'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie' Review: The senshi confront their worst fears
As with most Netflix anime movies, alongside great animation, compelling stories have always been why these films are so beloved. These movies/series often have a recurring theme of comraderies and friendship beating all odds.
We've seen the same play out in Netflix's 'Yasuke', 'Eden' and even the season finale of 'Castlevania'. While 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie' might not be big on bloodshed like some of these titles, the theme of saving the world remains. More importantly, it also has all the elements of the series that fans have known to grow and love over time. The movie itself draws a special focus on each of the characters' hopes and dreams while confronting their fears and inner darkness.
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The villain, Queen Nehelenia, proves to be the perfect juxtaposition when seen against neo-Queen Serenity, Sailor Moon's alternate avatar. One of the highlights of the two-part movie is seeing the inner senshi, made up of Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Venus and the outer senshi — Sailor Pluto, Sailor Neptune, Sailor Uranus and Sailor Saturn — confront and explore their own fears and inhibitions.
Each of the inner senshi goes through a transformative process, after they fight the darkness that lies within, triggered by the dream lemurs. Ami aka Sailor Mercury is forced to confront her abandonment issues that seem to plague her constantly.
However, she soon acknowledges the fact that she works hard to protect the ones that she loves. Rei, who is Sailor Mars, addresses her sense of responsibility that has been put on her since a young age, with her manipulated desires forcing her to believe that she is a burden. Rei soon realizes that she has a sense of pride in what she does, and wants to carry on her grandfather's legacy and be a Sailor Guardian as well.
Makoto or Sailor Jupiter confronts the fact that no matter what she wants or how she feels, as long as she wants what is best for her friends, her heart is in the right place. Similarly, with Minako, who is Sailor Venus, the frustration of being unable to transform affects her gravely.
In a moment of self-realization, Minako realizes that she needs to trust her familiar, Artemis more often. This reminds her that her journey is not a solitary one but rather one that she has to take with those around her. Even for the outer senshi, who have given up their guardian roles to take care of Haruka, or Sailor Saturn, they soon realize that their duty is what binds them all together. No matter who they are, they will always be Sailor Guardians at heart.
This grants them the ability to transform and in turn, aid Usagi as the Super Sailor Moon.
Self-actualization plays a massive role in this movie. Even Mamoru, who is distraught that he is dragging Usagi down, realizes that due to his own golden crystal, he has always been a source of strength and courage for Usagi, allowing her to defeat any evil at cost.
Similarly, Chibiusa, who is broken up about being unable to help, soon realizes that her role in saving the world is just as important, regardless of how young she is. 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie' serves as a reminder of something that this franchise has always been deeply rooted in — the power of love and friendship, above all else.
'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie' part 1 and psrt 2 is now streaming on Netflix
