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REVIEW: City Hunter: Shinjuku Private Eyes




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BlueAlf



Joined: 02 Jan 2017
Posts: 1488
PostPosted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 6:47 pm Reply with quote
I was initially disappointed that it was a movie and not a TV series, but after reading your review, it sorta makes sense.

BTW, minor mistake near the end, Get Wild was the original ED song, not OP.
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zztop



Joined: 28 Aug 2014
Posts: 641
PostPosted: Sat Feb 23, 2019 2:11 am Reply with quote
For those who've watched both this movie and the live-action French version (Nicky Larson & Cupid's Perfume), how do both compare to each other?
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azhanei



Joined: 21 Aug 2010
Posts: 79
PostPosted: Sat Feb 23, 2019 3:26 am Reply with quote
Even a mixed bag is better than nothing. Still hope CR picks up the subtitle so the rest of the North American fans can see it.

If it IS rebooted into a series, I'd hope the creative team takes a hard look at how a franchise like James Bond learned to balance the core that fans fell in love with while still adapting to the times.
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gedata



Joined: 04 May 2013
Posts: 615
PostPosted: Sat Feb 23, 2019 2:18 pm Reply with quote
zztop wrote:
For those who've watched both this movie and the live-action French version (Nicky Larson & Cupid's Perfume), how do both compare to each other?

Two different films opening around the same time in different continents? Yeah, I don't think anyone's about to make that comparison.

Anyway, I hope this does well enough to encourage a TV revival as well.
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Ranma_no_Baka



Joined: 23 Feb 2019
Posts: 2
PostPosted: Sat Feb 23, 2019 3:43 pm Reply with quote
zztop wrote:
For those who've watched both this movie and the live-action French version (Nicky Larson & Cupid's Perfume), how do both compare to each other?

I haven't seen Shinjuku Private Eyes, but I've just come back from my theater showing of Nicky Larson and the Cupid's Perfume.

Let's just say that the french movie is pretty much a live-action episode of the animated series, and a great one at that. I honestly can't believe how great it actually is (especially since the trailers weren't all that good). Philippe Lacheau has managed to deliver a great adaptation while remaining faithful at all times to the source material, and surprisingly he also managed to make some very visual and cartoonish gags work. It's a great mix of action and comedy, and one of the best adaptations of a comic-book I've seen (for those who know it, Lacheau has managed to make with City Hunter what Alain Chabat has managed to do with his movie Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, and laughs are on the ride all the way long).

One of the only complaints I have about the movie is the abondance of easter eggs to the Club Dorothee (the TV program City Hunter was broadcasted on in France in the late 80's and early 90's) and other series like Dragon Ball, Knights of the Zodiac (Saint Seiya), Ranma 1/2, Inspector Gadget... A few of the gags will also only make sense to those who know the french adaptation of the series. And also, the first act which tries too hard to introduce Nicky as a pervert. The second and third act are a lot better, more adjusted.

Philippe Lacheau completely nailed it as the writer-director, as much as Elodie Fontan completely nailed it as Kaori / Laura. There are a lot of surprises along the way for the fans of the manga which are better to discover by yourselves.

I honestly can't believe how much I've actually loved it. This movie is a candy store of fun and nostalgia for the fans of City Hunter, and definitely the best live-action adaptation of a manga I've seen so far (not to say one of the very few great ones).

By the way, if you still have some questions about the movie, don't hesitate to ask, but I warn that it's FAR better to keep the surprises of the plot and of the gags for your actual viewing to appreciate the movie fully.

All in all, I really hope the movie makes enough money back for Lacheau to be able to make a sequel, which might actually be a full City Hunter / Cat's Eye cross-over according to his interviews.
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trilaan



Joined: 17 Jan 2009
Posts: 1051
Location: Texas
PostPosted: Sun Feb 24, 2019 3:43 am Reply with quote
I can't wait to see this(and the new French film) and, since humor. is. subjective...I will still find it funny.
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zztop



Joined: 28 Aug 2014
Posts: 641
PostPosted: Sun Feb 24, 2019 11:48 am Reply with quote
Ranma_no_Baka wrote:
zztop wrote:
For those who've watched both this movie and the live-action French version (Nicky Larson & Cupid's Perfume), how do both compare to each other?

I haven't seen Shinjuku Private Eyes, but I've just come back from my theater showing of Nicky Larson and the Cupid's Perfume.

Let's just say that the french movie is pretty much a live-action episode of the animated series, and a great one at that. I honestly can't believe how great it actually is (especially since the trailers weren't all that good). Philippe Lacheau has managed to deliver a great adaptation while remaining faithful at all times to the source material, and surprisingly he also managed to make some very visual and cartoonish gags work. It's a great mix of action and comedy, and one of the best adaptations of a comic-book I've seen (for those who know it, Lacheau has managed to make with City Hunter what Alain Chabat has managed to do with his movie Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, and laughs are on the ride all the way long).

One of the only complaints I have about the movie is the abondance of easter eggs to the Club Dorothee (the TV program City Hunter was broadcasted on in France in the late 80's and early 90's) and other series like Dragon Ball, Knights of the Zodiac (Saint Seiya), Ranma 1/2, Inspector Gadget... A few of the gags will also only make sense to those who know the french adaptation of the series. And also, the first act which tries too hard to introduce Nicky as a pervert. The second and third act are a lot better, more adjusted.

Philippe Lacheau completely nailed it as the writer-director, as much as Elodie Fontan completely nailed it as Kaori / Laura. There are a lot of surprises along the way for the fans of the manga which are better to discover by yourselves.

I honestly can't believe how much I've actually loved it. This movie is a candy store of fun and nostalgia for the fans of City Hunter, and definitely the best live-action adaptation of a manga I've seen so far (not to say one of the very few great ones).

By the way, if you still have some questions about the movie, don't hesitate to ask, but I warn that it's FAR better to keep the surprises of the plot and of the gags for your actual viewing to appreciate the movie fully.

All in all, I really hope the movie makes enough money back for Lacheau to be able to make a sequel, which might actually be a full City Hunter / Cat's Eye cross-over according to his interviews.


I heard somewhere the French director invited City's mangaka, Hojo Tsukasa, to guest star in Nicky Larson, but Hojo refused saying he was "painfully shy" and was awkward in feont of a movie camera.
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Ranma_no_Baka



Joined: 23 Feb 2019
Posts: 2
PostPosted: Sun Feb 24, 2019 1:51 pm Reply with quote
zztop wrote:
Ranma_no_Baka wrote:
zztop wrote:
For those who've watched both this movie and the live-action French version (Nicky Larson & Cupid's Perfume), how do both compare to each other?

I haven't seen Shinjuku Private Eyes, but I've just come back from my theater showing of Nicky Larson and the Cupid's Perfume.

Let's just say that the french movie is pretty much a live-action episode of the animated series, and a great one at that. I honestly can't believe how great it actually is (especially since the trailers weren't all that good). Philippe Lacheau has managed to deliver a great adaptation while remaining faithful at all times to the source material, and surprisingly he also managed to make some very visual and cartoonish gags work. It's a great mix of action and comedy, and one of the best adaptations of a comic-book I've seen (for those who know it, Lacheau has managed to make with City Hunter what Alain Chabat has managed to do with his movie Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, and laughs are on the ride all the way long).

One of the only complaints I have about the movie is the abondance of easter eggs to the Club Dorothee (the TV program City Hunter was broadcasted on in France in the late 80's and early 90's) and other series like Dragon Ball, Knights of the Zodiac (Saint Seiya), Ranma 1/2, Inspector Gadget... A few of the gags will also only make sense to those who know the french adaptation of the series. And also, the first act which tries too hard to introduce Nicky as a pervert. The second and third act are a lot better, more adjusted.

Philippe Lacheau completely nailed it as the writer-director, as much as Elodie Fontan completely nailed it as Kaori / Laura. There are a lot of surprises along the way for the fans of the manga which are better to discover by yourselves.

I honestly can't believe how much I've actually loved it. This movie is a candy store of fun and nostalgia for the fans of City Hunter, and definitely the best live-action adaptation of a manga I've seen so far (not to say one of the very few great ones).

By the way, if you still have some questions about the movie, don't hesitate to ask, but I warn that it's FAR better to keep the surprises of the plot and of the gags for your actual viewing to appreciate the movie fully.

All in all, I really hope the movie makes enough money back for Lacheau to be able to make a sequel, which might actually be a full City Hunter / Cat's Eye cross-over according to his interviews.


I heard somewhere the French director invited City's mangaka, Hojo Tsukasa, to guest star in Nicky Larson, but Hojo refused saying he was "painfully shy" and was awkward in feont of a movie camera.

Yes, that's true. Not very surprising considering Lacheau has cast some people who contributed to the french version of City Hunter in cameos (the TV host Dorothee, the french voice actor of Nicky / Ryo, and even the singer of the opening) and he and Hojo did get along.

Hojo did contribute to the promotion nonetheless, appearing with Lacheau at the Paris Comic Con to promote the movie. And yes, he was a little awkward and reserved in front of a camera. Laughing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqvrqS0qXqg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_-0Uyguz_M
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BadNewsBlues



Joined: 21 Sep 2014
Posts: 5873
PostPosted: Sun Feb 24, 2019 10:53 pm Reply with quote
azhanei wrote:


If it IS rebooted into a series, I'd hope the creative team takes a hard look at how a franchise like James Bond learned to balance the core that fans fell in love with while still adapting to the times.


While occasionally making divisive films.
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snake-eyes



Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Posts: 129
PostPosted: Wed Apr 29, 2020 2:29 pm Reply with quote
I Saw City Hunter for the first time when Discotek released Season 1 Part 1 on Blue Ray! Neat series. It is similar to the TV Series Hunter! Male and female partners, will they or won’t they hook up. Male cop armed with a huge gun. I do not no how I missed this in the 90’s! I just saw this film on Blu ray and loved it. Thank s to Discotek for bringing City Hunter to the US, or I might have missed this excellent anime film and series!
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MarshalBanana



Joined: 31 Aug 2014
Posts: 5286
PostPosted: Mon Jun 01, 2020 12:18 pm Reply with quote
Quote:
it takes characters from an '80s manga and transplants them into a modern setting without changing the essential plot or the cultural backdrop from which they were originally inspired. The result is a film both nostalgic and jarring, the kind of thing that makes you wonder: “Should they have changed it more, or should they have changed it less?”
It seems like the only Anime series that can exist through countless decades while doing little to update, and still not feel dated is Lupin III.
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Angel M Cazares



Joined: 23 Sep 2010
Posts: 5400
Location: Iscandar
PostPosted: Mon Jun 01, 2020 4:50 pm Reply with quote
I just want to point out that Discotek's BD release of this movie is already out.

https://www.rightstufanime.com/City-Hunter-Shinjuku-Private-Eyes-Blu-ray
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Beltane70



Joined: 07 May 2007
Posts: 3866
PostPosted: Mon Jun 01, 2020 10:53 pm Reply with quote
angelmcazares wrote:
I just want to point out that Discotek's BD release of this movie is already out.

https://www.rightstufanime.com/City-Hunter-Shinjuku-Private-Eyes-Blu-ray


Crunchyroll also has the movie on its site, broken into two parts.
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trilaan



Joined: 17 Jan 2009
Posts: 1051
Location: Texas
PostPosted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 12:31 am Reply with quote
I got my copy today and am very excited to finally watch it.
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