Street Fighter movie impressions

Just got back from the Street Fighter movie at my local theater (which, as mentioned here, has the marvelous name of Human Trust Cinema). This was the opening day for the film (which is why I got these post cards as a bonus item) so I figured I should buy advance tickets (which is why I got in for 1,300 yen rather than the regular 1,800 yen and got this little trinket as a bonus item).

It turns out that there wasn't too much interest in the movie. At least not in my part of Tokyo -- which is the heart of crowded Shibuya, right across from the world famous Bunkamura, so this isn't a good sign for the movie's success.

Popularity aside, I have to say I found the movie to be pretty charming. While a bit too short, it tied into the game very well. Anyone who's into Street Fighter and its characters will enjoy it. In fact, I hope they make sequels focusing on all the characters.

The movie begins with text indicating that it takes place just after the events of Street Fighter II. We see a scene of Sakura entering the ring, preparing for a fight against Zangief.

It turns out that this is all just a flashback. In the present, Sakura, having apparently won the fight, is being interviewed by reporters who ask her all sorts of personal questions like "Are you really a school girl?" and "What is your relationship with Dan?".

As Sakura heads home following the press conference, she recalls more of the fight, and then has a flashback to a meaningful conversation she'd had with her friend in the park.

The film closes off with Sakura, Dan, and Blanka staging a more formal press conference. Someone asks Sakura why she fights. You'll have to see the movie for yourself to learn her response.

The Sakura short. I'm not sure why it's 16x9 in this shot when it was 4x3 in the theater.

The animation for the movie isn't the greatest, but it certainly gets the job done, with the characters all looking the part, and a couple of funny sequences with Blanka and Dan. On the technical side of things, I was disappointed that the movie was 4x3 rather than 16x9.

The movie ended with a splash of the Street Fighter IV logo, making me think that this might have been one of the animated clips included in the home version of SFIV (which I haven't played yet). That's not the case, according to a friend of mine who also insisted that the animated clips included with the game are better.

At just four minutes, you probably shouldn't expect too much depth from this short Street Fighter animation. It's still pretty enjoyable for what it is, and would make a perfect bonus item for a game or DVD.

As a side note, the animated Sakura short was preceded by an absolutely atrocious live-action movie that had nothing to do with the Street Fighter universe aside from a few names. I'd suggest not wasting your time on this.