There are plenty of reasons why Hollywood adaptations of classic Japanese manga always bomb spectacularly (Dragon Ball, shudder). Well, pretty much anything Japanese that Hollywood adapts is bound to be a colossal flop (47 Ronin, ugh). But the point is that the Japanese are still the best at rebooting their own classics, as Space Pirate Captain Harlock amply demonstrates.
Based on the 1977 manga of the same name by writer-artist Leiji Matsumoto, Space Pirate Captain Harlock chronicles the exploits of a young man named Logan who volunteers to infiltrate the space vessel of notorious intergalactic pirate Captain Harlock in order to atone for an accident that he caused, which crippled his brother Ezra and put his first love (and his brother’s wife) Nami on life support. Aboard Harlock’s ship Arcadia, Logan meets pudgy first mate Yulian and token kickass babe Kei, as well as ethereal alien Mimay and the Captain himself. But as time passes, Logan finds his loyalties being challenged. Is the Captain really the black-hearted anarchist that the authorities make him out to be? Or is he actually a noble freedom fighter?
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. This reviewer could easily spend his entire word count just describing the incredibly convoluted (and occasionally ludicrous) plot, which also includes giant death rays, an authoritarian regime called the Gaia Communion and a tortured love triangle between Logan, Ezra and Nami. There’s really something for everyone, as Space Pirate Captain Harlock is determined to live up to both the “space” and the “opera” in space opera. The downside of this narrative complexity, however, is sketchy characterisation (especially of the female characters) and occasionally lazy plotting (the aforementioned death rays). There’s so much backstory and exposition to be elaborated upon that certain elements inevitably had to be sacrificed.
Not that it’s any kind of fatal flaw, of course. Space Pirate Captain Harlock’s plot is still reasonably solid, and there are the lovingly rendered 3D graphics and intense action sequences to distract the viewer from the occasional plot hole here and there. Even the leather in Captain Harlock’s cloak looks leathery, and Star Wars geeks will have plenty to squeal about with the intricately designed spacecraft and high-tech gadgetry. And since the chances are that those watching this movie out of their own accord are already anime fans, they will be pleased to know that the film delivers on all the must-have anime elements: cool fight sequences (both between humans and between machines), a tortured and brash protagonist, a richly detailed universe to explore and even the obligatory sexploitative shower sequence featuring one of the female characters that bears no narrative relevance whatsoever.
This brings us back to the point about how the Japanese are still the only ones capable of making a half-decent reboot of an iconic manga series. Naturally, there is a cultural element involved. Space Pirate Captain Harlock is suffused with Japanese sensibilities, from the camaraderie amongst the crew of the Arcadia to the sacrifices for the greater good made by a whole range of characters. Even the film’s less believable moments are uniquely Japanese. Any manga or anime fan will surely recognize the illogical sense of honor that Captain Harlock displays when he hands Logan a weapon to kill him in spite of knowing that Logan is a spy(hardly a spoiler, we assure you). And of course, this being Japanese anime, Logan doesn’t pull the trigger and is moved by Harlock’s innate nobility. This is also quite possibly the only kind of film where angmoh-looking characters speak Japanese. Stuff like that simply doesn’t translate well when foreign (especially non-Asian) folks try their hand at an adaptation.
The film has also been significantly revamped and certain premises and characters in the original manga have been passed over in favour of new ones. These revisions, however, were conceived and implemented with the aid and blessings of original artist-writer Leiji Matsumoto himself. The equal partnership between Matsumoto and studio Toei Animation is most telling in the fact that the characters still retain some degree of psychological depth amidst the explosions and high-handed rhetoric.
Space Pirate Captain Harlock is definitely not one of the most thought-provoking or senses-rattling movies ever made, but it succeeds admirably at what it sets out to do: entertain. If you’re momentarily fatigued by an endless succession of Hollywood blockbusters, give this film a go and see how the Japanese do epic space battles and universe-saving for a change. You might be pleasantly surprised.
Summary: An animated blockbuster with a uniquely Japanese aesthetic. Not the most groundbreaking, but full of twists and turns to keep most moviegoers entertained.
RATING: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Leslie Wong