Digi know it was coming?
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ThisDigimon Adventure tri.review contains spoilers.
Digimon Adventure tri.
Movie One
Hype is a funny thing.
It can cloud your judgment.
It can make your pulse race.
It can piss off all your co-workers when you blare the Digi Rap as they walk into the office.
More than anything, it can create overblown expectations.
In this era of endless remakes, reboots, and continuations weve all been disappointed.
The story is lackluster.
They missed the point.
Its a soulless cash in on the name.
The characters ring true.
The story feels organic to what came before.
Oh yeah, its also really good.
The only thing that would have made it better would be an English dub in the old Saban style.
Im talking jokes shoved in anywhere they can and Hey Digimon blaring at all the worst times.
Have I mentioned Im a huge fan of the dub?
So much so that throughout this review Im going to refer to all the characters by the English names.
You gotta deal with it.
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You also have to deal with how much rambling Im going to do.
I love these characters.
I love their relationships.
I love the world.
So for the purposes of this review Im going to break it down into two sections.
One focusing on the characters, the others on the main plot.
So lets kick it up!
A digi reunion is coming your way; let me hear you say, DIGIMON!
The DigiDestined
Tai.
AKA Heroic Angst AKA Who Doesnt Love Soccer?
Tai hasnt been doing so well the past few years.
He doesnt have any plans for his future.
He can never get his friends together.
His soccer teammates would rather bang his sister then pay him any attention.
Tais whole world was being a DigiDestined.
Remember the start of Season 2 when Tai was in the digital world for no discernable reason?
(In the dub, anyway.)
This guy is the first one to respond to any threat.
I can imagine him waiting for some Digimon to show up and wreck havoc for the past three years.
He has no direction.
All he wants is to be with his friends and go on adventures again but everyone has moved on.
Just when things get him down in the dumps, a Kuwagamon appears in the sky.
Tai is overcome with fear but also with his sense of purpose.
He finally has something!
He bikes to the scene of the attack with intensity.
Hes in his element again but something is missing.
Hes powerless without Agumon.
As he avoids attack after attack Tai begins to notice something he never did before.
His actions have consequences.
This isnt a fun game anymore.
Thankfully Agumon shows up in the nick of time to save him and Digivolve into Greymon.
The fight carries over from the city to the airport, Tai watching the damage all along.
Even when he meets up with most of the other DigiDestined and their Digimon hes still paralyzed.
He wanted his sense of purpose back but he forgot about the responsibility.
Hes waited for this moment for so long and its like ash in his mouth.
What was supposed to be fun is now serious.
People can get hurt in these fights and its on their shoulders.
He clashes with straightforward Matt, as always, and leaves the reunion.
His newfound realization has destroyed everything.
In a tender scene with Agumon he gives voice to more of his fears.
Hes destroyed so much without even knowing it.
He might kill someone.
He later confesses to Matt,
Now I see more and understand less.
Tai is growing up.
The world isnt as simple a place.
Hes becoming aware of whats around him more and more.
His decisions cant be as black and white as they used to be.
Even in the final battle with Omnimon and Alphamon he hesitates when victory is assured.
This hesitation doesnt solve anything.
Alphamon escapes and the whole area is wrecked.
Tai isnt going to run away from this but he has no idea what to do.
I adore everything about Tais new character arc.
Growing up is a powerful theme andReunionfocuses specifically on personal responsibility.
Hes getting close to being an adult.
Hes almost done with school.
He has to pick a career.
Hes avoiding all of it.
Why cant he just play soccer and go back to his old adventures?
Well, the universe seems keen to wake him up and throws responsibility in his face.
The battle with Kuwagmon makes it clear that he cant run anymore.
Considering movie two is titled,DeterminationTai will have a lot to think on.
Nope, thats too square, man!
Now were Knife of Day.
That is the most teenage name for a bandeverand it fits Matt perfectly.
Simple, direct, and angry.
Matt hasnt changed all that much.
Matt is ready to save Tais ass with Gabumon in tow.
He throws Tais actions in his face.
They have to protect everyone!
It would have been far worse if they hadnt stepped in.
The others are more in the middle of this argument but Matt doesnt budge.
He doesnt even go to one of their meetups because hes angsting.
As always, Gabumon takes this in stride.
The others attempt to diffuse this with a little Ferris wheel alone time.
Seriously, do Mimi and Sora ship Tai/Matt?
It kind of seemed that way.
The conflict is put aside when Alphamon attacks and Matt calls Tai out once more.
Youre just running away.
Only we can save these people, come on!
After the battle Matt is glad Tai didnt run away but he knows his heart isnt in it.
Matt is the counterpoint to Tai, as always.
The two have always butted heads and as theyve grown up Matt has found his path.
His music is his life.
He wants things to be simple but Tai is a force that constantly disrupts that.
This is demonstrated in their brief meal together when Tai pours a ton of pepper in Matts ramen.
Its such a little kid thing to do and Matt hates it.
Thats the thing about all the other kids, including Matt.
Theyre moving on while Tai is stuck.
Get it, cause Biyomon?
She wants to stay friends with them but its damn near impossible.
Shes constantly struggling to make it to their activities and put up with their nonsense.
Remember the plotline about the strained relationship with her mother?
Here, everyone just wants her to get with somebody.
Mimi especially, but thats no surprise.
At least we know Sora does have some plan for her life.
She questions why Tai hasnt seen his guidance counselor.
Sora does still demonstrate more of a fondness for the old days then the others.
Her phone sports a picture of Biyomon.
Other than this, shes mostly relegated to shipping.
Hopefully the other films give her more to do.
I was a little nerd like Izzy growing up and I always identified with the guy.
Izzy is proving that old saying that the geeks shall inherit the Earth.
Despite that, hes still terrible with his social skills.
Izzy has retreated more into the computer then ever.
I mean, look at his expository scene.
He just keeps rambling while everyone else is having a smack down argument.
Hes paralyzed with fear!
You know that girl is going to rock his world one of these days.
We can also assume English because of his American business partner.
They never confirm it, but Im going to assume its Willis from the Digimon movie.
How many other American tech guys does Izzy know?
Guess those classes at Colorado State paid off.
Did I also mention Tentomon is still the best Digimon?
Hes so emotional that Izzy is buying his own clothes!
Super shocker for life!
Mimi AKA I Wish You Were HEEEEEEEEEEERE AKA Most Likely To Be on Tinder
Oh Mimi.
I remember as a kid not caring for her girly girl ways but shes grown on me.
Shes fun, shes girly, and shell never apologize for it.
Thats something to admire.
Of course shes kidding, she was already going to stay with her Dad.
Mimi was largely absent in Season 2 so Im glad they got her back full time.
It would have sucked to only have her on the phone throughout.
Shes a support character, egging Sora on with shipping and even trying to hook Tai and Matt up.
Oh yeah, she also brings American gummies for the Digimon.
Mimi has also turned into the biggest flirt while she was in America.
She turns it on a bit with Joe but she goes hard for Izzy.
I think she likes his obvious lack of any experience in the love department.
Shell change that soon enough.
Unlike everyone else, Mimi has little signs of sadness.
TK mostly shares scenes with her and Matt.
Hes apparently got just a friend who happens to be a lady and Kari laughs that off.
For one, TKs got what she needs.
Two, she owns TK for the rest of time.
We know this for a fact.
Kari isnt going to let anyone get her man.
I wish I had more to say about the guy but he just doesnt get much to do.
Hopefully that will change.
Hey, at least they remembered that he has a different Digivice during the Digivolution scene!
It also weirded me out to here Angemons Japanese voice for the first time.
Im so used to Dave Mallows deeper voice.
Shes an object of desire for the soccer team, which is just…
Okay, theres nothing wrong with a female character being seen as attractive.
Mimi at least owns it.
That scene with the three and their Digimon just getting food was one of my favorites.
I also liked she still hangs around with TK regularly.
Also, Kari has to skip out another event thanks to a birthday party.
I wonder if she got her friend another Pink Power Ranger.
Since this takes place in 2005, it would be Syd fromSPD.
Its also a good time to point out that Tai and Karis Mom is still the best.
Shes so chill about the Digimon!
Joe AKA The One Who Will Murder You All AKA Cram School 4Life AKA Over It
Joe.
You see, Joe isnt so hot to rejoin the fight.
He doesnt have time to see his friends anymore.
Hes desperately struggling to pull his grades up.
When the government agents pull up to get him to the Kuwagamon battle?
He blows them off.
Even the appearance of Gomamon doesnt do much for him.
When he finally reunites with the whole group they treat him like crap.
Oh sure, they say they miss him but the minute he mentions he might have a girlfriend?
They all are super shocked about it.
TK even asks if shes human!
Im fascinated by whats happened with Joe.
He was always busy and a worrier but now he wants to actively avoid the group.
Is it because he doesnt want to adventure anymore or because hes that concerned with his tests?
This is going to be a great arc.
Our new character is only briefly seen throughout the first movie along with her partner Digimon, Micoomon.
Shes shrouded in mystery.
Was she one of the kids who saw the battle on the internet in the Digimon movie?
Did she witness one of the many battles in Season 2?
What is Micoomons connection to Alphamon?
Im interested to see how shell fit into the group.
They all seem happy to have her, Mimi especially.
Finally, the Plot.
Oh yeah, things happened in this movie!
Ive already hit the major points above so Ill just go over what I havent mentioned already.
A new non-gate connection to the Digital World has opened, letting through Digimon more powerful than ever before.
What happened to them?
How did they learn about this threat before the others?
Why arent they in contact?
Why doesnt TK or Kari mention them at all?
I can only imagine the info dump they had to sit through with him.
Theyve been tracking DigiDestined and have taken note of the missing kids.
They also have some knowledge of Alphamon, one of the lead agents calling him, The precious one.
The main overarching plot of these movies is only introduced here in very broad strokes.
We get a new threat in Alphamon and the Infected Digimons.
They appear to be tracking Meiko and Micoomon for some unknown purpose.
Another Digimon is also lurking in the shadows, Hackmon.
Previously appearing at the end of theDigimon AdventurePSP game, his motives are unclear.
Is he working with Alphamon?
Is he defending Meiko?
Im glad this movie kept most of the plot elements introduced in Season 2.
People in this world are still aware of the Digimon and are afraid of the terror they bring.
It may seem prejudiced to our characters but it makes perfect sense.
Every time theyve appeared theyve caused widespread panic and destruction.
Theyre like a natural disaster.
They know these kids stand a better chance then they ever would.
The 2005 touches in this film were nicely done.
Everyone has those phones where texting was pretty much a nightmare and barely have any processing power.
I love that they now have a base of operations to coordinate from.
Gives them a real team feel and the Digimon finally have a place to hang out.
This plot is deeply rooted in the character of Tai, as I mentioned above.
Its really his movie with everyone else playing supporting characters.
They even do it in their old colors of orange and green.
The opposition in this movie continuesDigimonsalways-reliable escalation of conflict.
In the first two seasons The DigiDestined came up against more and more powerful threats.
You thought this villain was bad?
Just wait, were about to give you four of them!
Season 2 upped this was a new human villain and upgraded versions of past enemies.
brings out the big guns with a Royal Knight right off the bat.
They arent playing around.
Oh sure, they started with the old Kuwagamon but that was just a taste.
I expect theyll be fighting more of Alphamons forces as the movies go on.
Overall, this movie was triumph.
It hit all the right notes and gave me, as they say, all the feels.
From all accounts the translation was pretty solid with only a few liberties taken.
I only wish we had a dub.
Its a shame, because the moment this project was announced I wanted the dub.
I wanted to hear Joshua Seth again.
I wanted Jeff Nimoys direction and writing.
I wanted the stupid jokes and non-stop talking.
I wanted the Masked Rider music.
Udi Harpaz, Shuki Levy, the Tel Aviv orchestra I miss you so!
I was mentally scoring the film with those tracks as I watched.
Dont get me wrong, I loved all the music in this.
I just dont have that same connection.
Maybe one day well get a dub or some fan will take a pass at rescoring the film.
Id adore that, but what we got here?
Its a near perfect movie that could have been awful.
I was hyped to be sure but I still feared all my dreams would come crashing down.
That I would have to make excuses for large portions of the movie.
That Id be bored.
Im so happy to report it lived up to all my expectations.
Im excited to see where this story takes us in the future.
Digimon made a scene and they kicked it up to the big screen!
The Digi-dudes digi-ruled with digi-ability and digi-tude.
They saved the world from a digi-disaster, the threat from the net met the Digital masters!
The Digivolution will not be stopped.
Rating:
5 out of 5
