Ranma ½: The Movie, Big Trouble in Nekonron, China (1991) User Reviews

This movie does the "Ranma 1/2" name proudly

[AdmiralX · 7/10 · 12 September 2006]

The following may contain some spoilers...be advised.

I have recently completed watching every season of the Ranma 1/2 anime, including the movies, OAV's and all of the Manga.

I enjoyed this movie to a point. One aspect I found as a let down, there really isn't any real comedy in this one. While there are points at comedy, Suon & Genma provide some, and the "chase scene" (Our group trying to chase Kirin's Blimp with a small dingy, as an example). I won't give way the main plot, which is a sort of a comic device of why Happôsai did what he did. Yet in all it seems the movie tries to take a serious look..with a serious plot, something that was rarely done in the series. Which is probably why most "Ranma 1/2" fans don't like it all that much.

On it's own, the story holds up. If you have not seen any of the anime after Season 3, you may just enjoy this one. If you have seen Seasons 4-7, you will find a lot of what this movie is about is just part of a rehashed storyline that was over done in the anime. One aspect that most "Ranma 1/2" fans have a problem with was the "Akane as the damsel-in-distress" story plots. To many this was over done, and at one point, while Akane still has a fiery temper and can hold her own in a fight, she is shown in more ways to be less of a fighter...or needs help...or simply waits for Ranma to show up. Something she blatantly states to Kirin almost word for word after she is kidnapped and told she will be his bride.

However, we do see Ranma starting to come out of his shell about his feelings for Akane. Backed up by Kirin's last words to Ranma before he leaves.

It's not the best of the series. But it can hold it's own.

The opening sequence is a nice touch, featuring all, or nearly all, of the reoccurring characters from the series. Another nice touch was the background cell paintings. If you watch the series, then this movie...you can immediately see a difference in the background. It is much more detailed, especially the Tendo home, and along the streets as Female Ranma chases Happôsai. It gives the area in which the characters live much more depth and a nice rich color.

What's the point?

[Auryn-4 · 15 August 2001]

I kinda like Ranma... but the whole thing drags out waaaaaaaaay to much. whenever they run out of material, hey, let's add another character in love with Ranma and have a old one beat him up, or hey, let's add another character in love with Akane and have him beat Ranma up! This movie isn't funny. The Ranma jokes are old, old, old. We've seen it all before. Akane kidnapped, Ranma duels with the guy who did it, and whoever wins gets Akane. Yawn. Some pretty cool fights near the end though. We actually get to see Ranma bleed!

But after seing this movie, I just kinda feel: "what was the point?" There was nothing in here that was even remotely new, so what about this story was considered special enough to make a movie out of?

/Auryn

absolutely hilarious!

[GreyFox37 · 10/10 · 9 April 2001]

i recently saw this and it was so funny! the story was your typical save akane routine, but in the beginning, it shows all of the characters in the past chase after ranma and haposai. a great opening. the animation is very traditional, the characters are funny as hell, especially panda, and ranma soups up his incredible fighting moves. see this one for hilarious laughs and good times.

Below average Takahashi adaption

[chrisdeutsch · 5/10 · 21 December 1999]

Have you noticed, how every first theatrical animation of a series has to a) have every character appear at least for a split second and b) present a story that would like to be overwhelming (but is actually very poor) and tries to adapt the complete content of the original comic character development as if there was no intent of making another one ? And then the creators loosen up in the making of the sequel which then turns out much better ? This is a perfect example. The seriousness and the somewhat heroic-like behaviour of the protagonists just don't allow the typical "Ha-ha-Ranma-no-baka" feeling, especially towards the end. Sure, there are some laughs, but hardly anything new for the devoted Ranma-lovers. You don't have to be a Ranma-Fanatic to enjoy this movie, but being one doesn't help either.

I Hate this STUPIDEST movie

[guzmandelarosa-84053 · 1/10 · 13 March 2022]

This movie is worse and very silly with this Bad comedy, the characters are very silly, the action is totally useless, they don't know How feel good, they are totally demons. I Hate You Ranma ½. DAMNED movie.

I hate this silly movie 😈👿

[jorgedavidguzman · 1/10 · 12 December 2022]

Who can forget that opening scene... I know I can't, Ten whole minutes of nothing happening, and in an inexplicable moment, the aura of an elephant fills joins the chase and beats everyone up. Unfortunately we don't get to see her actually preform this type of manuver again, and on a whole, she does nothing else; besides settle 1 fight by flirting.

Then on, there are more overly drawn out scenes and futile attempts at humor. For instance, Akane serves her 'home cooking' to the prince, who has only eaten pickles and rice since birth because of a condition that only allows his metabolism to handle pickels and rice. (Naturally, the pickels end up getting dumped out). The thing is, this scene is only 'referenced' to, but has no part of the overall story, and end run, really isn't that funny.

In the end, Ranma only faces two (I believe) of the seven opponents... the rest beat him up and are distracted or knocked out by the others. Heck, I thought Ranma was this egotistical fool who wouldn't accept defeat... sure looked like he was defeated a lot.

Heck, the 'final' boss was easier on Ranma then the other seven, having an impenitrable "chopstick" defense, Ranma brings forth a gyser and broke through by hurtling globlets of water at him.

I don't want be a pacifist with these silly characters: Ranma, Akane, Genma, Soun, Nabiki, Kasumi, Kodachi, Kuno, Shampoo, Mousse, Ukyo, Ryoga, Sasuke, Cologne and Hapossai because I want to be rot in the darkness and loneliness.

I hate this movie

[jorgedavidguzmandelarosa · 1/10 · 16 September 2022]

This movie is very mediocre, because it has an exaggerated padding, also Ranma, Akane, Genma, Soun, Nabiki, Kasumi, Kodachi, Kuno, Shampoo, Mousse, Ukyo, Ryoga, Cologne and Happosai are a mediocre team and family, for This is why I hate this movie because they fight a lot and they don't make amends and they don't accept that they behaved badly, and they prefer to normalize physical abuse, and they prefer to be spiteful and grumpy and hurt each other, I prefer to leave those mediocre ones who suffer and that I would never return to them, and that they better rot in darkness and solitude. DAMN Ranma ½.

Severely Underpar

[Crentapa · 1/10 · 13 December 2006]

Who can forget that opening scene... I know I can't, Ten whole minutes of nothing happening, and in an inexplicable moment, the aura of an elephant fills joins the chase and beats everyone up. Unfortunately we don't get to see her actually preform this type of manuver again, and on a whole, she does nothing else; besides settle 1 fight by flirting.

Then on, there are more overly drawn out scenes and futile attempts at humor. For instance, Akane serves her 'home cooking' to the prince, who has only eaten pickles and rice since birth because of a condition that only allows his metabolism to handle pickels and rice. (Naturally, the pickels end up getting dumped out). The thing is, this scene is only 'referenced' to, but has no part of the overall story, and end run, really isn't that funny.

In the end, Ranma only faces two (I believe) of the seven opponents... the rest beat him up and are distracted or knocked out by the others. Heck, I thought Ranma was this egotistical fool who wouldn't accept defeat... sure looked like he was defeated a lot.

Heck, the 'final' boss was easier on Ranma then the other seven, having an impenitrable "chopstick" defense, Ranma brings forth a gyser and broke through by hurtling globlets of water at him.

I hate this movie

[gester-87704 · 1/10 · 14 October 2022]

This movie is very mediocre, because it has an exaggerated padding, also Ranma, Akane, Genma, Soun, Nabiki, Kasumi, Kodachi, Kuno, Shampoo, Mousse, Ukyo, Ryoga, Cologne and Happosai are a mediocre team and family, for This is why I hate this movie because they fight a lot and they don't make amends and they don't accept that they behaved badly, and they prefer to normalize physical abuse, and they prefer to be spiteful and grumpy and hurt each other, I prefer to leave those mediocre ones who suffer and that I would never return to them, and that they better rot in darkness and solitude. DAMNED Ranma ½.

Here's my little movie summary

[M_Jason · 4/10 · 16 October 1999]

I figure since no one's written on this yet, let me be the first. And this is from a fan, not a film critic, so hey. Well, it's Ranma, and for those of you who love Ranma, you must think this movie's like the toast of the town whatever phrases y'all use]. But, looking at it objectively, it's a horrid story. I am of the unfortunate few who don't understand Japanese and have to wait for english dubbed releases of movies, but when you get right down to it, this movie wasn't a great piece of writing. The beginning opens with I think just about every Ranma TV-show character ever made, but then they all vanish so you can get to the real story, which is your standard, "Girl gets kidnapped, it's up to Guy/Girl to rescue her!" It contains a few choice moments (prince Kirin eating meat!) but other than that, it's a pretty lame movie.

But to fans it's great!

I voted it a 4 because the second Ranma movie is better by leaps. [Not bounds, just leaps]

I hate this imbecile movie

[jorgeguzmanh · 1/10 · 23 December 2022]

I figure since no one's written on this yet, let me be the first. And this is from a fan, not a film critic, so hey. Well, it's Ranma, and for those of you who love Ranma, you must think this movie's like the toast of the town whatever phrases y'all use]. But, looking at it objectively, it's a horrid story. I am of the unfortunate few who don't understand Japanese and have to wait for english dubbed releases of movies, but when you get right down to it, this movie wasn't a great piece of writing. The beginning opens with I think just about every Ranma TV-show character ever made, but then they all vanish so you can get to the real story, which is your standard, "Girl gets kidnapped, it's up to Guy/Girl to rescue her!" It contains a few choice moments (prince Kirin eating meat!) but I hate this STUPIDEST movie.

Its Ranma 1/2... in specialized Movie format!

[lordbyronius · 3 March 2000]

In a case of sheer irony, Ranma 1/2 (specifically this movie) often suffers the indignation where most of the insults and bad reviews come from the Ranma 1/2 fans themselves. Whatever. Of course it can't compete with Takahashi's brilliant manga, and the 1st TV season is the best Anime adaptation of the series. Just leave this movie alone - its great.

Now I have one question... WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY does everybody think "Movie 2: Nihao My Concubine" to be a better film? Sorry, but my money is on this, the first film. Sure, the plot is hackneyed; how many times exactly have we seen "guy saves girl" in animated films? But, heck, if Ranma was a serious psychological drama, that would be a problem. Too bad it isn't, and so long as it features Happosai getting whacked around, Kuno getting clobbered, and Genma's "sign language," I'm just peachy. As for other reasons its better than the second... Its a lot longer, it flows more like a feature film should, the pace is infinitely faster, there are more gags and they're a lot funnier, and fanservice is dead-zero. ZILCH. So go ahead and watch "Silicon Beach" with Ranma-chan bouncing every five seconds (ever wonder why female Ranma fans dislike it?).

Synopsis... oh, shoot, just consider it as more of like a bunch of fun and cool stuff that just happens. You'll be a lot better off than the fans who were expecting a visual tour-de-force that questions the existence of humanity, it seems...

This is the worst movie I've ever seen

[guzmandelarosa-56934 · 1/10 · 31 December 2022]

Who can forget that opening scene... I know I can't, Ten whole minutes of nothing happening, and in an inexplicable moment, the aura of an elephant fills joins the chase and beats everyone up. Unfortunately we don't get to see her actually preform this type of manuver again, and on a whole, she does nothing else; besides settle 1 fight by flirting.

Then on, there are more overly drawn out scenes and futile attempts at humor. For instance, Akane serves her 'home cooking' to the prince, who has only eaten pickles and rice since birth because of a condition that only allows his metabolism to handle pickels and rice. (Naturally, the pickels end up getting dumped out). The thing is, this scene is only 'referenced' to, but has no part of the overall story, and end run, really isn't that funny.

In the end, Ranma only faces two (I believe) of the seven opponents... the rest beat him up and are distracted or knocked out by the others. Heck, I thought Ranma was this egotistical fool who wouldn't accept defeat... sure looked like he was defeated a lot.

Heck, the 'final' boss was easier on Ranma then the other seven, having an impenitrable "chopstick" defense, Ranma brings forth a gyser and broke through by hurtling globlets of water at him.

I don't want be a pacifist with these silly characters: Ranma, Akane, Genma, Soun, Nabiki, Kasumi, Kodachi, Kuno, Shampoo, Mousse, Ukyo, Ryoga, Sasuke, Cologne and Hapossai because I want to be rot in the darkness and loneliness.

I figure since no one's written on this yet, let me be the first. And this is from a fan, not a film critic, so hey. Well, it's Ranma, and for those of you who love Ranma, you must think this movie's like the toast of the town whatever phrases y'all use]. But, looking at it objectively, it's a horrid story. I am of the unfortunate few who don't understand Japanese and have to wait for english dubbed releases of movies, but when you get right down to it, this movie wasn't a great piece of writing. The beginning opens with I think just about every Ranma TV-show character ever made, but then they all vanish so you can get to the real story, which is your standard, "Girl gets kidnapped, it's up to Guy/Girl to rescue her!" It contains a few choice moments (prince Kirin eating meat!) but I hate this STUPIDEST movie.