Review of Yu-Gi-Oh! 3D: Bonds Beyond Time

darkstorm

Writer Class Servant
AUKN Staff
<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/2011-07-06Yu-Gi-Oh Bonds Beyond Time.jpg">

<b>Review of Yu-Gi-Oh! 3D: Bonds Beyond Time by darkstorm</b>

<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><font size="2">Crossover; it's a word that gets any fan, regardless of franchise, excited. But such a word is best used on special occasions and what better occasion could it be used, but for Yu-Gi-Oh's 10<sup>th</sup> Anniversary. Yes, it's been over 10 years since the anime based upon the world's most popular trading card game hit Japanese screens, and eventually became a hit across the world. Spawning video games, various TV anime sequels, now the familiar faces of the first 3 flagship series come together in a movie special to celebrate its legacy entitled; Yu-Gi-Oh! Bonds Beyond Time. </font></span><br>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><font size="2">The story begins with Yusei cruising the city when a mysterious duellist named &lsquo;Paradox' challenges him. But before he can say &ldquo;Let's rev it up!&rdquo; his favourite card, the Stardust Dragon, is stolen from him. It's not long after that his world starts crumbling before his eyes and realizes that the past is being changed by this mysterious new enemy. Using the power of the Crimson Dragon, he travels back in time to meet Jaden, saving him from the same enemy. Upon learning Paradox's plan to wipe out the Duel Monsters card game from history itself, they enlist the help of the one and only King of Games, Yugi. Can the 3 heroes combine forces to overcome Paradox's Malefic deck?</font></span><br>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><font size="2">Despite the dub-exclusive series recap provided at the beginning of film, the time is mostly spent on looking at the hero's personalities and highlight duels, not much else. So important plot point such as why Jaden has different coloured eyes or Yusei's trials regarding his father are merely glossed over. The film apparently takes place during the beginning of 5D's season 4 (a season I'm not entirely positive has shown in the UK yet) and GX's 4<sup>th</sup> season has never been shown outside Japan, but thankfully none of the events played during those series play too much into the film's plot progression. </font></span><br>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span lang="EN-GB">As the 5D's universe tops and tails the film, it means that your beloved side characters from older series get little to no screen time; no Chazz, no Joey and Kaiba is only seen in the recap. But this is compromised by flashes of the best cards from the 3 generations of duel decks, including Blue Eyes White Dragon and Karibo, plus the </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold" lang="EN">presence of the </span><span lang="EN-GB">original creator of the game, </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold" lang="EN">Maximillion Pegasus, </span><span lang="EN-GB">is a welcomed addition. We also get some witty one-liners here and there that poke fun at the franchise, which long term fans will enjoy, including a stab at Yugi's infamous hair style and Paradox making fun of the &lsquo;heart of the cards' speeches, which come aplenty in the film. </span></font><br>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><font size="2">At less than an hour long, the film moves at a brisk pace; not stopping long to relish in your older favourite characters and getting as much exposition in as possible until the main attraction of the flick &ndash; the 3 of them duelling together against their greatest foe &ndash; takes up the most of the running time. Even the time travelling aspect of the film is given the easy breezy treatment with Jaden quoting; &ldquo;We're from the future, no big whoop!&rdquo; and the 3 males seem to know each other's decks like the back of their hand, working side by side with no hiccups at all. So plot and logic isn't exactly the film's strongest aspect, but it's enough to provide a platform for an impossible crossover not achievable in any other situation. </font></span><br>
<p style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The score is mostly pop-rock based, with a few recycled&nbsp;older tunes for the opening scenes of the film - providing a nostalgic feel. Plus most of the original cast returns to reprise their roles, including Dan Green who slips back into&nbsp;the character&nbsp;of Yugi with incredible ease.&nbsp;Also Matthew Charles does a great job of re-capturing the&nbsp;positive&nbsp;attitude that made&nbsp;Jaden very likeable in the&nbsp;GX series.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: " times="" new=""><o:p></o:p></span></font><br>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><font size="2">Having watched the film in cinemas with 3D presentation and then in the comfort of my own home on DVD, I recommend purchasing the 3D Blu-ray copy if you have the cash to splash, the television support for 3D and are an avid fan of the franchise. I can honestly say that Yu-Gi-Oh Bonds Beyond Time is one of my favourite films I've seen in 3D. Every frame of the 50+ minutes is in 3D, including the opening montage of older footage from the first Yu-Gi-Oh episodes; it's really refreshing see the now stale scene where Yugi summons Exodia to obliterate Kaiba's dragon in 3D, making the victory all the more epic and grand. Although there's not many instances where the film takes full advantage of things flying out at you for that &lsquo;wow' factor it's subtle use of bringing the monsters to life, the special attacks rendered to look more powerful than ever, the field card in the big battle all the more cosmic, and giving Jaden's spirit monsters that ghostly aura to them, all really work. The film is still impressive in 2D; the animation is consistently flawless &ndash; retaining the television series' flow and style but given enough polish to make the whole duel come to life on the big screen, but I have to admit I missed the cool 3D effects that made the monsters more monstrous and the Malefic&nbsp;field card extra eerie. </font></span><br>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><font size="2">The DVD comes with a few extras; a limited edition collectable trading card of the Malefic Red Eyes Black Dragon, a cinema trailer, the English-exclusive recap as a separate entity to view, but the one you'll most likely hit the play button for is the Japanese version of the film. You read that right; the version shown in Japanese cinemas is available for your viewing pleasure complete with original graphics, soundtrack and Japanese voice cast. The catch however is that it comes with hard subtitles with no option to flip off the text or switch back to English on a whim with your remote; a pain but a bearable one as this is the first time that a Japanese and uncut version of Yu-Gi-Oh has been made commerically available in the UK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span></font></span><br>
<p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><font size="2">The hour long ride that is 'Yu-Gi-Oh Bonds Beyond Time' is light, to the point and nothing overly amazing, but it provides a fun duel, utilising the famous moves of the heroes and battle of wits to satisfy casual fans as well as golden oldies. An entertaining watch for all enthusiasts, even for me who hasn't been highly invested in Yu-Gi-Oh franchise since the original series ended in 2006. At a decent price and with it being short enough running time to squeeze it in-between other anime viewings, there's little reason not to reacquaint yourself with an old friend. </font></span><br>
<b>Final score: 7 out of 10</b>

<b>Additional screencaps</b>

<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/screens/2011-07-06Yu-Gi-Oh Bonds Beyond Time 1.png">

<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/screens/2011-07-06Yu-Gi-Oh Bonds Beyond Time 3.png">

<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/screens/2011-07-06Yu-Gi-Oh Bonds Beyond Time 4.png">
 
The reason the dealy with Jaden's eyes was never explained is because season 4 of GX was never dubbed xD.

I never got a chance to see this in 3D; due to the stupid Arts Theatre rules about it being a Kid's Club thing. Iirc, the Blu-ray mentions that it's 2D as well though doesn't it? So I'm tempted to get the BD anyways.

Also, a 4Kids DVD with the original Japanese track? WHAT? *MIND = BLOWN*
 
5D's series 3, let alone even 4, haven't been shown in the UK, and we're only up to episode 12 of series 2(just finished being shown in the last half hour in fact). Also for some reason episodes 53-64 got skipped(the final 12 episodes of series 1, the end of the Dark Signer plot mentioned in the recap). So for anyone following the UK TV airings the movie, when shown in cinemas, would've been full of spoilers.

Yeah, the BD is 3D and 2D, right at the start it offers you a menu to choose between the two, but they both seem pretty identical to me without a 3DTV. One point though is the Japanese version is only available in 2D, but at least it's there at all...
Here's some BD screens to compare; interestingly it looks like the dub and sub versions use slightly different colour palettes:
(dub1)(sub1) (dub2)(sub2) (dub3)(sub3)
 
nanika said:
5D's series 3, let alone even 4, haven't been shown in the UK, and we're only up to episode 12 of series 2(just finished being shown in the last half hour in fact). Also for some reason episodes 53-64 got skipped(the final 12 episodes of series 1, the end of the Dark Signer plot mentioned in the recap). So for anyone following the UK TV airings the movie, when shown in cinemas, would've been full of spoilers.

Yeah, the BD is 3D and 2D, right at the start it offers you a menu to choose between the two, but they both seem pretty identical to me without a 3DTV. One point though is the Japanese version is only available in 2D, but at least it's there at all...
Here's some BD screens to compare; interestingly it looks like the dub and sub versions use slightly different colour palettes:
(dub1)(sub1) (dub2)(sub2) (dub3)(sub3)
Awesome; once Mum has put some money into my account I'll definitely be ordering the BD. I may not have the patience to get up so early to watch the anime air these days (Seriously, 8am? Why not air it at 11? >>), but I know the story xD

By the way, considering this is 4Kids (and what they've done to the 5D's dub >>), how well is the dub compared to the original?
 
Joshawott said:
The reason the dealy with Jaden's eyes was never explained is because season 4 of GX was never dubbed xD.

I never got a chance to see this in 3D; due to the stupid Arts Theatre rules about it being a Kid's Club thing. Iirc, the Blu-ray mentions that it's 2D as well though doesn't it? So I'm tempted to get the BD anyways.

Also, a 4Kids DVD with the original Japanese track? WHAT? *MIND = BLOWN*

I think 4kids actually released some uncut YGO and Shaman King dvds back in the day
 
MetalGearDesmond said:
Joshawott said:
The reason the dealy with Jaden's eyes was never explained is because season 4 of GX was never dubbed xD.

I never got a chance to see this in 3D; due to the stupid Arts Theatre rules about it being a Kid's Club thing. Iirc, the Blu-ray mentions that it's 2D as well though doesn't it? So I'm tempted to get the BD anyways.

Also, a 4Kids DVD with the original Japanese track? WHAT? *MIND = BLOWN*

I think 4kids actually released some uncut YGO and Shaman King dvds back in the day
Yeah I heard about those, but they were cancelled after only a couple of volumes, which is a shame, as I'd really want to see uncut Shaman King.
 
Paradox295 said:
Eh. Why would they use 2 different video sources?!
4Kids does lots of video paintovers for Yu-Gi-Oh, because of some American law that YGO cards can't be shown on TV. So they paint over every single card in every single episode so they can show them there. (Pyramid of Light being the only exception, and being a movie I don't know if that has been shown on American TV.)
Joshawott said:
Awesome; once Mum has put some money into my account I'll definitely be ordering the BD. I may not have the patience to get up so early to watch the anime air these days (Seriously, 8am? Why not air it at 11? >>), but I know the story xD

By the way, considering this is 4Kids (and what they've done to the 5D's dub >>), how well is the dub compared to the original?
The dub seems alright for what it is, having 4Kids usual editing and lines added here and there, but close enough meaning-wise. For example:
「俺達は未来から来たんです」 sub: "We came from the future." dub: "'Cus we're from the future. It's no big whoop."
「Oh my god! 大変です」 sub: "Oh my god! This is terrible!" dub: "It's my worst fear... I've been upstaged!"
 
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