Cowboy BeBop

I can't find anything on this, and surprisingly searching finds almost no mention of the original over the years either on here.

I know there are true Anime fans on here, I'm not, but I've had exposure to a lot of stuff on and off through my now 20 year old daughter.  One that I always liked was Cowboy BeBop.  Netflix dropped a 10 episode live action version just before turkey day.  I've seen it's been, if not panned, not that well received by critics.  Having read some of the reviews, but watched it anyways since I liked the original, it tells me again why I should never bother reading reviews.  I honestly think reviewers sometimes get so sucked up into their own self flagellating admiration and one-upmanship in trying to bring good stuff down.  Obviously I like it.  People should never look for a one to one translation of any story from one format to another, but I think they've done a great job.  The actors are all nailing the characters to me.  They've nailed the visual vibe and I love the sets using so many old 50's-60's-70's cars, plus old 70's-80's tech (housings, cases, visuals) to blend perfectly into the dystopian noir aesthetic.  The BeBop and Swordfish are perfect.

Honestly, I love it.  I'm sure many die hard aficionados will have lots of faults, and they are entitled to their own opinions, but please give it a try.

Oh, and the soundtrack is perfect, including the occasional side conversations about jazz, bebop and musical structure.  They even have the original theme carried over.

Here's some pics to entice.

I've watched the first two episodes and love it!  I have zero familiarity with the original though. Having said that, I'm not someone who cares about being a purist though. I love when a remake is true to the original, or completely different. I'm also a big fan of cover songs as well. I always say when some up tight purist screams "they ruined my childhood" that it's not like they removed the original from history... you can still read the dark tower books, even if you didn't like the way the cast idris Elba as the gunslinger...  (I got one love the books and the movie)

I never enjoyed anime.

I always watched bebop when it came on.

Likely I won't have time to catch this these days, but I applaud the reboot. The original cartoon had a unique dark but playful character, sort of like a Chuck Pahlaniuk book. Also Faye. Despite the fourteen year old really enjoying the cartoon Faye, the adult me is glad that she's more reasonable in the live action version.

I'm in the same boat as Joey48442, two episodes in and enjoying it a lot so far.  It's different that the usual stuff getting kicked out these days and different is good.

This came up. The thread is buried a few pages down, and for some reason the search function won't dredge it up: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/cowboy-beebop-on-netflix-tons-of-old-cars/188458/page1/

Short version of my sentiments:

I see no reason to watch this when the original is also right there on Netflix and better. It's like choosing to eat an Applebee's steak when there's a gourmet filet sitting next to it.

I have no experience with the source material. I enjoy the live action version. 

There is some awful silly mugging and other facial expressions that I assume are an homage to animators expressing emotions within their mediums limitations, but otherwise it seems solid and fun. 

But I also dislike 95% of all movies and television shows so I am clearly not one to listen to in these matters.

In reply to tuna55 :

Good point on Faye, they have definitely 'de-overly-sexualized' here which is a pleasant change these days.  There is nudity (with brothels etc.) but the one 'sex scene' is totally non gratuitous and only shows the aftermath with them covered by blankets.

I'm seeing a pattern of the people who see no problem with the live action series not having seen the original, while the people who have seen the original take issue with the live action series, Adrian being the only exception so far. I may have to force myself to sit through the live action series even after reading reviews calling it "everything wrong with nostalgia reboots" and likening it to a high school theatre troupe's re-enactment of the anime.

GameboyRMH said:

I'm seeing a pattern of the people who see no problem with the live action series not having seen the original, while the people who have seen the original take issue with the live action series, Adrian being the only exception so far. I may have to force myself to sit through the live action series even after reading reviews calling it "everything wrong with nostalgia reboots" and likening it to a high school theatre troupe's re-enactment of the anime.

wait I said the same thing, have seen original, no problem with reboot (just from reading and seeing previews admittedly, maybe that's what you meant)

I watched the first episode last night, and thought it was pretty cool, although I sure did waste a whole lot of energy trying to figure out who the main Asian dude was.  Sulu!  Star Trek!

Anyway, I will watch more.

With regards to the whole "original is better, this sucks", the irritating phrase, "It is what it is" comes to mind.  I usually can accept the limitations of the genre, and get quite bored with Star Wars people who use the word "Canon".  Having said that, stuff can certainly go too far.  Tom Clancy movies, as an example.  Hunt for Red October, is pretty darn true to the book, and I enjoy both.  Patriot Games,  less true to the book, but a well done story that fits a little better with the political time, and obviously loses a bunch of detail.  Clear and Present Danger, well off the book, with even more detail changes, but still a well done movie.  Sum of all Fears, I couldn't watch due to the complete change of the storyline.  It might have been a decent movie, if the book didn't exist.

Green Lantern sucked.

I liked both the anime and the live action series but I also realize that they are different stories.

John Cho was in Harold and Kumar go to White Castle long before he was in the Star Trek reboot.

I love Jet Black's reference to "Bird" playing eights and sixteenth notes in the same measure. You would have to know about Bebop music to get that.

In reply to Streetwiseguy :

My issue with that is that people keep comparing this to adapting a book to a TV show or movie. You're taking different mediums that have different strengths. They are fundamentally different experiences.

Cowboy Bebop is adapting a TV Show into a TV Show. So the question isn't just "Is it good?" but rather, "Is there a reason to watch this instead of the original?"

Beer Baron said:

In reply to Streetwiseguy :

My issue with that is that people keep comparing this to adapting a book to a TV show or movie. You're taking different mediums that have different strengths. They are fundamentally different experiences.

Cowboy Bebop is adapting a TV Show into a TV Show. So the question isn't just "Is it good?" but rather, "Is there a reason to watch this instead of the original?"

I haven't watched a minute of either version, but animation and live action are fundamentally different, even if they are both TV shows.

Duke said:

Beer Baron said:

In reply to Streetwiseguy :

My issue with that is that people keep comparing this to adapting a book to a TV show or movie. You're taking different mediums that have different strengths. They are fundamentally different experiences.

Cowboy Bebop is adapting a TV Show into a TV Show. So the question isn't just "Is it good?" but rather, "Is there a reason to watch this instead of the original?"

I haven't watched a minute of either version, but animation and live action are fundamentally different, even if they are both TV shows.

 

Totally agree.  An example from this franchise.  Imaging the Swordfish taking off.  In the Anime the whole thing from getting in, opening the doors and taking off can be told in a couple of seconds, because your brain automatically accounts for 'anime time'.  If you tried to do that with live action it would look stupid.  But you still get great take off scenes, normally starting after taxing out of the BeBop's 'Hanger', but it takes far longer for the wings to fold down, taxi-accelerate for take off, retract gear and fly off into the distance.  That takes away time from other on screen action and dialogue.  Because you can tell visual stories faster in anime, you have more time for character development etc. in between which is one of the criticisms I've seen of the live action.

I've watched the entire live action series in the past few days since we're quarantined. I loved it, just like I loved the original. There is room for both in this world. I think it was beautifully produced and well-executed. 

I watched the anime years ago and liked it.  I just finished the live action last night and liked it.

I feel like there was enough of the "feel" in the LA to enjoy it, not everything has to be scene-by-scene remake of the original.  (Or whatever you want to call the anime.)  And some things you just can't/don't need to completely redo.  IMDB mentioned they had to change her outfit because they physcially couldn't fit assorted pads needed for the stunts.

I view it like a cover of a great song, some folks will prefer the original, some folks will prefer the cover. Some folks will hate both. I watched the anime back when I was in college and enjoyed it, I just finished this and thought it was pretty good too but could easily see why someone wouldn't like either one.

Powar said:

I've watched the entire live action series in the past few days since we're quarantined. I loved it, just like I loved the original. There is room for both in this world. I think it was beautifully produced and well-executed. 

Hope everyone is doing well, I watched the live action over the weekend and I really liked it. Never seen the original since anime or cartoons or whatever never really called to me. I think it's the first time I've actually finished a series.

I apparently need to get Netflix back. 

Adrian_Thompson (Forum Supporter) said:

Totally agree.  An example from this franchise.  Imaging the Swordfish taking off.  In the Anime the whole thing from getting in, opening the doors and taking off can be told in a couple of seconds, because your brain automatically accounts for 'anime time'.  If you tried to do that with live action it would look stupid. 

Edgar Winter would disagree:

In reply to Beer Baron :

Uhhhh, Edgar Wright?  Because this is Edgar Winter:

Duke said:

In reply to Beer Baron :

Uhhhh, Edgar Wright?  Because this is Edgar Winter:

Lol. Why not both?

I'm going to leave that typo up there for humor sake.

I liked the live adaptation of Cowboy Bebop back when it was called Firefly.  (Which I liked as a movie when it was called Alien: Resurrection)

The thing with the Netflix thing is, we were promised Keanu Reeves.  He'd have pulled off Spike perfectly.  I can't watch it without being disappointed, now.

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

I liked the live adaptation of Cowboy Bebop back when it was called Firefly.  (Which I liked as a movie when it was called Alien: Resurrection)

LOL, love it.

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

The thing with the Netflix thing is, we were promised Keanu Reeves.  He'd have pulled off Spike perfectly.  I can't watch it without being disappointed, now.

Actually as cool as he is, John Cho suits it perfectly and I think is much better for the roll.  I don't think Reeves could pull of the casual cool swagger and style mixed with the irreverent air of don't give a berkeley while hiding his secrets, fears and past just below the surface for all to not quite see but be aware of.

Started watching the new series, so far I don't hate it but I don't love it either, it's OK and I think I'll finish it. It's not a scene-by-scene or even episode-by-episode remake, the storyline appears to be rather loosely based on the original series. There is definitely an intentional pattern of hammy overacting, I suppose to give it more of an anime feel (and it's not the only anime to live action adaptation to use this style). Overall I would say it could be in the top 5 best anime to live action adaptations out there, although that's largely due to a scarcity of competition and so many of those being complete turds. So far I wouldn't recommend against watching it but, to use Beer Baron's analogy, I would recommend going for the gourmet steak first even though the Applebee's steak isn't bad.