TLDR;
In this episode of the GV Podcast, Mayhem, Duke, and Jinsu review the Digimon movie. They discuss its disjointed nature due to the combination of several short films, the changes made for the American release, and its overall negative reception despite being a box office success. The hosts share their personal experiences with Digimon, analyze the movie's plot and characters, and give their final thoughts on whether it's worth watching.
- The Digimon movie is a compilation of three short films that were heavily edited and dubbed for American audiences.
- Despite negative reviews, the movie was a box office success and had a significant cultural impact.
- The hosts have mixed feelings about the movie, with some finding it hilariously bad and others disliking it intensely.
Intro [0:00]
Mayhem and Duke introduce the episode, revealing that they will be reviewing the Digimon movie. Duke explains that this review is a lead-up to a review of the movie Belle, as it is considered a spiritual sequel to Summer Wars, which in turn is a spiritual successor to the Digimon movie.
Digimon: The Movie Overview [0:13]
The hosts discuss the background of the Digimon movie, noting that it was created by combining several short films and heavily editing them for the American release. They mention that the movie had a budget of $5 million and grossed $16.6 million at the box office. Despite its financial success, the movie received negative reviews due to the extensive changes made to the original Japanese films.
Initial Reactions and Nostalgia [4:55]
The hosts share their initial reactions to re-watching the Digimon movie. Mayhem expresses his dislike for the movie, while Duke and Jinsu admit to enjoying it for its awfulness. They discuss their personal experiences with Digimon, with some having nostalgia for the franchise and others finding it inferior to Pokemon.
Disjointed Storytelling and Dubbing [8:21]
The hosts analyze the movie's disjointed storytelling, attributing it to the combination of multiple short films. They note that the English dubbing made significant changes to the dialogue and plot, resulting in a chaotic and nonsensical experience. They compare the American version to the original Japanese version, which is said to be more coherent.
The First Act: Backstory [20:26]
The hosts discuss the first act of the movie, which serves as a backstory for the main characters. They describe the events of the first short film, where Tai and Kari encounter a Digimon egg that hatches into Agumon. They also mention the awkward narration and the nonsensical plot points.
The Second Act: Virus Attack [30:07]
The hosts describe the second act, focusing on a virus that attacks the internet. They discuss the scenes where Izzy discovers the virus and Tai tries to contact Sora. They also mention the fight between WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon against the virus, which is hindered by the overwhelming amount of emails being sent.
The Third Act: Wendigo Mon [49:59]
The hosts discuss the third act, which involves the character Willis and his corrupted Digimon, Wendigo Mon. They describe the events of Digimon Adventure 2, where TK and Kari travel to America and encounter Willis. They also mention the final battle against Wendigo Mon, which ends with the Digimon dancing to Smash Mouth's "All Star."
Final Thoughts and Opinions [59:19]
The hosts share their final thoughts on the Digimon movie. Mayhem expresses his intense dislike for the movie, stating that it has tainted his entire experience with Digimon. Duke admits to finding the movie fun to watch with friends, while Jinsu is on the fence. They discuss the movie's negative reception and its impact on the Digimon franchise.