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Synopsis I've heard nothing but good things about this musical so I had to get it. All of my expectations were met, this musical is AWESOME!!! The Third-Stage "Miyuki" musicals were good, but they were a little too dark and sinister, the plots were confusing and they weren't really lively. This musical is a breath of fresh air because, like the First-Stage musicals, it went back to the anime-based format and, as corny as this may sound, had more pep. Another thing that is different about this musical is that it's the only musical based almost solely upon the manga; the manga version of Sailormoon R is much better than the anime version. Anyway, this is one of the few musicals I've seen that I instantly loved and even though my understanding of Japanese is marginal, I still knew what was going. I couldn't wait to see Kuroki Marina-sama's performances. When I heard a 12 year old was playing Sailormoon, I was kinda fearful. But I was pleasantly surprised. She makes a hella cute Usagi-chan and has a really nice voice. But how are her acting skills? One word- AWESOME! She's cute and very genki, but not over the top. I love the way she smiles; whenever she dances, she does this grimace-like closed smile that's absolutely adorable. My only problem is her english, she sounded like she had problems speaking her attacks but it's not that bad. She also screams a lot. Kuroki-sama is awesome and I hope she continues to play Usagi; she can only get better. Also, USAGI FINALLY HAS ROUND ODANGOS, ABOUT TIME!!!! I'm really starting to like Kawabe Chieko-sama as Ami-chan. I liked her in Transylvania no Mori Kaiteiban, but I really like her now. She's a little too spunky though but that's ok, I'd rather too spunky than too nerdy. She has a pretty voice and dances really well. So far, all of the Mercury actresses since the Morino Ayako-sama era have been really good. I wasn't that impressed with Yoshida Megumi-san as Rei-chan. She looks that part and has the attitude, especially when she fusses at Usagi, but her performance left me nonplussed. And her English is horrible; she can barely say Sailormars! Then there's that Jupiter. I was fearful of her ever since I first saw her and more fearful when I heard her solo in 21st Century Koi no Senshi Ja Irarenai. Eeew. But I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. She acts pretty good, it's just her voice- way too high and nasal. And she looks strange in her Sailorfuku. I think she was chosen for the part because of her height. She's just not Jupiter material and we'll leave it at that. I love Murata Ayumi-sama as Minako-chan. She's just so....Minako-chan-esque. Her acting....and dancing has gotten much better. I'm starting to like her a bit more than Suzuki Nana-sama. The Outer Senshi didn't do much done, which makes sense they weren't in Sailormon R, except for Sailorpluto. As much as I love Takagi Nao-sama, I'm kinda getting tired of her now. But I doubt very seriously she's leaving any time soon. And is it just me but is Asami Yuuka-sama getting more and more seductive? She gives these strange seductive almost evil looking facial expressions for no reason. I REALLY like Hosoko Yuuko-sama as Setsuna-san now. I didn't care for her in Transylvania no Mori, but her acting has gotten much better; she's very Setsuna-like now. And her solo is beautiful. I hope she sticks around for future musicals. For some reason Kakiuchi Ayami-san really freaks me out. She looks more like a midget than an 11 year old. Her wig's a little to big, her skirt is WAY too small and high and looked outta place alongside the other tall Outers. She has a cute singing voice and dances really well. Miyazaki Noel-chan is sooo KAWAII! She's adorable! She is just like the cute yet annoying Chibi-usa from Sailormoon R, especially when she pulls out her toy gun and demands the ginzuishou from Usagi. And when she's talking to Wiseman she makes a surprisingly evil face.It would've been better if she was in her regular Sailorfuku than the super version. Out of all the actresses for Chibi-usa, with the exception of Kawasaki Mao-sama, she's the most Chibi-usa-like. Urai Kenji-sama makes a surprisingly good Mamoru-san. I was impressed with him when I heard Tuxedo Version and really impressed when I saw him in the the Fan Kansha. Although he doesn't look like Mamoru-san per se, he looks like him age wise. I like this guy WAY better than the other Tuxedokamens, except for Mochizuki Yuuta-sama. All of the villains in this musical kick ass.....
except for one. Tilmun of Spot annoyed the hell outta me. He tried
to hard to be funny and it made him look like an ass. I'm very glad
he's not in the kaiteiban. Rubeus should have in this version as
well as the kaiteiban. Other than Tilmun, the Black Moon family
actors ROCKED! I loved the actresses for the Ayakashi Sisters. Takuma
Seiko-sama was hilarious as Cooan, especially in the singing contest
scene. She scared me in Last Dracul Jokyoku but now I really like
her. Too bad she's not in the revision. I am so friggin happy Endo
Ado-sama finally got a leading role. Her part in Kaguya Shima Densetsu
was small potatoes compared to this. She looks just like Calaveras
and kinda acts like her too. Congratulations Endo-sama and keep
up the good work! I really like Ikegami Ai-san as Petz. She's very
beautiful (she almost looks like Death Lamia from Last Dracul Jokyoku)
and very Petz-like. It's a shame she won't be in the revision too.
Instead, Petz will be played by a man; that should be interesting.
I'm starting to like Tominaga Kenji-sama. Kasahara Ryuji-sama has
some serious competition. He played Wiseman pretty well *trying
not laugh seeing him move across the stage in a wheelchair* but
he freaked me out as Hyuru-hyuru (Leggaman oi, leggaman oi) and
even more so as Death Phantom. But all in all, he's a really good
villain. Kawasaki Miki-sama was an EXCELLENT choice for Esmeraulde.
She has to be one of sexiest actresses in Seramyu history and what
better role for her to play than one of the most seductive villainesses
of Sailormoon. She's just awesome and looks just like her. She played
Esmeraulde very well (albeit her annoying laugh); you could see
her love for Prince Demando and her hate/jealous of Usagi. The same
could be said for Kuroda Yuri-san as Saffir. Some would disagree
with this, but I thought it was cute that a woman played Saffir
and Kuroda-san was a good choice; she reminds me a lot of Katayama
Sayuri-sama. The affection and the chemistry between Saffir and
Demando is awesome; there's a scene when Demando puts his hand on
Saffir's head and Saffir looks at the ground, about to cry- very
nice! I think it would've been even more nice if the two had a duet
together. And speaking of Demando.... Ono Hikari-sama's performance
is breathtaking! That has to be her best role and performance yet.
She kicks ASS as Demando!!! Even though she's playing a man, she's
still beautiful and resemblance is almost uncanny. Both of her solos,
especially Innocent Demando rocked. If you don't like Ono Hikari-sama
(although I know no one doesn't) this performance will make you
like her and all Hikari fans alike will agree this is her all-time
best performance. Kawasaki Mao was a REALLY cool Black Lady. She's
all grown up! It's amazing how much she has developed ;) She's very
pretty and I love those creepy faces she makes. I think it's ironically
cool that the once Chibi-usa actress is now playing her more "mature"
alter ego. I really wish she was in the revision, although Black
Lady's new actress really looks the part. The Black Moon twins weren't
as annoying as I thought they would be but I still think they weren't
that important to the plot and the two droids, Vanity and Aquatiki
(they're from the manga, but they're amorphous).... The score is awesome; my personal favorite. I like that the score was a mixture of sounds and emotions; classical, techno, rock, a little hip-hop, disco; from sad, to peppy, to angry. No other score in my opinion has that range. The only thing this score lacked was a love song between Usagi and Mamoru. Maybe they'll have one in the revision. I love Forbidden Hades; I like it more than Stay Alone, it's more Setsuna-esque. I really like Broken Mobius. Although I don't really care for the Outers than much, it's still an awesome song. Private Mystery Circle is ok, the cd version sounds much better. Is it just me or does Mamoru-san look really out of place dancing with the girls? Kekki! Hangyaku no Ichizoku is one of my favorite villain songs; it displays perfectly the feelings and opinions of the Black Moon family. I don't care for Niji-iro Monochrome at all, I always fast forward it. It reminds me a lot of the kittens' songs in Kaguya Shima Densetsu. A lot of people wonder why Traditional the Grace was added but not the other image songs. In the manga, all of the senshi were attacked and kidnapped by the Ayakashi sisters except for Venus. In the musical, each sister fought a senshi (Beruche should've been in this musical so she could fight Mercury instead of Calaveras) and defeated them except for Venus. I pray to God that they don't add all of the image songs in the kaiteiban. That's what ruined the Transylvania no Mori kaiteiban- made it too long and boring and had people constantly dancing instead of acting. But I digress. Tuxedo Versus is now my favorite Tuxedokamen image song; poor Urai-sama had a lot of hard Engligh words to say. I LOVE Innocent Demand, by far Ono-sama's best solo. I love they way it begins slow with a piano solo, then goes into hip-hop (which is new to Seramyu) then goes into fast-paced rock. (For those who don't know, this song is a pun on Demando's name- "demand" in japaneses is demando.) That song is awesome. I also LOVE Black Moon Signal. Kawasaki-sama sounds....and looks really spooky. Minna no Ai wo Kaesenai is really pretty and sad; everyone has a solo and they all sound good, even that god-awful Jupiter. Kono Kodou kara Yoru Umarenai is also a pretty and sad song, but I always fast forward it after Kawasaki-sama sings. Moment Fatal is friggin AWESOME!!! This has to be the best senshi song ever. It's unlike any senshi song ever performed. It hasa very unique beat; I love the disco/salsa flavor it has. Moment Fatal rocks!!!! 21st Century Koi no Senshi Jaa Irarenai was ok, but not half as good as the original. For the first time, the entire La Soldier was sung and it was lip-synched. But I don't care for this version though, their versions just seems really high and squeaky. All in all, this musical was....well...AWESOME. The set was really nice; this is the only musical I know of that used a painted backdrop. The effects were as good as they were gonna get *still trying not to laugh seeing Wiseman roll across the floor in a whhelchair*. Last but not least, there was finally REAL CHOREOGRAPHY. There hasn't been real dance numbers since the First Stage musicals. New background music was added which was cool but I was surprised that they added the "Sailormoon" henshin background music. The costumes were nice, especially the villains (the villains usually have the best looking costumes. They messed up the Serenity dress; Neo-Queen Serenity had on the dess Princess Serenity should have worn. The overall acting, singing and dancing was superb. But as awesome as this musical was, there were a few kinks and wormholes. I don't like they way they made it seem that the senshi didn't know Chibi-usa or the Outer Senshi. This messed up the continual flow all the rest of the musicals had. If this musical was indeed happening in the past, shouldn't the girls be in their junior high uniforms and not their high school ones? How come the senshi are in super mode, especially Sailorchibi-moon? How can Sailormoon power-up all the way to Eternal mode and perform all of her attacks? Why do the Outer Senshi, primarily Uranus and Neptune, have their talismans? They shouldn't have done that. Also, I don't like how fast Chibi-usa became Black Lady nor that fact that Rubeus and Beruche were in it even though they were both essential to the plot, manga-wise. I apologize, I'm being too critical. Don't let these things discourage you from getting it. It truly is an awesome musical. You will definitely enjoy it. And if you've seen it and enjoyed it as much as I did, just think how incredibly awesome the kaiteiban will be! |