Whispers of Nana the Live Action Movie

By David Rasmussen
5th Mar 06

Let’s see… what do I usually do on a monthly basis. Main reviews, DEMO/Sampler reviews, First Look reviews… but whispers? Well, as it turns out sometimes there is no choice in the matter. Sometimes you can review outright (like the Nana manga), and sometimes you can only sample or DEMO review (PS2 reviews usually come in this flavor), and sometimes you have a First Look… but then again sometimes you have a title with so little information that you only have whispers of a prospective review to go on.
Stuff like this, Nana the PS2 video game, Ai Yori Aoshi the Video Game (PS2) and so forth fall into this vague and confusing category of whispers, a review that takes the slim knowledge I have gathered and delivers it into your hands.

If you’ve been following my recent series of Sho(u)jo Beat reviews then you know I have been hyping 2 of the series’ titles like nobody’s business as of late : Crimson Hero and Nana. In fact I’ve been soooo hyped about these two titles that I put together a quizzical to get one lucky entry up to speed on these with a prize of Crimson Hero V. 1 & Nana V. 1 to 2 (because I believe in these titles that much).

So then, it probably goes without saying how I reacted when word first reached me, whispers more likely, of the prospect of a Nana Live Action Movie which came from the pages of Sho(u)jo Beat Vol. 2, Issue #2... Uh, no, I didn’t cry… yet. Not enough data on the thing to come to a decision as to whether I should weep bitter tears for the movie yet… though I have a feeling I’ll have that knowledge before too long.

I admit it. When it comes to announcements of live action versions of favorite anime/manga series I am not exactly jumping for joy at the prospect. Forget movies like Super Mario Brothers or Street Fighter, I have things to point to like the campy live action Sailor Moon series which didn’t last one cycle of episodes before being canceled, or (on the hentai side) the evil La Blue Girl live action movies which apparently brings back to evils of b-grade theatrical filming with a vengeance.
Sure, there has been the more widely embraced live action version of You’re Under Arrest to point to in encouragement, but live action successes of anime/manga translations is few and far between.
So you can kind of understand why I am not the most supportive person when it comes to the thought of a Nana Live Action Movie, even if the movie has already proved it’s success (more on that later).

So, here we are, looking at Nana the Live Action Movie… and the first thing that comes to mind is “What the hell?!?”… considering buried treasure Aria got a full blown anime TV series last summer you’d think a hot property like Nana could do likewise, but instead it gets a movie… a live action movie at that… which, yes, is still a sticking point if only to myself and me alone. Why Nana didn’t get an anime TV series is something only it’s creator knows for sure… of course it might have, and you’re only waiting to see if I freak out wondering if such a series exists… ok, consider me freaked. Now tell me already!

Second question… since talking to myself won’t yield answers (sorry)… who made the movie?
Specifics are not certain, but I know it’s a Japanese creation in the general knowledge dept.
On the bright side that means the movie isn’t languishing in development hell like many live action version of anime/mangas now waiting in Hollywood for their creation to commence. Movies like Akira (WB), DBZ (20th CF), Kite (which might be a false alarm since recently a Prison Break/OZ prison drama style movie called “Kite” has been confirmed for production), Battle Angel (Alita) (by James Cameron), the forever in legal limbo Guillermo Del Toro adaptation of Domu : A Child’s Dream, Neon Genesis Evangelion (the movie developers seemingly quickly lost interest in), Azumanga Daioh the Live Action Mov… psyche! Just kidding. You should have seen your face though, it looked like you were about to cry, or keel over in shock or something. Anyway it’s already done and in the DVD case now, which is more than what I can say for these forever in limbo movies that Hollywood never got around to filming.

Question Number 3. Will the movie see the light of day in theaters here?
No. It’s already on DVD in Japan (from my understanding of the situation) so it’s a very weak chance of it coming, and if it does it will probably get a grisly “art theater” “welcome” ala the non existent release of the Inu Yasha movie in theaters (prior to it’s DVD release).
I wish it was different, but odds are it’ll just quietly get shuffled into DVD stores and that’s it.
Wish it was different, wish I could see it in theaters, wish it came out… but it won’t. Guess I should be happy if VIZ gets it quickly out on DVD.

Question Number 4. What’s the specifics of the movie?
Very little is actually known right now, but I’ll see if I can do some homework in the coming weeks for at LEAST a “First Look” peek in the coming weeks (with more details). All I know is what I have here…

The tale of Sho(u)jo Beat’s mention
Two mentions in the February 2006 issue of the movie was made.
First was in a contest, which featured the CD of the movie (which is one of the prizes in the contest).
This is important because, lucky me, the two Nanas live action counterparts are prominent on this case!
The CD, which is supposed to be how “Black Stone, aka BLAST, sound like in reality”… features the two main stars on it’s cover, which means it’s my first look at what real Nana O & Nana K look like.
Nana O’s live counterpart fit’s the part from this image. Just my first impression, but looking at her I say she just fits so perfectly… and if she acts as perfectly as she appears then she should be the perfect Nana O.
Too bad Nana K doesn’t do the same for me.
Talk about an uphill surrounded by 1001 drones on a battlemap in Star Wars : Battlefront 2 struggle!
The idea of bringing the emotional rollercoaster ride that is Nana K seems like such a hardship, and though I need to see the movie to judge I’d say that I am already pondering whether this Nana K will live up to her fictional counterpart (like how I already am certain Nana O’s live counterpart lives up to expectations).
I know, I know, it’s only a still and all but still… (pun intended)… why does Nana O look like the living embodiment of the fictional Nana O, while Nana K does not?
I ponder the months to come, and whether or not I will be satisfied with what comes to pass.

Maybe the interview will shed some light on the movie?
Well… not really. But it does reveal a few things.
Fact 1 - Yeah. Nana the Live Action Movie has been out for awhile.
Fact 2 - The movie did well. It was a runaway hit.
Fact 3 - This, as you might have guessed, has compelled the creators of the first to go back to the drawing board and make a sequel. The sequel is in the workings right now from my understanding of it.
Fact 4 - Nobody is talking about Nana the Anime Series… damn.
Wishful Thinking - … I suppose since Sho(u)jo Beat is talking Nana the Movie and Nana the PS2 game somebody at VIZ is going to pony up and bring both to America sometime this year… maybe.
And finally…
Speculation - If ticket sales (and the coming of a sequel) speaks volumes of the perfection of the movie? And VIZ puts it out on DVD in Region 1 & 2? We may be looking at Best Live Action Anime/Manga Adaptation of 2006 at this rate… if VIZ follows through and puts it out, that is.

But so far this is only whispers of what I heard to date.
A more solid and concentrated effort to uncover more about Nana the Live Action Movie is needed before I can say more about it. Stay tuned, I’ll start on my homework and see what I can dig up.

-- David Rasmussen 5th Mar 06