Lady Death The Motion Picture - Comic Fanatic
- Comic Fanatic
- Heath Shelby
- 11/02/04
- click here
For years, Comic Fanatics have heard talk of a Lady Death movie. Well, the talk is true and thanks to the folks at ADV Films, the wait is over! Lady Death: The Motion Picture makes its long awaited debut this month! However, you won?t find this blockbuster in theaters. This is a must see movie that you can bring home! And The Comic Fanatic.Com snagged an early copy of the Lady Death: The Motion Picture DVD! Read on to find out why Lady Death: The Motion Picture is a blockbuster well worth the wait!
I proudly admit to being a Lady Death fan from the beginning. And, no?despite what my then-fiancée/now wife believed, I wasn?t a Lady Death fan just because she wore a skimpy leather bikini and little else?although that was just an added bonus?However, I liked Lady Death because there was actually a great story there?if you could get past her well endowed attributes.
I still remember while writer Brian Pulido was publishing Lady Death under the now-defunct Chaos Comics that word came out of a possible Lady Death animated movie. This excited me and many Comic Fanatics because this was a character tailor made for a really good R-rated animated flick. However, Pulido and Lady Death had a tough row to hoe before this blockbuster came into being.
After the death of Chaos Comics, it appeared that Lady Death had breathed her last breath. Then Lady Death received a new lease on life with CrossGen. Just when it appeared that Lady Death was back stronger than ever, CrossGen went belly up, leaving Lady Death fans in the lurch once again. However, throughout this period, work continued on the Lady Death motion picture. Now, with news that the classic and medieval versions of Lady Death are set to return to comics at Avatar Press and the long awaited Lady Death movie is hitting the shelves, there?s never been a better time to be a Lady Death fan!
ADV Films releases the long awaited Lady Death: The Motion Picture on October 5, 2004. And just because the summer is over and just because this movie isn?t found in a theater, don?t think for a second that this isn?t a big blockbuster! Epic in nature, Lady Death: The Motion Picture is a film well worth the wait, both for Lady Death fans and those who might be discovering this unique character for the very first time.
Conceived by Pulido and written by Robotech?s Carl Macek, Lady Death: The Motion Picture takes viewers from the origin of Lady Death to her epic battle in the depths of Hell with her father, Lucifer. Along the way, we discover that there is incredible depth to a character who is so often disregarded as mere ?eye candy.?
Lady Death?s story begins in 15th century Sweden. Lady Death?s tale begins innocently enough as she is a lovely young woman named Hope who is in love with Niccolo. However, her father Matthias has other plans for his daughter?because he is secretly the Lord Of Lies, Lucifer!
When Matthias? true identity is revealed, it is Hope who pays the price as she is accused of witchcraft by the town priest. In the hope of saving her life and seeing Niccolo again, Hope accepts the evil Pagen?s offer from her father as the flames engulf her. Summoning her father?s dark forces, Hope is whisked away to Hell, where she soon discovers that there are worse things than death!
Even in the depths of Hell, Hope maintains her innocence and rebuffs her father?s offer to join him. In retaliation, Lucifer throws his daughter to her death into the river Styx. However, Hope doesn?t die?Instead, Hope finds a new purpose in life - or in death! And with the help of her new mentor Cremator, Hope discovers that she has the untold power that could very well overthrow the ruler of Hell himself!
Lady Death: The Motion Picture is an epic story in every sense of the word. On one hand, this is a movie about a woman losing her innocence, while on the other hand it?s a movie about the arrival of a heroine. At times steeped in religious overtones, Lady Death: The Motion Picture is a classic, yet original take on the good vs. evil saga.
While not as ?mature? as many of her Chaos adventures, Lady Death: The Motion Picture is not a film for younger viewers. The movie is labeled with a suggestion for ages 17 and up. This is mainly because of some sexual situations, mild language and violence. The sexual situations aren?t played up, and are relegated to the backgrounds. Meanwhile, the violence and gore aren?t done for shock, but rather as part of the story. As such, these bits aren?t over the top and were some of my favorite parts of this movie.
The anime-like animation fits this movie to a tee, especially in the scenes involving Hope and the battle scenes. Lady Death is depicted in true classic Chaos fashion, while Lucifer has been tweaked a little, making him bigger and badder! Each layer of Hell looks dark, dismal and almost ashy, while the many demons and minions of Hell are distinct and horrifying creatures! And speaking of creatures, wait until you get a load of Lady Death?s horse Vassago and her loyal companions, the Nameless Wolves!
In true epic fashion, Lady Death: The Motion Picture is accompanied by an excellent soundtrack. Dark and haunting music adds to the enjoyment this movie, setting the mood perfectly. And the voice actors bring amazing life to these characters, especially Christine M. Auten?s Lady Death. Auten?s Lady Death is how I always imagined this character sounding while reading those old Chaos comics.
As far as DVD extras go, there are two featurettes that show exactly how much hard work and time went into putting this soon to be classic comic book film together. Interviews with the animation production team and director?s commentary reveal the care and labor that went into bringing a faithful rendition of Lady Death to the small screen. And the ?Visions Of Hell? featurette shows the artistic evolution of each character from Lady Death to the film?s demons.
Lady Death: The Motion Picture is a near perfect film, which is surprising considering the long wait. Usually when I wait this long for something, I am almost always disappointed. Not so in this case. Lady Death: The Motion Picture exceeded my expectations in every way!
As an old Chaos fan, I loved this gothic fantasy story for touching on so many of the classic Chaos themes. (Heck, there?s even a tip of the hat to the old Lady Death lingerie comics!) As a Comic Fanatic, I loved this movie for its accessibility to fans who have never read a Lady Death comic before. And the best part? This movie leaves open the possibility of many more blockbuster sequels! Let?s just hope this time around we don?t have to wait years to see the next Lady Death movie!
Posted on Tuesday, November 02, 2004 (Archive on Thursday, December 02, 2004)