A new brand famous videogame franchise getting a cinematic feature in the new millennium?It isn't the first time I heard of such news...even if one would call Professor Layton to not be as recognizable as say a mustached face like Mario or a hedgehog wearing Michael Jackson shoes like Sonic,that was not enough to stop the factor that he was getting a bigger mystery to nutcrack.That question is whether you can still make a good videogame adaptation in the new millennium.How's tricks then? 
For the ones just coming in,the story is pretty complex and hard to follow if you're not summing up the details.I can't explain a lot of it without spoiling,but I can give you a little description as to what's the main gripe behind it all.Layton receives a letter,along two opera show tickets,from an old-time student of his,Janice,who in modern times,is an opera house singer.She tells his mentor that she has stumbled across a child who says to pursue the spirit of a long-lost friend of hers named Milena,and of course,something sounds rather off about all this.She asks the professor to help her acknowledge what's really happening,and thus,alongside with Luke and Emmy,they set course for another mystery.That's the main driving force ensuing this movie,and generally speaking,fans and newcomers will most likely enjoy the integrity of how everything connects peace by peace.The story from the games is all well told through its complexity already,so the fans will be in a big chance of just admiring the details present through the movie(I know did
).You'd often see studios attempting to drastically change the main core or appeal of the franchise just so they think it would fit the big screen that way,especially in the new millennium.Actually,no.You just need to put what worked there originally so it can work once again in theaters,and that's one of the aspects where Eternal Diva truly shines amongst other adaptations we've come thus far in modern times. 
Though,so to speak,there are some few rather ridiculous moments in here,but at this point in time,I guess it's common knowledge for the franchise.We are speaking of the same universe where an adult-aged scientist can perfectly disguise himself as a young girl half his size,with female voice and everything;and gunman shootouts in rich casinos happen.Don't ask me about it,because I don't also know how neither.
Let's talk animation because it's pretty rare to see something with a more cartoony style to not be turned into live-action in recent ages.The animation,for those with non-experience with the original source material, actually takes inspiration from the games too,as there are plenty of cutscenes with this anime style that are usually less than 5 minutes of time.They were great there,and work amazingly here extended to 90 minutes.As we are now spectating the animation on a bigger screen than the DS's portable screens,the quality is certainly a pop-out,and are more fluent than how they were before in the games.It's surprising to see how in some scenes,the 2D characters would feel natural within a 3D environment,usually used for when the movie has to take shots of bigger areas and constructions.Also,even if not as many puzzles as in the games,they still ask for the audience to think what's the correct answer,and it will require some out-of-the-box thinking,and are generally genius on how they were protrayed in here.A big majority of the voices from the games also return mostly from the european cast,and everything with an english British always is an automatic plus for me.I cannot forget about the movie's soundtrack,as it is also pretty amazing with some newly composed themes and newer versions of songs already used in the games up until the general fourth game came out.Really,it's pretty beautiful.
Characters are still like they were in the games,incluiding some new allies,even if the veterans don't necessarily receive some new details we didn't knew about.The new people in tow should be able relate as to what character traits they have in the series overall.Briefly,Layton is the gentleman who's an archeologist,university teacher and of course,a nutcracker for puzzles and mysteries;Luke is the young boy who always tries hard enough to proclaim himself as the professor's "number 1 apprentice",Janice is the opera singer who essentially called in the two for the whole situation and has a secret important to the mystery revealed later on the road,so she's good as a new character for the franchise.Emmy is separated from them as she wanders around questioning for information about the child that's said to be Milena reborn,and generally does her thing.There are others who have their parts on the movie,but again,to not ruin the experience in case you're interested,I rather keep it secret.What I can state though is that the older characters are still their recognazible great selfs,and a big number of the new ones are almost just as likable and with a few selected,even memorable.
I may have a higher preference for the first trilogy than the prequel one,although that didn't really lower my opinion of this movie generally speaking.Eternal Diva may as well be one of the better videogame adaptations of the 21st venture so far,but for me,being the fan I am,the best.It respects and homages the games in such great presentation and mystery,and that's what I love the most of this movie.The transaction from videogame to movie is truly splendid,and I feel like this should be an almost-equal time for fans and non-fans alike.Now,I wonder what happened to that rumored sequel?It has been a while since we last seen information on said project,and if the team behind that are still going for it,here's hope for it be as good as this.I can say I'm confident on that aspect honestly.
For the ones just coming in,the story is pretty complex and hard to follow if you're not summing up the details.I can't explain a lot of it without spoiling,but I can give you a little description as to what's the main gripe behind it all.Layton receives a letter,along two opera show tickets,from an old-time student of his,Janice,who in modern times,is an opera house singer.She tells his mentor that she has stumbled across a child who says to pursue the spirit of a long-lost friend of hers named Milena,and of course,something sounds rather off about all this.She asks the professor to help her acknowledge what's really happening,and thus,alongside with Luke and Emmy,they set course for another mystery.That's the main driving force ensuing this movie,and generally speaking,fans and newcomers will most likely enjoy the integrity of how everything connects peace by peace.The story from the games is all well told through its complexity already,so the fans will be in a big chance of just admiring the details present through the movie(I know did
).You'd often see studios attempting to drastically change the main core or appeal of the franchise just so they think it would fit the big screen that way,especially in the new millennium.Actually,no.You just need to put what worked there originally so it can work once again in theaters,and that's one of the aspects where Eternal Diva truly shines amongst other adaptations we've come thus far in modern times. Though,so to speak,there are some few rather ridiculous moments in here,but at this point in time,I guess it's common knowledge for the franchise.We are speaking of the same universe where an adult-aged scientist can perfectly disguise himself as a young girl half his size,with female voice and everything;and gunman shootouts in rich casinos happen.Don't ask me about it,because I don't also know how neither.
Let's talk animation because it's pretty rare to see something with a more cartoony style to not be turned into live-action in recent ages.The animation,for those with non-experience with the original source material, actually takes inspiration from the games too,as there are plenty of cutscenes with this anime style that are usually less than 5 minutes of time.They were great there,and work amazingly here extended to 90 minutes.As we are now spectating the animation on a bigger screen than the DS's portable screens,the quality is certainly a pop-out,and are more fluent than how they were before in the games.It's surprising to see how in some scenes,the 2D characters would feel natural within a 3D environment,usually used for when the movie has to take shots of bigger areas and constructions.Also,even if not as many puzzles as in the games,they still ask for the audience to think what's the correct answer,and it will require some out-of-the-box thinking,and are generally genius on how they were protrayed in here.A big majority of the voices from the games also return mostly from the european cast,and everything with an english British always is an automatic plus for me.I cannot forget about the movie's soundtrack,as it is also pretty amazing with some newly composed themes and newer versions of songs already used in the games up until the general fourth game came out.Really,it's pretty beautiful.
Characters are still like they were in the games,incluiding some new allies,even if the veterans don't necessarily receive some new details we didn't knew about.The new people in tow should be able relate as to what character traits they have in the series overall.Briefly,Layton is the gentleman who's an archeologist,university teacher and of course,a nutcracker for puzzles and mysteries;Luke is the young boy who always tries hard enough to proclaim himself as the professor's "number 1 apprentice",Janice is the opera singer who essentially called in the two for the whole situation and has a secret important to the mystery revealed later on the road,so she's good as a new character for the franchise.Emmy is separated from them as she wanders around questioning for information about the child that's said to be Milena reborn,and generally does her thing.There are others who have their parts on the movie,but again,to not ruin the experience in case you're interested,I rather keep it secret.What I can state though is that the older characters are still their recognazible great selfs,and a big number of the new ones are almost just as likable and with a few selected,even memorable.
I may have a higher preference for the first trilogy than the prequel one,although that didn't really lower my opinion of this movie generally speaking.Eternal Diva may as well be one of the better videogame adaptations of the 21st venture so far,but for me,being the fan I am,the best.It respects and homages the games in such great presentation and mystery,and that's what I love the most of this movie.The transaction from videogame to movie is truly splendid,and I feel like this should be an almost-equal time for fans and non-fans alike.Now,I wonder what happened to that rumored sequel?It has been a while since we last seen information on said project,and if the team behind that are still going for it,here's hope for it be as good as this.I can say I'm confident on that aspect honestly.
And the final verdict is:
It's amazing!
It's amazing!
