(Anthony is running around to find his house to going back and plan to call his fellows for help, since he lost his cellphone when he died. Once He arrives in his home that was overground by plants. However, he notices his own TV is still active that he didn't realized about it, but it has his favorite show into a movie)
Anthony: A movie with my favorite show Steven Universe already? Oh man, after all the months that i've heard, im so overly excited how it goes...!
(One in a half hours later)
Anthony: ... *starts clapping slowly to faster for his thankful reaction* Bravo...! I gotta talk about this movie...!
(Review Starts)
Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review.
Let me start off by saying that, I, Freakin, Love Steven Universe...! Its one of my favorite show since the 2010's era of Cartoon Network, though i like some shows like "Ok.K.O, lets be heroes!", Mighty Magisword", "Unikitty" and maybe "Adventure Time". But for Steven Universe, this is the show that not only my favorite, but this is also my holy grail that i love to watch with my friends and inspired to make my own story (Well, not prepared, yet...). It is no wonder that it was considered a fan-favorite of CN, unlike some remakes that it makes Disney feel inspired. Aside the controversies of homophobic reactions and some toxic fandom, this show is still great that for the characters, story, comedy and the drama, which is no wonder they made a TV movie.
"Steven Universe: The movie" is a 2019 animated musical TV movie that was written, produced and directed by Rebecca Sugar, Kat Morris and Joe Johnston, co-produced by Alonso Ramirez Ramos, Brian A. Miller, Chance the Rapper, Ian Jones-Quartey (also writing), Jackie Buscarino, Jennifer Pelphrey, Rob Sorcher and Tramm Wigzell, then written by Ben Levin, Hilary Florido, Jack Pendarvis and Matt Burnett.
When we heard about this movie, we're overly hooked up to see for a big story and song and introducing a new villain where it goes. It was first announced in San-Diego Comic-Con in 2018 during the middle of the 5th season of the show (which it had a numerous halts for... reasons), but once it showed a trailer and a new poster, we're anticipated after the end of 5th season. Sadly, when i was anticipated to watching, it was never aired on Canadian channel of Cartoon Network which i got pissed, but i eventually catching it on livestream of US tv. And this is the first time i review a TV movie in my movie review career, even though its rather short.
So, with all that said, will this TV movie holds up after the show, or is this film that will easily lose the rating to put ending of the show?
Well, lets find out.
The Story
With this extended show of SU, its gonna be like another story where Steven has to bring peace for Gem? Definitely. But if anyone haven't seen the lat episodes of "Change your mind", consider this a SPOILER WARNING.
It picks up two years after Steven Universe reveals to be a Pink Diamond, stopping Yellow, Blue and White Diamonds where he uses his power to bring peace of the universe and healing corrupted gems to normal, Steven grew up to older teen where he and fellow Crystal Gems, Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl to building a new town for the remains of gems in Earth. But one day, after singing to live happily ever after, they witness a giant flying drill hits on Earth with a sinister gem name "Spinel" who's targeting at Steven for being "ignored". After poof'd Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl, Steven countered at Spinel by poof'd her, but she wounded Steven that he'll loses his power soon. Once the gems came back, they're not the same, but rather in reboot and the drill starts injecting a deadly toxic for causing the end of the world, its up to Steven for not only bring his Gems back where they are, but also find the way to stop the drill.
I find the story itself is rather surprisingly good, though rather predictable, but still good. At first, i though its gonna be a plot where a gem attempts to capturing Yellow, Blue and White Diamonds to taking over the homeworld before the big trailer, but where wrong. Its more of another invasion plot where an evil gem Spinel plans to destroy the Earth. But of course, the movie has a plot element for the character development, whether its the gems reminder of their origins or even spinel's secret truth. and the plot element with gems in amnesia in reboot is also a pretty good and tricky one where Steven has to find the hard way, it might be hard, but i like the creative amnesia element. However, i have a flaws of this movie, the story is rather short telling us, mainly because story stopped to focus on songs, which il get to that later. Thankfully, it doesn't have time wasting subplot that has nothing to do with main plot, thank god for never including my hated character Ronaldo.
Despite the story got halted from songs and semi-predictable story, but its actually a pretty good one with some executions.
The Presentation
Since this is a TV movie, its no secret the budget remains the same as the show itself. But to be fair, it looks pretty good though.
The setting of s fictional town of "Beach City" is a fascinating set, making it look beautiful and somewhat colorful in the same time with civilians. Specially with Crystal Gems's home that was placed in front of statue of Obsidian. I love the design of the background from beginning to the movie, along with new one like Gems's new town.
The character designs have been changed a lot from beginning to the movie as i said before, i like where our main heroes changing in the show, specially when they poof'd and resurrected to give us a new look, some are favorite and some others, not so much. But the one i like is Steven himself, after being young teen to be playful and peaceful for help, he grew up that even though he looks the same a bit, but he has a new clothing and new appearance. As for the new character designs, well, its rather less, specially its only Spinel, but il talk about the characters later on. Though yes, i know most people criticized artist drew the same character design of CalArt (mainly the heads), i understand where some animators are came from there. Specially some long-waiting remake that it pinches me in hatred, but i won't talk about the controversies.
For the animation, it looks fantastic with colorful and impressive quality in quiet to intense action moments. Even though sometimes its rather quick-pasting at some moments. But with this movie, its kinda slow as it went.
As for the songs, despite it always interrupting the story that nitpicking, but i gotta say, the songs themselves are pretty good, they have some great beats, some best moments and some of the lyrics are well-written with meanings, its all about be together without being forgotten or other even the newcomer like Spinel from her first song.
Even if the character the character designs are rather limited based on CalArt and interrupting songs (since im always enjoy the story and gags/dramas), the animation is still fun to look at, a fascinating settings that we're all familiar with SU and a well-written songs.
The Characters
If anyone like me are familiar with the characters, good for you. But for those you don't know, il explain who they are and how they're depicting in the movie.
First is Steven Universe himself (voiced by Zach Callison), as we all know, Steven is the hybrid human/gem who's the son of Rose Quartz/Pink Diamond and being the young member of the Crystal Gems, he's being cheerful and carefree that he likes to hanging out with fellow gems and his human friends, including Connie. As he grew to young adult, he became a pacifist of Gems after "Change your mind", where as always, use his power to bring peace through out the galaxy, once we find out about him in impressive twist. Though once he was wounded, we're scared if he's gonna die early after attacking at Spinel. Since Steven has been aged, Zach goes his older voice of his character, but as always, he's doing great for his voice acting and his singing.
Then we have the Crystal Gems that we're familiar with, Garnet is the big from the fusion, Pearl is the mother figure of Steven and Amethyst is a laid-back one. In the movie, they remains the same, but with an upgrade in the later seasons before the movie
For Garnet (voiced by Estelle) is leader of the group and the fusion between Ruby (voiced by Charlyne Yi) and Sapphire (voiced by Erica Luttrell). From before, Garnet was stoic and kinda emotionless, as the show went, she became relatable, truthful, admitted of mistake and rather good heart, specially the relation between her and Steven. As for Ruby and Sapphire, there's not much to explain that they're the same, Ruby being aggressive and feisty with fire and strength and Sapphire is a quiet and cold one with ice and future vision. In the movie, Ruby and Sapphire goes back from the flashback of "The Answer" where Ruby is the protector and Sapphire is like a fortune teller before the fusion. Aside that, its no secret that Garnet is a fan favorite of the show, especially with great acting and singing performance of Estelle.
For Amethyst (voiced by Michaela Dietz), she's a laid-back and carefree gem that she's like an older sister figure of the group, specially she was described as a defective gems than any other Amethysts from millions of years ago. But the season went, she had an arc that she's losing her love and respect of Crystal Gems, specially for a rivalry at Steven, but she does clean herself up in the end. In the movie, she goes into full on defective for repeating after anyone in front of her. Even though she's sorta of comedic character, but we always like to relating her for her laid-back and carefree defective gem, especially for a fun performance of Micheala.
And for Pearl (voiced by the wonderful Deedee Magno Hall), is a protective and somewhat of a mother figure of Steven since she worked with Rose Quartz/Pink Diamond. Though sometimes, Pearl might having a mental breakdown, since when Rose had a date with Greg (Steven's father), it left her being depressed and overwhelmed with grief, which is no wonder we feel bad for her, considering she cared so much about Rose. In the movie, she changed into a guard and announcer for the entrance. Pearl is another fan-favorite character of the show that we love and feel sorry about her feeling, especially for a perfect fitting cast from Deedee, i mean she does a beautiful work for her signing ability, like it always touching our heart.
As for the new main antagonist, well, we finally got her name. Her name is Spinel (voiced by Sarah Stiles), when we first her, its no secret that her design looks like a mix Jenny Wakeman (from "My life as a teenage robot") and Harley Quinn, which it might be make sense based on her design and her personality. She's depicted as a from happy-go-lucky friend to downright genocide that she wants to kill Steven that she was being forgotten. Despite the copycats, but i find her to be pretty fascinated villain in the movie.
As for the rest of characters, there's not much to say, there's Greg (voiced by Tom Scharpling) who's Steven's caring father, Connie (voiced by Grace Rolek) is Steven's best friend and a human partner of Crystal Gems for swordfight, Lapis Lazuli (voiced by Jennifer Paz), a water powered gem who had a trauma from the past for being trapped, my favorite recurring character Peridot (voiced by Shelby Rabara) is the gem with the brain but with a funny cranky persona, Bismuth (voiced by Uzo Aduba) is original Crystal Gems as a Weaponsmith, Yellow Diamond (voiced by Patti LuPone) is a ruthless and impatient one of the Great Diamond Authority, Blue Diamond (voiced Lisa Hannigan) is a depressed and sentimental one of GDA and White Diamond (voiced by Christine Ebersole) is the big superior who used to be manipulative, passive-aggressive and narcissist for to be perfect.
Like i said, we're always enjoying the character for their likable, great performances and relating.
And now for my final opinion of this TV film.
Overall, "Steven Universe: The Movie" is easily the best CN movie i've ever watched, and i mean a lot better than the godawful TTG movie. Even though the story is kinda unfocused for the songs, but the story is pretty good, the animation is always look great, the characters are likable and the songs are unforgettable. Even though this was only aired in US, which is just disappointing for non-US viewers like myself included, but we can easily catching up on Livestream. It is easily a must watch TV film on Cartoon Network.
So, if you're a fan of Steven Universe or a CN fan, go watch it and it will never disappoints you. As a fan of SU, i love the show and this movie made me feel thankful. Will this show coming back for little more like another movie or even the 6th season? Only time will tell for Rebecca Sugar.
For my rating, il give this movie a 9/10. Go watch it, its highly recommended, even if you're lucky to catching it on livestream.
So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.
Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.
(Review ends)
Anthony: Ahhh... Im glad i watched my favorite show into a movie, but i still need my phone to--
*But a light brights behind him, it was witness in front of his house, as he open the front door, it happens to be a portal opens, what is he gonna do about it...?*
To be continued...
