Feel under budget and poorly post edited.
very disappointed at a missed opportunity of a great franchise.
sure , some scene and characters were like the animation but too many uninspired long shot that make me thing this should have been trim 30 min.
they really screw up the ambience with the quasi non existent soundtrack.
this movie need to be recut, amplified the mood, maybe even re color the film stock.
This is my most severe critic to date .
lazy Miike care of final products or post producing cost cut by studio?
20 Reviews
a fairly approachable live action
chadyadelrizk25 May 2018
Compared to other live action films based on anime I've seen, this one made quite an advancement in portraying the storyline of the anime... The director and the producer have obviously maintained a level of credibility. When it comes to characters that are derived from an anime and that can have a challenging theatricality in their performance, the acting has a much more realistic tone to it than other such films. The directing leaves the characters and the actions have their own way to show the theme which works great most of the time and has a smooth way to reveal mystery. The scriptwriting, as far as I've seen from JoJo's Bizarre adventures anime series, has done a remarkable job by structure of the story and specially selecting which background information that is to be mentioned; considering the significant history of Joestars that would only crowd the timeline. One last positive point is that I found that making this work into sequels was a wise decision that would prevent pointlessly rushing many previous or upcoming events.
I must say I'm finding several long pauses that doesn't add anything to the scene in my opinion except that the actor/actress waiting as instructed... Now that I've mentioned that, the choreography (same as other live action films based on anime I've seen) sometimes seems off (pros and cons of martial arts aside).
Other than that, I actually enjoyed the film as I occasionally find the anime-to-live-action-challenge something admirable. (I find myself against anime-to-live-action-series because mostly they are low budget and rarely given much effort - and that prove to have weaknesses in several department) Also, I am interested in watching the sequel.
I must say I'm finding several long pauses that doesn't add anything to the scene in my opinion except that the actor/actress waiting as instructed... Now that I've mentioned that, the choreography (same as other live action films based on anime I've seen) sometimes seems off (pros and cons of martial arts aside).
Other than that, I actually enjoyed the film as I occasionally find the anime-to-live-action-challenge something admirable. (I find myself against anime-to-live-action-series because mostly they are low budget and rarely given much effort - and that prove to have weaknesses in several department) Also, I am interested in watching the sequel.
Not A Fan Of Manga Or Anime
Foutainoflife7 April 2019
So, as my title indicates, I am not a fan of manga or anime. I may get this wrong but I believe manga is the comic strip version and anime is the animated version of these stories. Either way, I just don't care for those formats. My son really enjoys them and I have an affinity for Asian horror and thrillers so when he comes to me and tells me there are live action films, I sit down and we watch them together.
I know, through my son, that there are a lot of live action adaptations that don't get a lot of love from manga and anime fans because it is hard to get the written and drawn aspects to cross over smoothly. The live action stuff just doesn't seem to have the same detail the other formats can offer and that leaves fans thinking they've been short changed. Since I don't follow those formats, I can base my opinions by what I've seen in the live action versions without bias.
I thought this was a good film but it has some flaws. My son stopped the film on more than one occasion to explain a few things because I didn't understand things seeing as how I am not familiar with the other formats. I didn't know what had taken place before what was shown in the film and he felt like some of it should have been explained better. I gotta take off a few points for that.
I loved the costuming and I thought the CGI stuff was done well. It seemed a bit lengthy during some of the last big scenes but I could excuse some of that because it was interesting to watch. We didn't realize that this was only Chapter 1 and my son was a bit frustrated by that. He, having experienced some of the other formats, knew what was coming next and wanted me to see what was supposed to happen next. We can always watch the sequel though!
My take away from this is that while it is a well made film and has a significant amount of detail, it is not easily watched as a stand alone film. You sorta need to know some of the stuff that has lead up to this moment in the series and the film just doesn't explain all of it. However, it was still an entertaining watch and I would presume that if you are a fan of the other formats you will enjoy it.
I know, through my son, that there are a lot of live action adaptations that don't get a lot of love from manga and anime fans because it is hard to get the written and drawn aspects to cross over smoothly. The live action stuff just doesn't seem to have the same detail the other formats can offer and that leaves fans thinking they've been short changed. Since I don't follow those formats, I can base my opinions by what I've seen in the live action versions without bias.
I thought this was a good film but it has some flaws. My son stopped the film on more than one occasion to explain a few things because I didn't understand things seeing as how I am not familiar with the other formats. I didn't know what had taken place before what was shown in the film and he felt like some of it should have been explained better. I gotta take off a few points for that.
I loved the costuming and I thought the CGI stuff was done well. It seemed a bit lengthy during some of the last big scenes but I could excuse some of that because it was interesting to watch. We didn't realize that this was only Chapter 1 and my son was a bit frustrated by that. He, having experienced some of the other formats, knew what was coming next and wanted me to see what was supposed to happen next. We can always watch the sequel though!
My take away from this is that while it is a well made film and has a significant amount of detail, it is not easily watched as a stand alone film. You sorta need to know some of the stuff that has lead up to this moment in the series and the film just doesn't explain all of it. However, it was still an entertaining watch and I would presume that if you are a fan of the other formats you will enjoy it.
Decent Contemporary Fantasy Film with Youthful Characters
kluseba5 June 2023
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable - Chapter 1 is a Japanese action fantasy movie based upon the famous manga series that was massively promoted upon release. Despite being labeled as the first chapter, there has't been any live action sequel to this movie as of yet. This film that was released to mixed to positive reviews takes place in the fictional town of Morioh where high school students investigate a series of mysterious murders.
On the positive side, the settings chosen for this movie are absolutely stunning. Principal photography has been shot in Sitges and Barcelona which makes viewers want to visit Spain more than most documentaries about these locations. The characters in this film are unique, quirky and bubbly as they provide at times surprising developments and unexpected depth. The special effects in this movie are also intriguing, especially in its second half that truly brings the magical world of the original manga series to life. The climactic showdown in an abandoned mansion is the movie's undeniable highlight and will keep viewers on the edges of their seats.
This decent film is however not without its flaws. Viewers who might not be familiar with the manga series might mix up a few characters, lose track of the complex plot and have trouble immersing themselves in this magical universe. The pace of the movie's first half is somewhat slow and features a few unnecessary lengths. Several questions remain unanswered by the end of the movie, aiming for a potential sequel that hasn't seen the light of day as of today. Miike Takashi is one of Japan's most creative filmmakers ever but his astonishing talent feels at times restricted by the precise guidelines of the source material and severe fan expectations.
At the end of the day, this movie is highly recommended to fans of the manga series as well as anyone appreciating contemporary fantasy movies starring youthful characters. Anyone expecting memorable plot and stunning filmmaking can however skip this film without any regrets. In conclusion, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable - Chapter 1 is a decent to good fantasy movie for a slow evening but fails to leave a deeper impression.
On the positive side, the settings chosen for this movie are absolutely stunning. Principal photography has been shot in Sitges and Barcelona which makes viewers want to visit Spain more than most documentaries about these locations. The characters in this film are unique, quirky and bubbly as they provide at times surprising developments and unexpected depth. The special effects in this movie are also intriguing, especially in its second half that truly brings the magical world of the original manga series to life. The climactic showdown in an abandoned mansion is the movie's undeniable highlight and will keep viewers on the edges of their seats.
This decent film is however not without its flaws. Viewers who might not be familiar with the manga series might mix up a few characters, lose track of the complex plot and have trouble immersing themselves in this magical universe. The pace of the movie's first half is somewhat slow and features a few unnecessary lengths. Several questions remain unanswered by the end of the movie, aiming for a potential sequel that hasn't seen the light of day as of today. Miike Takashi is one of Japan's most creative filmmakers ever but his astonishing talent feels at times restricted by the precise guidelines of the source material and severe fan expectations.
At the end of the day, this movie is highly recommended to fans of the manga series as well as anyone appreciating contemporary fantasy movies starring youthful characters. Anyone expecting memorable plot and stunning filmmaking can however skip this film without any regrets. In conclusion, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable - Chapter 1 is a decent to good fantasy movie for a slow evening but fails to leave a deeper impression.
Good live action with little miss
abiprayas8 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Not gonna lie, as one of Jojo fans I really like this movie. The CG stand and that back story of Angelo is really good. Every character has the same vibe as how the manga and anime introduce to us.
But something I want to say is about some minor that missed. First lets talk about Yukako. Why she is here? what the point to introduce her now in the first place?
She doesn't have good screen time, and in manga/anime she is portrait as a possessive stalker who make more sense if they just introduce her in the last part like they do in the movie. You know its strange in that part koichi just bike straight to Josuke and Okuyashu, ignore Yukako like she just a total stranger to him and contrast with his personality.
second, why the one kill Keicho is kira with sheer heart attack? What about red hot chili pepper? how he can make debut in the second chapter (if this really coming) if the bow and arrow is destroyed in the first place. And why does kira blew it up in front of people if in character he is always try to hide his presence?
For the characterization Kento yamazaki and the rest actor is really good to make every character from this series come alive. And still smile when Yusuke Iseya try to keep the voice of Jotaro looks cool.
What I most sad about that there not add a the theme song for character from the anime.
Overall thats my review. thanks sayonara
But something I want to say is about some minor that missed. First lets talk about Yukako. Why she is here? what the point to introduce her now in the first place?
She doesn't have good screen time, and in manga/anime she is portrait as a possessive stalker who make more sense if they just introduce her in the last part like they do in the movie. You know its strange in that part koichi just bike straight to Josuke and Okuyashu, ignore Yukako like she just a total stranger to him and contrast with his personality.
second, why the one kill Keicho is kira with sheer heart attack? What about red hot chili pepper? how he can make debut in the second chapter (if this really coming) if the bow and arrow is destroyed in the first place. And why does kira blew it up in front of people if in character he is always try to hide his presence?
For the characterization Kento yamazaki and the rest actor is really good to make every character from this series come alive. And still smile when Yusuke Iseya try to keep the voice of Jotaro looks cool.
What I most sad about that there not add a the theme song for character from the anime.
Overall thats my review. thanks sayonara
It was bizarre alright...
paul_haakonsen24 July 2021
Well, as one not being at all familiar with the Anime that this movie apparently is based upon, then I didn't know what I was in for here. But given the movie's odd title "JoJo no kimyô na bôken: Daiyamondo wa kudakenai - dai-isshô" (aka "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable - Chapter 1"), then I figured it would most likely be something over-the-top like only the Japanese can muster.
And yeah, well sort of, because "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable - Chapter 1", aside from the long and annoying title, then this was a strange movie experience. And I assume that since I wasn't familiar with the Anime, then a lot of the contents of this 2017 movie was lost on me, for better or worse.
I managed to sit through the entire ordeal, but I must admit that I wasn't particularly impressed or entertained by what writer Itaru Era managed to concoct for the script.
Aside from a parade of ludicrous hair styles and strange fighting concepts, then "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable - Chapter 1" didn't really make much of any sense, and provided equally little entertainment.
Visually then the movie was actually interesting enough, as it was unique.
This movie fell very short of entertaining me, and I am rating it a four out of ten stars, based solely on the visuals and the production.
And yeah, well sort of, because "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable - Chapter 1", aside from the long and annoying title, then this was a strange movie experience. And I assume that since I wasn't familiar with the Anime, then a lot of the contents of this 2017 movie was lost on me, for better or worse.
I managed to sit through the entire ordeal, but I must admit that I wasn't particularly impressed or entertained by what writer Itaru Era managed to concoct for the script.
Aside from a parade of ludicrous hair styles and strange fighting concepts, then "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable - Chapter 1" didn't really make much of any sense, and provided equally little entertainment.
Visually then the movie was actually interesting enough, as it was unique.
This movie fell very short of entertaining me, and I am rating it a four out of ten stars, based solely on the visuals and the production.
A surprisingly good adaptation.
leoxatzian12 July 2020
This adaptation of the popular anime actually has a lot going for it. The casting choices and costumes are downright perfect and the performances are spot on. The changes made are understandable, the things kept the same are satisfyingly well done and the things added even make some story elements work a little better than they did in the anime. The only underwhelming aspect of this adaptation are it's visuals that, while by no means awful, do fall short of the anime's visually spectacular action. Overall, this adaptation hits the mark far more than it misses it and makes for a satisfying watch for any "JoJo" fan.
Style over substance
mister_bateman3 August 2020
First of all I am not familiar with the source material, so I can only judge the movie on its own. It is stylish and well made cinematographically and the opening act sets up an intriguing scene, but then it just falls flat. The characters don't really develop relationships and the story is totally superficial and boring. There is no deeper meaning to it whatsoever. It's like watching a bunch of kids play a computer game where they have their colorful avatars fight one another.
Pretty Bad
loganauerbeck6 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I have no idea why clowns on here rate this film so highly, it's pretty abysmal. In terms of faithfulness to the source material it fails dramatically, having a lot of significant bits of plot removed, specifically how Okuyasu and Keicho's father became the way we see. It seems they wanted to cut out any mention of Dio to try and make the film more accessible to newcomers, but in my opinion, it probably made it worse. Having no explanation as to how things happened is a recipe for having people who are new to Jojo just leave the film confused and assuming that Jojo is just poorly written with blatant plot holes. Also, and this could just be a personal thing, but the film took a direction that had an aura of darkness and creepiness that the original just didn't have. I mean, part 4 probably had the most cheery tone of the entire series, using bright colors whenever possible to create a sense of chillness that just isn't present in this film. The entire film is dark and eerie, it feels like a low budget horror movie. In addition to that, the stands definitely felt unsettling which felt very off, though in fairness, I don't think there's any way to translate something like a stand into cg for live action without them being off-putting. Characters also felt pretty far from the originals, the biggest example I can think of is the fact that Josuke felt like he was kinda being a dick to Koichi for no reason. Costumes ranged from passable to downright awful, I have no idea why they felt the need to do the thing where Jotaro's hair kinda merges with his hat, as it felt a little superfluous and took away from the whole, "reality" thing most people go with for live action film. Josuke's outfit was okay, besides some minor things, including the fact that his pins on his jacket felt a little bit too small and like they were just an afterthought. Acting was pretty iffy, awkward pauses everywhere, Koichi seemed to constantly look off to the side, then back to where he was looking for no apparent reason, and several characters noticeably squinted the eye closest to the camera, which I don't even know what they were trying to accomplish with. Cinematography was alright, but every time Josuke used Crazy Diamond to heal someone, it was accompanied by a god awful jump cut. Overall, not the greatest film Ive ever watching, but definitely not the worst either. If you're planinng on this being your introduction to the series, I'd steer clear, but if you're already a fan of Jojo, this is a good film to laugh at because of the poor quality.
Fricking Awesome !
NovakGrey13 July 2017
I must say i was skeptical about seeing Stands in the live-action but it was beyond awesome, Takashi Miike did an amazing job portraying every characters as well as their Stands.
The other thing my cousin and I worried about was rushing the intro and story of Yoshikage Kira, who honestly is one of the best villain in the anime.
I can gladly say without revealing too much that Part 1 only goes as far as the showdown between Josuke Higashikata (Crazy Diamond) and the brothers Keicho Nijimura (Bad Company) & Okuyasu Nijimura (The Hand).
The ending was the only thing that made me give a 9/10 as they changed something that does not make much sense as they skip a villain to introduce another one which had no motive to do what he did.
People were cheering like crazy at Fantasia 2017 Montreal and I for one cannot wait for Part 2.
The other thing my cousin and I worried about was rushing the intro and story of Yoshikage Kira, who honestly is one of the best villain in the anime.
I can gladly say without revealing too much that Part 1 only goes as far as the showdown between Josuke Higashikata (Crazy Diamond) and the brothers Keicho Nijimura (Bad Company) & Okuyasu Nijimura (The Hand).
The ending was the only thing that made me give a 9/10 as they changed something that does not make much sense as they skip a villain to introduce another one which had no motive to do what he did.
People were cheering like crazy at Fantasia 2017 Montreal and I for one cannot wait for Part 2.
THIS HAD SO MUCH POTENTIAL
kono-dio-da-42022 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Listen:Jojo's Bizarre Adventures is my favourite anime. Like, my ALL TIME FAVOURITE. I'm mostly pretty biased about stuff related to jojo. Even I think that this can definitely be improved a lot. They slightly altered the way that Keicho and Okuyasu's father became the way he was, and they replaced the appearance of Red Hot Chilli Pepper with Bites the Dust?! Was pretty rushed, and the part where Angelo got turned into a rock was downright goofy. The Stands actually looked really good, especially Crazy Diamond and The Hand. But they absolutely butchered my boy Jotaro, he doesn't look 30, he looks 50. Jotaro's, Josuke's and Okuyasu's hair does NOT translate well into live action. The acting was pretty mid, the people playing Jotaro, Keicho and Koichi were probably the best actors here. They missed SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES to use the themes of the characters when they were fighting. JOTARO DIDN'T EVEN EXCLAIMED "ORA" AND JOSUKE DIDN"T SAY "DORA" LIKE BRUH.
Surprised by the low score
armana-18 May 2020
This is by far the very best live action anime adaption I have ever seen. It's done seriously well. I went into this expecting another low budget live action movie, but I've been very pleasantly surprised. I wish they'd make the whole series in this style.
Let the bizarre cat and mouse game begin
phanthinga10 June 2018
I can't never ever in a million years imagine a series like Jojo's Bizarre Adventure can work well in live-action form but apparently all you need is a good director and a reasonable script.You gotta know that Diamond is Unbreakable is just one part of a long running series with different timeline,location and characters so in order to make this movie with 2 hours runtime they made a lot of sacrifices so I kudos for that.The introduction of the important characters is fine and the selling point of the story is the battle between Stand User is way better than I expected.I'm completely okay with skip through some minor stuff if all the iconic moments and characters still there and seem like the movie go for that direction as well.The worst aspect of the movie for me still about the horrendous anime hair and the disturbing lack of Jojo poses.I know it a live-action movie but it not a proper Jojo movie without over the top poses
Best manga-anime movie adaptation yet
george-290-21220428 June 2018
Faithful to the source material, great use of cgi, amazing costumes and locations. Even the haircuts brought to life with such a way i would never have thought it could work in a live action film. Great action and pacing. Miike and his cast along with the whole crew really brought Diamond is Unbreakable to life. Well done.
Good adaptation of the show
nina-7451019 November 2020
Got this movie as a gift for my boyfriend who is a huge fan of the show. We watched it together. The graphics were much better than any other live action anime adaption. Stuck to the story. Definitely worth the watch. Would totally watch a sequel!
Loved it.
george-7910226 May 2018
Takashi Miike rolls out a visually gorgeous, occasionally grotesque but ultimately fascinating film that could be the best manga-based movie yet
A live-action adaptation of the shonen manga known lovingly as 'JoJo' among fans, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable - Chapter 1 is packed to the rafters with fighting and guys looking cool. And it works wonderfully.
The story follows Josuke Joestar, a high school boy with a supernatural gift called a 'stand'. After the town of Morioh is beset by sinister crimes, Josuke must use his powers to protect the people he loves. This is actually the fourth story of the manga and anime, but it's the first of several planned live-action movies - hence the 'Chapter 1' billing.
Veteran director Takashi Miike (Audition, 13 Assassins) is a master craftsman and introduces the bizarre world of JoJo in a way that's courteous to newcomers without impacting the pacing.
The ensemble cast are all gorgeously talented: handsome Kento Yamazaki is hugely likeable as Josuke, while Ryunosuke Kamiki excels as his ever-trembling nerdy schoolmate Koichi. Fans will be rewarded by the depth of nuance in these performances - Nana Komatsu's Yukako may even be eerier than her anime counterpart.
Visually, the film is refreshingly colourful, aided in part by Miike's decision to shoot in the Spanish city of Sitges, its mediterranean hues nicely accenting the comic's classical and European influences. The costume design also succeeds in imparting the edgy fashion that makes 'JoJo' so interesting.
Direction-wise, Miike's frames are bustling with texture - smoke, leather, dust - who needs 3D when images are this deep? Music is used sparingly, with sound design taking a more prominent role and that carries a payoff in terms of scene dynamics.
In conclusion, Diamond Is Unbreakable - Chapter 1 will blow you away, imparting both awe and relief. Awe that Hirohiko Araki's world could be brought to life so vividly and relief that it's been done so expertly. Sure, it's certainly bizarre, grotesque at times and, with all the fight scenes, won't be everyone's cup of tea.
That said, the whole cast act with conviction and aren't outshone by the visual fireworks. As far as manga-based movies go, this could be the best one yet.
A live-action adaptation of the shonen manga known lovingly as 'JoJo' among fans, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable - Chapter 1 is packed to the rafters with fighting and guys looking cool. And it works wonderfully.
The story follows Josuke Joestar, a high school boy with a supernatural gift called a 'stand'. After the town of Morioh is beset by sinister crimes, Josuke must use his powers to protect the people he loves. This is actually the fourth story of the manga and anime, but it's the first of several planned live-action movies - hence the 'Chapter 1' billing.
Veteran director Takashi Miike (Audition, 13 Assassins) is a master craftsman and introduces the bizarre world of JoJo in a way that's courteous to newcomers without impacting the pacing.
The ensemble cast are all gorgeously talented: handsome Kento Yamazaki is hugely likeable as Josuke, while Ryunosuke Kamiki excels as his ever-trembling nerdy schoolmate Koichi. Fans will be rewarded by the depth of nuance in these performances - Nana Komatsu's Yukako may even be eerier than her anime counterpart.
Visually, the film is refreshingly colourful, aided in part by Miike's decision to shoot in the Spanish city of Sitges, its mediterranean hues nicely accenting the comic's classical and European influences. The costume design also succeeds in imparting the edgy fashion that makes 'JoJo' so interesting.
Direction-wise, Miike's frames are bustling with texture - smoke, leather, dust - who needs 3D when images are this deep? Music is used sparingly, with sound design taking a more prominent role and that carries a payoff in terms of scene dynamics.
In conclusion, Diamond Is Unbreakable - Chapter 1 will blow you away, imparting both awe and relief. Awe that Hirohiko Araki's world could be brought to life so vividly and relief that it's been done so expertly. Sure, it's certainly bizarre, grotesque at times and, with all the fight scenes, won't be everyone's cup of tea.
That said, the whole cast act with conviction and aren't outshone by the visual fireworks. As far as manga-based movies go, this could be the best one yet.
Why isn't the score higher?
ivegotnolegs28 March 2019
I love it.
jcmangham28 February 2020
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