Bleach: Fade to Black

(2008) Bleach- The Movie 3: Fade To Black (In Japanese with English Subtitles) FANTASY/ ACTION/ ADVENTURE

In order to enjoy this, one would have to enjoy the first 200 episodes of the television series where the basic theme has an average teenager inhibiting grim reaper like- powers to protect peoples souls from going into a negative dimension or to protect people from 'hollows'! What I like are the weapons and the fights which 're mostly swords that have their own personalities with unique capabilities. In this third part of the film has the whole 'soul society' or people who're connected to it, receiving amnesia! Everyone gets affected with this amnesia from the other world except the main character Ichigo, and he investigates! As much as I love the Japan animation series- this one feels exactly like that, in which some of the episodes are more entertaining or delving into familiar territory which meaning that it's been recycle already, at least somewhere from the first 200 episodes!

This was a fairly touching story and finally, one that felt like it deserved its own movie as opposed to being covered over a few episodes of Bleach (or Naruto, for that matter).

Typically, with either anime's movies, my criteria are a good story and solid action. You would think the writers would have it easy since they don't need to do much character development but no, typically one or the other or both are quite lacking. With Fade to Black, it's the action. Apart from the start and end of the movie, most of the fighting involves Ichigo vs. the captains. Again. They really need a new battery of villains, or even heroes, since the latter seem to be always fighting each other anyway.

I cannot explain it easily. I was waiting for this moment for a long time. I over sold it to myself without knowing the plot or the quality. I assumed it was going to be great since it was named 'Fade to Black'. Only great things are named 'Fade to Black' is what i told myself. After watching episode 125 I was ecstatic for it. And then halfway through I was nearly ready to be disappointed. It seemed just like a normal episode. Right until the last 30 minutes. Then the cogs of the movie started working together. Everything was an amazing blend of many of the character's interactions to the plot itself and why it was devised like it was. I can't say much without spoiling it, so I am just going to say watch it after 125 and be amazed (pay close attention to detail, otherwise it will seem normal to you too).

This Bleach movie was reasonable enough. It did not feel like something ad-hoc, made to fill some interseason space, the story was interesting and the action intense. They used this memory loss/change later in the series, as well, with less effective success.

The plot is that two weird kids come to Soul Society and steal Rukia. In the process Mayuri loses his memories and everybody seems to forget Rukia. All except Kurosaki Ichigo who, this time, cannot just storm in, reveal some new power and blast through. This as well as the drama of having to fight your own friends added some volume to the story.

Bottom line: one of the better Bleach films, although the technical details were a bit extreme and hard to believe. There is a science of soul reaping, you know... you can't just technobabble away :)

A cinematic, anime masterpiece. If you love the Bleach series, then this is a do not miss movie! All of our friends come together, directly or indirectly, to help save Rukia Kuchiki and the soul society. Don't miss this exciting, action packed Bleach movie!