The age-old mystery of how to create a good video game movie has been solved.
Released: 2009
Genre(s): Animation, Adventure, Mystery
For years, the thought of films based on video games made audiences and critics alike cringe, hide under their covers, and even cry in a combination of depression and terror; honestly, with movies like 1993's "Super Mario Bros." and every Uwe Boll production ever made being the most prominent examples out there, it's no wonder the idea became an industry joke. Hollywood has a strange obsession with dismantling awesomely epic video game storylines and reassembling them as cruel, laboratory experiments made up of various blockbuster clichés, barely resembling shadows of their former selves. Fortunately, every now and then, a film escapes directly from the shores of Japan and manages to make its way to our theaters and DVD players relatively unscathed, restoring my faith ever-so-slightly in the belief that someday a video game movie will have the power and depth to transcend the embarrassing stigma currently plaguing the genre. "Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva" is one such film. I'm a huge fan of the Nintendo DS-based puzzle game series under the Professor Layton title, and I was delighted to learn that the legendary studio Level-5 decided to create an original, feature-length anime adventure starring its enchanting characters, free of their gaming system confines; the games already contain beautifully-animated cutscenes, hilarious voicework, and whimsical plots that I've always felt would translate perfectly onto the silver screen. This movie does not disappoint - the animation is gorgeous, lush, and alive, drawing on a luscious color palette, giving the entire presentation a light, cheerful feel. CGI effects are tastefully integrated into the animation, seamlessly enhancing the onscreen excitement. The dubbing is eloquent and expertly executed, while the musical score is just as delightfully playful as it is in the games, bringing to mind thoughts of quaint, European countrysides and windup jewelry boxes. The puzzles - a staple of the game series - are cleverly and effortlessly worked into the mystery of the story, without feeling forced whatsoever. Just like the Professor Layton games upon which it is based, the light-hearted outward appearance of this movie masks much deeper, thought-provoking subject matter, frequently focusing on darker themes, including human mortality and the many gray areas of morality. While not a true masterpiece, it's nice to see that a film finally got the formula right: "Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva" could have been one hell of a fun video game, but instead manages to be one hell of a great video game film.
Rating (out of 5): 4
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