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May Movie Island: Cowboy Bebop: The Movie 5/12 @ ROOTS HOUSE
May 12 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Human beings communicate in real ways that go far beyond words, and movies are one of them. Through public screenings, we look for people who share the same scent under the same roof …
《Cowboy Bebop: The Movie》
（Japan/USA, 2001）
（Duration 1 hour 56 minutes）
5/12
Sunday
15:00
————
《Robot Dreams》
（Spain/France, 2023）
（Duration 1 hour 42 minutes）
5/26
Sunday
15:00
Movie Guide
Warm reminder: For a better movie experience, please read the “Movie Guide” at the end of this article before booking; seats are limited, so please book as early as possible!
*The following tickets include RMB 20/person drink coupon.
Single ticket RMB 50
RMB 92 for double occupancy
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie 5/12
What’s your name?
Spike.
I’ll see you at the end of the world.
I’m not afraid of death. It just means dreaming in silence, an eternal dream.
Of all the days I’ve spent, only the ones I’ve spent with you seem real.
”Caught up in the world of dreams, but lost in the harsh reality.” From start to finish, the movie version focused on capturing the most gorgeous aspects of Bebop’s Mars colony
Following the TV version, the 2001 movie version signified a continuation of the exploration of the far corners of the galaxy in a stylish series that inspired a generation and redefined anime as an undisputed art form
While Star Cowboy’s 1998 TV version was beloved for its blend of sci-fi, western, noir, and jazz influences, the subsequent appearance of the movie version was, unexpectedly, the best part of the soup of the entire series. For starters, it doesn’t try to continue from the TV version’s ending, which felt so final that forcing it to stretch on would likely ruin it, so the movie version chooses to stay in the middle of it, enhancing the fullness of the story’s middle section
The movie begins with the story of the starship crew’s hunt for Vincent, and more of the character relationships revolve around Spike. Spike gets the best fight scenes here as he is the Bruce Lee of the series and Vincent is arguably the best opponent. The characterization, comedic atmosphere, film photography, and action design all touch the top in the movie, and even viewers who have never seen Star Trek TV for the first time will be able to instantly tell who each and every one of these characters are!
Ultimately, the movie version is about telling dreams: a villain who tries to destroy everything because he believes life is a dream, and a cowboy who tries to stop his destruction because he constantly dreams of the past as well as the future
Vincent and Erica, two people with a shared past, clash again in their interactions with the Bebop crew, which is all that’s good about Bebop’s storytelling. Their relationship and similarities to Spike make this movie feel so powerful every time I rewatch it
Perhaps you could also respond to Star Cowboys: Heaven’s Gate as a stand-alone movie
————
Robot Dreams 5/26
A laugh-out-loud, tear-jerking tale of friendship under a wordless animation
Filled with exquisite detail, Robot Dreams recreates the un-aristocratic city of the 1980s. It’s a story of friendship, of companionship, and it’s for adults who appreciate whimsy and charm, not ”kids” who need to make a lot of noise.
Whether the relationship between the protagonists is romantic or platonic, the partnership between the dog and the robot is brutally torn to shreds in the movie. After frolicking on the beach, the robot lies dormant, having begun to rust due to the effects of the water, and is too heavy for the dog to take home. When the beach is blocked off the next day, the dog and the robot separately fantasize about reuniting, while also facing utter loneliness
In fact, much of the movie is about two characters who fail to move on: a dog struggling with a new relationship, and a machine slowly fading from neglect
Like Sara Varon’s 2007 graphic novel of the same name, Robot Dreams doesn’t indicate the gender of the dog and the machine, and there’s even speculation that it’s a portrayal of same-sex romance. You can interpret this as male, female, and non-binary, but none of that really matters, and perhaps we should be more pleased that the director chose genderless characters
The movie is told in monochrome and without words
”Instead of using a camera, I had hundreds of artists do the hand-painting. I’m not a cinematographer or an art director, but I knew what I wanted and how to convey it.” During the live-action portion, the director instructed the performers to make sure not to overact, but to communicate more through their eyes; when with the animators, he looked into the eyes of the robots and the dogs, and if their eyes didn’t tell him the truth, he’d assume that everything still needed work.” I tell actors and animators that it’s important for them to believe in the story and not think they’re there to save the scene.”
”I’ve only made four movies in twenty years. I love details, and I can spend a lot of time looking for the perfect color, the perfect shot.”’ – Director Pablo Berger
Berger has said: ”Even in live-action, the most storyboarded scenes still face a lot of variables. Whereas in animation, it’s like you’re on a horse and everything is under control. Every shot in this movie has my fingerprints all over it, every student move, I was involved in that decision.” That’s why he insisted on making the movie a deep-focus animation
”For me, imperfection is perfection.”
The director brings Sara Varon’s graphic novel to life in such a touching way. Those ambitious filmmakers who try to bring children’s graphic novels to life, or perhaps the underlying themes always find greater relevance in adults
There is not a single line of dialog throughout the movie. The movie may not be passionate, but it’s deeply moving, especially as it nears its unexpected ending, and you and I were able to enjoy it for that reason
Ultimately, the excellent handling of visual humor and some dramatic shots make them the poster child and break your heart. And its true story is hidden between the lines
More often than not, there’s only a thin line between friendship and love
Notes for Movie Watching
1. Once the tickets are sold, no refund or exchange will be accepted for any reason; our official ticketing channels are currently limited to the public mall/activity line/taking partner/tongsense, and early bird tickets are only available in the public mall.
2. In order not to affect other moviegoers, please enter at least half an hour before the start of the movie; when entering the venue, please present your ticket purchase record and be guided by the staff to check your ticket and take your seat; for those who have already purchased a ticket, your seat will be reserved until half an hour after the start of the movie, after which time it will be canceled.
3. Seats are limited, first-come-first-served, so please understand if you have to share a table.
4. Please do not bring any outside food and drinks into the venue area; smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is prohibited in the venue.
5. Please do not make loud noises during the movie, and keep your cell phone on silent or vibrate; if you need to take pictures or record videos, please turn off the flash.
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