerk thing a bit better than the animated   
   version did.  Not to mention that little grin he has when that scene   
   ends.  He's rather adorable.   
      
   >   
   > Naru attempts to save her mother and Jadeite makes his appearance.   
      
   I'm so glad that Kawabe Chieko (frequent performer of Sailor Mercury in   
   the musicals) got the role of Naru, and that they made the character so   
   focal in the series.  She is incredibly talented (possibly the best   
   actress out of all of them, in my opinion), and really just lovely.  I   
   only wish they'd given her a single too--she has a great voice.  I   
   recommend "Sakura Kiss" for the curious, the opening theme to Ouran High   
   School Host Club (which I also highly recommend) that Chieko sang.   
      
      
      
   >   
   > The battle scene worked just fine for me. At first Sailor Moon flailed   
   > her arms helplessly, but then at Luna's prompting, her tiara glowed   
   > and suddenly she was gifted with the ability to fight back using this   
   > sort of acrobatic ballet style. On the surface, it might seem silly   
   > that the senshi could fight youma with pirouettes, arabesques and   
   > cartwheels, but I think it fits the idea behind Sailor Moon perfectly.   
   >   
   > For her signature attack, Sailor Moon uses Moon Healing Escalation,   
   > the purifying attack that transforms people from youma back into their   
   > normal human form.   
      
   Personally, I hate all the battles and such in this series.  Mainly   
   because the critters just look *so* bad.  However, what I like best   
   about this series is that the battles take such a backseat to the   
   characters themselves that I can overlook them entirely.  I adored PGSM,   
   even with bad effects and odd fighting styles.   
      
      
      
   >   
   > And finally, we see Queen Beryl herself as she rages at Sailor Moon   
   > for standing in her way.   
      
   Sugimoto Aya is just terrific as Beryl.  I think the live action version   
   of the character is even better than the animated one.  She's entirely   
   over the top, but at the same time, rather believable in my mind.  She   
   has made herself into a cartoon character.  I was incredibly impressed   
   with the way they managed to pull of that character.  Hmm...looks like   
   she's playing the role of Hone Onna in the live action version of Jigoku   
   Shoujo.  Might have to check it out, I bet she'd do a great job (already   
   liked the animated version of that character anyway).   
      
   >   
   > In all, this is a great start to this new version of Sailor Moon.   
      
   Agreed.  I was a little overwhelmed watching it, given the Power   
   Rangers-esque effects.  Although, it only took the next 2 episodes to   
   totally rope me in. ^_-  And Sawai Miyuu does a fantastic job in this   
   role.  In her Pin Spot interview, she mentioned that at the end of the   
   audition, a person in charge asked the group of audtioners if they had   
   anything else to say.  Appearly Miyuu jumped up and yelled "I want to be   
   Sailor Moon."  How much more perfect for the part could someone be? *lol*   
      
   Sunnie   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)