The digi past and digi present collide in this underwhelming dub.
Note: This review ofDigimon Adventure tri: Reunionis focused on the dub of the film.
If you want a review of the plot,check out our past review here.
What was this movie trying to accomplish?
I still cant quite figure out.
Ostensibly, the English dub ofDigimon Adventure tri: Reunionwas being marketed to English fans ofDigimon.
Specifically ones who grew up with the Fox Kids dub.
This is reflected in the casting of many of the old voice actors.
So thats where Im coming from in my review.
No, seriously, I dida whole list about it.
That English dub is very near and dear to my heart.
My, perhaps misplaced, hope was that this movie would follow that style.
Its completely at odds with itself.
On one hand, they have a new theme song.
Its complete trash, but at least its original.
On the other, they playBrave Heart, the Japanese song for Digivolutions.
Why would you play a Japanese song that the English dub audience has never heard before?
It makes no sense, especially when you put together a new theme.
Dont bother with just a crappy new theme song and then the rest of the Japense soundtrack.
One poorly done new theme wont placate fans.
That means no puns, no side jokes, and no overflowing of dialogue.
It makes the whole movie feel slow in comparison to the originalDigimon: The Movie.
Purist fans will argue that creates a better atmosphere and its more faithful to the original.
Yeah, but I didnt pay fifteen dollars to see a faithful dub of the original.
I paid fifteen dollars to see an English dub ofDigimon.
That means wacky jokes about the Power Rangers Arbor Day Special, dang it.
If you want a faithful translation, go watch the subtitles.
TheDigimonEnglish dub and the original Japanese are similar, but different entities.
Treat them as such.
Thankfully the movie is not a complete loss.
The returning voice actors were all a delight to hear again.
Joshua Seth easily slips back into his role of Tai with no problem.
Mona Marshall back as Izzy is a triumph, along with Jeff Nimoy as Tentomon.
One of the biggest cheers came when Tom Fahn first showed up on screen as Agumon.
Dave Mallow also made a surprise return as Angemon, if only for a line.
Everything that man touches turns to gold.
The new voice cast brought in to fill out the other roles is hit or miss.
Johnny Yong Bosch does fine, but when the original TK is right there, why not use him?
Vic Mignogna is an okay Matt.
It took me awhile to warm up to him but by the end he was doing all right.
Cherami Leigh as the new Biyomon doesnt fit at all.
Same with Robbie Daymond as Joe.
Hes missing the out of breath and panicky voice that made the original Joe so endearing.
I understand that you cant bring everyone back.
The writing of this film was really not up to the English dub standard ofDigimon.
The biggest offense is mispronouncing Gennais name.
This is a dub that should be taking its cues from the style of the Fox Kids version.
Also, the Digimon dont call out their attack names.
Would it really be so hard to let Birdromon cry out, Meteor Wing!
or Kabuterimon to yell, Electro Shocker!
We do get small winks, like Izzy saying, Prodigious!
Those are fun, but too fleeting.
You know what else would have helped?
I know I touched on it above, but it bears repeating.
The JapenseDigimon Adventure tri.BGM is bland.
Im not talking aboutButterflyorBrave Heart.
I loveButterflyespecially to death, but the instrumental music throughout is uninspired.
Compare the formation of Omnimon in this dub to the formation of Omnimon inDigimon: The Movie.
The English dub wins that by a mile.
Revealing Ominimon is a track for the ages.
It gets stuck in your head.
The BGM here is just flat and boring.
Thats the biggest problem with this dub.
For the first fifteen minutes my theatre was pretty damn silent.
That made the movie a riot.
Its an okay dub at best with an extra point for nostalgia with all the old cast.
They do a great job and are the highlight of this movie.
In case you wondering, the film was preceded by a nonsensical Top 5 Digimon list.
#2 was Poromon because… sure?
If these dubs forDigimon Adventure tri.continue to be made, they need more work put into them.
Just hire Jeff Nimoy back as director.
Let the man rewrite that script to hell.
Maybe you cant get the music, fine.
Ditch that new theme.
Go find the old season four theme.
That worked well enough!
Just do better,DigimonEnglish dub.
Dont make a run at c’mon the hardcore Japanese version fans.
They already have their version.
I need more jokes about Beef Jerky shakes.
Rating:
2 out of 5
