Monster is going to be adapted....

angelx03 · Post by **angelx03** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 2:10 pm

So is it safe to say they're doing an American live-action adaption?

Kai Stromler · Post by **Kai Stromler** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 2:24 pm

One the one hand, this could be cool. Monster definitely has the weight and depth to become an excellent serious film. People worried about de-Japanization should actually read the story; it'd work as well with any foreigner in Germany.

On the other hand, Monster is also 16 volumes long, and so incredibly deep and multifaceted that compressing it into three hours (a la Heat, probably its most similar cinematic counterpart) runs the risk of cutting out part or most of what makes it Monster. The current anime is 78 episodes not for marketing reasons, but because that's what's required to tell the whole story.

It could be awesome, or it could suck -- pretty much what can be said of any film at this stage of the pre-planning process. Fortunately, in the latter case, we already have animated Monster, so it's not a total loss.

--K

Org Profile · Post by **Otohiko** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 4:58 pm

Kai basically said everything I wanted to say.

As a huge fan of Monster, I'm both interested and cautious on this.

But I will admit one thing: Monster has had a very live-action feel to it all along, so the athmosphere could easily be related - and if it does, it will be an awesome movie, accessible to those who don't know anything about anime.
My mother, completely indifferent to anime in general, is a HUGE fan of Monster.

For all purposes though, even if it comes out amazingly well, I will consider it inferior to the anime series; because capturing a riveting 18 volumes of pure story and character in even two or three hours of film is impossible. An 80-episode series is the only way to do that.

If anything, this could bring a lot more new fans to the original. That I always welcome.

Org Profile · Post by **Otohiko** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 6:34 pm

...but I did just think of a very good possible implication of this - if the plans go ahead, it's likely that the Monster anime will get licensed - which for me would be a Very Good Thing, as current lack of money is the only thing stopping me from importing it right now...