User reviews

Even after watching this several times, this film still leaves a very strong impression on one. It helps if you at least have some familiarity with the Sailor Moon saga (and the thrill will be intensified a lot of you happen to be a major fan, it did for me at any rate ^^). But even those who only know the series by name will have a good time watching this; it's not too hard to follow for the non-fan.

What's mostly impressive is the lightning quick pace of it all; after an introduction to the film's (admittedly flimsy) intrigue, we're treated to a -tremendous- battle scene in Tokyo between the Sailor Senshi and a flower monster. Backed by some hyper-infectuous music and all the funky transform and attack scenes of the early seasons, it's a supreme treat for Sailor Senshi fans. And it's only the beginning; the battle moves to an asteroid in space afterwards. There, the impressive action scenes continue and the plot thickens with insights into the "villain" Fiore that reveal him to be a very interesting character.

Granted, the concept of a misguided "non-villain" who is not properly evil has been done before, but the theme is treated with lots of style in Fiore's case and works excellently; both his sympathetic moments and his flashes of nastiness can be related to, making him a well-built character (and he looks damn cool with that hair, even if it -is- an obvious take on the earlier Ail and Ann designs). All the other characters get some very good moments as well, with Mamoru in particular gaining some much-needed depth to himself in the form of a dark childhood and the mention that he's "been alone all his life". The others do a good job of providing moments of touching friendship and understanding of each other, as well as some utterly hilarious comical moments that manage to give one hysterics every time (Usagi landing flat on her bum while the other leap through the air with grace springs to mind). And of course everyone's amusing typical character traits we know and love from the series rear their heads.

The theme of despairing loneliness, and how it is to find a friend who breaks through all this seems to be the main message of the movie. The way it's treated may strike some as a bit corny, but it works well for those who are prepared to use their imagination for it. It's mainly due to the pretty images and the great music that the film succeeds in making you feel moved and excited all along. Beautiful color palettes are used to create different moods, especially during flashbacks, and there are several subtelties in the visuals that deserve praise; note how the rooms in both flashbacks between Usagi and Mamoru look oddly similiar but with very different colors, and the recurring image of a flower is quite beautiful (there's also a scene that seems like an amusing little nod to Aliens, see if you can pick it out). The thrilling final descent back to earth, set to the beat of the gorgeous song "Moon Revenge" is a simply unforgettable moment which on it's own gives the movie a lot of impact (and it's reason enough to avoid the US dub like the plague; I'm told they chopped out the song as well as the usual scandalous butchery job they've done to the series). It's animation directed at it's very best. The only niggle I can find about the story and the directing is that the Senshi are somehow able to breathe in space, apparently. But, this being a fantasy story, one can hardly blame it for being built on... well, fantasy, basically.

The overall quality of the animation has stood the test of time well and remains very presentable despite never really soaring to eye-popping levels. The detail on the artwork and characters is still quite good and refined, and as stated above, it's the clever use of colors and images that give this movie a lot of strength in the sentimental moments. All of this action, emotion and beauty packed in just over an hour makes for a stunning film that leaves one impressed time and time again (Disney, and in fact all of Hollywood can merely stand and weep in front of Japanese skill of this calibre). It has all the typical fun a Sailor Senshi fan can expect coated with plenty of extra gloss and even a good deal of substance. Fans of the saga or of pretty shojo series in general need not hesitate, and others are encouraged to let themselves be tempted by this little gem. It has that special kind of spark that makes a movie fun to re-visit time and time again.

Sailor Moon R: The Movie is really really good. Even if you are not a big fan of the show, you will enjoy this film. The animation is terrific and the story is great. This film has something for everyone, romance, drama, action, suspense, and comedy. This is also a great family film, (at least the American version is) and teaches a lot of important values, such as friendship and love. No matter what age you are, you will surely enjoy this Japanese treat.

Sometime after the Black Moon arc, Usagi, Mamoru, Chibi-Usa, and the others make a day trip to the botanical gardens where they come across a mysterious figure, named Fiore, who claims he has returned to fulfil a promise to Mamoru. Shortly after this mysterious strangers arrival, an asteroid is reported to be traveling close by Earth followed by the arrival of energy draining plants. Fiore soon reveals himself as being possessed by a parasitic flower called a Xenian Flower that has corrupted Fiore's love of Mamoru into a twisted obsession intent on destroying the Earth.

The first of three theatrically released Sailor Moon films produced during the run of the Sailor Moon TV anime series, Sailor Moon R: The Movie was released in December 1993 prior to the conclusion of Sailor Moon R's run. Like other films based on serialized shonen/shojo anime, Sailor Moon R doesn't easily fit into the continuity of the show (down to the fact Chibi-Usa really shouldn't be here assuming this is as people have said taking place at the end of Sailor Moon R) and like films based on Dragon Ball Z or Saint Seiya seems to be designed to be watched somewhat independently of the TV show. Eventually dubbed and released by Pioneer in February of 2000 (surprisingly making it the last Sailor Moon film to be released despite being the first produced). Sailor Moon R is admittedly a Sailor Moon VHS I had growing up, and I did watch it, but it's honestly not my favorite incarnation of the property and if I'm being honest I've probably got a stronger emotional investment in Sailor Moon S: The Movie than Sailor Moon R: The Movie.

The film structurally speaking basically follows more or less the same formula as the show with our core group doing something together, a force using a trap/attack based on what they started off doing in the episode, followed by a confrontation with the person or persons behind the attack. Being a movie, it does expand the formula by trying to tie into Mamoru's past and setting up a nadir followed by an ultimate confrontation, but strictly speaking Sailor Moon R: The Movie is pretty much in line with what you'd expect from an episode of the TV show save for the animation which has been slightly polished up to be more dynamic.

Continuing with the Sailor Moon's proud history of queer coding characters both major and minor, our film's antagonist is Fiore who bears more than a passing resemblance to Ail from the anime exclusive Makai Tree arc. Fiore's actions towards Mamoru carry a romantic air to them which I suppose is serviceable motivation for an antagonist, but I wasn't the biggest fan of the Makai Tree arc when it was first utilized and here with Fiore being very similar to Ail down to the plant connection (with a flower in place of a tree) it feels like the movie is just retreading ground that was already done before and much more successfully. I guess to a degree I did enjoy seeing more into Mamoru's past involving the time after his parents' death, but the attempts to tie Mamoru and Usagi's relationship to that point in time comes off as pretty flimsy even by the admittedly loose standards of a show all about reincarnation and the strings of fate drawing eternal loved ones together (and this isn't a slight against the show's concept, I LIKE those things about it).

The action is well done with considerably more dynamic movement than is seen in the TV show and there's force, weight, and impact given to the action sequences. Sometimes the movie gets a little too ambitious, especially in the case of a CGI rendering of an asteroid that looks pretty poor, even by the standards of 1993, and carries noticeable pixilation and perspective warping. There are moments that achieve emotional resonance as the series is known to do with Usagi's friendship with the Sailor Guardians and romance with Mamoru carrying a lot of good will, and if you're invested in these relationships from watching the show you'll find what you're looking for. If you're not familiar with the show and coming into this blind I don't think you'll be as invested.

Sailor Moon R: The Movie isn't bad, but it's unfortunately pretty underwhelming for a theatrical experience. For fans of the show there's definitely value to be had revisiting the characters and seeing the show's action on a bigger budget with less restraint, and for newcomers to the franchise I suppose it's fairly representative of the core concept and appeal of the show. But the story just isn't all that engaging. Fiore is a pretty weak reskin of Ail and the Makai tree elements whose relationship with Mamoru doesn't carry the weight the movie seems to think it does and while the action and animation is good, I was never as invested here as I was during the best moments of the TV show. Sailor Moon R: The Movie is worth a viewing as a curiosity, but it's not my favorite of the Sailor Moon property.

This movie is just as great as the show ever was. One flashback scene involving Mamoru and Usagi is particularly nice. This is one for the library. Worth the 1 hour and 10 minutes you'll put into watching it.

This is the first movie of 3 movies of the Sailor Moon series. It basically uses series information from the first 2 seasons of the TV series: Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon and Bishoujo Senshi SailormoonR.

In this movie, Naoko Takeuchi attempts to do something that perhaps she couldn't do with the TV series. She adds deeper brush strokes to the makeup and workings of the central characters of the series. Finally in the tearful ending of the movie, you find out how they all basically fit together as a team. Despite the sort of misfit characterization of each of the central characters (the Sailor Team less Sailor Moon), they all share one thing: A friend who is a true non-judging, very caring and emotionally supportive friend in Sailor Moon.

If you have taken the time to have watched any part of the TV series, including the english language adaptation and skipped over this movie, then you have done yourself a great injustice. If you enjoyed any part of the TV series, then this movie will not just be a must watch, but a must keep as well.

This movie is really amazing. Out of the 3 Sailor Moon movies this one is definitely the best. The animation is amazing and the story, although only and hour long, keeps changing enough to keep you interested.

I was lucky enough to be given a fansub of this movie many years ago, before I really knew anything about the original version of BSSM. It might sound corny, but this movie changed my life. I knew the dub playing on television wasn't the real version, but I didn't know how much had been changed, or how much better the original was, until this! The "R" in the title stands for "romance, but the theme of this movie is definitely loneliness. Mamoru was lonely when he lost his parents as a child, Fiore was lonely when he had to leave his only friend, the Senshi were lonely before they met Usagi. . . the only thing I would have to disagree with is that Usagi is the answer to all loneliness. But then, Usagi is the answer to just about every problem in BSSM, so I shouldn't be surprised :-P . What surprised me about this movie when I first saw it was that this wasn't some dumbed-down little girls' show like the television dub made it out to be. The characters were much less one-dimensional, the plot darker, the voices infinitely less annoying, and it was my first exposure to the recurring theme of homosexuality in BSSM. Fiore is like an obsessed ex-lover of Mamoru's rather than an estranged friend. This is good not only for the comic relief of the girls' speculations on Mamoru's sexuality, but also that Fiore is a very sympathetic character-- even those uncomfortable with homosexuality (as I was when I first saw this) can't help feeling sorry for him, knowing Mamoru will never return his affections the way he wants. The crew interview compares the movie to _Romeo and Juliet_, which may be a bit much, but their Shakespearean influence definitely shows, as this is by far the most beautiful and dramatic of the BSSM movies.

The first and greatest of three Sailormoon movies made in Japan. This one is set right after the R series and is about Mamoru's friendship with an alien named Fiore, whom he met after his parents died in the car accident. Believe me, of all three this one is definitely worth watching!

I loved this movie. It was my favorite of the three. S was just .. weird and SuperS was dull. I don't like Chibi-usa much, so that probably explains the dullness of SuperS to me. Why did I enjoy the R movie the best? It had a good amount of Mamoru in it! I love Mamoru. He's great character that is so often hated and overlooked (by mostly idiots). So that's about it. R is my all time favorite.

ahhh, subtitled, uncut sailor moon. where would i be without it? the crap shown on cartoon network can kiss my ass for all i care. anyway, this was the very first subtitled sailor moon i ever saw. i loved it, let me tell you. it was a welcome change from the annoying dubbed and influenced me to begin collecting subtitled anime. ah, two years ago it was, at the anime convention. memories. lol. anyway, the story is very good, revealing a little more of mamoru's past, and the romance and action are very extreme. i have to admit, i almost cried at the end of this one, but things always turn out ok in sailor moon, 90% of the time. heh. anyway, see this if you like romance.

"Sailor Moon R-The Movie" Is a wild romantic, adventure which finds the Sailor Soliders facing a menace named Fiore. WHos is out to cover the world with deadly flowers that drain away peoiple energy. On top of the, he wants to be Tuxedo Mask's only firend. Can Sailor Moon and The Sailor Soliders save earth from Fiore? Personally I found the movie to be very well done, and well written. (this is the subtitled version I am talking about.) With some good voice acting, and awesome Special Effects. (The "Moon Revenge" sequence was great!) If your an SM fan I recommend this film for you!

Sailormoon was created for kids, but adults can enjoy it too. The plot is unique, and all over the characters interesting and complex for a cartoon. The movie is definitely worth watching if your in the mood for a very good amine. Sure there are some lines that are a bit cheesy, but things are lost in translations. 4 1/2 out of 5 stars if you rate it by itself, and 4 out of 5 if you compare it to some of the other stuff that's out there.

This is definitely one of the better movies. The moments are so touching, and you get a real look at the relationships all the characters have, particularly between Usagi and Mamoru. The animation is good and the story line is great. A must for all die-hards and then some (particularly those who do not favor the Usagi and Mamoru relationship).

This is the best of the 3 Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon features. It has a theme of friendship, love, and loneliness. It is a great movie on its own, but with the cast of Sailor Moon, it just makes it better! If you're an anime

fan, then check out this movie, you won't be sorry.

After years of waiting, Sailor Moon fans of the US finally get to view the first of the three movies to be released outside of Japan. Proving that the wait was worth it, Sailor Moon R never fails to entertain and is absolutely breathtaking in it's animation. The story of Fiore and the evil flower Casinian (I probably spelled that wrong!) is well-written and action packed with plenty of attacks from our heroines the Sailor Scouts which proves that our scouts are always ready to save the day. The film also has romance but it isn't ultra-sugary compared to many animated films of today. This film is great for the old and young, male or female and should be view by all.

As with so many anime movies one will see that the difference between the sub and dub is enormous. In its subtitled and unedited version, this makes for a great viewing experience. However, since this is viewed as a child's cartoon by most, the edited version is horrible and the voice casting is some of the worst yet. The story is at times beautiful, and at other times just a little silly. I would recommend this title to everyone.

The Otaku

This film is the best anime film I have ever seen in my life!! People who say Sailor Moon is for babies are so wrong and haven't even seen it! The action scenes are immense but the language is in Japanese with no subtitles because it was never released in England (not that i know of) But this film is exceptional. My favourite character had to be sailor mars even though I don't know why. I would have to say sailor moon is the most original anime movie and series. Who would ever think of a cry baby teenager would turn in to some super but pretty soldier sailor moon with the rest of the group. You could classify sailor moon as educational with some parts which can teach people valuable lessons which they announce with sailor says at the end of the series. I wish I still had the movie which I borrowed because it is the best film ever.