Anonymous
Watched "The Rose of Versaille(...) 06/03/26(Wed)16:27:50 No.288508973

File: tumblr_8d918c5d896133c9e5(...).png (2.86 MB, 1280x1807)

2.86 MB PNG

Watched "The Rose of Versailles" on Netflix Anonymous 06/03/26(Wed)16:27:50 No.288508973

Well, that's not something you see every day; a musical anime film! For a moment, I felt like I was back in the 90s, watching "Anastasia" and "The Road to El Dorado". Some of the songs are pretty good; "Anger and Pain" (which plays as the French Revolution starts) is outstanding.

The movie is very pretty, specially compared to the original series. This is to be expected; the animation of a 1979 TV show cannot possibly compete with the animation of a 2025 theatrical film. The colors are vibrant, with red and blue uniforms popping out of the screen. The storming of the Bastille is particularly stunning.

Unfortunately, the writing is the weak link in the movie. The script has a serious problem with "show, don't tell"; characters tell each other they are in love rather than being shown falling in love, or talk about hungry relatives that are never seen onscreen.

The film's pacing is ridiculous, moving so fast that it makes the speed of light look like a stoned turtle. It seemed like every time I blinked, the narrative skipped forward three years. I am not sure I would have been able to follow the plot had I not already been familiar with the story.

Entire subplots are reduced to three seconds of screen time during musical numbers, such as Madame du Barry, or excised entirely, such as the Black Knight. Everything is pared down to the core story of Lady Oscar and Marie Antoinette, but even then these characters are missing some serious development.

To some extent, this is understandable. The "Rose of Versailles" is an epic story, taking place over 33 years and 40 episodes; compressing it into a 2 hour movie is an impossible task. But then, they should not have attempted it.

The film feels like a highlight reel of the show's best moments, or perhaps a recap episode. Actually, someone on Reddit called it an advertisement for the manga, and perhaps that was its true purpose.

Overall, I'd recommend watching the 1979 anime instead, at least at first.