This review may contain spoilers
Oh dear, I can't post spoilers in the review, but I can't help if I have to reveal a few because they're in the games. You may not understand most of what I'm saying in the review if you haven't played any of the games.Be Warned!: I am a huge Ace Attorney fan.
Alright so I'll try and be spoiler free as possible.
Story: 8
The reason why I gave it an 8 is because if you've played the games, you know that the plot is amazing and that's the reason why most people love playing the Ace Attorney series. In the movie, they only focus on 3/5 cases of the first game, but they do mention a bit of another case that isn't in the general plot of the movie. I agree that the timing is a bit disjointed especially with the way they rearranged events in the movie. It isn't as linear as it is in the games (though we know they start mixing the timeline up in other games), and you'll realise this especially if you've played the games. The details are a bit off in the movie compared to the games and you'll probably be screaming internally as to why they missed out on some important, crucial details. Oh and, court room procedures are definitely techy... you'll see. But I can see why they made it this way - it's because on the AA plotline, the first game is actually set in the future. If we were to plot our present time on the AA plotline, Phoenix would still be in university studying arts/law I believe.
Acting/Cast: 9
They definitely pulled off their assigned roles well. I do hope the actors did play the game before they knew their character. There are some huge character flaws in the movie compared to the game, especially personality wise. The most perfect character in this movie would be Phoenix Wright himself. Absolute perfection in terms of personality. And if you've played the games and think Nick is a hottie, well Hiroki Narimiya is some serious eye-candy. Go look him up on Tumblr when you finish the movie and admire his gorgeous body. And I should add the fact that he's 30. But I digress. Okay so when I first saw the first release of the trailer, I was a bit disappointed with some of the looks of the characters. IMHO, Edgeworth's hair isn't right, Gumshoe isn't scruffy enough, Misty doesn't look as old as she should be, but I guess that's some differences we can put off. I think because of the director's choices of plot, some of these character's personalities were changed to suit. Oh and an example of a character personality flaw is Maya - she's meant to be all chirpy and stuff but she whines a bit too much in the movie.
Music: 7
I'm disappointed they didn't use the DL-6 theme in the movie! Or maybe my ears weren't sensitive enough and I didn't hear it. But, I remember the objection theme is used. The background music is so soft I can barely hear it, or maybe my audio was dodgy, OR, I couldn't hear it over the human voices. But, whenever they wanted you to feel suspense, oh hell yeah the music did it. Lack of dialogue = thrill music heard properly = you get scared. Just disappointed at the lack of Ace Attorney music used.
Rewatch value: 7
I've rewatched this and I've fangirled over so many of the awesome parts. If you haven't played the game but loved the movie, play the games! Then come back and watch it. There are some memorable scenes in there, and some are quite funny.
Overall: 8
While I'm a bit disappointed at the storyline not completely following the games, and the music, it is still a good movie that satisfies my inner fangirl of the series. A lot of detail has gone missing though, and I feel that the most important detail - the bond between Phoenix and Maya - wasn't developed enough. I hope they do release a movie on the next game though. I expected heaps for this movie - it didn't exactly live up to what I expected it to be, but it fulfilled my purpose for the fandom. I think the directors need to play the games before making the movie! A lot of opportunities for gags and jokes that come in Ace Attorney could've been added.
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My only setback is the flashy display of technology, overacting gestures of the cast and the cheap costume plays.
I also have mixed feelings with regards to their comedic transitions. It was so out of place that it felt inappropriate. Though, I laughed and did exactly what the purpose of those scenes and lines for, it still does not beat the need for balance, simplicity and the essence of the story itself.
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A comedic twist to a courtroom drama
Entering into this movie without any prior knowledge of the video game, I embarked on a cinematic journey that was quite a pleasant surprise. While it may not be a traditional murder mystery filled with suspense, this film excels in its own unique way, primarily through its eccentric characters and over-the-top acting.The narrative revolves around Phoenix Wright, an attorney whose competence doesn't quite match his dedication to defending his clients. However, when he takes on the case of Maya Fey, a psychic medium accused of murdering her sister and Phoenix's own mentor, the stage is set for a captivating legal drama. Adding to the complexity, his childhood friend Miles Edgeworth, a prosecutor with a flawless record, finds himself in a murder-related predicament from an old case. As Phoenix decides to defend Edgeworth in court, the film takes a delightful twist, filled with unexpected turns and humorous high jinks.
Two aspects make 'Ace Attorney' truly stand out. First, the inventive use of display technology in courtroom scenes transforms the legal proceedings into a dramatic spectacle, complete with ups and downs that keep audiences engaged. Secondly, the film's vibrant characters and their performances leave an indelible mark. There's no room for subtlety in this grand theatrical production; it's a world where actors embrace their roles with maximum emotiveness, all for the sake of comedic effect. In this courtroom drama, the verdict hinges not on the gravity of evidence but on the theatrics of the attorneys. The characters' costumes and hairstyles, reminiscent of those from the video games, infuse the movie with a distinctive creativity and showmanship.
In conclusion, 'Ace Attorney' is a murder-mystery court drama that doesn't take itself too seriously, opting instead to entertain with its loud, comedic characters and an unapologetic commitment to the aesthetics of the video game it's adapted from. While it may not follow the conventional suspenseful murder mystery formula, it succeeds in delivering a unique and enjoyable cinematic experience.
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Anyways, I'm sad to say I didn't really enjoy this movie experience as much as I thought I would. First of, this movie is way to long. 2 hours and 15 minutes could have been cut down to about 90 minutes with this plot. As a result of that this movie has got a very bad pacing.
The plot eventually turns out to be a crime solving mystery with very stupid motives. Again I don't know if this is true to the games, but I had expected more lawyer/court room stuff. There is some of that, and it is easily the best parts of the movie but they eventually fall really flat due to the writing which makes me these prosecutors look freaking horrible. They make such obvious lies and then when they get called out on it they claim "Well, yes I lied in court for the tenth time, that doesn't prove anything".
This movie had some good parts though, and that was the costumes and the acting. Narimiya Hiroki was good as Naruhodo and Kiritani Mirei which is one of my favorite actresses was fine, even though her character felt completely useless (but yes I know she is in the games).
This is also a very good looking movie from the sets and costumes to the visuals.
Anyways I wouldn't recommend this movie at least if you hadn't seen the games. If I didn't watch this movie with some friends I wouldn't have been able to finish it in one sitting due to the insanely slow pace. Perhaps if you've played the games you would pick up on characters, references, in-jokes or other stuff from the games to keep you more interested. Unfortunetly, if this movie had such things they were lost on me.
Some scenes were interesting, but it wasn't worth the 2h 15 minutes you could spend on something better.
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