Writer: Loong Wai Ting

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Watch this if you liked: Doraemon comics, Japanese anime

Remember those days when you spend hours pouring over those Doraemon comics, hoping that the earless cat would eventually pop out from your desk? Well, those were the good ol' days. But wait a minute; Doraemon together with Nobita and the gang is back for more actions, more magical tools and of course, more laughter! Watching your childhood favourite comes to life is just wonderful, especially to those who hold a dear place in their heart for Doraemon.

Doraemon first made its debut in 1969, having created by Japanese artist Fujiko F. Fujio. The rest, like they say, is history. However, truth be told, its movie adaptation fails to capture the essence that most Doraemon comics could offer. For this comic-to-movie adaptation, it rather fails to capture my attention and at times, just fell flat. But, anyway, Doraemon is such a wonder, that no matter what, its magic pouch will always win the hearts of many.

Since 3-D domination era started by Pixar and DreamWorks Studio, many cartoons have opted to be turned into 3D animations. It's been a while since traditional paper sketches made it on to the big screen. In "Doraemon The Movie," it's obvious that it's a transformation from rough paper sketches to film, making it less smooth and less perfect in terms of colouring. But, for a Doraemon fan, that doesn't matter.

Now, let's come to the most annoying part. Half and hour before the film finally made its exit, we were treated to a long five-minutes "silent" cartoon. Yes, you heard me right. The sound system was quite bad that we can't hear what the lovable characters were saying. The only ones who were laughing are the little kids.

That aside, Doraemon still is the best. The most important part of a movie is the storyline. For Doraemon, we have the team of writers to thank for. I'm not sure if it's just me, but I can sense that there will be no part two or a sequel. Perhaps, another chapter?

Without adding slapsticks comedy into its storyline, Doraemon, in another word is as good as a century old wine. Oops, I mean dorayaki. In the end, I had an enjoyable 81 minutes of real fun, nostalgia and frequent flashbacks. Though it wasn't as good as Pixar animations, at least it's better than let's say, "Ben 10".

Now, wonder where did I keep my robotic kitty comics?

Cinema Online, 05 December 2008