In the Tradition of "The Time Machine"
Albert Wilson | NYC, NY USA | 03/23/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"..And I don't mean the new film by that name. It is much more reminicent of the 1960's movie version of the great H.G. Wells time travel story, but animated in very fine style. This 'Now & Then' is the second feature in the series and every bit as entertaining as the first. While the first installment focused in on the characters Shu (from the present) & La La Rue (from the future), 'Flight & Fall' introduces us to Sara, who has been taken as a slave by a first-rate anime villan. She escapes into the desert though where she is befriended by an assortment of renegades and - I don't want to give the ending away so I will leave it at that, but the story moves along at a good pace. Animation quality, backgrounds and dubbing are all high quality and the extras on the DVD included more than I had expected. They have storyboards, background sketches, an art gallery, a choice of English and Japanese subtitles, excellent Dolby Surround Sound and more. If you like anime and science fiction, you can't go wrong with 'Now & Then, Here & There: flight & Fall!'"
A definate must see
lycanredmond | Kansas City, Missouri | 07/20/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Now and Then, Here and There is definately an all time great. The movie starts a bit humorous, like any typical anime; however, it quickly moves the audience to a dark and depressing world. By being torn from his own world, the main character Shu, is thrust into an alternate plane where oppression and war are law. This story encapsulates overcoming the hate of evil, indifference, and fear. The overall tone of this anime is a bit depressing. The strong brutality and involvement of children is a bit moving. However, the creator does a great job of reminding the audience, through the main character, of a 'light at the end of the tunnel'The artwork and animation are both rather basic, but this doesn't take away from the delivery what so ever. In fact, the basic and 'cartooney' appearance of this film seem to allow the creater to make better use of color and dialogue to deliver the story. Also, the soundtrack is a definate winner. Unlike some anime, the character development in this series is great. Many lessons are learned as the characters are faced with fear and loss. In the end, they have all matured from their starting point significantly. Overall, this is a 5 star anime with a serious, yet entertaining movie. The story is great and the message is brilliant. Get the set or else you'll just be waiting to see what happens in the end."