*Waring; this review may contain slight spoilers, I wouldn't know, I haven't done this before* Despite the sarcastic title, I really liked this series, but I can't really review this show as a whole. To those just joining us, there are two versions of sailor moon; a Japanese version, and an English version.
I shall review each of these versions separately.
English version: Not bad actually. If your looking for mindless fun or a guilty pleasure, this is your thing. The plot is fairly engaging, the characters excellent, the animation is not as good as it could have been, but if you are forgiving, it won't bother you.
The dubbing, I am going to admit, makes me cringe. I mean, I know they were going for a more light-hearted feel, but silly voices don't add much to that. In episode one, hearing Serena screaming 'moon tiara magic' made me want to crawl under the couch and die.
I've read the other pro-Japanese version reviewer's and I hear what they say about the whole cultural freedom thing, but I do understand about editing out the sexual material. I mean it's the parents choice to decide whether or not their kids are exposed to that sort of thing. (And my parents wouldn't let me watch it.) I'm less understanding about editing out the violence. I mean kids are exposed to that kind of stuff everywhere. Not much is seen anyway. Maybe this is just me, but I don't find cartoon blood to be all that disturbing. So don't freak out over violence, cos your kids know worse stuff anyway.
The lesbian/gay stuff; Fine by me, but if you don't like your kids knowing until they are older stay clear. But the way I see it, gays are people living in the world, and kids should learn to accept that.
In all honesty, I actually found the English version to be funner than the Japanese version, but that's just MY opinion.
Overall opinion: Fun stuff; best watched by a five to seven year old at seven in the morning on a Saturday, or at seven in the evening on a Saturday, by a fourteen to sixteen year old who is depressed because he/she has no date.
Japanese version: Now this is where it get's interesting, campers! Some sexuality, lots'o'violence, death and rebirth, suffering and heartache; we are certainly dealing with the big boys now! This version of sailor moon takes itself more seriously than the English version, with much more adult themes. Most of the warnings for it have been dealt with in the review of the English version, and I'm getting tired.
(Though I will say that the nudity didn't offend me, because it was supposed to represent rebirth, and vulnerability.) By the way: To the guy/girl who said that fans of the Japanese version are perverts; we don't like it just because it has adult content in it, we like it because it's serious anime, and thats the kind of stuff we're into. (Though some of us do just watch it for adult content, and those people ARE perverts.) Overall opinion: Best watch by any girl (or boy) aged thirteen to nineteen, at midnight under the covers, with bowl of chocolate ice cream.
So in summary: Excellent anime, and though I personally prefer the Japanese version, the English version I found enjoyable too. And PLEASE no more fighting between what I call 'the two factions.' Sailor moon is a great anime either way, can't we just leave it at that? Sorry for the crappy review, I'll go now P.S. I actually like Jem; the joke was just THERE.
I shall review each of these versions separately.
English version: Not bad actually. If your looking for mindless fun or a guilty pleasure, this is your thing. The plot is fairly engaging, the characters excellent, the animation is not as good as it could have been, but if you are forgiving, it won't bother you.
The dubbing, I am going to admit, makes me cringe. I mean, I know they were going for a more light-hearted feel, but silly voices don't add much to that. In episode one, hearing Serena screaming 'moon tiara magic' made me want to crawl under the couch and die.
I've read the other pro-Japanese version reviewer's and I hear what they say about the whole cultural freedom thing, but I do understand about editing out the sexual material. I mean it's the parents choice to decide whether or not their kids are exposed to that sort of thing. (And my parents wouldn't let me watch it.) I'm less understanding about editing out the violence. I mean kids are exposed to that kind of stuff everywhere. Not much is seen anyway. Maybe this is just me, but I don't find cartoon blood to be all that disturbing. So don't freak out over violence, cos your kids know worse stuff anyway.
The lesbian/gay stuff; Fine by me, but if you don't like your kids knowing until they are older stay clear. But the way I see it, gays are people living in the world, and kids should learn to accept that.
In all honesty, I actually found the English version to be funner than the Japanese version, but that's just MY opinion.
Overall opinion: Fun stuff; best watched by a five to seven year old at seven in the morning on a Saturday, or at seven in the evening on a Saturday, by a fourteen to sixteen year old who is depressed because he/she has no date.
Japanese version: Now this is where it get's interesting, campers! Some sexuality, lots'o'violence, death and rebirth, suffering and heartache; we are certainly dealing with the big boys now! This version of sailor moon takes itself more seriously than the English version, with much more adult themes. Most of the warnings for it have been dealt with in the review of the English version, and I'm getting tired.
(Though I will say that the nudity didn't offend me, because it was supposed to represent rebirth, and vulnerability.) By the way: To the guy/girl who said that fans of the Japanese version are perverts; we don't like it just because it has adult content in it, we like it because it's serious anime, and thats the kind of stuff we're into. (Though some of us do just watch it for adult content, and those people ARE perverts.) Overall opinion: Best watch by any girl (or boy) aged thirteen to nineteen, at midnight under the covers, with bowl of chocolate ice cream.
So in summary: Excellent anime, and though I personally prefer the Japanese version, the English version I found enjoyable too. And PLEASE no more fighting between what I call 'the two factions.' Sailor moon is a great anime either way, can't we just leave it at that? Sorry for the crappy review, I'll go now P.S. I actually like Jem; the joke was just THERE.
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